Grace-Snellville - Teachings | gfc.tv

In the ancient Roman world, adoption most often occurred in wealthy households without a living heir. Typically a friend or coworker or even a slave would suddenly be identified as the heir—“adopted”—and immediately his outlook and status and relationship to the master would be transformed radically. This is the language the Apostle Paul uses in Romans 8 to describe what God graciously does for us. But to help us grasp the picture even more clearly, we’ll be hearing from a good friend and special guest on Sunday whose testimony about fostering and adoption will not only give us a crystal clear picture of God’s love but also call us to share it in our own homes and families even more deeply. DOWNLOADS SEE IT // BE IT (WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE) Title: Together For Good: A Perfect Father // Scripture: Romans 8:15-17 ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also, find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out. SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes Our special speaker Wayne Naugle, Director of Families 4 Families, shared about foster care, adoption, and Romans 8:15-17. The word orphan refers to someone without a guide, one who is fatherless. Without protection or voice, orphans and widows are more vulnerable to Satan’s attacks (1 Peter 5:8). We see this today in the extreme numbers of fatherless youth who have become homeless, runaways, high school dropouts, single parents, enslaved to addictions, and suicidal. Because the purpose of fostering and adoption is ultimately about the gospel, God’s people must take the lead in becoming—and supporting—”fathers to the fatherless” (Isaiah 1:17). Brokenness in families is nothing new: Since the first family in Genesis, Cain’s wife was the first widow to be a single mom, and Adam and Eve were the first grandparents to help raise their grandchildren. Romans 8:15-17 reminds us that as children of God, we are free from bondage of sin and led by the Spirit. Our union with Christ means that we are co-heirs sharing his suffering and freedom. We have been adopted because God loves us, not because we earned it or must do anything to keep it. Therefore, we have leading roles to play in family stories of redemption and restoration. THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion. We have not received a spirit that makes us a slave to fear; we have received a spirit of adoption. SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes Picture (What is the story saying?): What does it mean to be an heir of God and co-heirs with Christ? How does God draw us into His family? Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Have you given your life to Christ? What does it mean when God has done all the work to make you an heir and there is nothing that is required of you to keep that title? Where are you still operating with a spirit of fear? Where in your life do you feel the freedom to cry, “Abba Father”? Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): Paul says, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” How do we reflect the same heart into the world that desperately needs Him? BE IT – Practice Which of these areas is God speaking to you about this week? Change UP – Exercise 5 minutes Queue up the song, “No Longer Slaves” by Brian Johnson, and meditate quietly on the lyrics. Change IN – Group Activity 5 minutes What does it mean to be “no longer be a slave to fear”? Share what being a child of God means to you personally. Fostering and adoption are just one way we can live out being co-heirs with Christ. What else is God stirring in your heart to be or do?

