Anatomy of Discipleship – Romans 6:13

By Dave Stone

Proverbs 4:20-27, 6:12-19
Romans 6:13, 7:21-25, 12:1-2

This week’s questions will focus in on personal areas of struggle. To facilitate transparent sharing, consider breaking into gender specific groups.

1. Evaluate your walk as a follower of Jesus in the last two months:
Note that it’s just in the last two months…we’re trying to help people be specific. The goal of these questions: acknowledge the problem, identify points of temptation, and make decision early to avoid it.

• What specific things have you done to stay on the path? - daily Bible reading, accountability, reviewing the Gospel regularly, fasting, prayer
• Identify an area where you have wandered off the path. - eg. For me (Kelli) Discontentment
• Do you tend to fail in a specific area repeatedly? - yes, especially if I look at Target ads or shop online…seeing things I want for my home makes me discontent with what I have.
• Why is this your tendency? it’s my tendency because I expose myself to the Target ads/online shopping
• What do you need to do to avoid this pitfall?
  I’ve learned not to look at the Target ads; to be thankful and develop a heart of gratitude. And, when I do “need” I use cash..

2. Read Proverbs 6:12-19. Identify the seven abominations and give an example of each. When have you been involved in any of these and brought trouble to yourself or others as a result? How do these practices impact our personal witness? our Christian unity? our reputation in the community/at work/in our family? the reputation of Jesus?

1. Haughty eyes is to think better of yourself after looking at someone else (comparison).
2. Lying tongue…there is a range of deceit, from white lies to tax fraud.
3. Hands that shed innocent blood…from hatred to murder.
4. Heart that devises wicked plans…from manipulation to adultery to wild parties.
5. Feet that make haste to run to evil…having no boundaries, if it feels good, do it.
6. False witness…from slander to gossip.
7. Sows discord among brothers…from complaining to stubbornness toward authority.

These practices impact our personal witness negatively. Who would follow Christ if this is what He represents?

3. Read Romans 7:21-25; 8:1-2, 35-39:

• Do you identify with Paul’s struggle?
  Use this question as a barometer for your group. Encourage those who struggle by noting that the Holy Spirit is helping them fight back. Warn those who do not struggle with sin that they may not be saved.
• Does the war with sin discourage you?
  Or does it encourage you to pray that Jesus returns quickly?
• How does Romans 8:1-2, 35-39 give you hope in your struggle with sin?
  Not even sin or our struggle can separate us from the love of God in Jesus. This is what motivates us to stay in the battle, to fight, to persevere.

4. Who among your unchurched friends is experiencing difficult circumstances? Pray for them. Is there anything from this discussion or the sermon that you could share with them as encouragement?

Heaven Came Down – Revelation 21:9-22:5

By Dave Stone

Revelation 21:9-22:5

RELATE

1. Share a story (lovingly and with permission) about a relative’s quirky habit which may have initially irritated you but now endears them to you.
2. Read Revelation 21:9-22:5. Is New Jerusalem a place you would pick as a vacation spot? Why or why not? What’s missing in the description that would make you want to go there?
   Ask people what attracts them to the city. Chris wants to see Jesus’ face. Bob wants to see the crystal clear water…how deep can you see? I (Dave Stone) want to know what restaurants will be there. Kelli likes that she wouldn’t need sunscreen. Bob thinks that New Jerusalem is so much better, there is hardly a way for us to begin to understand how great it really is.

REVIEW

1. Is there anything from the sermon that particularly challenged or confused you?
2. What was John’s first impression of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:11a?
   John’s first impression of New Jerusalem is that the glory of God radiates from it. If we were to “reconstruct” the city according to John’s description, it would not have the glory of God.
3. What is temporary about this current world? What is not?
   We expect Pastor Dave to offer some good insights into this question during point 1. One of the temporary things mentioned in the text is the curse (and all that comes with it--pain, sorrow, tears, death, etc.). As has been said before during our study of Revelation, the Word of God and people are not temporary.
4. According to Revelation 21:27, what is required to be a citizen of New Jerusalem?
   Your name needs to be in the Lamb’s book of life. We’re still hearing reports of people saying they are not sure their name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. Use this as an opportunity to ask the people in your group.

