Sunday, November 13, 2016

Readings: Mal. 3:13-4:6; Ps. 98; 2 Thess. 3:6-16; Luke 21:5-19

Key Verse: “The sun of righteousness will rise, with healing in its wings.” Mal. 4:2

Sermon Notes for

“Looking at Life from Both Sides”

We live in two overlapping “ages”:

  1. The present age of suffering and tribulation:“Do not be terrified; for these things must take place first.” Luke 21:9. See Galatians 1:3-4: “This present evil age.”
  2. The age of God’s righteous reign (Psalm 98), the age of the “new creation”bursting into the present agethrough Jesus’ death and resurrection. See 2 Corinthians 5:17; Is. 65:17; Rev. 21:5

We live in the tension of living in and looking at life from both sides, from both of these “ages.” See John 16:33

Questions:

  1. How are we to live in the tension of enduring the sufferings and tribulations of this time, but also living in the light of the “sun of righteousness,” the “new creation” of our life in Christ? (See Rom. 12:2)
  1. 1 Cor. 13:13 “Now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” How can we live by faith, in hope, through love?

Faith: in who Jesus is and who he says I am. Heb. 11:1; 2 Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:8-9; 1 John 5:4

Hope:Suffering produces hope in us when we allow God to be our companion in suffering. Rom. 5:3-5

Love: What does love look like? Imitating Jesus. 1 Cor. 13.

Home Group Questions

Connecting with Each Other

  1. For fun: Can you think of other things you know of or experiences you have had that have a “pretty side” and a “messy side” (like Mother Susie’s knitting)
  2. When you look at the world around you or your experiences, which do you tend to see first—the “pretty” side or the “messy” side?

Connecting with God’s Word

  1. What was one thing that particularly stood out to you from last Sunday’s sermon?
  1. In the midst of “this present evil age” (Gal. 1:3-4), we are set free in order to be transformed into a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom 12:2). What do you think that transformation looks like?
  1. Read the following passages and share any insights into living by faith, in hope, through love. Heb. 11:1-3; 1 Pet. 1:3-9; 1 John 5:1-5; Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Cor. 13; Col. 3:5-14

Connecting with the Week Ahead

How easy is it for you to see God at work in both the “pretty” and the “messy” parts of your life? Think of one messy part where you struggle to see God at work.

  1. Where might God be inviting you to a deeper faith in his salvation?
  1. What do you hope for in this struggle?
  1. How might God be speaking his love to you in the midst of this struggle?

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Readings: Mal. 3:13-4:6; Ps. 98; 2 Thess. 3:6-16; Luke 21:5-19

Key Verse: “The sun of righteousness will rise, with healing in its wings.” Mal. 4:2

Sermon Notes for

“Looking at Life from Both Sides”

We live in two overlapping “ages”:

  1. The present age of suffering and tribulation: “Do not be terrified; for these things must take place first.” Luke 21:9. See Galatians 1:3-4: “This present evil age.”
  2. The age of God’s righteous reign (Psalm 98), the age of the “new creation” bursting into the present age through Jesus’ death and resurrection. See 2 Corinthians 5:17; Is. 65:17; Rev. 21:5

We live in the tension of living in and looking at life from both sides, from both of these “ages.” See John 16:33

Questions:

  1. How are we to live in the tension of enduring the sufferings and tribulations of this time, but also living in the light of the “sun of righteousness,” the “new creation” of our life in Christ? (See Rom. 12:2)
  1. 1 Cor. 13:13 “Now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” How can we live by faith, in hope, through love?

Faith: in who Jesus is and who he says I am. Heb. 11:1; 2 Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:8-9; 1 John 5:4

Hope: Suffering produces hope in us when we allow God to be our companion in suffering. Rom. 5:3-5

Love: What does love look like? Imitating Jesus. 1 Cor. 13.

Home Group Questions

Connecting with Each Other

  1. For fun: Can you think of other things you know of or experiences you have had that have a “pretty side” and a “messy side” (like Mother Susie’s knitting)
  2. When you look at the world around you or your experiences, which do you tend to see first—the “pretty” side or the “messy” side?

Connecting with God’s Word

  1. What was one thing that particularly stood out to you from last Sunday’s sermon?
  1. In the midst of “this present evil age” (Gal. 1:3-4), we are set free in order to be transformed into a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom 12:2). What do you think that transformation looks like?
  1. Read the following passages and share any insights into living by faith, in hope, through love. Heb. 11:1-3; 1 Pet. 1:3-9; 1 John 5:1-5; Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Cor. 13; Col. 3:5-14

Connecting with the Week Ahead

How easy is it for you to see God at work in both the “pretty” and the “messy” parts of your life? Think of one messy part where you struggle to see God at work.

  1. Where might God be inviting you to a deeper faith in his salvation?
  1. What do you hope for in this struggle?
  1. How might God be speaking his love to you in the midst of this struggle?