My father-in-law has a helpful rule of thumb when it comes to estimating how long it will take to finish a DIY project around the house. Step 1: Estimate how much time you think it will take. Step 2: Double that amount of time and take it up a level. So, for example, if you think it’ll take two hours to install that new ceiling fan, it’ll probably take four days to finish. A one-day paint project? Two weeks. That she-shed you’d like to build for your wife outback over June and July? You’re looking at four years. The first time he told me his equation, I laughed because I thought he was joking. Now I laugh (ruefully) because it’s (frighteningly) true. Have you ever bitten off more than you can chew? Or have you ever overestimated your own capabilities and underestimated the challenges you face? If so, you know the frustration that comes with realizing you cannot manage something you thought was entirely manageable. We find this same kind of realization at the end of Romans 7, where the Apostle Paul gives voice to the person who believes godly, joy-filled life should be manageable in his/her own strength but discovers it is, in fact, unmanageable. Trying to live by the Law leads to a crisis of despair. But then, in Romans 8, Paul unveils the beautiful alternative to frustration and despair—life in God’s Spirit. And then, in some the Bible’s most soaring scriptures, Paul goes on to say that even in a groaning, unmanageable world, the power of God’s Spirit enables us not merely to manage, but to be more than conquerors (8:37). And even if the process might take more time than we initially expect, God’s good outcome is certain. DOWNLOADS SEE IT // BE IT (WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE) Title: Together For Good: The Glory Beyond the Groan // Scripture: Romans 8 ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also, find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out. SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes In Romans 7, the Apostle Paul gave voice to the one who believes godly, joy-filled life should be manageable in his/her own strength but discovers it is, in fact, unmanageable. We sensed the frustration that comes with the realization that we cannot manage the entirely unmanageable. We were left considering that living by the Law alone leads to a crisis of despair. In Romans 8, Paul unveils the beautiful alternative to frustration and despair— a better life in God’s Spirit. Paul shows us that even in a groaning, unmanageable world, the power of God’s Spirit enables us not merely to manage, but to be more than conquerors through Christ. Even if the process takes more time than we anticipate, God’s good outcome is certain. Life in God’s Spirit means we have God’s promise to give guidance through his Spirit: the power to overcome, direction for decisions, and security in our identity. Our response to the Spirit is to learn practically from God’s Word, to listen patiently for the guidance of the Spirit, and to walk daily in the presence of the Spirit as we put wickedness to death in our lives. Life in the Spirit not only means that we have access to God’s guidance, but it also gives us a deeper awareness of the groans of creation around us—for what could have been, what should have been, and for what is yet to come. It brings the groans from our own souls for those around us who are among the lost and the least that have not yet put their faith in Jesus. But life in God’s Spirit does not leave us overwhelmed in defeat or overwrought with despair, because in our weakness and groaning the Spirit is present and powerfully at work interceding for us with groanings too deep for words. Our confident hope is that God will turn all of the groanings to His glory for our good—giving us real and better...

In a weird twist of Atlanta irony, some Falcons fans might actually prefer being dubbed a “sinner” than a “saint.” But long before the advent of the NFL, readers of the Romans 7 have asked the same question of Paul’s cryptic “I” found throughout the passage. And the answer is not so easy to find. In my preparation to preach through a book of the Bible, I lay out the passages week-to-week on a spreadsheet so that I can develop notes and ideas. Inevitably, I see both passages I can’t wait to preach and passages I must admit I somewhat dread because of their difficulty or complexity. Romans 7 falls in the latter category. It is both difficult and complex. But if we can get to the bottom of it (and that’s a big “if”!), I believe we will find beautiful, simple treasure about what it means to be a true follower of Jesus. DOWNLOADS SEE IT // BE IT (WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE) Title: Together For Good: Who Is “I”? // Scripture: Romans 7:1-8:11 ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also, find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out. SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes For a long time readers of Romans 7 have asked the same question about Paul’s cryptic “I” found throughout the passage, and the answer is not so easy to find. If we can get to the bottom of it, even in its seeming complexity, we can find beautiful, simple treasure of what it means to be a true follower of Jesus. Will we succumb to a life of riding “the guilt train to glory” or can we find reason to resolve ourselves to hope for a better way? Paul wanted the believers in Rome and those to follow, like us, to understand there is power to overcome sin. THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion. The threat of sin remains but freedom reigns for a sincere follower of Jesus. SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes Picture (What is the story saying?): What’s going on culturally in Rome between Jewish Christians and non-Jewish Christians? Why is important to be reminded of the usefulness of the law God gave Israel through Moses? Why is it important to wrestle with Paul’s “I” statements? Mirror (Where am I in the story?): How does your experience influence how you have read Romans 7? How has your knowledge of the Ten Commandments influenced how you view sin? Why does Paul lament over the power that is lacking in the law? Have you experienced power over sin? Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): Have you, at times, read the scripture with only your point of view? How can you invite other sincere and trustworthy voices into your study of the Bible? How has scripture been misused to exclude groups of people from acceptance as true followers of Jesus? BE IT – Practice Which of these areas is God speaking to you about this week? Change UP – Exercise Do you picture God looking at you through the lens of the Ten Commandments which reveal sin but lack power to overcome it? Or rather, do you think God sees you through the lens of Jesus who has the power to conquer sin and death? Read John 1:29-51 and 3:1-18. Take a few minutes of quiet time to reflect on what this means for you. Read the passages again if it helps quiet your mind- let the meaning to sink deeper. Ask God to speak to you about how He sees you. Be honest with him about any sin you have felt powerless over. Change IN – Group Activity Shame, guilt, fear and the possibility of being “found out” can keep us from spending intentional time with other believers. It’s true that the threat of sin remains but thanks be to God, it’s also true that freedom reigns in Christ! Jesus set the example and the disciples he chose continued the practice of meeting together to encourage one ...