APPLICATION

1. In the next week, share with an unchurched person how and why you were involved with ShareFest. Who might you share with, and what would you say?
2. What attracts you most to the New Jerusalem?
   This question can reveal what our hearts value. Hint: note that all these jewels and gold are used merely as construction materials. So the real valuable things must be something else. (Bob) Just think, even the pavement is beautiful! I (Dave Stone) am looking forward to being free from the battle with sin, it will have been put to death in me completely.
3. God describes the New Jerusalem in terms of light and riches because it is His dwelling place. Today, if you are a believer, you are His dwelling place. What light and riches are in your life that demonstrate the glory of God?
   Encourage people not to just think about the totality of their life, but individual things they have done or tend to do because of their belief in Jesus. For example, I get angry but I don’t say anything, I put myself out for other people, I give some of my money so that others’ lives would be better, etc.

DIG

1. What do you learn about the “glory of God” in each of the following passages?

• Psalm 19:1 -- the heavens declare the glory of God
• Romans 1:19-27 -- This passage has a different response to the glory of God than the sermon’s passage. You either embrace the glory of God or the glory of something else (Paul mentions idols…for more information on modern day idols, see Tim Keller’s book Counterfeit Gods, by the way, Tim Keller is one of the speakers at this year’s Global Leadership Summit.) Here is Tim on why he wrote Counterfeit Gods:
  

• 2 Corinthians 4:6 -- We can share the light of the knowledge of the glory of God when we speak the truth of the Gospel.
• Hebrews 1:3 -- Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God, the perfect imprint.
• Revelation 21:23 -- The glory of God brings light.

Angel Angle – Rev 21:9

By Dave Stone

For this week’s sermon, Pastor Dave focuses on Revelation 21:9.

RELATE:

Pastor Dave said that angels don’t select their own assignments. God assigns them. Do remember a time when you think God gave you an assignment? Tell about it. How did it turn out?

REVIEW:

1. From the sermon and other biblical references, share what you know about angels. (Suggested questions. Who are they? Where did they come from? What are they like? What do they do? What about fallen angels?)
2. In our study of Revelation, angels have had various assignments. Can you recall any of them? Recall other assignments given to angels in other books of the Bible.
3. Point IIA states that angels have authority to act because they’re working under God’s authority. Read Matthew 8:5-13. Whose authority was the centurion under? What kind of authority do you think he exercised? Why does Jesus make such a big deal about the centurion’s statement? (see verses 9 & 10)
4. Just like angels, we are given authority. How does “blaming” others take away our authority?

APPLICATION:

1. Read point IIIA. Discuss what it means and how we can apply it.
2. Refer back to question 3 in the review section. How does the issue of being under authority apply to us? What authority has God given believers? Do you have any stories about that authority being used properly? How about improperly?
3. Has God given you authority in some area that you’re not exercising appropriately?
4. Have you ever focused more on how people might respond to you carrying out the assignment God has given you than faithfully carrying out the assignment? Share about it. How did it work out?

DIG:

Read Matt 18:15-20. Verse 20 is often quoted in prayer meetings, but that isn’t the meaning of this passage. What is the core issue of these verses? Who’s exercising authority? What actions take place in the exercise of that authority? In this passage what is the promise God gives in the proper exercise of authority?

Mission is People – Luke 21:1-9

By Dave Stone

This week we have a guest speaker, Moses Pulei.

Luke 21:1-9

What principles from this text should guide our financial giving? How does your giving measure up to these principles?
The main principle is that giving is a matter of the heart, not the amount. Another principle is that our giving patterns reflect our heart.

For each Scripture below, identify a principle(s) of financial giving. How do you measure up against them and what changes should you make to live these principles?
Proverbs 3:9 – giving off the top of our paychecks, as our first act with our finances, honors God
Haggai 2:8, 1 Corinthians 4:2 – everything belongs to God, we are stewards who need to manage money according to God’s values
Malachi 3:8-10 – we can rob God by not giving our tithes (10%) and offerings (above 10%)
Luke 12:34 - where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 - by giving to God we are store up a strong foundation in Heaven

Read Luke 20:45-21:4. What comparison is Jesus making between the scribes (teachers of the law) and the widow? How do you think we should apply this to our lives?
Jesus publicly rebukes the Scribes and praises the widow. Remember last week’s lesson about the danger of looking only at the outside. In this passage, the danger is looking only at the amount given and not the heart behind it.

Jesus makes the point in verses 5 and 6 that the temple was not the important thing because it was destined for destruction. Our guest speaker, Moses, makes the point that people are our mission. Are there any “temples” (anything taking away from the importance of people) in your life?
Be sure to pray for each other.

What are you doing to build into or invest in others? (see point IIIc and IIId)

Remembering last week’s dramatic presentation and the Brian Welch video, share about any opportunities you had to speak an “honest observation” recently.