1.In what ways does prayer for your brothers and
sisters in Christ strengthen your bond with one another, and strengthen your
faith in God.
2. Look at
Philippians 1:6. How does this verse
bolster your faith and encourage you to remain steadfast through suffering?
3.Paul saw a purpose to his suffering and rejoiced
in the rising opportunities that came through it. How might you better grasp the opportunities
present in this season of life and use them for God’s glory?
Here is a little "sermonette" as some midweek encouragement!
Shortly before Corona Virus required us to connect as the church virtually rather than in person, I preached a Sunday sermon on Lazarus being raised from the dead, and how Jesus often uses times of suffering for our good and His glory.
This is a shortened version of that sermon. I hope you find it an encouraging reminder.
1.Can you think of a time when God opened your
eyes to a spiritual truth you hadn’t recognized before?
2.Can you think of a time in your life when God used
another Christian to walk alongside and support you in a dark time?Is there is anyone in your life that God may
be calling you to walk alongside?
3.Are there experiences in your life that in hindsight
you can look back on and recognize God was with you?Knowing God is with you, how does this truth
change your perspective of trials?
4.How does the hope of the resurrection inform the
direction of your life?
When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride
Forbid me Lord that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my God All the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to His blood
See, from His head, His hands, His feet Sorrow and love flow mingled down Did e'er such love and Sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Were the whole realm of nature mine That were an offering far too small Love so amazing, so divine Demands my soul, my life, my all
Lord Have Mercy
Jesus, I've forgotten the words that You have spoken Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom Forgive me for my unbelief Renew the fire again
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy Lord have mercy on me Repeat
I have built an altar where I worship things of men I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing Pardon my transgressions Help me love You again
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy Lord have mercy on me Repeat
I have longed to know You and Your tender mercies Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence Your grace forever shining Like a beacon in the night
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy Lord have mercy on me Repeat
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy Lord have mercy on me Repeat
Grace That Is Greater Than All Our Sin Marvellous grace of our loving Lord Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt Grace grace God's grace Grace that will pardon and cleanse within Grace grace God's grace Grace that is greater than all our sin Sin and despair like the sea waves cold Threaten the soul with infinite loss Grace that is greater yes grace untold Points to the refuge the mighty Cross
Grace grace God's grace Grace that will pardon and cleanse within Grace grace God's grace Grace that is greater than all our sin Dark is the stain that we cannot hide What can avail to wash it away Look there is flowing a crimson tide Whiter than snow you may be today Grace grace God's grace Grace that will pardon and cleanse within Grace grace God's grace Grace that is greater than all our sin His Mercy is More
What love could remember no wrongs we have done Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more Stronger than darkness, new every morn Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
What patience would wait as we constantly roam What Father, so tender, is calling us home He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more Stronger than darkness, new every morn Our sins they are many, His mercy is more So much more
What riches of kindness He lavished on us His blood was the payment, His life was the cost We stood 'neath a debt we could never afford Our sins they are many, His mercy is more So much more!
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more Stronger than darkness, new every morn Our sins they are many, His mercy is more Praise the Lord, His mercy is more Stronger than darkness, new every morn Our sins they are many, His mercy is more Praise the Lord, His mercy is more Stronger than darkness, new every morn Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
I see the King of Glory Coming on the clouds with fire The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes, yeah I see His love and mercy Washing over all our sin The people sing, the people sing
Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest
I see a generation Rising up to take their place With selfless faith, with selfless faith I see a near revival Stirring as we pray and seek We're on our knees, we're on our knees
Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest
Heal my heart and make it clean Open up my eyes to the things unseen Show me how to love like You have loved me Break my heart for what breaks Yours Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause As I walk from earth into eternity
Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest In the highest In the highest Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest
Enough
All of you is more than enough for all of me For every thirst and every need You satisfy me with Your love And all I have in You is more than enough
You are my supply My breath of life And still more awesome than I know You are my reward worth living for And still more awesome than I know
All of you is more than enough for all of me For every thirst and every need You satisfy me with Your love And all I have in You is more than enough
You're my sacrifice Of greatest price And still more awesome than I know You're my coming King You are everything And still more awesome than I know
More than all I want More than all I need You are more than enough for me More than all I know More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me
All of you is more than enough for all of me For every thirst and every need You satisfy me with Your love And all I have in You is more than enough
Sermon Questions:
1. Israel's dreams for the Messiah were too small; wanting salvation from Rome, rather than from sin and death. What roles do we assign to Jesus that are of less value than the treasure he offers?