Grace. It’s not just the name of our church. It’s the uniquely Christian concept by which God relates to us and through which we should relate to each other. It has the power to change all of life around us, and yet it is an idea that seems totally foreign to the world in which we live. I love the way “armchair theologian” and lead singer of U2, Bono, describes it: “It’s a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people…At the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you; an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that ‘As you reap, so will you sow’ stuff (think he got that backward). Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff. That’s between me and God. But I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep (trouble). It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity.”   So how do we live under grace? And what difference might living under grace make in the way we go about our lives each day? Join us this week, as we continue our series Together for Good by diving into Romans 6 and discover together how this unique reality of Grace not only saves us from death, but also invites us into an entirely different kind of life. DOWNLOADS SEE IT // BE IT (WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE) Title: Together For Good: Living Under Grace // Scripture: Romans 6 ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also, find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out. SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes Grace. It’s not just the name of our church. It’s the uniquely Christian concept by which God relates to us, and through which we should relate to each other. It has the power to change all of life around us, and yet it is an idea that seems totally foreign to the world around us. This week we continue our series, “Together for Good,” by diving into Romans 6 to discover how the unique reality of grace not only saves us from death, but also “gifts” us into an entirely different kind of life—one where we live as forgiven (not broken), free (not enslaved), and victors (not victims). THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion. Grace is not an excuse to live any way we want. Instead, it is a gift God gives, to lead us into the life He has already dreamed of and prepared for us. SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes Picture (What is the story saying?): Why does Paul call the believers back to look at the gospel, in response to the mess they’re in? What are three gifts that God gives? Mirror (Where am I in the story?): We all make mistakes and have blind spots. What is God’s response to these things that keep us in bondage? What does it look like to take grace seriously and live it out in my everyday life? Of the three gifts that God gives, which one do I need to press into right now? Where in my life do I need to hear the too-good-to-be-true news of grace? Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): We live in a broken world. How does what Christ did to redeem us impact that? What does that mean for the way I view the people around me? BE IT – Practice Which of these areas is God speaking to you about this week? Change UP – Exercise

In the spring of 1999, I applied to Furman University and received an invitation to interview for a scholarship. So we packed my only coat and tie and drove down to Greenville from Milwaukee, talking about possible interview questions most of the way. The next morning, my mom and I went to the general orientation, met a few of the other students competing for the scholarship, and sat in a waiting room as they called us one-by-one to interview. After a few minutes, it was my turn. Right away, I could tell that the panel of professors and admissions folks had read my application and seen that the two major trends of my life were baseball and faith. After a couple of generic questions, one of them looked at me and asked: “If you woke up tomorrow with a terrible injury that meant you would never be able to pitch again… could that be the act of a loving God?” I froze. Simply imagining the possibility of never pitching again was troubling enough to my teenage baseball brain, but theologizing on top of that seemed inconceivable! But then, all of a sudden, I remembered the words of the Apostle Paul from Romans 5. Twenty years later, the words of the Apostle are still far more inspired than anything I can come up with on my own. And, even better, they’re still giving me hope when an impossible question leaves me frozen. DOWNLOADS

