Friday, December 07, 2012

Opening: Have you ever listened to a choir singing Handel’s “Messiah” (and more than just the “Hallelujah Chorus.”) Have you ever sung it? (Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4hkwhOiD98 to listen today’s passage from “The Messiah.”)

Scripture: Read Isaiah 9:2-8.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Have you had a realization that you once were in darkness, but then saw the light; was “once blind, but now I see.”?[1]
• Verse 6 is a famous and beautiful section of this passage. When describing the Messiah, Isaiah says he will be called.
• “Wonderful Counselor”: A counselor is one who is able to make wise plans (see Isaiah 11:2). He is a ruler whose wisdom is beyond merely human capabilities, unlike intelligent but foolish Ahaz of Israel.
• “Mighty God”: A title of the Lord himself.
• “Everlasting Father”: A father here is a benevolent protector, which is the task of the ideal king and is also the way God himself cares for his people. This is not using the Trinitarian title “Father” for the Messiah; rather, it is portraying him as a king.
• “Prince of Peace”: He is the ruler whose reign will bring about peace, wholeness, and well-being to individuals and nations.
• Which one of these roles do you need most from Jesus today?

Prayer Focus: That the zeal of the Lord (verse 7) would accomplish great things in our lives?

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[1] John Newton, “Amazing Grace.”

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Opening: If you were asked to begin a weekly small group that met to grow in the faith, which twelve people would you ask to join you?

Scripture: Read Romans 16:1-27.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Ok, this is kind of a boring reading today. You most likely didn't know a single name, or else you have heard of a few, but don’t know much about them. You might consider looking up names in a Bible Dictionary or go to http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/eastons-bible-dictionary/.
• What are some of the teachings that divide the church today? How do you work for a balance between the desire for unity and the desire to maintain truth?[1]
• What area or circumstance in your life do you need the God of peace to crush (see verse 20)?

Prayer Focus: That everyone will know of our obedience to God (see verse 19).

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[1] Recently on "CBS This Morning," Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of “Purpose Driven Life” said, "The problem is that tolerant has changed its meaning. It used to mean 'I may disagree with you completely, but I will treat you with respect. Today, tolerant means – 'you must approve of everything I do.' There's a difference between tolerance and approval. Jesus accepted everyone no matter who they were. He doesn't approve of everything I do, or you do, or anybody else does either. You can be accepting without being approving."

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Opening: Where have you always wanted to travel? Why?

Scripture: Read Romans 15:23-33.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• We talked about Paul’s journey to Jerusalem with the gifts from the Macedonia Churches during our “Living Sacrifices” message series. And we know from our study of the book of Acts that Paul was arrested in Jerusalem. He eventually got to Rome, albeit in chains.
• Paul urges the Romans to pray for him. Who are you praying for? Who needs your prayers?

Prayer Focus: That we would struggle in prayer for missionaries, preachers, and outreach ministries.

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Opening: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Scripture: Read Romans 15:14-22.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Paul tells his Roman readers they are “full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them.”[1] How would you grade yourself in goodness, knowledge of the faith, and ability to instruct or disciple others? Are there ways to improve?
• Looking over your schedule and priorities this past month, what would you say is your ambition in life? Is that what you want it to be? How do your ambitions compare with Paul’s in terms of clarity? Value? Concern for God’s kingdom?
• In verse 21, Paul quotes Isaiah 52:15 how those who have not been told will see and those who have not heard will understand. This is a big difference from the call of Isaiah in Isaiah 6:8-9. Why might there be a greater receptivity now? Read Isaiah 52:13.

Prayer Focus: That God be “satisfied with who you are and what you are doing. You seem to me to be well-motivated and well-instructed, quite capable of guiding and advising one another.”[2]

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[1] Romans 15:14 (NLT)

[2] Romans 15:14 (MSG)

Monday, December 03, 2012

Opening: Who are the people in your life to you are so bound to that it doesn't matter if you agree on something, you will still be together?

Scripture: Read Romans 15:1-13.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• Paul makes one last appeal that all people within the Church should be bound into one, that those who are weak in the faith and those who are strong in the faith should be one united body, that Jew and Gentile should find a common fellowship. There may be many differences but there is only one Christ, and the bond of unity is a common loyalty to him.
• Verse 4 talks about the importance of reading Scripture. The knowledge of the Scriptures affects our attitude toward the present and the future. The more we know about what God has done in years past, the greater the confidence we have about what he will do in the days ahead. We need to diligently read our Bibles so we may have confidence that God's will is best for us.[1]
• Romans 15:7 states, “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”[2] Read this verse in different translations to see if you gain any addition insights into the verse. What individuals or types of people are you stretching to accept? Can you commit that to the Lord?

Prayer Focus: Reread Romans 15:13 and personalize the prayer for your life.

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[1] Life Application Study Bible, Romans 15:4

[2] Romans 15:7 (NLT)

Sunday, December 02, 2012

Opening: You are walking through the Mall and around the corner come a teenage boy and girl. His hair is spiked, he has his arm around her shoulder, and his hand is hanging down her chest. Her outfit is provocative and her hair is green. Is your first thought a positive thought, or judgmental?

Scripture: Read Romans 14:13-23.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• This is a radical passage, considering Paul’s strict Pharisaic background. He would have followed all the Mosaic food restrictions (see Leviticus 11:1-47 and Deuteronomy 14:3-20).
• When you are tempted to judge someone’s behavior, is it more out of your own need to be right, out of your desire help other person do it “right”, or out of your own defensiveness – a need to declare your own behavior “right”?
• What is something you used to say, “Never ever,” but now say, “That’s not so bad.” Is this because you realized it wasn't a big deal, or have your morals shifted? What were your morals based on? Society? Parents? The Bible?
• Romans 14:19 reads, “So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”[1] What does it mean to build someone up? What are you doing to accomplish this? What more can you do, and for whom?

Prayer Focus: That harmony and edification would be characteristic of our lives and our church.

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[1] Romans 14:19 (NLT)

Saturday, December 01, 2012

Opening: What is most inconvenient when the power goes out for a day or two: no TV/Internet, food storage/prep, so dark at night?

Scripture: Tomorrow begins a new message series, and the message comes from today’s text. Read Isaiah 9:2-7; 7:14; Luke 4:18-21.

Connect the Text with Your Life:

• When have you experienced a “dark” time? What were the circumstances? What did it feel like? What was your overriding emotion when you finally “saw the light”?
• Of the four characteristics of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6, which is the most meaningful to you right now in your life?
• Isaiah 7:14 tells us the Messiah will be Immanuel – “God with us.” In what ways do you feel God with you? In what ways does it seem you are still in the “land of deep darkness”[1]?
• If all five areas of Jesus' mission in Luke 4:18-21 are to be carried on by the church as a whole, which area of concern do you give priority and which do you tend to neglect:

1.    Preaching the Gospel?

2.    Helping people to be free to live for God?

3.    Performing acts of mercy?

4.    Work for fair and just social structures?

5.    Explaining God's grace to disheartened people?

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, as we begin the season of Advent, that Christ would come into or worship and our lives.

Message Series: “A Different Kind of Christmas”

Tomorrow’s Message Title: “Expect a Miracle.“

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[1] Isaiah 9:2 (NLT)