Sermon Notes - Nov. 8th | Armor of God - Prayer

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

 

Four Final Calls to Spiritual Battle 

 

Pray in the Spirit

Romans 8: 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

 

In Romans 8, Paul implores Christ-followers to live as people of the Spirit. If we receive  Christ, then we are in dwelt by the Holy Spirit.  When we connect with God in prayer – it is a connection through the Holy Spirit – not just through our words.

 

Pray for all the Lord’s people

Matthew 6:9 “OUR Father” – Christ teaches a prayer meant to strengthen our relationship with God and with each other. (I appreciate and can feel the many prayers being lifted up for me by so many of you!)

 

Pray also for me

Asking for prayer can be a hard step for some of us. Asking others to pray for you helps reveal your heart and gives you spiritual direction and power in your life. What are your prayer requests? Who are you sharing them with?

 

Pray to be bold

Paul’s repeated request is to be “fearless” in sharing the Gospel. May our prayer request for one another give us the same desire to “know Christ and to make Him known.”

 

 

Sermon Notes for Nov. 1

Sermon notes helmet of salvation and sword of Spirit
Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The essential priority of our relationship with God
A helmet would protect the most important part of a soldier. Salvation is the most important decision we will ever make.
Are you saved? Can you share your story?
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The essential promise of the word of God
A soldier knew the responsibility of battle. A Christ follower knows the responsibility of knowing God’s Word and putting it into practice.
Do you have a memory verse? Have you read and studied God’s Word this week?
Suggested topics: Romans 8, “one another”, 3 tenses of salvation, thankfulness, . . .

Small Group guide /Sermon notes Oct. 25th

Sermon notes for the shield of faith

 

Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.


Develop a faith protects and  perseveres the enemies attacks

Even with truth, righteousness, and the gospel of peace – we can still feel like we are being attacked. A shield is something designed for extra protection and it must be purposely carried. Roman shields were designed to be large (up to 3 ½ ft tall and 3 feet wide) and used together by a group for as much protection as possible.


Discover a faith protects others from the enemy as well

Here’s two descriptions of the early believers:

Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Acts 16:40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.

 

             Sermon Notes for August 30th


Opening Introduction: Share your name and whether you have ever had a garden – or even a houseplant. Share about your “green thumb” (or lack thereof) and limit yourself to 2 minutes (this is a Bible study – not “Gardener’s World”).


Choose the person who grew the biggest tomato to read: John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 (a) Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. (b)No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.


5 points of the sermon and topics for discussion:

Metaphor of Creation (reread vs. 1): Did your gardening teach you any spiritual or life lessons? Choose someone to read Genesis 2:8-18 (clap for them with every name they read in 10-14 – we all need some encouragement). What does Genesis 2:18 teach us about being alone? Why might be feel more alone today?

Motivation of Correction (reread verse 2): What bad habit do you want to stop (procrastination, anger, denial of bad habits)? Name a group that helps people stop bad habits? What do these groups offer? *Transformation BONUS!! Find one person this week (maybe someone from your group) to trust to share your struggle to give up that bad habit. 

Magnitude of Christ’s absolution (reread verse 3): Choose someone who wears glasses read 2 Peter 1:8-10. Share anything you remember from the last 7 weeks in church. How do we remember that Christ has made us clean according to these verses? How does that change our attitude and actions?


Mutuality of Cooperation (reread verse 4a): Name and explain something that requires “cooperation”. How is Christ dependent on you to work in you? How (in practical ways) do you depend on Christ?

Mission of Connection (reread verse 4b): Ask one of the gardeners in the group, “How do you know when something is ready to pick?” Ask 3 people who ate watermelon this month to read Matthew 7:16-20, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:9-14. What might the Bible include as a definition of “fruit”? How could you bear more?

Share prayer requests and have the person who talked most to close in prayer! (Sincere thanks for being willing to share and verbalize – you are appreciated!) See you next week!



         Sermon Notes  for Aug 23rd

    


Remember 2 Peter 1:5-7 talks about adding to our faith: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love. 

 

 2 Peter1: 8-11:  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.  For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The blessings that follow in 2 Peter 1:8-11

Blessing 1- Godly maturity that accompanies your developing maturity.

Blessing 2-Growing productivity (v 8)-“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Blessing 3-Greater clarity (v 9)-“But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind”

Blessing 4-Grateful memory (v 9)-“forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins”

Blessing 5-Genuine stability (v 10)-“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.”

Blessing 6-Guaranteed security (v 10)-“For if you do these things, you will never stumble”

Blessing 7-Glorious eternity (v 11)-“you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

 

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever, Amen.”

-2 Peter 3:18

Glorify God by continuing to grow!!!