In our home, it is the season of children’s songs. Amy and I actually have a “break upon emergency” playlist populated with every imaginable variety of “Old MacDonald” and “The Wheels on the Bus” for when afternoon toddler-mania begins to spill over. But as I’ve been reading Romans 4 this week, I’ve realized one song missing from our playlist is “Father Abraham.” Of course, for the sake of my girls, I wish the lyrics were a bit more inclusive of “daughters” and not just “sons,” but nonetheless the point of the song cuts close to Paul’s argument about the incredible faithfulness of God to “our forefather” who “in hope believed against hope that he should become the father of many nations” (Romans 4:1, 18). How did Abraham grow in faith, even when he couldn’t see the outcomes? How can we grow in faith too? DOWNLOADS SEE IT // BE IT (WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE) Title: Together For Good: Together for Good—Fa(i)ther Abraham // Scripture: Romans 3:1–31 ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also, find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out. SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes In Romans 4 we see the incredible faithfulness of God to our forefather who in hope believed against hope that he should become the father of many nations (4:1, 18). How did Abraham grow in faith, even when he couldn’t see the outcomes? How can we grow in faith, too? Faith is reasonable because the object of our faith is trustworthy! What do we need to know about God in order to trust him? He is not only powerful but also faithful. He is not only able but also reliable. Weak faith sees the human reality of a situation, and that becomes the focus, which leads to despair; strong faith sees the human reality of the situation, yet still chooses to look at God to make a way. THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion. As humans, we’re consumed with keeping score. God is not consumed with keeping score, but with keeping promises. SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes Picture (What is the story saying?): Did Abraham “win” because he was faithful? When did God credit him with righteousness? (Gen 15) Mirror (Where am I in the story?): It was counted to Abraham as righteousness, and not for his sake alone. What does that mean for me? Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): How can I move from a keeping-score mindset into a trusting-God mindset? BE IT – Practice Which of these areas is God speaking to you about this week? Change UP – Exercise It seems like God was having Abram number the stars during the daytime. What strikes you about this exercise of faith? Take time to pray into what God is speaking to you. Change IN – Group Activity God invites us out of keeping score and into trust. Create space to talk about places where you want to grow in faith and stop keeping score. Change OUT – Life Application Assignment Go forward into this week with one specific place/relationship that you’re going to set aside scorekeeping and choose faith. CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.

Several years ago, a group of four- and five-year-olds in their preschool classroom were split evenly into two groups. One group was given red shirts to wear every day; the other received blue shirts. After three weeks, the children had not divided from each other in their behavior, but they definitely did display a divide in their preference. The Reds thought they were better than the Blues, and the Blues thought they were better than the Reds. The point? Dr. Rebecca Bigler, the scientist in charge of the experiment, concludes that even at the youngest ages, human beings are prone to prefer their own. But what happens when the differences run deeper than the color of a T-shirt? What happens when we mingle this human tendency with different ethnic, economic, and educational experiences and stories? Well, let’s just say real unity through diversity can seem like a unicorn, dreamy and nonexistent. These are some of the challenges the Apostle Paul addresses in the book of Romans, and in 3:1-31 he cuts through all sorts of doubts and differences to remind us of our one hope for oneness: the gracious work of the one God. DOWNLOADS SEE IT // BE IT (WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE) Title: Together For Good: Neither Better Nor Worse // Scripture: Romans 3:1–31 ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out. SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes Grace Snellville is a diverse group made up of people from all walks of life, impacting the next generation as faithful neighbors. Paul’s teaching from Romans 3 deals with an even more diverse group of believers, but he addresses the same question we ask: Does who we are make us better than others? Paul answers by showing that the question is not who is better, but rather how are we receiving and living out the gospel of Jesus as we work together for good? Using gospel terms, Paul asks two sets of questions that bookend a set of quotations from Old Testament teaching, as well as a series of qualifications to define this main idea. Are we joining God in his work of redemption by showing unity in diversity to demonstrate the power of the gospel? It is this supernatural unity that brings glory to God and good news to the next generation, neighborhoods and nations we encounter every day! Paul proves that, even if you are one of God’s chosen people, it doesn’t give you freedom to do whatever you please. God is a God of grace and mercy who invites us to love and trust him completely, but our actions must reflect a heart of faith. When they do, we are showing our true humanity made in God’s image. Paul also warns that sin is a ruthless power, more than simply an action. It is a grasping tyrant that is ungodly in its self-deification, pervasive in its invasion of every aspect of life, and universal in captivating everyone. His chilling account of sinful humanity proves that we are all equal and have all fallen short of the glory of God. The solution to sin is found in verse 21: but now God. When all hope is gone, God has made a way by faith in Jesus and through the faithfulness of Jesus for us to be fully justified, completely redeemed, and radically atoned. Jesus brings us back into oneness with God. This faith is what empowers us to be unified in our diversity, together for good! THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion. When we put our faith and trust in Jesus, we are neither better nor worse; we are unified and diverse. SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes Picture (What is the story saying?): What are some of the ways Paul shows we are neither better nor worse, but equal? What can we learn from Paul’s selection of Old Testament quotes? Why is sin so dangerous?

