WHY ENCOUNTER EXISTS
March 23, 2025 • Jason Carson • Colossians 1:28–29
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Read Colossians 1:15-22. What is God’s Word saying to you in this passage? What is God’s heart for His people? How would you describe Jesus?... Who was He? Why did He come? What did He do? What did He teach? What was the toughest claim He made? What are some practical ways that we can make Jesus the focus of our lives? To make Him central, our top priority, and truly the Lord of our lives? Celebrating 10 years of God’s faithfulness at Encounter... What do you love most about our church? What areas are we strongest in? Weakest in? What would you love to see God do with us as a church in the next 10 years? Who is one person that you’d love to see come to Encounter? Close in prayer- asking God to open up doors to bring those specific people to church... and praising God for His faithfulness for the first decade of Encounter.
WELCOME TO CHURCH: The Wisdom of God and Who You Are
March 16, 2025 • Billy Archie • 1 Corinthians 1:18—2:5
Go Deeper //Find Your Identity in Christ, Not the World The world measures worth by success, wealth, and influence, but God chooses the weak and lowly. This week, take time to reflect on where you find your sense of worth. Meditate on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 and Jeremiah 9:23-24, and ask God to help you boast only in Him. //Trust in God’s Wisdom Over Human Wisdom The cross seems foolish to the world, but it is the power of salvation. When facing decisions, struggles, or cultural pressures, lean on God’s wisdom through Scripture and prayer instead of relying solely on popular opinion or personal reasoning (Proverbs 3:5-6). //Rely on the Holy Spirit, Not Personal Strength Paul didn’t depend on polished speeches but on the Spirit’s power. This week, as you share your faith, serve in ministry, or face challenges, pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you rather than trusting in your own abilities (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
WELCOME TO CHURCH: A Call to Unity
March 9, 2025 • Jason Carson • 1 Corinthians 1:10–17
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Read 1 Cor. 1:10-17. What is God’s Word saying to you? What stands out to you in this passage? From the passage above, what was the issue that they were fighting over? Have you seen that same issue in the church over the last few decades? Or anything close to it? Explain. Read Eph. 4:1-6. “You’re on the same team,” was a big point in the sermon. Why is it so difficult to remember this in moments of conflict? Who is your real enemy? Is it your friends and family? Is it fellow believers? If not, how can you transfer your anger and indifference away from them, and onto your real enemy? What is your common identity and purpose with other disciples of Jesus? Read James 4:1. What would you specifically say makes you quarrel the most? (What triggers you or makes you most mad so that you fight?) In John 17, when Jesus was praying in the garden just before he went to the cross, his #1 prayer for His followers was that they would be one. That they would be unified. Clearly... this is VERY important to Jesus. What are a few practical ways you can pursue unity with other believers? Close in prayer asking that God would unify your Together group, our church, our marriages, our families, and our friends. And that God would use each of us in doing this!
Grace
February 9, 2025 • Julie Adamo • Luke 19:1–10, John 8:3–11, Luke 13:10–17, 1 Peter 4:10
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS How have you seen God work over the last few months in your life? Of the various kinds of grace which one spoke to you and impacted you most? In your story when or where did the grace of God see you? Share a time when you recognize it had to be God’s grace that worked in your life or your situation. Personally, how did God’s grace change your heart? Of the action steps to grow in grace which one can you commit to and how? DIG DEEPER Common Grace is given indiscriminately to all people. Psa 145:9; Mat 5:45 Prevenient Grace - the grace that goes before salvation Joh 6:45 Saving Grace - the grace that saves us Eph 2:8 Justifying Grace - “Just as if I never sinned.” Rom 3:23-24 Sanctifying Grace - the grace that transforms us/makes us holy. Tit 2:11-12 Sufficient Grace - the grace that meets all our needs. 1 Cor 9:8; Heb 4:16 Sustaining Grace - the grace to keep on going. 1 Pet 5:10
Serving Others
February 2, 2025 • Billy Archie • Ephesians 2:10, Hebrews 9:14, 1 Samuel 12:24, Mark 10:45, Matthew 5:16
Go Deeper Places to serve at Encounter (pretty immediately): Encounter Crew (Sunday Setup/Teardown) Contact: Oliver Delacruz mailto:delacruz.mailbox@gmail.com Encounter Kids Contact: Jenni Quitugua mailto:jenni@encountermv.com Encounter Production (Audio/Visual) Contact: Matt Sonnenberg mailto:matt@encountermv.com Encounter Hospitality Contact: Dayna Pattison mailto:dayna@caofb.com Encounter Worship Contact: Steven Stark mailto:starkbound@hotmail.com Encounter Youth Group (EYG) Contact: Billy Archie mailto:billy@encountermv.com
The Holy Spirit
January 26, 2025 • Jason Carson • John 14:15–21, John 16:5–15, John 14:25–27
