It was good to hear the message that God gave to Josh this past Sunday.  He spoke from the text in James 1:22-27 with a message entitled “Authentic Christians.”  You can find the message here.

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This morning, I came across a blog dedicated to “Practical Shepherding” for pastors.  It’s very helpful and a recent post gives some good tips for how we all can help minister to the widows and others in need in our church body.

HT: Challies

Tim

Small Group Discussion Questions from the message “The Prophesied Kingdom” by Mike Hanafee on December 13, 2009.

Quick Review:

1. What is the Bible about? (The Bible is about God restoring His Kingdom on earth through Jesus)
2. What is the kingdom of God? (God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule experiencing God’s blessing.)
3. Talk through the ground covered so far.  (pattern/perished/promised/partial – remember people/place/rule & blessing for each)

The Prophesied Kingdom

1. What were the 2 predominant messages of the prophets? (Judgment & Hope)  Give some examples. (Amos is covered in the early part of the message)
2. Was preaching judgment popular back then? (Jeremiah – told to shut up)
3. Why did they proclaim judgment was coming?  (turned to other gods)
4. Should we talk of judgment today, & if so, how?  (Can’t preach Cross without judgment)

In the face of stark warnings, descriptions, & explanations of judgment the prophets proclaim a glorious hope.

1. Who will be God’s people? (a remnant of Israel/Isaiah 10:20-21, inclusion of nations/Isaiah 49:6) What do they say what the Servant will do for these people? (Isaiah 53)
2. What is the connection between Jesus being called Light for the nations (& later saying, “I am the Light of the world”) & our being told by Him to let out light shine?  What specifically might this mean for your small group?
3. Where will God’s people dwell? (New Temple/Ezekiel 40-48, New Creation/Isaiah 65:17-18) In what ways can we “preview” this new creation?
4. How will God’s people be ruled & blessed? (New Covenant/Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Joel 2:28-32; New King/Isaiah 9:6-7, Great Blessing for all peoples) Why is the New Covenant superior to the Old Covenant? (Actually forgives sin & changes our hearts)  What should this mean for daily living?
5. Talk about how prophecies are fulfilled Christologically & not in a wooden literal fashion.  (I.e. Amos 9:11-12 & Acts 15:16-17 – who knew?  In the beginning of the sermon note the illustration on how the fulfillment of prophecies breaks the boundaries of the categories in which the prophecies were given. Important for next week)

Small Group Discussion questions from the message “The Perished Kingdom” by Josh Tuttle on November 29, 2009

Intro
1.  Talk about the different ways of reading/referencing the Bible (recalling Mike’s analogy using a phone book and a biography).

2.  Does Scripture have a big storyline, and if so, what is it?  Is there a danger of missing the storyline in individual stories?

The Pattern of the Kingdom – Read Genesis 2:7-15

3.  Go around the group and think of adjectives to describe the original kingdom in Eden.

4.  What were the primary relationships in the garden and what were they like?  What hope can we find in our relationships in light of how God created them to be?

The Perished Kingdom – Read Genesis 3:6-24

5.  What evidences do we have today of the fall?  Discuss your answers.

6.  How might you become guilty of “law making” instead of submitting to God’s rule?  (try to get beyond the theoretical to the practical)

The Promised Kingdom – Read Genesis 17:1-8
7.  How has God’s blessing been shown to Abraham’s offspring?  To all people?