08-16-2020
08-16-2020
Rev. Trevor Johnston and Pastor Efrain Silva
Sermon Series: Five Things to Grow Your Faith
Week 1: Numbers Game
English PDF file for printing.
Para imprimir el archivo PDF en Español.
Each week, our Sermon Discussion Questions are here to help the sermon go deeper into your life. You can think these through on your own, or discuss them with your spouse, family, or small group.
1. How would you define “faith”?
2. What are some things that have helped you grow your faith over the years?
3. Read our memory verse - 2 Thessalonians 1:3: We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
What do you notice in this verse?
4. Read Matthew 8:5-10:
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Why was Jesus so impressed with this Roman centurion?
5. Pastor Trevor reminded us of some things he and Pastor Dale had taught us back in January: Faith isn’t blind. Faith isn’t 100% certainty. What did they mean by these two statements, and why are they important for us to remember?
6. Pastor and author Andy Stanley said: “At its core, Christianity is an invitation to re-enter a relationship of trust with the Father. At the cross, sin was forgiven and we were invited to trust.”
If a person really trusts God, what are some ways that trust will show up practically in their life?
7. Gordon MacDonald, in his book, Ordering Your Private World, uses the metaphor of a garden to talk about the inner core of our spiritual life. How is a person’s inner spiritual life like a garden?
8. Some people think growing their faith is primarily a matter of acquiring more Bible knowledge. What are some potential dangers of just focusing on increasing your Bible knowledge?
9. What are some dangers when a person views spiritual growth strictly as obedience?
10. Bible knowledge and obedience are certainly important aspects of spiritual growth. But at the core of spiritual growth is trust, because trust makes us dependent on God. What helps you trust God more?
11. We tend to become increasingly like the people we trust. How have you seen that in your relationship with Jesus Christ?
12. Read Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
What do you notice here? How can you apply these verses to your life situation right now?
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:
· If you’re new to Community of Hope, text “Hello” to 561-264-6079 to let us know who you are.
· The Community of Hope App is serving as our Connect Folder in this time. Download it to watch our services, get sermon notes, register for events, and to stay connected with what’s going on in our church.
· Groups Launch Season: We want to help you experience community! Here are some things to know about Groups Launch this fall. We’re only asking for a short-term commitment. Some groups will be exclusively online, others will be in-person – either indoors or outside, and some will be a hybrid. You can choose the meeting option you feel comfortable with. We’re offering some great topics like parenting, mental health, Bible discussion, business mentoring, and more. Or you can simply request a group of people to watch our weekend services with – something we’re calling a “Watch Party.” All you have to do is fill out the form at https://communityofhope.church/groups and we’ll find a group that fits your situation.
· Back to School Parade: Attention elementary and pre-school families! Come to church and celebrate the beginning of the new school year...Kids of Hope style!! We'll have special treats for kids AND parents, socially distanced love from your favorite volunteers, ice pops, Bibles for our new kindergarteners and Bridge kiddos, a photo spot, and MORE! We also invite the rest of our church family to come out with decorated cars, noise makers, signs, megaphones, or whatever you have to encourage and cheer on our young families and school-age kiddos.
WEST CAMPUS | Wednesday, August 26 | anytime between 5:30pm-7:30pm
EAST CAMPUS | Thursday, August 27 | anytime between 6:00pm-7:30pm
Register at https://communityofhope.church/backtoschool
· Drive-Through Communion: Sunday, September 6, 5-7pm, at our East and West campuses. Drive through our church parking lot to receive the elements of bread and juice in a safe and sanitary fashion, and have the opportunity to see your pastors and receive prayer.
· Thank you for your financial support, which makes it possible for us to minister to our community! To give to Community of Hope, go to https://communityofhope.church/give.