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Bruce Tissell
Psalm 40
Psalm 40_Sermon Notes
Digging Deeper as YOU DIG THE PSALMS this SUMMER:
- How does any psalm you read relate to the purpose and message of the whole collection, summarized in Psalms 1 & 2?
- Is there any indication of what occasion or author or time period this prayer came out of?
- How is this a Messianic Psalm? How do we read it as followers of Jesus? Does it predict Jesus, tie into His life, reflect a prayer He could have prayed or we could pray to Him? How does it connect to the kingdom of the Son and the promised blessing that God will pour into it?
- How could you pray this prayer or sing this song? Does it remind you of a song you know that you could sing right now?
- THE BLESSED LIFE: How are you blessed? How can you seek God’s blessing? How can you bless God’s name, the name of Yahweh, where you are in your life, dry or abundant?
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Pastor Russ Richmond
Psalms 18
Psalm 18_Sermon Notes
Digging Deeper as YOU DIG THE PSALMS this SUMMER:
- How does any psalm you read relate to the purpose and message of the whole collection, summarized in Psalms 1 & 2?
- Is there any indication of what occasion or author or time period this prayer came out of?
- How is this a Messianic Psalm? How do we read it as followers of Jesus? Does it predict Jesus, tie into His life, reflect a prayer He could have prayed or we could pray to Him? How does it connect to the kingdom of the Son and the promised blessing that God will pour into it?
- How could you pray this prayer or sing this song? Does it remind you of a song you know that you could sing right now?
- THE BLESSED LIFE: How are you blessed? How can you seek God’s blessing? How can you bless God’s name, the name of Yahweh, where you are in your life, dry or abundant?
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Pastor Steve Thomas
1 John 5:13-21
Living in light of Christ_Sermon Notes
Going Deeper:
- Read 1 John 5:13-21. What does John say is his purpose for writing 1 John?
- Read John 17:3. What does it mean to have eternal life? How would you describe the difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone?
- John links our experience of assurance of eternal life with three areas—objective truth (Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God), love (to God and neighbor) and righteous living (obedience). If you, or someone you know, is struggling with assurance, how can knowing these three areas help you guide them to assurance?
- Idolatry is usually understood as worshiping figurines. Yet, idolatry is having your heart captured by something in creation rather than the creator. Idolatry is looking to find life in something God made not in God, leading to death not life. Where do you see idolatry in our culture? What are the affects of idolatry? How could you identify idolatry in your life or another Christian’s?
- In this passage John commands us to do something (5:21) and tells us that
Jesus is doing something (5:18). What does this teach you?
Spiritual Exercise: John calls us to action in two ways in this passage. 1) Pray for those whom you know are struggling in sin—who do you need to pray for? 2) Keep yourself from idols—what do you need to do to obey this command this week?
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Pastor Steve Thomas
1 John 5:5-12
Lifes Greatest Question_Sermon Notes
Going Deeper:
- Read 1 John 5:5-12 a few times. Circle or note the times John references Jesus.
- John says Jesus came “by the water and by the blood.” Both are equally important to understand the purpose of Jesus. Water represents Jesus’ ministry of baptism (washing and new birth) and blood represents sacrificial death. Why are both
needed to understand Jesus’ saving work? What happens if you exclude or
overemphasize one or the other?
- One’s belief about who Jesus is has eternal life consequences. How do these words help you understand what “believing in” Jesus means: Entrusting, Affirming,
Accepting, Embracing, Receiving. What words would you add?
- Who does John say has eternal life? If someone, or even yourself, wanted to know if they had eternal life, what would you say?
- What will you do in your life this week in response to this passage?
Spiritual Exercise: In prayer, consider the fullness of Jesus’ saving work bringing both forgiveness of sins (“by blood”) and new life (“by water”). Are you struggling to believe Jesus has covered and forgiven specific sins in your life? Are you struggling to believe that Jesus has set you apart for new life with Him? Confess your struggle to God and know that Jesus HAS COME both to forgive and to impart new life. Rest in Him.
