August 11, 2024 • Jonathan Pokluda • Matthew 7:24–29
The strength of our foundation is shaped by how we live out our beliefs. Challenges reveal whether our foundation is strong or weak. Regular reflection is key to keeping it solid.
Application determines the foundation
Storms reveal the foundation
We must inspect our foundation
Life Group Discussion:
How do your daily actions and decisions reflect the foundation of your beliefs or values?
Can you recall a challenging situation (“storm”) that revealed the strength or weakness of your foundation? What did you learn from that experience?
In what ways do you regularly inspect or evaluate your foundation to ensure it remains strong and unshakable?
Do You Have a Ticket?
August 4, 2024 • Nate Hilgenkamp • Matthew 7:13–23
Jesus tells us at the end of the sermon on the mount that not everyone will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The good news is, He tells us how we can know that we have a ticket in.
Examine your path carefully
Examine your teachers carefully
Examine your relationship carefully
Life Group Discussion:
Are the choices you make leading you towards a life that aligns with Jesus' teachings?
How can you recognize when a teacher might be leading you astray? What characteristics should you watch out for?
How do the warnings in Matthew 7:13-23 challenge you to examine your own faith and actions?
To Judge or Not To Judge
July 28, 2024 • Scott Kedersha • Matthew 7:1–12
We can be challenged to grow in our affections for God and for others when it’s difficult.
We’re a bad judge of others
We’re a bad judge of self
We misjudge the Father
Life Group Discussion:
How can you practice humility by focusing on improving yourself instead of judging others?
In what areas do you need to ask God for help more often? How can you persistently seek His guidance every day?
How can you show compassion and treat others the way you want to be treated, even when it's difficult?
Worry and A Divided Life
July 21, 2024 • John Elmore • Matthew 6:19–34
In this week's sermon, John Elmore taught us about the Christian's security in Christ, the lack of need for worry, and our choice of paths in life: climbing the ladder of the world or the ladder of God's Kingdom.
Our choices in life are:
1. Trash or Treasure
2. God or Greed
3. Worry or Worship
Life Group Discussion:
What treasure do you need to give God all the glory?
How can you shift your focus from accumulating material wealth to building spiritual wealth in your daily life?
What areas of your life do you tend to worry, and you can’t sleep at night?
Fake Faith
July 14, 2024 • Jonathan Pokluda • Matthew 6:1–18
We could do the right thing for the wrong reasons. What is your “why”? In Matthew 6, we learn how to glorify God with a pure faith believing in Him.
Fake faith gives to be honored by others
Fake faith performs prayers
Fake faith sacrifices to appear spiritual
Life Group Discussion:
Do you give for God’s glory or man’s glory? Where do you need to be challenged?
When you are praying with others, is it easy for you to just talk to God or do you get distracted on what you are going to pray in the presence of others?
Is the “why” you fast because you want to appear spiritual to others? What is your motive?
When You're Wronged
July 7, 2024 • Nate Hilgenkamp • Matthew 5:38–48
What did Jesus mean when He told us to turn the other cheek? For many of us, our reaction to being wronged is to hit back and try to enact justice on our own terms. But Jesus calls us to something altogether new. When forced to go one mile, we go two.
Life Group Questions:
1. In the past, how have you responded when you have been wronged?
2. How does this passage challenge our notions of strength and weakness?
3. What does it mean to “not withhold” from your enemies?
Covenants and Commitments
June 30, 2024 • Jonathan Pokluda • Matthew 5:31–37
How do you define covenants and commitments? In Matthew 5, we learn Christians keep their covenants, consider remarriage carefully, and know the importance of having credibility to point others to Christ.
Christians keep our covenants
Consider remarriage carefully
A Christian’s credibility points to Christ
Life Group Discussion:
Does marriage really matter? How important are the marriage vows? Why do you say that?
When you say, “yes”, do you mean it? Is your “yes” trustworthy?
Share a time when you broke a commitment? How did you handle it? When you need to break a commitment, discuss together the best way.
The Danger with Anger
June 23, 2024 • John Elmore
God requires perfect holiness to be in His presence. We are imperfect and in need of a sinless sacrifice because of sin. Jesus is the sinless sacrifice and comes into our mess to rescue us! We can enter in the presence of God by the name of Jesus.
Jesus is the Sinless Sacrifice
For Sin from Anger
Commands Amends from Sin
Life Group Discussion:
Where in my life am I relaxing in areas of sin?
Has God ever brought someone to your mind that you needed to seek out forgiveness? Did you obey? Share this experience.
Is it hard to say, “Will you please forgive me?” What relationships are the hardest to say this phrase?
Hope for The Adulterous Heart
June 16, 2024 • Joshua Broome
Jesus is calling us to a higher standard of living and what we need is not to try harder to modify our behavior, rather we need heart transformation that comes from fully surrendering our entire lives to Jesus’ authority. In this sermon we learn from Joshua Broome, a former pornstar turned pastor, who points us towards Jesus' words on these truths.
1. Authority Reassigned
2. Adultery Redefined
3. The Adulterous Heart Redeemed
Life Group Discussion:
- How do you put up guardrails to protect your heart from tripping up?
- Do you bring your struggles to your heavenly Father? Or do you try to hide your struggles from God and others?
- Do you take inventory of your life? What are you watching? What are you reading? What are you listening to? Who are you hanging out with? What do you need to stop doing that keeps you from becoming the likeness of Christ?
Salt and Light
June 9, 2024 • Jonathan Pokluda • Matthew 5:13–16
You have a purpose to preserve the world that’s been entrusted to you by sharing the Gospel. You have a place and a people to shine your light in the darkness. In Matthew 5, Jesus reveals how we can feel alive!
Know your purpose
Know your place
Know your people
Life Group Discussion:
Have you ever toured old church buildings that are now museums? What do you think happened to those churches?
Considering the idea of being light that God specifically placed, in what area of your life (work, family, friendships, etc.) could you put that into practice of being light? Share a specific situation.
What is one new way you could begin loving the people God has placed in your life? Are you asking God to show you the people you need to shine a light in darkness?
The Path to Paradise
June 2, 2024 • Jonathan Pokluda • Matthew 5:1–12
Do you feel like the world is going backwards? How did this happen? The world is going backwards because we’re not living the upside-down life. When we walk among the people of God, as the people of God we preserve our land. And fortunately, Jesus shows us the path!
The path is among the poor in spirit
The path is among the pure in heart
The path is among those peaceful in persecution
Life Group Discussion:
What do you picture when you think of the phrase “poor in spirit”?
What type of situations or relationships are difficult for you to be pure in heart?
Do you know someone that doesn’t bring peace to a situation? What is it about them that makes you say that?
