Fletcher Church

Christ the Savior was Born . . . I. Joseph: Human Legal Father who Gives an Example of Faithfulness! (18-20, 24-25) II. Jesus: Divine Son Sent to Remedy Humanity’s Greatest Need! (21-23) Practical Implications o What circumstances are tempting you to lose focus on God? o What does ordinary faithfulness look like this season? o What about Christmas fills you with wonder?

Christmas is a Time for Missions . . . I. It Brings Gospel Clarity! (Eph 2:1-10) II. Which Leads to Gospel Commissioning! (Mt 28:18-20) Practical Implications o What stands out to you about the size of the task of lostness? The Greatness of God’s glory and gospel? o What prayer focuses can you adopt this month? o How will you determine your sacrificial giving? o To Who and where will you go?

Give thanks even when you don’t feel like it . . . I. Reason #1: God is Near and He is Working! II. Reason #2: God’s Present Faithfulness Gives Confidence for His Future Promises! III. Reason #3: The God of Jacob will Lift up the Righteous! Practical Implications o What grooves of gratitude are you cultivating for you and your family? o What circumstances of life are causing stress/anxiety? How ca...

It is GOOD to Give Thanks, Remember . . . I. Evil Flourishes but Very Temporarily! (6-7, 9) II. God Sovereignly Rules All Things Eternally! (8) III. The Righteous are Sustained & Renewed to the End! (10-15) Practical Implications o One week of no complaining/negativity Challenge: o Start a Thankful List: o Share w/ someone daily this week 1 thing you are thankful for about them:

Churches must deal w/ Sin for God’s Glory and Our Good . . . I. Who is the Focus? (10-12) II. What Warrants Attention or Discipline? (10-11) III. How do we Treat those under Discipline? (9, 11) Practical Implications o How can we examine ourselves more deeply than others? o How can you more consistently fight sin in community? o What about Jesus moves you to repentance?

Undealt with Sin Corrupts the Whole Church, so How do we deal with Sin? I. We Recognize Sin’s Destructive Effects on People and the Church! (1-2a; 6) II. We Address Sin Biblically! (2b-5a; 7a) III. We Apply the Gospel Actively! (5b, 7b-8) Practical Implications What obstacles arise when you think about dealing w/ sin? How can you practically fight sin and help others do the same? What about the go...

Elders Shepherd God’s Church . . . I. What is the Task? (1-2a) II. What should we Watch Out For? (2a-4) III. How should you Respond? (5) Practical Implications Charges to Elders o Shepherd your own Soul and Family: o Shepherd God’s People Sacrificially: o Believe, Impart & Contend for the Word: [Ti 1:9; Jd 1:3] Charges to Church o Pursue Spiritual Growth (yours and others): o Pray for your Lea...

Christ-Centered Relationships are Key to Spiritual Formation... I. Seek to Admonish not Shame Others! (14-15) II. Offer both Example and Instruction! (16-17) III. Tailor Your Posture to their Response! (18-21) Practical Implications o Where do you tend to use guilt/shame as motivators? o What can you invite others to observe to help them imitate? o Do you tend to err on the side of discipline or g...

Gospel Application Uproots Pride, Creating Faithful Leaders & Followers… I. Creating Humility: Who do you think you are? (6) II. Creating Gratitude: What do you have that you haven’t received? (8-10)III. Creating Resilience: Why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (11-13 Practical Application • Where do you see pride in your life? How does remembering the gospel create humility? • Where...

Christ is a Better Judge Who Gives the Better Verdict . . . I. People Pleasing: Living for Others Approval! (1-3) II. Self-Pleasing: Living up to My Standards! (3c-4a) III. Jesus Pleasing: Living for His Glory by His Grace! (4b-5) Practical Implications o Which judge are you most prone to try to please? o What are some ways this misshapes your life? o What would it look like specifically to live i...

Christ-Centered Wisdom Warns and Instructs . . . I. Beware of Harming the Church: Remember God dwells in and among us! (16-17) II. Beware of Self-Deception: Follow the Path to True Wisdom! (18-20) III. Beware of False Boasting: Boast in Christ b/c all is Ours in Him! (21-23) Practical Implications o What does it mean for us practically that we are the holy place? o How can you discern areas of sel...

God-Centered Perspective Reframes our Thinking . . . I. How Should we think about Ourselves and Our Leaders? (5-9) II. How should we think about Our Lives and What they are Building? (10-15) Practical Implications o What are some ways self is too central in your life? o What are you building with your life? o What would it look like for Christ to be the foundation for all of life?

The Mature Embrace Christ-Centered Wisdom . . . I. Comes from Revelation not Discovery! (2:9-13) II. Should be Progressive; beware of Stalling! (2:14-3:2) III. Can be Tested; Wisdom always Acts! (3:3-4) Practical Implications o What are some of your areas of maturity? Immaturity? o What is your plan to progress or keep progressing? o Where is the flesh still dominant in your life? The Spirit?

