Growth Group Discussion Guide
Week of May 12th
Q: What was one of your most memorable failures in junior or senior high?
READ FIRST: I Thessalonians 2:1-8
Q: What rumors about Paul have been spread by his opposition? Does Paul sound reassuring to you? What concerns might linger?
Q: From verses 1-12, what does “ethical evangelism” look like? What would its opposite look like? What do the images of being a “mother” (v. 7) and a father (v. 11) add to this picture? What do these images say about caring for your own children or for “young” believers?
Q: How did the apostle Paul measure success? (v. 1) What form might the “strong opposition” have taken? (v. 2) What opposition do you face in sharing the gospel with lost friends and family?
Q: Does a tendency to be a people-pleaser ever limit you in sharing the gospel? What might help you overcome this reluctance?
Sermon Meditation for Sunday, May 12th
Wide Awake and Ready! Part 3
"God Pleasers"
READ: I Thessalonians 2:1-8
Paul and Silas were mightily used by God in the spread of the gospel. They didn’t preach to receive accolades or flattering words. They didn’t preach to build an audience. And they received no riches - only increasing levels of persecution; beatings, imprisonment and martyrdom were their constant companions. But they faithfully continued to preach “in season and out of season” that the lost might be reconciled to God.
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It begins with the terrible news of mankind’s spiritually dead condition. This results in a natural bent toward selfishness and self-destruction. The good news is that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection offers the hope of new life and a permanent love-relationship with God.
It’s really impossible to preach a clear and true gospel without offending the pride of men (Galatians 5:11). The gospel story begins with the confession of our sin-dead condition. It then breaks our will by moving us to accept Jesus’ full control over our days, decisions and our future destiny. Only the Holy Spirit can bring a man to realize his sin and admit his need for a Savior.
Only a preacher who has died to any hope of pleasing men will be qualified to deliver the message. Only a man who has set his heart upon pleasing God only will be used by God to deliver His redemptive plan.
Hope to see you this Sunday!
Pastor Steve
Wide Awake and Ready! Week Three
1 Thessalonians
May 12, 2019 • Pastor Steve Pope
Wide Awake and Ready! Week 7
June 9, 2019 • Pastor Steve Pope
Growth Group Discussion Guide Week of June 9th Q: What bit of “good news” have you received lately? READ FIRST: I Thessalonians 3:6-13 Q: The good news included both their “faith and love.” Why were both important in order for this to be “good news?” Q: What does Paul mean when he says, “For now we live?” What does this reveal about the apostle’s heart? Q: In a time of harassment and persecution, what would it mean to “stand firm in the Lord?” How does “standing firm in the Lord” look today? Q: Paul prayed earnestly that the Lord might cause them to increase and overflow in love for one another “just as we do for you.” How would our church family look and act differently if this prayer were answered at Centerpoint? Q: Paul prays that God might make our hearts “blameless in holiness before our God at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” What might change in your life if this prayer were fully answered today? Sermon Devotional Wide Awake and Ready! Stand Your Ground! I Thessalonians 3:6-13 I always fill my coffee cup too full at Starbucks. When I add my usual dose of half-n-half, I judge the mixture of coffee and cream by it’s color. Then, when I pop the lid back on my beverage, a puddle forms around my cup. I’m the guy you see cleaning up his own mess with napkins from the dispenser. I guess it’s possible to have too much of a good thing after all. Is it possible to have too much love for God and people? Paul prays for the disciples in Thessalonica that their love would continually increase and overflow for God, the church, and everyone! The love of God is so powerful it even produces lives that are holy and blameless before God and people. We can so thoroughly overflow with love for God and others, that our love splashes onto those around us. When it comes to loving God, we can never have too much. See you Sunday! Pastor Steve
Wide Awake and Ready! Week 6
June 2, 2019 • Pastor Steve Pope
Wide Awake and Ready! I Thessalonians 2:17-3:5 It’s 9am Sunday morning, and after a long work-week, the sunshine arouses us from slumber. Before coffee, we look at one another across the pile of pillows and ask, “want to go to church this morning? I’m pretty tired.” With this confession, our decision is made. Another Sunday morning sabbatical from worship. If we wait until a sleepy Sunday morning to decide the day’s worship priorities, rest will be our foregone conclusion. Sleep it is! The great apostle desired to be with the Body of Christ “eagerly” and with “great desire.” (v. 17) If a way could be made to be with the church “face to face,” wild horses couldn’t drag him away. If we wait until Sunday morning to make our decision concerning worship attendance, the discussion will be submitted to the Tempter (3:5). The conviction of the importance of gathering with the church body for worship is an act of intense spiritual warfare! (2:18) A song written by Keith Green in the 70’s is more poignant today than ever before. Green wrote, “The world is sleeping in the dark, which the church just can’t fight, ‘cause it’s asleep in the light . . . Jesus rose from the dead, and you - you can’t even get out of bed!” Choose today to make worship an unbreakable commitment. If you don’t make this commitment today, the Tempter will lead you another direction on Sunday morning. Can’t wait to see you all! Pastor Steve