Have you ever wanted to just move past or get through something? As the student pastor, I see how the end of the school calendar–with finals, graduation, and graduation parties happening–can all be very stressful. And it seems that the only way to enjoy ourselves is to look forward to the summer and just get through this season. But what if I told you that there were incredible opportunities in these next few weeks that could change the trajectory of your life and the ones around you forever and all it takes is a little understanding? This Sunday we will be looking in Isaiah and understanding what real righteousness is and how it can affect what we do, not just who we are. DOWNLOADS

We often use the word “mother” to describe and understand big and important things. Mother ship. Mother hen. Mother Russia. Mother nature. Mother tongue. Rarely, however, have I heard “mother” used to help us understand God. Unless, of course, you’re reading Isaiah, where the prophet matches the metaphor of motherhood with God in some surprising and powerful ways that shape not only how we approach our mothers but also our Maker. DOWNLOADS

The book of Isaiah ends in extremes. On one hand, we read prophecies of a new heavens and a new earth that reach unparalleled prophetic peaks of hope and promise (66:22-23). On the other hand, we are invited to look at corpses consumed by undying maggots and unquenchable fire (66:24). In some ways, it seems a rather shocking conclusion to such a grand, sweeping book of inspired Hebrew poetry. What sense can we make of this seemingly distant vision of renewal and the frighteningly dark word of doom?Perhaps more importantly, what do these words have to do with how we live today? DOWNLOADS SEE IT // BE IT (WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE) Title: Isaiah’s End // Scripture: Isaiah 65-66 ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out. SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes The book of Isaiah ends in extremes. On one hand, we read prophecies of new heavens and a new earth that reach unparalleled prophetic peaks of hope and promise (66:22–23). On the other hand, we are invited to look at corpses consumed by undying maggots and unquenchable fire (66:24). In some ways, it seems a rather shocking conclusion to such a grand, sweeping book of inspired Hebrew poetry. What sense can we make of this seemingly distant vision of renewal and the frighteningly dark word of doom? Perhaps more importantly, what do these words have to do with how we live today? THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion. Keeping God’s end in mind shapes how I live today. SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes Picture (What is the story saying?): What does “clothe yourselves in Christ” mean? What will remain in the NEW? (66:18–23; 65:17–25) In the NEW heaven and earth, what are some of the NOs that follow? (66:24; 65:1–16, 66:1–16; cf. Mark 9:42–48) Once we have a clear picture of what is coming, how does it help us live in the NOW with impact? (66:22) Mirror (Where am I in the story?): What does it look like for me to dress for where I’m going? How do I avoid getting caught up in the NO of judgment? Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): What impact will it have on those around me if I embrace a worshipful lifestyle? BE IT – Practice Which of these areas is God speaking to you about this week? Change UP // Exercise 5 minutes Sit in silence for one minute. In the silence, say YES to the forgiveness of Jesus and also to a future with Him. Ask God to give you words and pictures to indicate the work He wants to do in you, breaking into the old earth with the new. Change IN // Group Activity 15 minutes What would it look like to say YES to God’s way, every day, turning to trust Him in every way? Discuss this idea together, finding ways to help each other embrace a worshipful lifestyle. Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 10 minutes alk about the values of the new age. What actions can you take this week, investing in what impacts eternity? CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.

