theCHURCH Sermon Podcast

Main Point: What if you could know the one thing on earth that literally everyone else is dying to know? Scripture: Genesis 3:1-6; Matthew 16:21-27, 19:16-22, 28:19-20 Questions: 1. Read Genesis 3:1-6. Do you trust God to define what is good and what is evil? Why or why not? Explain. 2. Is it possible that we have created a cultural Jesus and a cultural Christianity? 3. Would you define yourself a...

Point: We need to trust God to lead us beyond the bounds of what we know is safe and secure. Scripture: Isaiah 43:16-21; Exodus 14:10-14 Questions: 1. Read Exodus 14:10-14 and Isaiah 43:16-18. Do you find yourself longing for the “good old days”? What about the past do you desire? 2. Read Isaiah 43:19-21. Why is it so hard to be perceptive of the ways God is working for our good and His glory? 3....

Point: Life is hazardous, but God’s goodness can shine through any situation or circumstance. Questions: 1. In what ways has our current pandemic strengthened your walk with Christ? In what ways has it challenged your walk with Christ? 2. Read verses 11-13. What are some ways we can lift up our voices to God for mercy? 3. Read verse 14. Do you find it easier to follow the commands of God or to bel...

Point: If the “side” you pick in any circumstance or issue is higher than Christ’s side then you are already on the wrong side. Scripture: Philippians 1:21-30 Questions: 1. Read Philippians 1:21-30. What does it look like to live a life worthy of the gospel? 2. How can we as theCHURCH approach the world’s problems from the side of Christ? 3. What does it mean to “stand firm in one spirit”? Explain...

Point: Jesus healed us and continues to heal us so we can join Him in healing others. Scripture: Mt. 9:35-38; 10:24-25a Questions: 1. When you “see the crowds” today, are you moved with compassion or are you moved by some other emotion? 2. What does it look like to be a “pre-responder” to the crowds in our society? 3. Do you see yourself as a laborer in God’s harvest? How are you currently making...

Point: The effectiveness of the church in the community outside highly depends on the church being a community on the inside. Scripture: 1 Cor. 12 Questions: 1. Read 1 Corinthians 12. Is unity possible even though the church is so diverse? Explain. 2. Unity is often mistaken for uniformity. How do we overcome this? What is a better understanding of unity? 3. How can people who are so different wor...

Point: Jesus didn’t die on the cross so we could make a point, He died so we could make a difference. Scripture: Luke 10:25-37 Questions: 1. What kind of approach or attitude do you have when considering racial injustice in our society? How can we align our hearts and our attitudes with Jesus? 2. Read Luke 10:25-37. Have you ever witnessed something that was wrong but didn’t know what to say or wh...

Point: We are better together when we agree to love one another Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11 Questions: 1. Read Philippians 2:1-11. What does it look like to be “One Mind” as theCHURCH family? How can we agree, even when we don’t see eye to eye? 2. When it comes to relationships in the church, where do we tend to put our preferences before considering others? How do our preferences stand in the w...

Point: Jesus sent the church to change the world but first the church must be a changed world itself Scripture: Romans 12:9-21 Questions: 1. Read Acts 2:42-47. What does a thriving Gospel-Centered Community look like and why do you think there are very few expressions of one? 2. Read Romans 12:9-21. How can we turn Gospel-Centered Living into Gospel-Centered Community? 3. When it comes to Gospel-C...

Point: Life in Christ was never intended to be lived alone. But in order to pursue this life the way He intended we must love each other the way He commanded. Scripture: Jn. 13:34-35; 1 Peter 1:22-23; Romans 12:1-2 Questions: 1. Read 1 Peter 1:22-23. What are the requirements of good, even great, friendships/relationships? Explain. 2. When Christians truly love one another how is life in Christ be...

Point:  When you pray do you seek answers more than you seek God? If all you seek is answers you probably won’t find them, but if you seek God, the answers just might find you. (M. Batterson) Scripture: Psalm 116:1-9 Questions:  1. Read verses 1-2. Do you believe that God hears your prayers? Why or why not? 2. How can we know that we are actually praying, as opposed to just thinking good thoughts...

Point:  We cannot know God if we refuse to listen to Him, nor will we understand the life He created us to live if we choose not to hear from Him. Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4; Psalm 119:9-16 Questions:  1. Read Colossians 3:1-4 and Psalm 119:9-16. What does it look like to “set your mind on things that are above”? 2. Why do you think it’s so hard for people to read God’s word? Explain. 3. Why do s...

Point: Life IN Christ means you have a new life, a new mission, a new purpose, even a new identity. It’s living the life you were created to live, a life that is made fully alive by Christ for Christ. Scripture: Colossians 2:6-10 Questions: 1. Read Verses 6-7. What does it mean to “Walk in Christ”? How can we be certain that we are IN Christ, not just around Him? 2. What does it look like to be “r...

Point: Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. Scripture: 1 Cor. 15:1; 2 Cor. 13:5 Questions: 1. How must a person’s life, heart, mind, and soul be prepared to know God personally? 2. What do you think it means to receive t...

Title: The greater story Point: Life is filled with stories and it seems that the loudest ones or the ones we like best are the ones we let lead our lives. There is only one story that is above all stories, the story on which all of creation is subject to, and that is the story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Scripture: Gen. 1-3; John 1:1-5,9-14, 17; Acts 17:22-31; Acts 4:12

Point: Though the world may shake, and though it may shake you with it, your honest working faith in an unshakable God can and will give you focus and lead you back to center. Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-2; Jeremiah 29:3-14 Questions: 1. Read Isaiah 43:1-2 and Jeremiah 29:3-14. What makes these promises ours as well as Israel’s? 2. Read Jeremiah 29:3-14 again. How can we trust God’s promise of “welfare...

Point: We the church are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Times like this require creative response rather than a careless reaction. Scripture: Luke 10:25-37 Questions: 1. Read Luke 10:25-37. It’s easy to use this pandemic as an excuse to hide away and not get involved in other people’s lives. Do you think this is what God is calling His church to do? Why or why not? 2. Read Luke 10:30-...

Point: Throughout history the church never allowed adversity and chaos to cause it to crumble. In fact it grew in adversity and thrived in chaos. Scripture: Acts 4:32-37,5:42 Questions: 1. Read Acts 4:32-37. The church was born in adversity, yet there was not a needy person among them. How can/should our church respond in the midst of the Coronavirus adversity? 2. Right now, Today, what does it lo...

Point: There are people all around you that really want to believe what you believe but they need to see that you really believe it. Scripture: Luke 10:25-37 Questions: 1. Why is it easy to avoid people in your own neighborhood even though you see them every week? Should we? Why or why not? 2. What does it mean to be a good neighbor? What is the greatest challenge to being a good neighbor? 3. What...

Point: The best way we can possibly love our family and friends is to show them Jesus. Scripture: Acts 10 Questions: 1. What is the hardest thing about living out your faith among your extended family and or friends who are not Christian? 2. Why is perfection usually the expected standard when your family and friends hear about your faith? 3. Have you ever invited your friends and family to know C...

Point: We will spend almost half of our lives either at work or in school. Jesus called us to "GO… All the time" We are not merely educated and employed, but rather - CALLED to GO. Scripture: Matt. 22:37-40; Colossians 3:22-25; Matt. 5:13-16 Questions: 1. Why do we look at places we find ourselves (work, school, etc.) as places we just need to go and BE, rather than a mission field? 2. What does i...