07-11-2021
07-11-2021
Brandon Weaver (West and Online), Rev. Jose Marrero, (East) Pastor Efrain Silva (Español)
Sermon Series: Speak Lord
Week 2: Better
English PDF file for printing.
Para imprimir el archivo PDF en Español
1. Read our theme verse for this series - 1 Samuel 3:9: “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” What are some ways that God speaks to people?
2. This month, we’re learning to listen to what God is saying to us through His Word, the Bible. Last week, Jessica Stafford taught us from 1 Samuel 3:
· God is already speaking to you, even before you know Him.
· God wants you to recognize His voice.
· God wants you to learn how to listen.
Share an idea from last week’s message that was helpful for you personally.
3. We hope you tried out reading our church’s Word of God Speak, Part 3 Bible reading plan and the S.O.A.P. method this past week. If so, how did that go for you? What did you experience? What did you learn?
4. Read Hebrews 4:14-16: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
5. Whenever you start a new book of the Bible, it helps to first watch the video summary of that book at https://bibleproject.com/ - a free online resource. In less than 10 minutes, you can learn important background information that will give you context and help you better understand that book as you read it. The Bible Project points out that one of the themes of Hebrews is our natural tendency to drift off course spiritually. Hebrews is filled with warnings to pay attention and be careful so you don’t drift.
If you’ve ever experienced how quickly a person tends to drift in the ocean, share about that with your group.
6. In life, it’s also easy to drift off course. It takes intentionality to stay anchored in your faith, rather than just relying on an experience you had with God many years ago. If you’ve discovered some things that help you keep your relationship with God fresh and alive, share that with your group.
We have difficulty relating to the concept of a high priest, but to the Jews, this was a very important office, because he was the mediator between the people and God. The writer of Hebrews wants us to know that Jesus is better than the Old Testament high priests in several ways.
· Jesus is better because he didn’t sin.
7. Jesus experienced our humanity, so he can empathize with us. But, in contrast to the Old Testament high priests, Jesus never sinned. Some people think that because he never sinned, Jesus doesn’t know what temptation is like for us. C. S. Lewis wrote about this in his book Mere Christianity:
“A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting against it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later…. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means.”
What do you think of what C.S. Lewis said?
8. The documentary film Free Solo is about Alex Honnold, the first person to scale the iconic nearly 3,000-foot granite wall known as El Capitan without using ropes or other safety gear. He climbed the peak in 3 hours and 56 minutes, even though the average time it takes for a climber with gear and a team is 4 to 6 days. So this was an impressive feat! But it was also crazy! There’s a better way to do rock climbing! You can use the equipment that’s designed to keep climbers safe and make it easier – ropes, anchors, a team, etc.
And there’s a better way to do life than doing it solo! Use the equipment God has given you! Name some tools and equipment God has given us to help us do life well.
9. Unlike Alex Honnold, most rock climbers go with a team of people who help each other. In a similar way, God intends us to do our faith with a community of people. How has your small group helped you do life better than you would have on your own?
· Jesus is better because he made total access to God possible for us.
10. In contrast to the Old Testament priestly system, where only one man could go into God’s presence one time per year, through Jesus we have constant access directly to God. What does that mean to you personally?
· Jesus is better because He is God and He is in heaven.
11. The Old Testament high priest performed his ministry on earth in a temple that was just a copy or shadow of the actual place where Jesus ministers for us in the presence of His Father in Heaven.
Read 1 Timothy 2:5-6a: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”
What do you notice in this verse? What does it mean for Jesus to be a “mediator”?
12. Read Hebrews 4:16 again: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
What enables us to approach God any time with confidence, in contract to the limitations people in the Old Testament had? Why is it different for us?
13. Share with your group about your personal experience of what Hebrews 4:16 describes.
Ready for your next step? – If you would like to take a next step in your faith journey, such as trusting your life to Christ or getting baptized, text the word “Next” to 561-264-6079 and follow the steps there, and we’ll contact you to help you do that.
News and Announcements:
· New Here? Let us know who you are by texting “hello” to 561-264-6079.
· Who Needs God? Summer Discussion Series
West: Tuesday, June 29- August 3, 7-8:30pm – English only
East: Wednesday, June 30-August 4, 7-8:30pm – Spanish and English
You’re welcome to stop in any time throughout the summer for Who Needs God? from Andy Stanley. It’s an opportunity to discuss faith questions, doubts and reasons why it’s hard to believe and a safe place to deepen your own faith foundation or to invite a friend who struggles with faith or doesn’t have a church. "Deeper” for 4th-6th graders happens at the same time on the West Campus.
· KOH Fam Jams – Our next KOH Fam Jam is Thursday, July 15th from 5:00-7:30pm at both our East and West Campuses. Fam Jam includes dinner and fun activities to do together as a family. Be sure to register at https://communityofhope.church/summer
· Backpack & School Supplies Drive – We’re collecting backpacks filled with school supplies to give to foster children throughout our county, as well as to the families who visit COH campuses for our food distributions. This is a great serving project for families or small groups to do together! Bring the filled backpacks to church by July 23. Go to https://communityofhope.church/backpacks for the supply list. Learn more about the wonderful ministries that 4KIDS offers, at https://www.4kids.us/ Contact our Director of Missional Engagement, Stacey Willson at stacey@communityofhope.church if you have questions.
· Milestone Kindergarten – East and West Campus, Saturday, August 7, 3-4:30pm. If you have a child entering elementary school, this will equip you and your child for this next phase of life. Your child will receive their first “big kid” Bible, and we’ll discuss how to prepare for the opportunities and challenges of this season. Register at https://communityofhope.church/milestones
· We need you! – In order to start a 3rd service at COH, we need more people serving. We invite you to join a serving team that fits you. Go to https://communityofhope.church/serve
· COH Has Job Openings! - Learn more at https://communityofhope.church/employment
· Thank you for your financial support, which makes it possible for us to minister to you and to our community! Consider setting up automated giving to help you be consistent even when you’re traveling. To give to Community of Hope go to https://communityofhope.church/give.