The women coming to care for Jesus’ body on that first Easter Sunday were perplexed to find the stone rolled away and his body gone. Then, two angels appeared and asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen!” (Luke 24:5) The women left quickly to tell the others. But sometimes, in the week after Easter, I wonder if we might leave the empty tomb too quickly… not necessarily to tell the others but to carry on with the busy-ness of our lives that have been interrupted significantly but briefly by the celebration of Easter. If we leave behind the good news too quickly, we may not be equipped to handle the gap between the promised joy of the resurrection and the practical difficulties of laying down our lives in a broken world. And we would not be the first of God’s people to wrestle with the difference between expectation and experience; in Isaiah 56-66, this was precisely the problem facing the exiles who had returned. Fortunately, God has given us words and a way to live well in the gap. I’m looking forward to reading Isaiah 61 together and hearing what God has to say to us this week after Easter. DOWNLOADS

Easter Sunday sermon from Dave Rhodes. DOWNLOADS

For a long time, I’ve mainly thought that Easter worship is an invitation of celebration. Even many who don’t typically attend church recognize the importance of the day and will come to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection after death. This year, however, I’m realizing Easter worship is also a celebration of invitation. Can you believe that God would invite exiles and rebels, the self-righteous and the self-sabotaging, to share in eternal life through Jesus? Isaiah 55:1 reads: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, buy and eat!” Now that is an invitation worth celebrating. DOWNLOADS

Two weeks ago today, about 30 folks from our Grace EPIC trip and I had the privilege of sharing a traditional Sabbath dinner with a Jewish family in their Jerusalem home. It was one of the most meaningful and beautiful ways we get to “encounter people in context” in the Holy Land. But while our host family looked like a rather typical young Jewish couple, another of the guests stood out. He was a 6’ 11” African American man with amazing dreadlocks, a lovely wife, and four very well-behaved children. He also looked familiar, but I couldn’t figure out who he was until he introduced his son, Amar’e Jr. And then it clicked—he was Amar’e Stoudemire, the six-time NBA all-star who is currently playing for Jerusalem’s professional basketball team. Turns out, he’s a really great and godly guy who was renting an upstairs apartment in the same building. But what does an unexpected Sabbath guest have to do with the sermon this Sunday? We will be hearing the story of God’s return to Jerusalem in stereo from Luke 19 and Isaiah 52, two closely related scriptures. But what began as Jesus’ triumphal entry ends in tearful lament as he realizes the city “did not know the time of your visitation” (Luke 19:44). Jerusalem couldn’t recognize the Lord, and the consequences would be much more significant than failing to identify an unexpected NBA player at dinner. How can we be sure we don’t miss the Lord? DOWNLOADS SEE IT // BE IT (WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE) Title: Will We Know the Lord When He Comes? // Scripture: Luke 19:28-44, Isaiah 52:1-12 ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out. SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes This week we heard the story of the triumphal entry of Jesus as found in Luke 19 and foreseen in Isaiah 52. What begins as Jesus’ triumphal entry ends in a tearful lament, a “cry”-umphal entreaty, as he realizes the city “did not know the time of God’s visitation” (Luke 19:44). People of Jerusalem did not recognize their Lord and Savior, and the consequences were more significant than they could have ever imagined. How can we be sure we don’t miss Jesus when he enters our lives? Jesus stops in the middle of the triumphal celebration to challenge the Pharisees for not recognizing him. They rejected him and called him out, because you can’t see your need for Jesus when you are proud, powerful, or pretentious. Meanwhile, it was the ruined, desperate, and needy disciples who recognized Jesus and cried out to him; you can only see Jesus when you recognize you are bent, broken or burnt out. It is when we depend on our own systems, structures, and solutions, like the Pharisees, that we fail to recognize and receive Jesus’ offer of redemption. Isaiah prepared the people of Jerusalem for the coming King. He pointed out that in the middle of their wrecked and ruined reality, the remnant waited and watched to receive their redeemer King. Despite lives that felt bent, broken, and burned, they could rebuild with the Good News promise of restoration. It is when we come eye to eye with our own ruin and need that we come face to face with Jesus and recognize the suffering servant’s offer of redemption. THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion. When you humbly remember your ruined reality, you can clearly recognize Jesus’ restorative redemption. SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes Picture (What is the story saying?): Who recognized Jesus in the story? How did they react? Who did not recognize him? How did they react? What was Jesus’ response to the lack of recognition? Why should the people have known who he was? How can we be sure to see Jesus? Mirror (Where am I in the story?): What are some of the ways you have recognized J...

