Coming Apart at the Seams

Questions for Further Discussion
1. Metro Detroit was named the 4th most miserable city in America to live in. Foreclosures, job losses, and crime all contributed to this sad designation. The question is, how far can we go on our own - at what point do we say this is too big for us? When do we surrender and admit we must have God's help, and that only Jesus can save us?
2. If God intimately knows just how bad things are here on earth, then why doesn't He change things for the better?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Questions for further discussion:

1. What is your attitude toward angels? Do you believe they exist? Do you think they are active today?
2. What difference would it make in your worship if you consciously thought about being in the presence of angels?
3. How do you think it will feel when God asks you judge the angels (1 Cor 6:3)? What does this truth tell you about what it means to be human?
4. When you consider the reality that angels are not forgiven for their sin but you can be how does that change the way you think about your salvation? (2 Peter 2:4)

Coming Apart at the Seams

Questions for further discussion:
1. What is you favorite music? Why?
2. When was the last time you felt like you heard from God? What was it like? What did you hear?
3. What are some things that make it hard for you to hear from God?
4. What do you do to try and hear from God?
5. What do you think holds you back from spending time in God's word? What do you need to do to make this a priority in your life?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Hebrews 1:1-3
Questions For Further Discussion
1. When your life has felt like it's coming apart at the seams, what are the "sure things" that you turn to?
2. "Pain avoidance" is a natural tendency for human beings, so why is it so important for us to resist this inclination?
3. There are no guarantees in life, yet we count on any number of things as "givens" every day (the sun will rise, America will be free, etc.). Can you name a few more? If they suddenly disappear or change tomorrow, what will you do?

A Church For The World

Questions for Further Discussion
What's the difference between a "full life" and a "happy life?" Why do we so often confuse the two?
It's human nature to avoid pain, but are there positive aspects to suffering?
What would you like your tombstone to say? What do you have to do differently right now to make the statement a reality?
Oftentimes, living according to God's will feels confining, not freeing. What's the difference between a full life as a follower of Christ, and a full life of our own making?

A Church For The World

Questions for further discussion:
Who has had the greatest impact in your spiritual life? What made this person such a significant influence?
Have you ever helped someone take steps of faith in their spiritual journey? What was it like?
What do you think is significant about the imagery of "iron sharpening iron" ? Have you seen this happen in your life?
Of the four areas: do it, say it, ask it, lead it where do you need to begin stepping out? Where do you think you can?

A Church For The World

Questions for Further Discussion:
Why do you think "sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ" is the most important means by which we accomplish our mission?
Do you believe only certain people are gifted evangelists, or is sharing the gospel something every Christian should be doing?
How does the idea of "demonstrating and declaring" expand your understanding of sharing the gospel? Can you demonstrate without declaring, or declare without demonstrating?

A Church For The World

Questions for further discussion:
Why do you go to church?
What are some of the ways you have sought to address the "eternity" in your heart?
If the local church is described as the hospital, how must our understanding of Grace Chapel change?
What are some of the practical, day-to-day ways we can participate in "transforming the world around us"?

The Kingdom 2

1. What signs are you looking for when it comes to the kingdom of God?
2. What are some ways that you have been drawn away from living out the kingdom in your midst by looking for signs of the kingdom?
3. What is your attitude toward the everyday things of your life?
4. In what ways do you need to step into the mundane, everyday things of life and obey your king?

The Kingdom 1

1. Have you ever moved? What was it like moving into a new neighborhood? What was good? What was hard?
2. What do you think about the reality that Jesus, the God-man, dwelt among us? How does it make you feel? What do you think it would have been like to live, work, and play with Jesus?
3. Because the Holy Spirit lives in each believer the incarnation (God-in-the-flesh) is ongoing. Does your life represent this reality? What would look different in your life if you took this seriously?
more information...

You Can't Always Get What You Want, But You Get What You Need IV

You Can't Always Get What You Want, But You Get What You Need III

You Can't Always Get What You Want, But You Get What You Need II

You Can't Always Get What You Want, But You Get What You Need I

The Time Is Now IV

The Time Has Come III

The Time Has Come II

The Time Has Come I

Livin' On A Prayer

Does prayer work? Does it change things? Come on a journey with us and find out...

The End.

A good story has a beginning, middle, and end. But what about the Bible? Is it finished or is there more to it?

Keep the Faith

A House Divided

Glorified

Predestination

Called

Justified

Decisions, Decisions

This weeks tough question is, "Where does freedom of choice end and the sovereignty of God begin? Do we have free will at all?" Based upon Jonah 1, this message addresses what it means to have the freedom of choice under the sovereignty of God. (Note - the recording ends just prior to the completion of the message)

For Heaven's Sake

Heaven is a reality. So what will it look like? What will we be doing? A lot of folks see Heaven as a peaceful, passive place, somewhere up in the clouds, where there's nothing to do but float around. But is this how the Bible describes it? From Revelation 21:1-5

Husbands Love Your Wives

This week's tough question: "What are the practical, day to day things that a husband can do to love his wife as Christ loved the church?" From Ephesians 5:25-30.

Remember The Future

In 1 Peter 1:3-13, we are reminded that we have an inheritance in heaven. What does that mean for how we live today?

Alive and Well

An Easter Sunday message that addresses the tough question for this week: If God was able to bring Jesus back to life, then how are we to understand the value of his sacrifice? Wasn't it devalued by temporary death? Based upon 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, both the extrinsic and intrinsic value of Christ's resurrection is discussed.

From Here To Kingdom Come

This week's touch questions is, "What is the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven?" This Palm Sunday message, taken from John 12:12-16, explores the nature and realm of the kingdom of heaven.

How Right Is Right Enough?

This Week's Tough Question: Are Catholics really Christian? If so, why? They seem to have so many "extra" beliefs that aren't found in the Bible. This message, from Romans 10, explores the difficult and controversial topic.

To Judge Or Not To Judge - That Is The Question

This week's tough question: I've had others say in the past, "how can you judge me?" How can I be perceived as not judging the person, but the action? As far as I understand, I cannnot judge others, only their action, right? I am a little confused by the word "judge." Can you clarify? From Matthew 7:1-5.

What I Learned On My Summer Vacation

Reflections on Appalachian Impact 2009. From Philippians 1:3-6.

Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right (But One Might)

This week's tough question: Is it ever wrong to do the "right" thing? For example, should Rahab have told the truth about harboring the spies, or Corrie Ten Boom hiding her Jewish neighbors? From Joshua 2:1-7

God Timing

This week's tough question: What is the interpretation of the word "day" in the first several verses of Genesis? Is it 24 hours or some other duration of time? From Genesis 1:1-6

Stand and Fight

The Bible says our that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against Satan. How do we fight this battle? From Ephesians 6:10-18.

Why Did Jesus....?

Two tough questions from the kids on Children's Sunday.

Give 'til It Doesn't Hurt

This week's toughest question: As far as I can tell, tithing is only mentioned directly in the New Testament in Luke 18:12, and then just a reference to the tradition of old. What is the New Testament context for tithing? From 2 Corinthians 9:6-8