Bluffton Community

Primary Scripture : Acts 15:36-16:10 Cross References : 2 Timothy 4:11 Message Overview : God uses people to spread the Gospel. Paul separates from Barnabas in a dispute over John Mark. Paul teams up with Silas, then adds Timothy as an intern. Barnabas partners with his nephew John Mark and goes in another direction. Paul and Silas are prevented twice from going north by God, then Paul sees the vi...

Primary Scripture : Acts 15:1-35 Cross References : Acts 10:44-48; 1 Corinthians 10:23, 15:3-6; Amos 9:11-12, Isaiah 45:21 Message Overview: The true Gospel is available to all through genuine belief as marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit. But mixing this new reality with old traditions and religious preference can create conflict among well meaning people. Conflict can tear at the heart of...

Primary Scripture : 2 Peter 3:1-18 Cross References : Psalm 121:1-2, 1 Timothy 4:1 Message Overview : We have hope that Christ is set to return, that is promised! It has been nearly 2000 years since Christ ascended back to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. What’s He waiting for? Peter makes it clear that God is being patient, for our sake, with the hope that in time every knee will wi...

Primary Scripture : 2 Peter 2:1-22 (focused on v19) Cross References : Ephesians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Hebrews 13:9, 1 Timothy 4:1, Jude 1:18, Isaiah 5:19, Malachi 4:1, Psalm 90:4, Ecclesiastes 8:11, Isaiah 30:18, Luke 18:7 Message Overview : False teaching is a guarantee. Satan uses clever, destructive heresies to cause doubt and denial of God. This has been his plan since the beginning (ie....

Primary Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-21 Cross References: Philippians 3:1, Colossians 1:5, 1 John 2:21, Jude 1:5, Luke 1:2, 1 Peter 1:10, 2 Timothy 3:16. 2 Samuel 23:2 Message Overview: In week one, Peter reminds us to stand firm in our faith, making every effort to grow our faith in God and our knowledge of God. In week two, Peter shows us how to stand firm in the Truth of Scripture. Peter acknowledge...

Primary Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-11 Cross References: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, John 1:16-17, Acts 15:10-11 Message Overview: Our faith is a gift from Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, because he is just and fair. We supplement and strengthen our faith through character traits that lead to love. This growth makes us more and more useful to the Kingdom of God and less fo...

Primary Scripture : 1 Corinthians 12:11 Cross References : Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Hebrews 2:5 Message Overview : This message will help people to understand that spiritual gifts are not magic tricks, but an inner/outer working of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of sharing the gospel. People will believe that spiritual gifts must be rooted in love. People will take a step to discover w...

Primary Scripture : Acts 2:1-47 Cross References : John 7:2,37-39; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5; Galatians 5:22-23 Message Overview : This message will help people see the connection between the Festival of Booths and the giving of the Holy Spirit. People will believe that one of the Holy Spirit's primary ministries is to remind us of God's saving work through Christ...

Primary Scripture : Luke 4:1-2, 14, 18-19 Cross References : Matthew 3:12-17; 12:28; Luke 10:21; John 15:26; Acts 10:38 Message Overview : This message will help people understand that the Holy Spirit was present in Jesus' earthly life and ministry. People will believe that born again living is being filled with, led by, and empowered with the Holy Spirit. People will request resources that wi...

Primary Scripture : Isaiah 61:1-3 Cross References : 1 Samuel 10:6; 2 Samuel 23:1-2; Isaiah 11:2; Luke 1:41; 2 Peter 1:20-21 Message Overview : Through this teaching, people will understand that the Holy Spirit was essential in carrying along the gospel message before the birth of Jesus, through the voices of prophets, and by coming to specific people leading up to that time. They will believe in...

Primary Scripture : Genesis 1 Cross References : Job 26:13 (NLT especially); Isaiah 45:18; John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5 Message Overview : This message will help people understand that the Holy Spirit was involved in creation. People will believe that they need the Holy Spirit for spiritual life. People will ask the Holy Spirit to affirm Himself in them as believers. Prompting Questions : Was it just the...

Primary Scripture : Genesis 1:1-2 Cross References : Job 33:4; Psalm 139: 7-8; Romans 15:13; John 14:16; 1 Corinthians 2:11 Message Overview : This message will help people understand core truths about who the Holy Spirit is: the Holy Spirit is a person; the third person of the Trinity and equal member of the Trinity; was present at creation; active in the world, especially in the life of believer...

