Feb 22, 2015
What Do You See?
By: Deric Bartlett
Series: Various
Pastor Deric continues our current series "Walking in the Light" with a sermon entitled "What Do You See?" from 1 John 3:1-3. Questions:
Please read 1 John 3:1-3.
Ice Breaker: This passage is just a little glimpse into the immeasurable love that God has for you and me! His capacity to love is beyond anything we can imagine, and the depth of His love for each of us is virtually unfathomable.
I have been somewhat shocked at my capacity to love my family. Not that they don’t deserve my love… they do! They are all amazing and each of them bring me incredible amounts of joy and pleasure! My astonishment is that my love grows as my family has grown. I thought my heart would burst when I first met my wife-to-be! Now, two sons, two daughters-in-law and four grandkids later, I manage to love them ALL beyond description!
Do you ever “wonder” at being loved by God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe? Explain.
1. The expression John used to describe God’s love in verse 1 can be understood to mean “other-worldly” or “foreign to this world.” How would you describe the love of God to a person, Christian or not? How is it that so many people in this world miss out on God’s amazing love? Could this explain why people reject the church as well? (see John 1:1-10; Col. 3:1–3)
2. What images and/or feelings come to mind when John describes you as one of “God’s children?” What kind of life will it be for God’s children here on earth? (see John 16:33; Rom. 8:18-39; 12:9-21)
3. What does John mean when he says at the end of verse 2, “we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is”? Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18) When will this happen? (read Titus 2:12-13; 1 Thess. 4:16-17)
4. What does it mean to “hope in Christ”? How does this affect your daily life? (See Rom. 8:17)
5. What are the practical implications of this passage for you and your life right now? Does anything need to change in how you think about God? What about your thoughts of meeting Jesus face-to-face?
“We’re far worse than we ever imagined, and far more loved than we could ever dream.” -- Timothy Keller
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- Feb 22, 2015What Do You See?Feb 22, 2015What Do You See?By: Deric BartlettSeries: VariousPastor Deric continues our current series "Walking in the Light" with a sermon entitled "What Do You See?" from 1 John 3:1-3. Questions: Please read 1 John 3:1-3. Ice Breaker: This passage is just a little glimpse into the immeasurable love that God has for you and me! His capacity to love is beyond anything we can imagine, and the depth of His love for each of us is virtually unfathomable. I have been somewhat shocked at my capacity to love my family. Not that they don’t deserve my love… they do! They are all amazing and each of them bring me incredible amounts of joy and pleasure! My astonishment is that my love grows as my family has grown. I thought my heart would burst when I first met my wife-to-be! Now, two sons, two daughters-in-law and four grandkids later, I manage to love them ALL beyond description! Do you ever “wonder” at being loved by God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe? Explain. 1. The expression John used to describe God’s love in verse 1 can be understood to mean “other-worldly” or “foreign to this world.” How would you describe the love of God to a person, Christian or not? How is it that so many people in this world miss out on God’s amazing love? Could this explain why people reject the church as well? (see John 1:1-10; Col. 3:1–3) 2. What images and/or feelings come to mind when John describes you as one of “God’s children?” What kind of life will it be for God’s children here on earth? (see John 16:33; Rom. 8:18-39; 12:9-21) 3. What does John mean when he says at the end of verse 2, “we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is”? Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18) When will this happen? (read Titus 2:12-13; 1 Thess. 4:16-17) 4. What does it mean to “hope in Christ”? How does this affect your daily life? (See Rom. 8:17) 5. What are the practical implications of this passage for you and your life right now? Does anything need to change in how you think about God? What about your thoughts of meeting Jesus face-to-face? “We’re far worse than we ever imagined, and far more loved than we could ever dream.” -- Timothy Keller
- Dec 23, 2014LIttle is Much When God is in ItDec 23, 2014LIttle is Much When God is in ItBy: Deric BartlettSeries: VariousThis 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
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- Jan 12, 2014Vision SundayJan 12, 2014Vision SundayBy: Deric BartlettSeries: VariousA look forward to what God has in store for us in the coming year. Pastor Deric will share his annual Vision Message (Ephesians 4:1-16) as we invite the Lord to go before us in 2014.
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