A THEOLOGY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit, a member of the Trinity, who works alongside the Father and the Son to make disciples’ lives pleasing to God. He works by pointing us to Christ and empowering our lives. The Spirit of Truth draws and leads you to righteousness, and dwells within you to produce the fullness of Christ in our lives. 2 Cor. 3:17 The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Ez. 36:27 I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Rom. 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 1 Cor. 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? Rom. 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Luke 11:13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you Ps. 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! Acts 2:38 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit 1 Cor. 12:3 I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Rom. 8:11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Pursuing Jesus in 2025
January 5, 2025 • Jason Carson
EPIC BIBLE VERSES FOR 2025 Joshua 1:8-9 Ps. 46:1-3 Ps. 141:3 Prov. 3:5-6 Prov. 18:10 Is. 26:3 Is. 40:31 Is. 41:10 Is. 43:1-2 Jer. 17:7-8 Matt. 6:33 Luke 9:23 John 3:16-18 John 16:33 Acts 1:8 Acts 4:12 Rom. 5:8 Rom. 8- All of it! Rom. 12- All of it! 1 Cor. 13:4-7 2 Cor. 1:3-4 2 Cor. 5:17 Eph. 2:8-9 Eph. 2:19-22 Eph. 4:20-24 Eph. 5:15-16 Eph. 6:10-18 Phil. 4:6-7 Phil. 4:11-13 Col. 2:6-7 Col. 3:1-3 Col. 3:15-17 Col. 4:2 1 Thes. 5:11 2 Tim. 1:7 1 Pet. 5:7
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
December 22, 2024 • Jason Carson • Luke 2:8–20
Verse 1 Hark! the herald angels sing: "Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled" Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With angelic hosts proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem" Hark! the herald angels sing: "Glory to the newborn King!" Verse 2 Christ by highest Heav'n adored Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin’s womb Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel Hark! the herald angels sing: "Glory to the newborn King!" Verse 3 Hail the Heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings Ris'n with healing in His wings Mild He lays His glory by 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!"
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
December 15, 2024 • Billy Archie
Go Deeper While we often take note of Isaiah’s prophecy around this time of year (think Isa 7:14 & 9:6-7) we most likely do so apart from Isaiah’s “Easter Time” Prophecy. This week, as you reflect on living in the anticipation of Christ’s present and coming reign, enjoying the pageants of angels and shepherds, take time to explore Isa 53 as well as 7:14 & 9:6-7. What does reading the Christmas story (Mat 1:18-2:12; Luk 1:26-38, 2:1-20) in light of Isa 53 reveal to you about who God is and how He works? And how does that influence your worship this Christmas season?
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
December 8, 2024 • Jason Carson • Matthew 1:1, Luke 1:78–79, Isaiah 7:14, 2 Samuel 7:12–16
O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL Verse 1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Verse 3 O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from satan’s tyranny From depths of hell Thy people save And give them victory o’er the grave Verse 4 O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And deaths dark shadows put to flight (Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel)
Humility
November 24, 2024 • Jason Carson • James 4:6, Philippians 2:1–11, Ezekiel 21:26, Romans 12:3, Matthew 23:12
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS SPECIAL THANKSGIVING EDITION... Going Deeper: How does God’s Word affect your outlook on life this week? Pick one or two verses to memorize or carry around with you this week on an index card. Ps. 69:30 “I will magnify (God) with thanksgiving.” Phil. 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.” 1 Cor. 15:57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 9:15 “Thanks be to Christ for His indescribable gift." 1 Thes. 5:18 “No matter what happens be thankful for everything for this is God’s will for who belong to Christ Jesus.” Ps. 50:14 “What I want…is your true thanks to God.” Col. 3:17 “Whatever you do or say…do it all while giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Ps. 35:18 “I will give you thanks in the great assembly among many people.” Ps. 106:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” Make a list of 20 things you are thankful for and praise God for them. Why does God want us to have a constant spirit of thankfulness? Why would satan want us to stay away from thankfulness? What is one area in your life of ingratitude, that is holding you back from entering into praise? Why do you enjoy being thanked for something you did for someone? How do you think it makes people feel to be noticed and appreciated for things they’ve done for you? Who are 3 people you can reach out to in life and thank them for something specific? Practice thanking God for everything, all day long. Spend time in prayer right now and THANK Him for what He’s done, and PRAISE Him for who He is!
