Game of Thrones
#13. The Sacrificial Heart
December 18, 2016 • John Carrano
David understood that he was covered by a grace he didn't deserve, and at every turn he re-postured and surrendered his heart back to God. If we approach our relationship to God with a heart that is fully surrendered to Him, God will show up in a profound way. In this week's message, Lead Pastor John Carrano closes our series with teaching from Chapters 22-24 of 2 Samuel on having a sacrificial heart. . . . Reflection Question - Craft a prayer of surrender to His Kingship and Lordship Challenge - Make the intentional decision: I am His! - Keep your heart aligned and connected to the Father! - Be a living sacrifice! Live as father has called you to! Scripture - 2 Samuel 24:24 - 1 Kings 3:3-10 - Psalm 51:16-17 - Romans 12:1-2 - Matthew 6:33
#12. Rooftops
December 11, 2016 • John Carrano
After 20 years of being king, David has a moral failure. He was supposed to be in battle, but he's on a rooftop; and as a result, his character and integrity are compromised. When confronted about what he had done, David is truly repentant and realigns both his posture and heart to God. If you find yourself on a rooftop, is this your response? In this week's message Lead Pastor John Carrano continues our series with teaching from Chapters 6-12 of 2 Samuel on rooftops. . . . Reflection Questions - What rooftop(s) are you on? - Are you sorry? Or repentant? - What in the unseen areas of your life do you need to surrender to God? Challenge - Allow God to lead you! Be determined to be where you are supposed to be! - Keep a repentant heart, surrendered to the Father! Scripture - 2 Samuel 6:21-22 - 2 Samuel 8:6 - 2 Samuel 9:1 - 2 Samuel 11:1-5 - 2 Samuel 11:27 - 2 Samuel 12:12-13
#11. Centred and Grounded
December 4, 2016 • Susan Kennedy
Despite his life being full of unexpected turn of events, David kept himself centred and grounded because his focus was on pleasing God. If we're honest with ourselves, is our focus the same? How do we keep ourselves centred and grounded when things don't turn out the way we hoped? In this week's message Susan Kennedy continues our series with teaching from chapters 25 and 6 of 1 and 2 Samuel on being centred and grounded. . . . Reflection Questions - Is there an area of your life where you know you are "missing the mark"? - Have you been careless or inconsistent in reading the Bible? - Is God the filter for your decisions, attitudes and all of the areas of your life? Scripture - Deuteronomy 32:35 - 1 Samuel 25:26-33 - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 - 1 Chronicles 13:2-3 - Proverbs 3:6
#10. The Two Caves
November 27, 2016 • John Carrano
Like David, sometimes we find ourselves in caves, but just because you are in a cave it doesn’t mean God is not leading and guiding you. Maybe the cave is exactly where Father wants you to be. In this week's message Lead Pastor John Carrano continues our series with teaching from Chapters 18-24 of 1 Samuel on the two caves. . . . Reflection Questions - What Cave are you in? What has been your response? - What is Father trying to teach you through these cave experiences? - How do you need to surrender these situations to Him and trust His process? Challenge - Embrace the cave experiences in your life, and ask God to use these caves to refine you and prepare you! - Remember that Christ is -God with us- trust His process, and let Him guide you! Scripture - 1 Samuel 18:7-9 - 1 Samuel 22:1-2 - 1 Samuel 24:3-4
#9. Lion and Bear Moments
November 20, 2016 • John Carrano
Before facing Goliath, David recalls a time no-one knew about. The time he fought a lion and a bear. Often in life we encounter such moments, and if we face them in our own strength, we will fail, but if we rely on God's strength, He will grant us safe passage through. In this week's message Lead Pastor John Carrano continues our series with teaching from Chapter 17 of 1 Samuel on lion and bear moments. . . . Reflection Questions - What are the lion and the bear moments in your life? - What is Father trying to teach you through these experiences? - How do you need to adjust your attitude and perspective, and in your weakness rely on Him more? Challenge - Identify the lion and the bear situations in your life, and make the decision to learn all the God is wanting you to learn during these hidden moments! - Be sure to keep the right attitude and perspective, and to rely on His strength! Scripture - 1 Samuel 17:1-7 - 2 Corinthians 12:9
#8. How's Your Heart?
