April 21, 2024

Clearwater Community Church - FL

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April 21, 2024

The Battle is the Lord’s

April 21, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • 1 Samuel 17

Theme: The Battle is the Lord’s

Passage: 1 Samuel 17

Knowing we engage in the Lord’s battle, we should respond in the following ways:

1. Serve faithfully in the place God has you.

2. View whatever you face from the Lord’s perspective.

3. Be wary of our natural tendency toward opportunism.

4. Turn your focus away from worldly threats.

Main Idea: Engage with confidence knowing the Lord has won the victory.

Application Questions:

· What service does God have you engaged in your current situation?

· Looking back on your Christian life, how has God brought you through trials previously? What do you face currently that God wants you to view from His perspective? What is this calling you to do?

· What fleshly cravings (power, fame, attention, wealth, pleasure, comfort, peace at any cost, etc.) are you tempted toward in your own service for God? Knowing this, what steps can you take to address this in your life?

· In what ways do you tend to focus on threats from this world? What spiritually have you found that helps bring your attention back to the Lord?

· Knowing He has already won the victory, what is God calling you to do with confidence in obedience to Him?

July 21, 2024

July 21, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • 1 Samuel 31

Theme: The Fall of a King Passage: 1 Samuel 31 A life lived exclusively following one’s own way: 1. Discovers life working against them 2. Reaps destruction and ruin 3. Results in a great fall no matter strength and stature 4. Ends losing what was hoped to gain Biblical Truth: The prophetic word inevitably finds fulfillment. Solution: There is only one perfect king who continues to work through a faithful remnant who honor Him. · Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand. · Honor Him. Application Questions 1. Why does Saul seem such a tragic figure as we read of his death? What can we, who have been given so much, take from this tragedy? 2. From what is seen in this text, how is God’s glory diminished when we forge our own path rather than submit our lives to God? 3. In what ways have you tragically seen or experienced the effects of forging your own way only to find God’s Word never fails (see Gal. 6:7)? 4. How is this text calling you to humble yourself under God this week? What needs to be addressed in your life to return glory to God? 5. How is this passage calling you to honor Him with your life this week?

July 14, 2024

July 14, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • 1 Samuel 30

Theme: Finding Strength in the Lord Passage: 1 Samuel 30 Main Idea: Amid life’s crises, believers find their strength in the Lord. Means of finding strength in the Lord -Prayer: Turning to God -Word: Living according to His revealed will -Evidence of finding strength in the Lord -Sharing in God’s grace equally -Sharing God’s grace generously Application Questions: 1. Why can believers find it difficult to turn to the Lord for their strength amid crisis or difficulty? How have you struggled with this in the past? 2. What obstacles do you find that hinder your turning to God in prayer? Is prayer a regular habit in your life? What difficulties do you experience with prayer? 3. What is it about the Word of God that produces strength and direction for our lives? How are you strengthened when you are in God’s Word? 4. In what ways have you found it difficult to share in God’s grace equally with others? What might this reveal about your own hang-ups or prejudices concerning God’s grace? 5. How has this passage challenged you to share God’s grace toward you generously with others?

July 7, 2024

July 7, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • 1 Samuel 29

Theme: God amidst Wavering Faith Passage: 1 Samuel 29 Main Idea: God works to renew the faith of His chosen ones even when their faith wavers. Characterization of God’s Work in 1 Samuel 29: - Providential - Protective - Patient Application Questions: 1. Exposing the deep recesses of your heart, what has caused or is causing your faith in God to waver? 2. Looking back over times of seeming distance from God, how have you seen his providential work in your life? 3. How has God protected you from your own sinful and foolish choices? How did you respond? 4. What has this message taught you about God’s patience towards you? Why do we seemingly continue to doubt his goodness and love toward us? 5. What actions has this passage challenged you to take?