What's Next?
May 12, 2024 • Max Janusch • Genesis 9:1–17
Genesis 9:1-17 | Max Janusch | We've seen the sinfulness of mankind on display, God's just wrath against that sin, and His gracious work of saving Noah and his family through the Flood. Now, what's next? How will mankind move on from the Flood? Here, we see how God values life, calls humanity back to its original purpose, and seals it all with a covenant promise. MAIN IDEA God values life and promises to preserve it. OUTLINE I. God determines the purpose and value of life. (vv. 1-7) II. God promises to preserve life. (vv. 8-17) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What similarities and differences are between Genesis 1:26–31 and Genesis 9:1-7? How do those similarities and differences inform your understanding of the significance of mankind's "new beginning" in Genesis 9? 2. How does your understanding of the "image of God" affect day-to-day life? How is life lived differently when you recognize the purpose and value that God has placed on mankind? 3. What characteristics and/or attributes of God are revealed in Genesis 9:1-17? What do we learn about God in this passage? 4. Thinking about the entire Flood narrative (Genesis 6-9), what has stood out to you the most? Has there been anything particularly encouraging or challenging?
Hold on to Your Wallet
March 10, 2024 • Max Janusch • Mark 12:41–44
Mark 12:41-44 | Max Janusch | Does God care about the heart of the giver or just about the amount given? In Mark 12, Jesus draws his disciples' attention to the small offering from one poor widow. This offering, Jesus says, is far greater than the whole sum of all the donations of many rich people. Here, we see that we should give ourselves in our giving. MAIN IDEA In your giving, give yourself. OUTLINE I. God’s people offer their money as worship to God. (vv. 41-42) II. The heart of the giver matters more than the amount given. (vv. 43-44) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How does your view of money and giving agree with and/conflict with what the Bible teaches? How does God invite your beliefs to align with his Word? 2. What is a practical way that you can make giving more of an act of worship? 3. On Sunday, Max mentioned several postures we can have in our giving: giving ritualistically, pridefully, out of obligation, out of guilt, begrudgingly, etc. How do we easily fall into this kind of giving posture versus a posture of faith-filled sacrifice? 4. Are there any areas of your life where you struggle to give God your full self? How does giving yourself to God in everything lead to joy and reward and hope?
Paradise
February 11, 2024 • Max Janusch • Genesis 2:1–17
Genesis 2:1-17 | Max Janusch | At the finale of God's creation work, God rests and blesses the seventh day. Moses then returns his focus to the creation of man, the garden of Eden, and God tasking man to "work the ground" in obedience to God. Here, we are reminded that God is the Creator and we are the creatures. MAIN IDEA God places his people in paradise. OUTLINE I. God modeled rest for man as the finale to his creation. (vv. 1-3) II. God created man from his creation. (vv. 4-7) III. God put man in the best of his creation. (vv. 8-14) IV. God tasked man to obediently cultivate his creation. (vv. 15-17)
Becoming & Belonging
December 31, 2023 • Max Janusch • Ephesians 2:17–22
Ephesians 2:17-22 | Max Janusch | Regardless of what we know to be true, Christians often practice their faith in isolation from one another. But, God's plan for his people is so much greater than a personal faith lived out in the seclusion of one's living room. God is saving sinners and is building for himself a people who represent him to one another and the rest of the world. Here, we see that our unity in God is built by God for God. MAIN IDEA Our unity in God is built by God for God. OUTLINE I. We have been united in Christ with God and one another. (vv. 17-18) II. We are built on God’s saving revelation of himself. (vv. 19-20) III. We are being made into God’s holy house. (vv. 21-22)
Better to Give AND to Receive
November 26, 2023 • Max Janusch • Philippians 4:14–23
Philippians 4:14-23 | Max Janusch | By his grace and according to his own design, God has determined that one of the primary means for the sending, supporting, and sustaining of gospel workers is the Church. In part, ‘to be the Church’ means to support the work of gospel ministry, to partner with gospel laborers, and to be an agent of encouragement for those putting their hands to the plow of evangelism and church planting. God is exceedingly gracious for calling every Christian to plan a part in this most glorious of tasks. MAIN IDEA God is glorified in gospel-advancing fellowship. OUTLINE I. Paul commends the Philippians' partnership. (vv. 14-20) II. Paul encourages with gospel connectedness. (vv. 21-23) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. In what way(s) is it easiest for you to contribute to gospel partnerships? In what way(s) is it hardest for you? 2. What are some barriers that you put up, or leave up, when it comes to engaging in gospel mission? How can the encouragement and support of others help you engage more? 3. How does the Philippians’ partnership with Paul weave through the entire letter? What does this teach you about gospel-advancing fellowship with other Christians? 4. How have you seen “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 23) with the spirit of our church?