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Pastor Steve Thomas
1 John 5:1-5
Real Freedom Real Love_Sermon Notes
Going Deeper:
Read 1 John 5:1-5
- What are some truths John asserts about a Christian?
- What surprises or comforts you in these verses? What challenges your thinking?
- Why do you think John says the way to love other Christians is to love God and do what God commands?
- How does the world (created order in opposition to God’s good rule) make obeying God’s commands heavy? How does this shape your understanding of freedom?
- How does love remove the “burden” of obedience in relationships in your life? Does love necessitate restriction? Does real freedom require constraint?
- Consider Romans 3:20 and Galatians 5:13. How do these verses relate to love,
freedom, and obeying God?
Spiritual Exercise: This week focus on seeing opportunities to act in self-sacrificial love toward a brother or sister in Christ. Be attentive to the Spirits’ leading to share your time, possessions, or words with another of God’s beloved. Act in faith.
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Pastor Steve
1 John 4:16-21
Love Wins_Sermon Notes
Going Deeper:
- Read 1 John 4:16-21. What is one word or phrase that stands out to you?
- What is the reason for our confidence? Read Mat. 3:17 and 1 John 3:1. How does God see you in this world?
- How secure are you in the relationship of “beloved” child of God? What affect could knowing that, in Christ, you are God’s “beloved” have on your life?
- What are some reasons you struggle to love yourself or your neighbor?
- Read Revelation 2:1-7 about the church in Ephesus. What did they do well? What was Jesus’ concern? What was Jesus pathway to greater love?
- Is something restricting the flow of God’s love to you and/or through you to your neighbor? What would doing Jesus’ teaching in Rev. 2:5 look like in your life?
Spiritual Exercise: Practice gratitude this week. Each morning, begin by giving thanks to God for making you His “beloved” son or daughter through Christ. Throughout your day give thanks to God for all the gifts you can count. When something challenging arises, remind yourself you are God’s “beloved” and give thanks to Him.
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Pastor Steve Thomas
1 John 4:13-16
Breath and Word_Sermon Notes
Going Deeper:
- Read 1 John 4:13-16. What can you learn about Jesus from this passage?
- Who has been given the Spirit? Consider: Acts 2:28 and Romans 8:9-10.
- Read John 14:16-17. Look up the word παράκλητοs translated “Helper” or “Counselor” in a Bible dictionary. What does the word mean? Where else does John use the word? What is the significance of this “παράκλητος” being “another” in John 14:16?
- When you think about the Holy Spirit… what do you think? How have you seen or experienced the Holy Spirit at work in your life?
- How would you describe the relationship between the Spirit’s ministry in your life and the written words of God in the Bible? How do they interact?
Spiritual Exercise: Choose either Romans 8, John 14:12-31 & John 16, or Galatians 5. Read, study, and reflect on this passage daily this week. Then, in prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to His work in your life and how you can grow in understanding and following Jesus through His leading daily.
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Pastor Steve Thomas
1 John 4:7-12
Repercussions of God’s Love_Sermon Notes
Going Deeper:
- Read 1 John 3:11-18 and 4:7-12.What are some similarities?
- Word Study: Choose one of these three words to study through Biblehub.com or some other tool or site. What did you learn that helps you with this passage?
1) Love (ἀγάπη), 2) Propitiation (ἱλασμός), 3) Begotten (μονογενής).
- Think about the assertion: God is love. How is this different from saying “Love is God” or even “Love is love”? Why is this important?
- Is the phrase “God is love” something easy or challenging for you to believe? Why/why not? How do you deal with knowing God’s love in your personal life?
- Read Luke 7:36-50. Write down some things you learn about love. Note especially Jesus—what did he see, say, ask, and do? What does Jesus say to you in this story?
Spiritual Exercise: If you read enough about Jesus interacting with people you realize Jesus saw people differently, thought about them intentionally, and stopped to help routinely. He loved. This week, ask the Holy Spirit to change your eyes to see people like Jesus, your heart to think about people like Jesus, and your agenda to help people for Jesus. Who is Jesus helping you see? How can you love them?