2. What lessons do we take from the fruitless fig tree (Mark 11:12-14; 20-25)?
3. What fake plastic pearls do you hold too tightly? Are they getting in the way of a greater treasure God has for you?
4. Look once again at Jesus' words about prayer in Mark 11:22-24. Now, look at Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:39). How do these passages fit together? How do they inform the way we pray?
Do you feel the world is broken? (We do) Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do) But do you know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through? (We do) Do you wish that you could see it all made new? (We do)
Is all creation groaning? (It is) Is a new creation coming? (It is) Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is) Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll? The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave He is David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
Is He worthy? Is He worthy Of all blessing and honor and glory? Is He worthy of this? He is
Does the Father truly love us? (He does) Does the Spirit move among us? (He does) And does Jesus, our Messiah, hold forever those He loves? (He does) Does our God intend to dwell again with us? (He does)
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll? The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave He is David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
From every people and tribe (People and tribe) Every nation and tongue (Every nation and tongue) He has made us a kingdom and priests to God To reign with the Son
Is He worthy? Is He worthy Of all blessing and honor and glory? Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Is He worthy of this?
He is, He is Is He worthy? Is He worthy? He is, He is He is worthy, He is worthy He is
Be Unto Your Name
We are a moment, You are forever Lord of the Ages, God before time We are a vapor, You are eternal Love everlasting, reigning on high
Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain Highest praises, honor and glory Be unto Your name, be unto Your name
We are the broken, You are the healer Jesus, Redeemer, Mighty to save You are the love song we'll sing forever Bowing before You, blessing Your name
Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain Highest praises, honor and glory Be unto Your name, be unto Your name Be unto Your name...
Sermon Questions:
1.Peter identifies his Christian audience
as elect, foreknown, sanctified, obedient to Christ, and sprinkled with his
blood (cleansed/forgiven). How do these
descriptors of the Christian life fuel our hope?
2.How is it that trials can reveal the
genuineness of our faith?
3.Peter commands us to “conduct yourselves
with fear throughout your time of exile.
We see a lot of fear in the world right now. How is the fear the Christian is commanded to
practice different from the fear we are commanded to surrender?
4.What words, phrases or thoughts stuck out
to you from todays scripture passage? How
will you respond?
When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast. I could never keep my hold through life's fearful path; For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast.
He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast; For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast; Precious in his holy sight, He will hold me fast. He'll not let my soul be lost; His promises shall last; Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast.
He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast; For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast.
For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast; Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast. Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast 'Till our faith is turned to sight, When He comes at last!
He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast; For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast.
I Need Thee Every Hour
I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord; No tender voice like Thine, Can peace afford. I need Thee, O I need Thee, Every hour I need Thee! O bless me now, Savior, I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, Stay Thou near by; Temptations lose their power, When Thou art nigh. I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee! O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, In joy or pain; Come quickly and abide, Or life is vain. I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee! O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.
Sermon Questions
1.In what
ways does God’s sovereignty over all history bring hope in the midst of this
pandemic?Can you think of ways God has
used tragedies, conflicts, and pains of the past to bring forth his glory?
2.Many of the things we seek our security,
significance, and acceptance in have been stripped away in this time of pandemic. Is God revealing to you any idols you have
clung to? If so, what are they. In what ways does God accomplish what these
idols cannot?
3.God strengthens us, who seem helpless, to
accomplish great things through his strength and for his glory. As we face this pandemic as the Church, how
can we bring glory to God and hope to the world
