Why Shepherds?
Text: Luke 2:1-8
Theme: Treasuring the gift of Christ in the context of shepherds
- Consider the four groups of passages that correspond to the four main sermon points:
- Pt 1: Isaiah 61:1-3; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
- Pt 2: the extended ‘bread’ passage of John 6:1-58
- Pt 3: the Shepherd Psalm — Psalm 23
- Pt 4: Isaiah 53:3-11; John 10:11
- Consider how each passage points to Christ AND calls us to conform our lives to him.
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
God's Greatest Work
Text: Luke 1:5-25
Theme: God's Greatest Work: The Messiah
“Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope and fear. Suddenly the Lord descending, in his temple shall appear. Come and worship!”
Militant Thanksgiving
Text: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
Theme: Faith that fights with thanksgiving.
One: Faith in the midst of fear
Two: Faith anchored to God's faithfulness
Three: Faith in the face of the unknown
Four: Faith in God's kingdom agenda
Five: Faith in God's words
Six: Faith to fight with thanksgiving
Seven: Faith that produces triumphant joy
Content in Christ
Text: 1 Corinthians 7:8-24
Theme: Content with Christ
- What circumstance in your life currently temps you to be discontent? Can you see how discontent can easily digress into a lack of faith in God’s goodness?
- What step of obedience can you take this week to be more godly in the situation God has put you in?
- Consider several contentment passages as we approach Thanksgiving Day:
- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
- Philippians 2:4-20
- 1 Timothy 6:6-12
- Hebrews 13:5
“There should be a parallel between our supplications and our thanksgivings. We ought not to leap in prayer and limp in praise.”
— Charles Spurgeon, mid 1800’s
Singleness and Marriage
Singleness and Marriage
Text: 1 Corinthians 7:1-9
Theme: Singleness, Marriage, & Sex
- What element of our hyper-sexualized culture has assaulted your Biblical sensibility this week? Is there a danger in becoming accustomed to the barrage of sexual advertising & innuendo in our society?
- How does the idea of modesty factor in to this discussion about sexual immorality? Modesty of words, dress, behavior?
- How will you in your stage of life obey 1 Corinthians 7:1-9?
Get Away from Sexual Immorality
Text: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Theme: Get away from sexual immorality
- The Corinthian church clearly should have known better. So how will YOU know if you are thinking wrongly?
- Read 1 Corinthians 6:12. Can you remember the feeling of bondage to some particular sin? Where does this passage point us to the hope of deliverance?
- What are the implications of your body being a temple of the Holy Spirit? How have you applied this?
To Be Saved Means To Be Changed
Text: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Theme: True salvation produces real change.
- You are washed. Read Isaiah 1:1-8; then jump to v.18 — This is your story! This is the testimony of every believer!
- Regarding your sanctification — read 1 Corinthians 1:30 and Hebrews 10:10.
- You are justified: Galatians 2:16; Romans 5:1
- How might you clarify the boast “Once saved, always saved”?
Conflict Between Christians
Text: 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
Theme: Godly wisdom must prevail in Christian conflict.
- Do you have a church conflict “horror story”?
- Do you often have a mindset of getting what is yours? Are you defensive about being taken advantage of?
- In light of our text, how would you answer the question: “Should a Christian ever file a suit in court?”
- In what human relationship could you expect conflict this week? How can you prepare to handle it – to disarm it – to prevent it?
The Celebration of Holiness
Text: 1 Corinthians 5
Theme: How the church can celebrate holiness.
- What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “church discipline”?
- Read Luke 15:11-32 regarding the prodigal son.
- Read Exodus 12 for the story of the Passover mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8.
- Read 1 Corinthians 5:11. Why do you think many people call themselves Christians, but seem to live in many ways like a non-christian?
Recognizing the Pride That Divides the Church
Text: 1 Corinthians 4
Theme: Recognize the pride that divides the church.
- Have you known (or been) a leader who forgets how 1 Cor 4:1-2 describes leaders? What words are used?
- What is the warning light that should go off in your mind when you read 1 Corinthians 4:4?
- How can Paul tell others to imitate him? (1 Cor 4:15-17)
- Work on answering the question in 1 Cor 4:7. Then read v.8 and ask yourself if you think you have arrived in some area of the christian life.