Becoming Extraordianry Followers of Jesus Christ: #2 Trusting

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Becoming Extraordianry Followers of Jesus Christ: #2 Trusting

February 18, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Hebrews 11:1, Matthew 14:22–33

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1. Read Matthew 14:22-27. What strikes you about the disciples’ response? How would you have responded? Why?

2. Read Matthew 14:28-29. What was it that allowed Peter to experience walking on water? How does this lesson challenge your faith and trust in what the Lord can do?

3. Read Matthew 14:30-33. Why was Peter frightened? What was the outcome? How did Jesus respond to Peter’s fear? What are some things outside of your control that can cause you to fear and to doubt God’s ability to fulfill His purpose in your life?

4. Compare the difference between living in fear and living by faith as God’s child.

5. Compare the difference between having faith that God ‘will’ and having faith that God ‘can’. What faith do we see in the Centurion in Matthew 8:5-10 and in the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10?

6. What are some ways that we as the church family can practice actively trusting in the Lord’s leading? What is your part in that?

7. What are some things in your life currently in which you need to actively trust in the Lord’s leading? What does that look like?

8. Learning from our study, according to verse 33, how can our lives reflect a worshipful response when God does the impossible?

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Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ: #7 Kingdom Focused (Colossians 3:1-4)

April 21, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Colossians 3:1–4

Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ / #7 Kingdom Focused April 21, 2024 Colossians 3:1-4 Study Questions 1. Read Colossians 3:1-4. Discuss the implications of being raised with Christ. (See also Romans 6:3-11; Romans 8:11; Philippians 3:20-21.) 2. What does “set your mind on things above” look like in the daily life of a Christ-follower? (See also Romans 12:2.) What does this look like in your personal walk with the Lord Jesus? 3. What are things you need to constantly “set aside” in order to “set your mind on things above”? (See also Colossians 3:5-9.) 4. How is your life “hidden in Christ”? Identify the theological truths about this statement. Discuss any other passages of scripture that may apply. 5. How does verse 4 affect the way we as Christ-followers ought to live every day? 6. Discuss the following points regarding being Kingdom-focused and what they look like practically in your life: a. Live for the Future b. Live in Community c. Live with Expectancy d. Live on Mission

Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ: #6 Prayerfully Driven

April 14, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen

Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ / Prayerfully Driven April 14,2024 Nehemiah 1:5-11; Acts 4:23-31 Study Questions 1. What is your understanding of the purpose of prayer? Use Scripture to support your answer(s). 2. What do you find most difficult or frustrating in your prayer life? 3. What is the difference between self-focused prayer and God-focused prayer? Why/Why not? How can you redirect your self-focused prayers to focus on God’s will and desires? 4. In the Bible we see many examples of individuals who were extraordinary in their prayer lives. Identify how 1) praying God’s character 2) praying God’s will and 3) praying Scripture are evidenced and expressed in the following passages: a. Nehemiah 1:5-11 b. Exodus 32:11-14 c. 1 Kings 8:22-56 d. Acts 4:23-31 5. How can you begin to integrate the attributes listed in question 4 into your prayer life? Without being rote, how has this study challenged you in your prayer life? How do you think these scriptural principles will help you pray? 6. Identify various passage of Scripture that you can apply as you pray for your needs and the needs of others. Use the following as a guide to God-focused prayer this week: a. Monday | Praying for your Christian brother/sister: Philippians 1:8-11 b. Tuesday | Praying for hope: Psalm 71:14-21 c. Wednesday | Praying praise and adoration: Nehemiah 9:5-6 d. Thursday | Praying for forgiveness: Psalm 32:1-5 e. Friday | Praying for deliverance: 2 Samuel 22:1-7 f. Saturday | Praying for mercy: Psalm 119:145-149 g. Sunday | Praying for the lost: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Easter Sunday | Adopted by God (Galatians 4:1-11)

March 31, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Galatians 4:1–11

Adopted by God / Easter 2024 March 31, 2024 Study Questions Galatians 4:1-11 1. Read Galatians 4:1-2. In what way(s) are the slave and the master’s child the same? Before the Galatians believed in Jesus, how were they like slaves? (4:3) 2. Why was it necessary for God the Son to be born under the Law? (4:4-5) 3. How did the believers benefit by becoming part of God’s family? (4:5) Describe what this promise means to you. 4. How does the Holy Spirit allow believers to address God now? (4:6) 5. Identify some of the benefits of being an heir in God’s family. (4:7) 6. To what were the Galatians enslaved before becoming Christians? (4:8) After they became believers, how did the Galatians turn back to their paganism? What were the ‘weak and worthless elementary things’ Paul was referencing (4:9-10)? What lesson(s) can you apply from this text?