This week, Pastor Bryan brings us a special message titled 'Do Not Fear, I Am With You' based on Isaiah 41:5-10.

When you are afraid, know that you belong to God, and he is with you

1. You don't belong to the world
2. You belong to God

ICEBREAKER: What do you fear?

1. In Isaiah 41:1, the LORD summoned the Gentile nations to court to give an account to Him. What does this indicate about God’s relationship to those who do not trust Him [cf. Psalm 47:1-9; Isaiah 34:1-3; and Daniel 4:34-35]?

2. What does it say about the LORD when He can use a pagan Gentile king – in this case, King Cyrus of Persia [Isaiah 41:2-3] – to accomplish His purposes [cf. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; and Isaiah 44:28-45:6]?

3. What unique attributes does the LORD ascribe to Himself in Isaiah 41:4? What difference do these make [Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:8; and Revelation 22:13]?

4. Rather than trusting in the LORD, what did the unbelieving nations surrounding God’s people turn to [Isaiah 41:5-7]? Why was this foolish and vain [cf. Exodus 20:3-6; Isaiah 40:18-20; and Isaiah 44:9-20]?

5. Who are named in Isaiah 41:8-9? Why would remembering the patriarchs of the nation be of encouragement for God’s people during challenging times [cf. Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 22:15-18; and Genesis 28:10-17]?

6. According to Isaiah 41:10-13, what is the basis for God’s people to take courage and not be afraid? How does this help you during life’s difficulties [cf. Joshua 1:9; Psalm 118:5-14; and Romans 8:31-39]?

7. What did you find helpful or challenging about this Sunday’s message?

“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer - His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.”
John Newton

This week Pastor Deric share a special message from John 1:1-14 entitled "The Story Behind the Story."

?Ice Breaker: I love a great story, both fiction and non-fiction! There are many types of stories and two of my  favourites are adventure stories and biographies. ? ?In your opinion, what makes a story great??

1. How does John begin to build his case for the importance of the central character in his gospel? (vv. 1-5)  

2. There are different kinds of ‘life’ including physical, spiritual and eternal. How would this passage describe the origins of ‘life’? (v.4) (also see, John 14:6)

3. How do you understand this passage to describe the relationship between ‘light’ and ‘darkness’? (vv.4-5)

4. Why was it that the world did not know and recognize the Lord Jesus Christ when He was present? (vv.9-11)

5. Since the early church, Christians talk about being ‘born again’ and in verse 13 John describes being “born of God.”  Describe in your own words what it means to be ‘born of God.’ (vv. 11-13, 29) (also see John 3:3; Peter 1:3, 23)

6. How can you find ways to focus all year long on the importance of the incarnation? ?

This week Pastor Deric share a special message from Matthew 13:44-46 entitled "A Treasure Worth Dying For." Questions: Please read Matthew 13:44-46 Ice Breaker: What do you value most? I grew up in a world where family, job, home and ’things’ were most valued. Later, in my Christian walk, I struggled to make God and my relationship with Him the most important thing in my life. After some honest reflection, what are some of the things that can push God into the background of your life? 1.  Why did Jesus speak in parables?  (see vv. 10-13) 2.  What lessons do we specifically learn from these parables in the context of the Gospel?  3.  What significance does the word “treasure” in verse 44 suggest? 4.  What does “selling all” mean in this parable? (v. 45) 5.  What or who is the phrase “pearl of great price” referring to in verses 45-46? 6.  Compare and contrast the two parables. “The more you see your own flaws and sins the more precious, electrifying and amazing God’s grace appears to you.” - Timothy Keller

Pastor Max shares a sermon this week entitled "The Hope of Healing" from James 5:13-20. Questions: Ice Breaker: Describe some of the times God has answered prayers for healing that you are familiar with.  What about times when God has not provided healing?  Why do you think God sometimes intervenes miraculously and other times does not?  Are there any Scriptures that would support your thoughts? 1. Is sin ever a cause of sickness (see v.15-16)?  What are the dangers in answering either yes or no? 2. Why might the Bible be encouraging us to confess our sins to one another, and not just directly to God?  What benefits would come from this?  And what kind of spirit would we have to cultivate in order to be open enough with one another to confess and to hear confessions? 3. Do you ever feel like people in the Bible sound different from you and otherworldly?  And why do you feel that way?  What can we take away from verse seventeen’s description of Elijah? 4. Other than healing, what kinds of things should the Christian be quick to "call the elders of the church" for?  What does the Bible say about the profile and role of an elder? 5. How would you describe the role of healing in Jesus' earthly ministry?  Use Biblical examples to demonstrate the priority, function and impact of healing in Jesus' activities.

This week Pastor Deric share a special message from Isaiah 60:22 entitled "Little is Much When God is in It (facing your feelings of futility)." Questions: Please read the whole chapter of Isaiah 60. 1. To begin, God says through Isaiah that the least shall become a clan. Can you recall such a promise in Scripture? (see Gen 17). What does this say about God and his plans for the world? Where do you see yourself in His plans? In what way are you engaged in His plan? 2. God has all the resources of the world, and beyond, at His disposal. Why would He choose to use people to work out His plan? 3. The second part of this verse begins with God saying, "I am the Lord.” This is a simple statement with many implications attached to it. List some of the implications in this statement, and the significance of this on the people of Isaiah’s time, and for us now. 4. It happens according to His timing. Swiftly, but within His timetable! Is there any sense of urgency in your approach to joining the Lord in His work? How do you work out the dichotomy of "urgency and patience" in serving? 5. There is an ultimate grand purpose in everything God undertakes. Do you know His grand purpose? How does this week's passage fit into this? How are you fitting into His purpose? What changes in your attitude, worldview and life must take place in order for you to enter into His grand purpose? “The greatest threat to Christmas this year is not consumerism or Santa, but our own overfamiliarity with the most stunning story ever told." -- Matt Smethurst

This week Pastor Deric share a special message to kick off our ministry year from Acts 20:17-38 entitled "Farewell. A Ministry Map from Acts 20". Questions: Please read Acts 20:17-38 1. Who is Paul serving according to vs.18-19 and what does it have to do with his ministry to the church at Ephesus?   2. What are the two major components of Paul’s teaching ministry that are highlighted in vs.21 and why are they important?   3. Why was Paul committed to going to Jerusalem? vs.22-24   4. Explain why Paul’s view of himself is important to the progress of the Gospel? vs.24   5. What makes us “innocent of the blood of all men” according to vs.26-27? 6. Who are the “wolves” that Paul warned about in vs.29-30 and how does a congregation recognize them? 7. Who ultimately is responsible for the well being of a local congregation according to Paul’s farewell address to the elders at Ephesus? Compare verses 28-32. 8. How is it more blessed to give than to receive? vs.35   9. What does the “kneeling, praying, weeping, embracing and kissing” (vs.36-38) tell you about the bond that exists between believers in a local church? Click here for a PDF version of the Digging Deeper questions