Seeing the Unseen

By Dave Stone

Revelation 16:13

This week the sermon is based upon questions submitted from the congregation. Just for fun…how many “7s” can you find in the questions this week?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Toward which end of the “understanding God’s Word” spectrum (“I don’t get any of it” or “I’ve got it pretty much figured out”) do you gravitate? What are the dangers of each?
The danger of “I don’t get any of it” is that it could lead to discouragement and not reading or studying the Scripture at all. The danger of “I’ve got it pretty much figured out” is to read with a prideful, unteachable heart.

What are some of the benefits of God’s Word according to the following Scriptures? Which of these benefits do you need right now and why?

• Psalm 119:9,11, 98 – keeps us from sin, makes us wise
• Proverbs 6:22 – guides us
• Romans 15:4 – gives us hope for the future
• 1 Peter 2:2 – GROW in spiritual maturity
• Add your own (2 Timothy 3:16-17 – training in righteousness)
  
• Add your own (Hebrews 4:12 – cuts to the heart, life changing)
• Add your own (Psalm 19:8 – rejoices the heart)

For more benefits of God’s Word, see Core Discipleship Curriculum module 1-God’s Word: What is the Bible and How Do I Use It?

What are some of the dangers of “looking at the outside”? How can you avoid “looking at the outside?”
It is dangerous to look at the outside because the “outside” can be deceptive. Consider Jesus, King of Kings, who “on the outside” was born in a manger.

According to the following Scripture, what is the work of the Holy Spirit? Which of these would you like to experience more fully? Why?

• John 14:16 – He is a comforter
• John 16:8 – convicts us of sin
• John 16:12-14 – illuminates the Word of God, gives us understanding and insight
• Romans 8:11 – raises the dead
• Romans 8:15-16 – guarantee of salvation, our assurance of salvation
• Galatians 5:22-23 – produces fruit
• 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 – restrainer

For more on the work of the Holy Spirit, see Core Discipleship Curriculum module 2-God: Who Is He and What’s So Great About Him?

What does it mean that the Holy Spirit restrains (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7)? What will happen when God removes the Holy Spirit? Share a time when the Holy Spirit used you to restrain evil.
The removal of the Holy Spirit is not dealing with God’s omnipresence, but rather has to do with his direct indwelling of believers. When the restrainer is removed it signals the end of the “church age” (that began with Pentecost) in which the Spirit indwells believers.

Think about the John 3 monologue and Brian Welch’s testimony. How did Nicodemus and Brian Welch respond to the truth spoken to them? How can you prepare yourself to speak the truth in opportune moments?
John 19:39 indicates Nicodemus responded with belief.

To whom (unbeliever) in your sphere of influence should you speak truth? Name them and have the group pray for you.
My (Kelli) whole family has been prayed for over the last twenty years and it has been a tremendous blessing for me and my group to see answered prayers. We’ve seen God move in many lives. Keep on praying!

Moving Day – Rev. 21:1-8

By kellitempleton

Pastor Dave is moving on to Revelation 21:1-8 this week and will not cover the last two bullets from last Sunday’s review. 

A note to you the leader:  We are praying for your strength, creativity, endurance and love for your people as you continue to make disciples in your small group.  Do not grow weary in doing good.  I know this time of the year can be “flat”.  Our hope for this week is you will catch a glimpse of what God is doing in lives of your people.

Relate

1. Think about a “moving day experience.”  Was it happy or sad, why? as always, the goal here is to have some fun and give everyone an opportunity to share.

Review

1. Discuss anything from Sunday’s message that confused or challenged you. This is a good opportunity to review the outline and read the passage outloud.  Hopefully, you are opening the Bible weekly but this gives you a chance weekly.
2. Describe what is revealed about our “new home.”  (Where will it be, who will be there, what will it look like?)  It will be a restored planet Earth, believers and Christ will be there, it is beautiful, no sea, God is the light, no temple, no suffering or pain.
3. What “old things” will not be with us anymore in our new home? death, mourning, crying, pain, sin
4. How can a believer “send things on ahead” to his/her new home? Hopefully Pastor Dave covers this in depth in his 3rd point.  Rev. 14:13, Matt. 6:19-21, and 1 Tim. 6:17-19 are his talking points.  He is also referring to the Treasure Principle.  Practically speaking it sounds like giving, good deeds, sharing the gospel are things we can “send ahead”.

Application

1. What “good stuff” are you sending ahead?  Brainstorm other ideas of “good stuff” you could send ahead.  (One starter scripture: 1 Tim 6:7-19) see notes above for Review #4.  Our hope is that your group will have a robust time discussing the concept.  However, it is CRITICAL to note these things do not save us!  It is an issue of our response to being saved by the free gift of Jesus’ blood and resurrection. Jesus and His work is the treasure and we give everything to follow.
2. How do you set your heart and mind on your new home? (Col 3:1-5) Since our theme this year is “hope,” how does this stimulate yours? Again, this is personal sharing/brainstorming.  Practical ideas might be music during the day that reminds us of Jesus, reading the Word, reading the obituaries, etc.  Remember from Pastor Dave at the Leadership Launch, hope has two parts:  desired future outcome (reign with Him in the new heaven/new earth) and an expectation of fulfillment (God says so and He does not lie).  Our new home should bring us hope in the midst of suffering.
3. Read Rev 21:3. What do you think about God living with you?  How does it make you feel?  What do you think it will be like?  It will be interesting to see if your people are indifferent, comforted, or scared about the idea of living with God.  This is the fulfillment of the new covenant promised in Jer. 30:22 and should be our hope.  We are praying for honest sharing on this question so you can gage the spiritual maturity of your group.
4. Is there a specific “old thing” that YOU are looking forward to “having no more?” (e.g. rejection, poverty, disease, unrighteous leadership, marital disharmony, etc.)  Again, we hope you steer away from the general and get specific.  For example, I will be thrilled to have no more disease personally after seeing disease torment our daughter.  This might be a good question for gender-specific sharing, especially if there is marital discord.

