July 14, 2024

Clearwater Community Church - FL

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July 14, 2024

Finding Strength in the Lord

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 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 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?

June 30, 2024

June 30, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • 1 Samuel 28

Theme: Guidance from Beyond Passage: 1 Samuel 28 Disobedience to the Lord’s Word produces inevitable results: 1. Loss of Access to God 2. The Lord’s Departure 3. Loss of Future 4. Destruction Main Idea: Failure to obey the Lord’s Word will separate us from God. Application Questions: · In looking back on Saul’s life what justifications did he have for willfully choosing to obey God’s Word to him? How do we similarly justify disobedience to God’s Word? · How might Saul’s situation, actions, and outcome pertain to both unbelievers and believers today? How should we walk away from this text both warned and hopeful? · Have you ever experienced feelings and thoughts where God seemed inaccessible to you? What is a believer to do in such times of their life (see Ps. 42)? · What should we do when we see another person, especially one close to us, walking in clear disobedience to God’s Word? What motivations are found in this text to stir you to action in this area? · What can you do over the next weeks and months to draw closer to God through His Word?