Advent: The Announcement

Catalina Foothills Church

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Advent: The Announcement

December 17, 2023 • Pastor Rob Pendley • Luke 2:8–14

“Advent: The Announcement….Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

Quotes

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

--Charles Wesley

Faith is a conviction born of understanding, grounded solidly in the truth of who God is and what God has said and done. –Os Guinness

Lo! Th’incarnate God, ascended

Pleads the merit of His blood:

Venture on Him, venture wholly;

Let no other trust intrude:

None but Jesus, none but Jesus

Can do helpless sinners good.

--Joseph Hart

For Discussion

1.) What does it mean that Jesus is the Savior?

2.) What does it mean that Jesus is the ‘sent one” the Anointed Messiah?

3.) What does it mean that Jesus is Almighty God, the Lord?

4.) In Luke 2:1-7 we see the world was consumed with news of a census. In 2:8-14 we see that Heaven is consumed with a different focus, the coming of a Savior, Messiah, and Lord. What are ways that you get consumed with “news” (about the world, politics, etc) that distracts you from wondering (see Luke 2:18) about this “God with us.”?

Other Scripture to consider

Romans 5:1 Psalm 71:23

The Cross Kills Fear and Restores Hospitality

March 3, 2024 • Pastor John Stone • Leviticus 19:33–34, Titus 1:7–8, Hebrews 13:1–3

Sermon Questions for 3/3/24: The Cross kills fear and brings hospitality How do we see God practicing hospitality in creation? How did Israel experience hospitality from God? How have we experienced hospitality? How do we see it in the new heavens and new earth? If God is hospitable how does that shape our call to follow Jesus? How do we see Jesus do hospitality? How does a church become hospitable? How is hospitality to shape the official leaders in a church? What is a good definition of hospitality? What are the things that promote fear of hospitality in us? How does love drive out fear? How does loving our neighbor reflect our love for God? What does it mean to be normally hospitable? Name a place where you experienced hospitality and how does that help you think about its practice?

How the Cross Kills Exhaustion and Restores Rest

February 25, 2024 • Pastor John Stone • Psalm 62

What are some things that assault you into exhaustion? What is the difference between physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion? What is a potential source of spiritual exhaustion? How is the writer of this Psalm experiencing all three? Why does the Psalmist describe the people doing the assaulting as breath and nothing? Why is it so hard to see the truth about assaulters? What is the perspective he is asking us to embrace about the assaults to us? How does rest come to this writer? How can he be certain he is OK when he never speaks a word about himself? What is revealed in the lack of his not speaking of his own works and life? How are verses 11 & 12 bring hope and rest to the writer? Why might some evangelicals misread verse 12?

Wrestling with God

February 11, 2024 • Pastor John Stone • Jonah 4

Questions for Jonah 4 – 2/11/24 Why is Jonah struggling with God? How does Jonah represent both Israel and the church today? What is God teaching both groups? How do we try to make God in our image and not vice versa? How is Jonah frustrated and against God’s call on his life? Where does Jonah’s anger come from? How is Jonah being arrogant in this anger? How is Jonah’s desire for death an avoidance of a harder death? Why is Jonah sad about God’s grace? How is this about justice for Jonah? How was Jonah missing the grace he received? Why do none of us want grace.