Hostile Territory
September 3, 2023 • Max Janusch • Acts 16:11–40
Acts 16:11-40 | Max Janusch | Before we begin our journey through Paul's letter to the Philippians, we first need to consider the establishment of the Church in Philippi. Throughout the book of Acts, the word of God takes root and spreads throughout the Mediterranean world as it is proclaimed. But what happens when the mission of the Apostles encounters uncharted and hostile territory? What happens when the gospel comes to Philippi? Here, we see that opposition cannot hinder God's mission. MAIN IDEA Opposition cannot hinder gospel mission. OUTLINE I. The gospel brings spiritual life where there once was none. (vv. 11-15) II. The gospel clashes with the world, the flesh, and the devil. (vv. 16-24) III. The gospel leads to complete transformation. (vv. 25-34) IV. The gospel will be vindicated. (vv. 35-40) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - What stood out to you from Sunday’s sermon? - What is the first thing that Paul and Silas do once they get to Philippi? How can we apply their behavior to our own lives? - What are the key details about Lydia’s conversion? Who/what is responsible for her turning in faith to Jesus? - What types of opposition do Paul and Silas face in Philippi? What types of opposition do we face today in our mission to spread the gospel? - What do new Christians do? - How does this passage challenge you to live and/or think differently?
(Not) Hide & Seek
July 16, 2023 • Max Janusch
Psalm 63:1-11 | Max Janusch | "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you..." Penned by King David, Psalm 63 reveals David's eagerly worshipful and humbly confident posture before God. Here, we are called to worship God as we remember our past, present, and future relationship with him. Find sermon discussion questions at http://nwgospelcw.com/questions.
A Prayer Request & A Promise
June 25, 2023 • Max Janusch
Psalm 61:1-8 | Max Janusch | "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Once again, in our summer in the Psalms, we come to a distressed prayer from King David. But, David doesn't remain distressed. As he prays, the greatest king of Israel is reminded of God's covenant promise to him; and in that promise, David finds relief and hope. Here, we see that God's promises are an answer to prayer. Find sermon discussion questions at http://nwgospelcw.com/questions.
The End of Your Rope
June 4, 2023 • Max Janusch
Psalm 142:1-7 | Max Janusch | "I cry to you, O LORD; I say, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.'" From the cave, King David cries out to God for deliverance from his enemies and the isolation he is experiencing. Here, we see that God's people, when opposed, call on the God who saves. Find sermon discussion questions at http://nwgospelcw.com/questions.
Two Camps
May 7, 2023 • Max Janusch
Psalm 5:1-12 | Max Janusch | In this psalm, King David is distressed and calls out to God in a prayer of lament. For David, there is hope that evil and wickedness will be punished because of who God is. Here, we see that God is a refuge for the righteous and an enemy to the evildoer. Find sermon discussion questions at http://nwgospelcw.com/questions.
Missing the Forest for the Trees
April 2, 2023 • Max Janusch
Matthew 21:1-11 | Max Janusch | For hundreds and hundreds of years, Christians have celebrated Jesus' riding into Jerusalem the Sunday before Easter; this scene is often referred to as "the triumphal entry." But how well do we really know the biblical account of this moment in the ministry of Jesus? According to Matthew's Gospel, there is much more to be seen—and be warned of—as we consider the moment when Jesus was welcomed like a king by the people who would soon demand his crucifixion. Find sermon discussion questions at http://nwgospelcw.com/questions.
Ready, Willing, and Able
February 12, 2023 • Max Janusch • Daniel 6
Daniel 6 | Max Janusch | Along with the story of the fiery furnace, Daniel and the lions' den is one of the most commonly known stories from the book of Daniel. But this tale looks much different than the Sunday school version that so many people are familiar with. Daniel 6 follows Darius as he organizes his newly conquered territories, is duped by some of his most trusted advisors, and experiences an emotional rollercoaster as his top official is thrown into what will certainly be his final resting place . . . Or will it? Here, we see that God alone can redeem those who are faithful to him.
New Year, New Self
January 1, 2023 • Max Janusch • Colossians 3:1–17
Colossians 3:1-17 | Max Janusch | We've all heard the expression: "New year, new me." But what does Scripture tell us about our "new" selves? To answer this, we look to Colossians 3. The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, lays out two important lists in this passage, things that Christians put off and things Christians put on. Here, we see that the Christian life requires the death of sin and life in Christ.
Calling His Shot
December 4, 2022 • Max Janusch • Genesis 3:15
Genesis 3:15 | Max Janusch | From the moments following the Fall in the garden of Eden, God has made it clear that his intention is to send a savior to crush Satan and deliver his people. It is from the ashes of Adam and Eve's disobedience that the first gospel is proclaimed. Here, we see that God will destroy the devil through the woman's womb.
Identity Crisis
October 9, 2022 • Max Janusch • 1 John 2:28–29, 1 John 3:1–10
1 John 2:28-3:10 | Max Janusch | When it comes to testing one's faith against the real thing, what you practice means everything. Scripture teaches that people are either born of God or they are born of the devil. This reality frames the glory of the gospel as God's word reveals that Jesus Christ came for the sake of undoing the works of the devil. In this passage, we see that what we do reveals whose we are.