November 13, 2016 • John Carrano
We, like Saul, can completely miss the point and come to a place where we try and fool God. Sometimes we keep up a facade rather than face what is happening, but God is not fooled. He doesn't look at the things we look at, He looks at the heart. In this week's message Lead Pastor John Carrano continues our series with teaching from Chapters 15-16 of 1 Samuel on how's your heart? . . . Reflection Questions - How is your heart? - Are there areas of your life where you have been putting on a band aid? Trying to fill a void? What is He asking you to do? - Where in your life do you need to invite Him to make you new? Challenge - Allow God to search your Heart, and make the necessary adjustments! - As He is renewing your heart, be looking for ways to share the love of Christ! Scripture - 1 Samuel 15:30 - 1 Samuel 15:35 - 1 Samuel 16:1 - 1 Samuel 16:7 - 2 Chronicles 16:9 - Hebrews 4:12 - Psalm 51:10
#7. Select Obedience
November 6, 2016 • Susan Kennedy
Saul selectively decided to obey God. Selective obedience is the same as choosing to disobey. If our relationship with God is right and strong, His grace is abundantly supplied to help govern our thinking and align our decisions and actions. In this week's message Susan Kennedy continues our series with teaching from Chapter 15 of 1 Samuel on obedience. . . . Scripture - 1 Samuel 15:1 - 1 Samuel 15:8-9 - 1 Samuel 15:22-23 - Proverbs 28:13 - 1 John 1:9 - John 14:23
#6. Shortcuts
October 30, 2016 • John Carrano
In life, and in our walk with God, we sometimes take shortcuts but they rarely turn out the way we want them to. In this week's message Lead Pastor John Carrano continues our series with teaching from Chapters 12-14 of 1 Samuel on shortcuts. . . . Reflection Questions - Are there areas of your life you have been trying to take shortcuts instead of trusting God's process? - Where have you have fallen asleep? - How is Christ inviting you to step out in faith? Challenge - Stop creating shortcuts - embrace God's process! - Be aware to not fall asleep, but follow Christ's leading and step out in faith! Scripture - Psalm 18:30 - 1 Samuel 14:1-23 - Hebrews 11:6
#5. Flaws
October 23, 2016 • John Carrano
As we look at Saul's rise to kingship over Israel we begin to see certain flaws in his character. As followers of Christ our character and integrity should set us apart. In this week's message Lead Pastor John Carrano continues our series with teaching from Chapters 9-10 of 1 Samuel on character flaws. . . . Reflection Questions - Are there flaws in your character that you have allowed to go unchecked? - Are there areas of your life that you need to surrender to Christ? - Where is Christ inviting you to step into who He has called you to be, but you have been hiding? Challenge - Be intentional to surrender flawed areas to Him! - Stop hiding - be who God has called you to be! Scripture - 1 Samuel 9:15-17 - 1 Samuel 10:14-16 - 1 Samuel 10:22-24
#4. Living with Integrity
October 9, 2016 • Craig Mathison
If our core is changed, we will change. Once we are changed on the inside we will begin to live differently on the outside. In this week's message Craig Mathison continues our series with teaching from Chapter 8 of 1 Samuel on living with integrity. . . . Reflection Questions - Take an inventory on how people of integrity have influenced you. How can you show them your gratitude for their influence? - How has "just wanting to be like everyone else" slipped into your life? How can you be distinct without being weird? Challenge - Where is an area in your life where you can make an integrity commitment and follow through by acting differently? Scripture - 1 Samuel 8:1-20
#3. Just Trust Me
October 2, 2016 • John Carrano
God invites us into a relationship with Him, but in life we can often find it difficult to fully put our trust in Him. In this week's message Lead Pastor John Carrano continues our series with teaching from Chapters 4-7 of 1 Samuel on trusting God. . . . Reflection Questions - What are the idols in your life? What are the areas of your life that you need to clean the house, and trust God again? - What are the Ebenezer moments in your life? Challenge - Don’t rely on your own strength, trust in God! - Celebrate the Ebenezer moments, when God has been faithful! Scripture - Hebrews 1:1-2 - 1 Corinthians 3:16 - 1 Samuel 7:3-4 - 1 Samuel 7:12
#2. Knowing God's Voice
September 25, 2016 • John Carrano
In this week's message Lead Pastor John Carrano continues our series with teaching from Chapters 2-3 of 1 Samuel on hearing God's voice. Sometimes it can feel like the Word of the Lord is rare, but God is always speaking. When He does, He is expecting us to obey. . . . Reflection Questions - God is always speaking, do you know His voice? - Where in your life is God asking you to do something, and you're struggling to obey? Challenge - Listen for the voice of God! - Do what he asks! Scripture - 1 Samuel 3:1 - 1 Samuel 3:7-9 - 1 Samuel 3:19-21 - 1 Samuel 4:1
#1. The Silent Cry
September 18, 2016 • Brandi Carrano
Welcome to our brand new series: 'Game of Thrones: A Journey Through 1 & 2 Samuel'. In this week's message Pastor Brandi Carrano kicks off the series by teaching from the beginning of 1 Samuel with a story of faith and prayer. Sometimes our best human answers simply aren't enough. We have to teach ourselves, and others, to go to God with pain, concern and worry because when we are honest with God something shifts. . . . Reflection Questions - What part of this story relates to you? - What is God asking you to do about it? Challenge - Don't just listen to God's word, apply it! Scripture - Judges 21:25 - 1 Samuel 1:2-20 - 1 Samuel 1:27-28 - 1 Samuel 2:1-2