Primary Scripture : Romans 3:20-28; Titus 3:3-7 Message Overview : Most people can remember when they had done something bad as a child and wanting relief from guilt. Even as adults, guilt can weigh us down. Fear over our past can steal our joy in the present and cause us to be stuck in our faith. Settled and clear awareness that a Christian stands in the righteousness of Jesus before Holy God has...

Primary Scripture : Mark 1:14-15; Acts 2:36-41 Message Overview : No one believes someone who says that they are sorry for what they said if they continue to say the same things. Even an eight-year-knows the difference between words and actions. Genuine sorrow is always displayed by a change in direction. Jesus began his ministry teaching about repentance and belief. Taking time to define these tw...

Primary Scripture : Luke 15:11-32 Primary Topic : Forgiveness has the power to change our lives! Whether we receive forgiveness or grant forgiveness, there is a wonderful association with freedom that can empower us to live new. It takes a good dose of humble self-reflection to recognize and accept that forgiveness is granted and not earned. And it takes remarkable insight to see that granting for...

Primary Scripture: Acts 4:33 Primary Topic: Jesus’ resurrection IS the good news we share. Without His resurrection, there is nothing to share. Telling other people about who Jesus is and what He has accomplished seems to be the natural outflow of a life saved and changed by Jesus. Our response is EVANGELISM. Prompting Questions: What is the message the early church shared again and again? What is...

Primary Scripture: Romans 6:4; 1 Peter 1:3-5 Primary Topic: When Jesus was raised to life, He was both the same and different at the same time. His body had new abilities that His old body did not seem to have. The disciples both struggled to recognize Him and yet knew Him instantly. In the same way, through salvation, we are raised to a new kind of living, now and for eternity. The response is CO...

Primary Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 Primary Topic: Freedom from sin is one of the first implications of Jesus’ resurrection. Because Jesus has conquered sin and death, through faith, I can be set free from sin and death, too. This is a reality in an instance (through justification) and an ongoing transformation (sanctification). The invitation is to CONFESSION and REPENTANCE. Prompting Quest...

Primary Scripture: Romans 1:1-4 Primary Topic: When Jesus was raised from the dead, it was an explicit declaration: I am God. Paul wrote that Jesus was shown to “be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead...” After His resurrection, Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me.” Jesus even said He had the authority to lay down His life and take it up again. The response to Jesus is God...

Primary Scripture: Ac 2:1-4, 33 Primary Topic : Jesus’ resurrection delivered the One Who Comes Alongside: the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit: awakens, empowers, guides, causes all the implications of Jesus’ resurrection: faith to see Jesus as God, freedom from sin, empowering to live a new life, desire to share the gospel, etc. Our response to the Holy Spirit in our lives is a close relationship wi...

Primary Scripture: John 13:31-14:4 Primary Topic : Jesus is speaking to his disciples during an intimate time together before he is taken from them to be crucified. Surely he wanted to convey the lessons and instructions that were most important to them before he left. In verses 34 and 35, he gives the disciples a “new” command: to love one another as he loved them. This isn’t the first time Jesus...

Primary Scripture: John 13:12-30 Primary Topic: God’s love has no limit, his grace has no measure. Jesus was humble and gracious enough to wash his disciples’ feet, giving us an example to follow. He then predicts his betrayal by giving Judas a piece of bread dipped in the bowl. Jesus gave Judas every opportunity to turn from his sin, and showed him every kindness (John 6:70; Mt 26:24; John 13:10)...

Primary Scripture: John 13:1-17 Primary Topic: “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will” is how Jesus responds to Peter’s question. Jesus alone understood fully what He was doing. He knew the ultimate authority and power that He had as God and creator. The perfect relationship that He had with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He alone knew the level of betrayal that He was ab...

Steamed from LightHouse Community Primary Scripture: Col. 2:8-15 Primary Topic: Baptism is a physical image of a spiritual reality. Every believer should be baptized: 1) Jesus Commanded it, 2) Normal practice of the church, 3) Celebrate with other JESUS followers, 4) Be a witness to others. Prompting Questions: Who should be baptized? When should someone be baptized? What about infant Baptism? Wha...