Dig

1. Reread Rev 21:3.  What does it mean that “God will be with them and be their God?”  How is this different from what believers experience now?

This question is designed to have you 1)review the attributes of God, 2) discuss how we relate to God now, and 3) how will it be better/different in our new home.

God is with us always (Ps. 139.7-10; Heb. 13:5).  He is Spirit (Jn. 1:18, 4:24) and present everywhere (omnipresent).  Jeremiah 30:22 prophesies this a part of the new covenant we have in Jesus – he has given us a new heart and His Spirit is within us as a guarantee of more to come.  However, some of the differences include: Christ will be with us physically in our new home, we will be glorified – no sin and be able to see perfectly God’s glory. 

REVelation REView

By Dave Stone

Revelation 1:1-3

Time-lines, lists, and charts are included with this week’s online sermon notes.

UPDATE: Next week Pastor Dave will move on to chapter 21–he will not cover the last two points again. If you have questions about the last two points, send them in or text them to 509-713-2751.

RELATE

What question you would like to ask Pastor Dave? How would your small group try to answer it?

REVIEW

Summarize the time-lines Pastor Dave provided regarding prophecy and “that day.”
Illustrations, time-lines, and diagrams from Sunday’s service are available for reference in this week’s online sermon notes.

Daniel 2 describes a statue representing world kingdoms. What are the different materials each section of the statue is made of? Where are we on the statue? What’s the significance of the materials that describe us?
We are the feet of the statue (iron and clay). The significance is that the iron has an appearance of strength, but is weak because of the combination with clay. On Sunday, Pastor Dave believes the iron refers to dictatorships (relatively strong) and the clay represents democracies (relatively weak).

There are a number of pictures related to the number seven. Name seven of them.
See the online sermon notes for reference.

Jesus is unveiled as the lamb and the lion. Describe Jesus as the lamb. Describe Jesus as the lion. Share how you relate to Jesus as both the lamb and the lion.
Jesus came first as a lamb and was slaughtered. Jesus will come again as the lion and will judge righteously and reign forevermore. Use this as an opportunity to find out how your people have been affected by a biblical understanding of who Jesus is (as opposed to how our culture portrays Jesus).

What is the “mystery” (previously unrevealed truth, now revealed by God) that so amazes John in Revelation 17:1-6? What does that symbol stand for?
The mystery that amazes John is the revelation of the prostitute as the “world system” – a series of kings and rulers that will make war against the Lamb. You might discuss with your group how the “world system” carries out it’s war and how we as believers can be prepared to fight it.

How could you be blessed by hearing, reading, and keeping (applying or taking to heart) the book of Revelation? (see Revelation 1:3, 22:7, 16:15)
We are blessed when we live in light of the revelation of who Jesus is: the all-powerful, righteous, king who will one day judge everyone. We are blessed when we know how to interpret the signs of His return.

APPLICATION

As a result of our study of Revelation, have you gained a new perspective or experienced a change of heart that has influenced the way you live? (about Jesus, God the Father, or the end times)

Of all the prophecies we’ve encountered in Revelation, have any of them strengthened your faith in believing the Word of God is accurate in describing God and His plans?

As a group, do you have questions to ask Pastor Dave? You can:

1. text your question to 509-713-2751
2. submit it via the blog
3. email it to Joanne Lueck
4. write on your welcome card next week

The Book of Life

By Dave Stone

Revelation 20:11-15

This week, the APPLICATION and DIG sections are combined. Use this as an opportunity to open Bibles in your group.

RELATE

Ever been blindsided — you were involved in something, pretty confident it was headed one way, and it turned out completely different? Share with your group.
Examples: when having a baby, you were told you’d have a girl and you had a boy; Kelli’s first paycheck was significantly lower than she was expecting because of all the taxes taken out; hidden expenses in a remodeling project.

REVIEW

Looking back over this week’s sermon on the Great White Throne and the Book of Life, was there anything that confused or challenged you?

Read II Corinthians 4:4 and Matthew 7:21-23. In these passages, how are people blinded to spiritual realities? From our passage what are the potential consequences of that blindness?

Why are there no rainbows, spirits, thunders, music, etc. around the throne? What are the two adjectives that describe the throne? What are the implications?

Who are “the dead?”  Who is NOT included in this group?

APPLICATION/DIG

Do you think there are some who believe their names are written in the book but are not? How could that happen? Could there be any at Bethel?

What does it mean to be saved (justified)? Read the following verses:

• Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10-18, 23, 6:23 – What is the problem?
• Isaiah 53:6, Luke 18:13-14, John 1:12-13, 3:3-7, 14-17, Acts 2:37-38, Romans 5:8. 10:9, 13 – What is the solution? Believing/saving faith is a multifaceted act, not just an act of a simple prayer.
• John 3:15, Acts 2:38, Romans 5:1, 8:1, 8:38-39 – What are the results?

God makes it clear in 1 John 5:13 that he wants us to know we have eternal life. From the verses below, name three things that confirm we have eternal life?

• 1 John 5:9-13 – God’s Word
• Romans 8:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:5 – eternal witness of the Holy Spirit
• Colossians 1:6; 1 John 2:3-6, 1 Thessalonians 1:9 – our changed lives

Considering the two questions above, are you confident your name is written in the Book of Life?