The Mature Embrace Christ-Centered Wisdom . . . I. They Recognize the Difference Between Worldly Wisdom and God’s! (6-9) II. They Base their Wisdom on God’s Revelation not Human Understanding or Eloquence! (10-13) Practical Implications o What lens/wisdom most informs your daily life? o How often are you spending meaningful time in the word? o Prepare for Supper: (Warning, Welcome, Worship)

Knowing the crucified Christ humbles the wise, transforming the soul . . . I. Creating Meek Messengers Who Deliver an Unassuming Message! (1-3) II. By Rejecting the Persuasion of Gimmicks in Favor of Spirit-Filled Power! (4) III. Whose Faith Rests in the Power of God Rather than the Wisdom of Man! (5) Practical Implications o In what ways have you died to yourself lately? Do you need to? o What ha...

Christ-Centered Boasting is the Key to Unity . . . I. Consider Yourself: It’s Humbling! (26) II. Consider God’s Work: It Exalts Him! (27-28) III. Consider God’s Purpose: to Save for His Glory! (29-31) Practical Implications o What worldly boasts/values most tempt you? o What 5 things can you “brag” on Jesus about? Who can you voice that to? o How can you move one step closer in your relationships?

Be Confident in the Scandalous Message of the Cross . . . I. Am I ok being thought Foolish because of my Confidence in the Cross? (18-20) II. Do I want to make God more Palatable vs being Confident in His Self-Revelation? (21) III. Do I chase Experiences or Evidence instead of Simple Certainty in Christ? (22-25) Practical Implications o Where am I tempted to be embarrassed of the cross and its val...

An Appeal for Christ-Centered Unity and Community . . I. A Christ-Centered Appeal! (10) II. A Man-Shaped Reason! (11-12) III. A Cross-Shaped Way Forward! (13-17) Practical Implications o How can you practically foster a deeper unity with others? o Where are the tears in your relationships? o Continue your 30-Day Speaking Challenge: o Prepare for the Supper:

Lots to Be Thankful for, God is Faithful . . . I. We have a New Identity in Christ! (1-3) II. We have been Given Grace to Wait Faithfully Together for Christ! (4-6) III. We are Secured to Stand Guiltless before Him in Christ! (7-9) Practical Implications o What Old Identity most often defines you? o What can you give thanks for in someone daily? o How faithful are you with your gifts, passion and...

The Gospel Speaks to the Everyday Stuff of Life . . . I. Jesus-Centered Unity to Mend Division! (Ch 1-4) Key Verses: 1:18, 23-24 II. Jesus’ Faithfulness Speaks to Marriage, Intimacy, Singleness & Calling! (Ch 5-7) Key Verses: 5:7, 6:11,20 III. Gospel Love Governs Gospel Freedoms! (Ch 8-10) Key Verses: 8:1, 10:31-33 IV. Jesus’ Sacrifice Gives Purpose and Direction to our Gatherings! (Ch 11-14)...

Pray for an Ever-Deepening Intimate Knowing of God . . . I. Who do we Pray to? (15-17a) II. What do we pray for? (17b-18a) III. Why do we need that? (18b-23) Practical Implications o What 5 names or qualities of God are most precious to you? o How can you prioritize and pursue knowing God deeply? o If you 100% believe this- what is one thing you would do different this week?

Prayer is Foundational to the Transformed Life. Becoming like Jesus means loving others, as Jesus did. As we are transformed into the image of Christ, our prayers can move mountains. Pray God will use prayer to transform us into the image of Jesus and use our prayers to work his will and transform the world. 

Pray & Work for a Unity that Enhances Mission . . . Pray and Work . . . I. For a Unity with Content: The Gospel Word! (20) II. For a Unity that is Robust: Relational Richness of the Trinity! (21, 22) III. For the Purpose of Unity: Missions! (21, 23, 25) IV. With Heart of Missions: God’s Love (23,26) V. Looking to the Destination of Missions: Heaven (24) Practical Implications o How much does t...

Jesus Guards Our Faith Through Prayer . . . I. Meditate on the Sacrificial Work of Christ Which Offers Eternal Life! (1-5) II. Rejoice That Jesus Keeps You by His Word & Power! (6-14) III. Give Your Life to Reflect His Glory & Share His Story! (15-19) Practical Implications o Whose glory are you praying for? Living for? o How has the ministry of Christ produced joy in you lately? o Where i...

The Gospel Moves us from Shameful to Singing . . . I. See and Grieve our Sin as Sin! (1-5) A. Pitfalls: 1. Excuse, minimize, blame shift 2. Measure Manward vs. Godward 3. Law of God vs. Heart of God 4. Act of sin vs. Depths of Sinfulness II. Confess the Forgiving & Restoring Grace of God! (6-9) III. Seek Change by God’s Empowering Grace! (10-17) Practical Implications o Where do you get hung u...