Theme: Members Helping Others Flourish
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5
Question: Are you ready for Christ to return? (vv. 1–10)
As a follower of Christ, we can be ready for his return by encouraging and building up one another (v. 11). How?
1. Appreciate and support your leaders (12–13). Why?
a. They work hard.
b. They care for you.
c. They challenge you spiritually.
2. Look for ways to meet the needs of your fellow members (14–15). How?
a. Admonish the lazy.
b. Encourage the discouraged.
c. Help the struggling.
d. Be patient with all.
e. Don’t retaliate but respond with goodness.
3. Pray for your fellow members (16–18). How?
a. Rejoice in who God is and what he has done.
b. Depend continually on God to accomplish his plans.
c. Thank God for what he is doing in his church.
4. Discern carefully the truth (19–22). How?
a. Don’t dismiss the power and work of the Spirit.
b. Test and accept that which is good.
Main Idea: Because he is coming again, Christ calls his followers to remain ready for his return by investing their time and efforts in their fellow church members.
Application Questions:
• Since this passage begins by calling us to remain alert and ready for Christ’s coming, what tendencies have you seen in your own life that distract you from this or are causing you not live in readiness for his return? According to v. 8, how do we ready ourselves individually?
• In what ways can you show your appreciation and support for your church leaders? (vv. 12–13)
• Why does Paul place the meeting of needs of those struggling in the congregation on their fellow church members rather than simply on leadership? (vv. 14–15)
• In looking at how Paul calls believers to pray in vv. 16–18, in what ways does your prayer life need to change?
• How do we quench the Spirit (individually and corporately)? What should testing all (prophecies) and holding to what is good look like in our lives and church?
May 5, 2019
1 Thessalonians 5
May 5, 2019 • Pastor Phil Burggraff
June 16, 2019
June 16, 2019 • Pastor Josh Kee
[1] Psalm 107 1. The glory of God is the goal of the grace of God (vv. 1-3) 2. Structure a. Condition b. Cry of faith c. God's work of grace d. Response to grace 3. Wanderers (vv. 4-9) 4. Rebels (vv. 10-16) 5. Fools (vv. 17-22) 6. Swindlers (vv. 23-32) 7. God's glory (vv. 33-42) 8. Exhortation to respond (v. 43) [2] "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." (Westminster Shorter Catechism) 1. Our Christlikeness "both glorifies God and enables our enjoyment of him" (Chapell) a. "In Jesus Christ we have our most complete definition of the glory of God." // Chapell b. Colossians 1:15-17 - the image of the invisible God c. Colossians 2:9-10 - the fullness of God dwelling bodily d. Hebrews 1:2-3 - the radiance of the glory of God, the exact representation of his being e. "In this present age, God restores his glory in us through our union with Christ. By this union what is true of our sins and penalty was placed on him, and what is true of his righteousness and status is imputed to us (Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:11)." // Bryan Chapell, "A Pastoral Theology of Glory" f. The grace of God is the most compelling motivation for obedience to God in all the world 2. Jesus glorified the Father by redeeming sinners: a. The woman at the well b. The woman caught in adultery c. Zaccheus - greedy traitor, betraying the nation of Israel to enrich Rome d. Matthew - a tax collector e. The demon possessed man restored to a sound mind f. The thief on the cross - guilty and condemned to death but rescued by grace g. Thomas who struggled with doubt and unbelief h. Peter who kept getting in his own way and denied Christ i. Saul - persecutor of the church and Christ himself [3] A community resolved to give God praise in response de to his grace (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17; Titus 3:3-7) The Point: "Glory comes to us through the generosity of Jesus (John 17:22), and glory returns to him through the faithfulness of his disciples (John 17:10). We find our greatest fulfillment, highest aim, and truest humanity in living for and in Christ." // Bryan Chapell, “A Pastoral Theology of Glory” 1. "Oh give thanks to the LORD for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 107:1) On what basis do you determine whether you will give thanks/ praise to God? (circumstance, feeling, mood, comfort, etc.) 2. Are you withholding thanks and praise? What implication do verses 1-3 have on our duty and delight to give thanks? 3. How have you experienced the steadfast love of God? How has he "delivered you from [your] distress"? (vv. 6, 13, 19, 28) 4. Which of the four types of people do you relate with most: the Wanderer (vv. 4-9), the Rebel (vv. 10-16), the Fool (vv. 17-22), or the Swindler (vv. 23-32)? 5. "The glory of God is the goal of God's grace." How can you give glory to God in response to the grace he has shown you? 6. Are you prone to try and repay God for his grace to you? How does this Psalm instruct us as to the proper response (What kind of sacrifices are commanded in v. 22?)? 7. What does this Psalm teach us about the kind of people that make up the Christian community? How should this shape our disposition toward those in the community we are trying to reach?
June 9, 2019
June 9, 2019
June 2, 2019
June 2, 2019 • Pastor Josh Kee
All past sermons may be easily found on our website: https://subsplash.com/cccflsermons/sermons Passage(s): Genesis 1-3; Jeremiah 29:4-7 Title: Doing Good through Work Summary: We spend most of our lives working, but many Christians have an under-developed theology of work. Too often we make work about ourselves and in doing so we ruin a good gift that God has given us to glorify him and serve others. Tim Keller suggests that good work is done "to the glory of God and for the good of others." Is the work you do good? Outline: A (brief) Biblical Theology of Work // Genesis 1-3 a. Good work represents God (1:26-27) b. Good work is a blessing (1:28) c. Good work bears fruit d. Good work multiplies e. Good work fills the earth f. Good work subdues and exercises dominion g. Good work has limits (2:1-3) h. Good work is collaborative (2:18-23) i. Even good work will be toilsome (3:16-19) Not all good work is enjoyable The enjoyment of the work does not determine its goodness Work Fulfilled in Christ // Philippians 2:1-10 a. Jesus accomplished through his work what we could not in ours b. The gospel redeems our work Theology of Work Applied // Jeremiah 29:4-7 a. Good work is not restricted by favorable circumstances b. Good work benefits the entire community c. Good work is not partial Doing good through work // Colossians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 10:31 The Point: The gospel is either adorned or marred by the quality of work followers of Jesus do. Therefore, the church should be filling the world with excellent workers who do their work for the glory of God and the good of others. Discussion Questions: 1. How would you evaluate the quality of your work (whether paid or not)? 2. What motivates (or demotivates) you in your work? 3. Are there any areas of idleness or empty busyness that can be turned into fruitful work? What can you do? 4. How is your witness for Christ helped or hindered by the kind of worker you are? 5. How can you make your work more about God's glory and the good of others and less about your personal enjoyment or fulfillment? 6. Who in your life has served as an example of one who does good work? Why did that person come to mind? Is there something about them you can emulate in your own work?