Thanksgiving
November 17, 2024 • Jason Carson • Psalm 100, Psalm 50:14, Revelation 7:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 2 Corinthians 9:7
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Going Deeper: Read the following Scriptures. How does God’s Word affect your outlook on life this week? Pick one or two verses to memorize or carry around with you this week on an index card. Ps. 69:30 “I will magnify (God) with thanksgiving.” Phil. 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.” 1 Cor. 15:57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 9:15 “Thanks be to Christ for His indescribable gift." Thes. 5:18 “No matter what happens be thankful for everything for this is God’s will for who belong to Christ Jesus.” Ps. 50:14 “What I want...is your true thanks to God.” Col. 3:17 “Whatever you do or say...do it all while giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Ps. 35:18 “I will give you thanks in the great assembly among many people.” Ps. 106:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” Make a list of 20 things you are thankful for and praise God for them. Why does God want us to have a constant spirit of thankfulness? Why would satan want us to stay away from thankfulness? What is one area in your life of ingratitude, that is holding you back from entering into praise? Why do you enjoy being thanked for something you did for someone? How do you think it makes people feel to be noticed and appreciated for things they’ve done for you? Who are 3 people you can reach out to in life and thank them for something specific? Practice thanking God for everything, all day long. Spend time in prayer right now and THANK Him for what He’s done, and PRAISE Him for who He is!
Honor
November 10, 2024 • Billy Archie • 1 Timothy 5:3, 1 Peter 3:7, Romans 12:10, 1 Timothy 6:1
Together Group Questions The word honor occurs 142X’s in the ESV. What are some of the groups of people God’s Word says to honor? (see 1 Tim 5:3, 1 Pet 3:7, Rom 12:10, 1 Tim 6:1, 1 Tim 5:17, Lev 19:32, Exo 20:12 for examples) What areas of your life do you find it the most difficult to show honor (God, Others, Self)? What are some practical steps you can take toward improving showing honor in these areas this week? Isaiah 29:13 says that some people honor God with their lips but their hearts are far from him. What is the difference between honoring with our lips and honoring with our actions? We just came out of a tumultuous political season. What are practical ways you can honor those with whom you disagree politically? Think of two or three people who are in a position of authority in your life. How are you honoring those people? How could you honor those people in a way that would be meaningful to them? As your group closes, spend some time reflecting on this: Is there a situation or relationship which you need to restore your expression of honor in? Pray and ask God to give you the strength, courage, and opportunity to begin that restoration.
The Generous Talents
October 20, 2024 • Jason Carson • Matthew 25:14–30, 2 Corinthians 9:6–11, Matthew 6:19–21, Malachi 3:6–12, 1 Timothy 6:6
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Read Matt. 25:14-30. What stands out in this passage? What is God’s heart wanting to communicate to us through this Scripture? What is the difference between tithing and giving, and what are the godly benefits from doing both? Read Malachi 3:6-12. The Lord tells us to test Him in tithing. Why do you think the Lord put such a strong emphasis on this? According to the sermon, in what specific ways does giving make you more like God? What kinds of things will change and produced in you when you give? Why should we be generous? List as many ways as possible that God has been generous to you. What actions or attitudes would be bad while giving? What actions or attitudes would be good while giving? What things can I do this week to make generous lives a lifestyle? Further Scriptures for study: Mark 12:41-44, Deut. 14:22-23, John 3:16, Matt. 6:21, Phil. 2:3-4, Prov. 3:5, Prov. 3:9-10, 1 Tim. 6:18-19, 2 Cor. 9:7