Our journey through the Isaiah series has been compelling and challenging. We’ve seen how the difficulties and hardships of the people of Israel often mirror parts of our own spiritual journey. This week we look at chapter 40, where the story takes a dramatic turn and we catch a glimpse of the hope for the future. In this sermon, we discuss the proclamation of “Good News” and the preparation and practices that accompany a fulfilled promise. DOWNLOADS SEE IT // BE IT (WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE) Title: Good News and the Coming Kingdom // Scripture: Isaiah 40:1–11, 27–31 ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out. SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes For 39 chapters, Isaiah has told the people that their sins would lead to judgement. Now we find that the exile of Israel has happened and in chapter 40 there is a turning point in the story of God relating to his people. God speaks comfort to his people in the form of good news about hope for the future. THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion. Spiritual formation is the process of the inside matching the outside. Your external world matches your internal reality. We like the promise, but we need the process. SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes Picture (What is the story saying?): Why were the people of Israel in exile? What good news does Isaiah bring? Where can we see God’s perfect justice in action? What about his perfect love? Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Describe a season of life when you didn’t feel at home. Where did it feel like God was in that chapter of your life? What promise were you leaning on while waiting? Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): What does it mean to wait well? Can you soar on wings like an eagle at work? Can you run and not grow weary at home? What good news would make it easier to show loving kindness to the people you see most frequently? BE IT – Practice Which of these areas is God speaking to you about this week? Change UP // Promise Read Isaiah 40 five times this week. After reading it the first time, ask God to speak to your heart about what these promises mean for you. Each subsequent time you read it, circle the promises starting with what sticks out the most. As you read it the last couple of times, ask God what He wants you to know about these promises. Finally, reflect on what you’ve heard God say by comparing it to what Jesus says in the Gospels about the kingdom of God. For example: Matthew 5 & 6, Luke 5–7 and Matthew 13. Change IN // Practice Take seven minutes to plan a time and place to retreat. Retreat is a great spiritual practice to create space outside of daily life to hear a fresh word from God. Look for a place that fits your budget and find the best spot in your year to block a day or two. Put a date on the calendar to retreat with your spouse, a close friend or a small group. Change OUT // Process God is at work in the places in your life that still feel like displacement or disconnection from home. Who can you tell about what you are learning? Who is a safe person that is also someone who is open to the good news of God’s kingdom? Verbally processing our thoughts and feelings with safe people is a key part of being disciples ourselves and in discipling others. Part of acknowledging that we need a process in order to experience the reality of the promise is to invite others to share on the journey. CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.