09-06-2020

Rev. Trevor Johnston and Pastor Efrain Silva
Sermon Series: Five Things to Grow Your Faith
Week 4: Private Disciplines
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.

Our memory verse for this series is 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.

1.    Faith isn’t just knowing things.  Faith is about trusting God.  So far, we’ve looked at how practical teaching and providential relationships can help our faith grow.  Today we’re going to talk about how private disciplines grow our faith.  What feelings or thoughts come to you when you hear the word “discipline”?  How does that word “discipline” hit you?

2.    We generally admire discipline in others, but it’s another matter to do it ourselves.  Describe someone you admire who lives a very disciplined life. 

3.    Ultimately, discipline leads to freedom. Missionary and author Elizabeth Elliot said, “Freedom and discipline have come to be regarded as mutually exclusive, when in fact freedom is not at all the opposite - but the final reward of - discipline.”  Name some areas of life where a person won’t experience real freedom unless they have discipline. 

4.    Note the connection between the word “discipline” and the word “disciple” – which means “follower” of Jesus.  Name some disciplines you have practiced that have helped you live as a disciple of Jesus.

5.    Read Matthew 6:1-6: 
     “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

6.    Jesus focused here on two spiritual disciplines: giving and prayer.  What do you notice in Jesus’ teaching about these two disciplines? 

7.    What do you think Jesus means, when he talks about getting a “reward.”  What do you think that “reward” is? 

8.    When it comes to giving, it’s good to remember that God doesn’t need your money, but he wants your heart.  In Matthew 6:21, Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  What did Jesus mean by that? 

9.    How does giving – especially giving in secret - impact a person’s heart? 

10. When it comes to giving to God’s purposes in the world, the Bible recommends giving 10% of your income. But if that’s a new idea for you and you’re not ready for that yet, it’s good to do the following:
    - Pick a percentage you feel comfortable with
    - Get consistent with that
    - Grow from there.

Why might a person hesitate to give a consistent percentage of their money to God?

11. Based on other parts of Scripture, we know that Jesus isn’t against public prayer, yet he gives a warning about it here.  Talk about some of the potential dangers when praying in a group with other people listening. 

12. Our faith grows in unique ways when we get alone with God and pray.  If you’ve experienced that in your own life, share about that with your group. 

13. Read Genesis 15:1:  After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”  What was God trying to communicate to Abraham here? 

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. 

·      Drive-Through Communion - Sunday, September 6, 5-7pm at our East and West campuses: We invite you to come to our church parking lot today to receive the elements of bread and juice in a safe and sanitary fashion to remember Jesus’ death for you, and also have the opportunity to see your pastors and receive prayer.

·      Fall Marriage Night - September 11th | 7:00-8:30pm | Online: Dale & Beth Locke and Trevor & Leah Johnston will host married couples in our first ever online marriage conference. You’ll get to connect with other COH couples from the comfort of your own home. This fun event is designed to strengthen your connection with your spouse during this crazy time. The $15/couple cost includes a gift bag with a journal for each of you and some fun surprises to help you make the most of your evening!  Gift bags will be delivered to your homes prior to the event. Register at https://communityofhope.church/events/fall-marriage-night

·      Connections – Sundays, 10:30-11:45 a.m. on September 13, 20, 27 and October 4 - Online:  This 4-week online class is a great way to grow in your understanding of how to live the Christian life and get more connected at COH. Register at: https://communityofhope.church/connections

·      The Community of Hope App is our new Connect Folder. Download it to watch our services, get sermon notes, register for events, and stay connected with what’s going on in our church. 

·      Reopening:  We’re excited to reopen for in-person services beginning Sunday, September 27!  At our West Campus, we’ll have 2 identical services at 9am and 11am.  At our East Campus, we’ll offer an English service at 9am and an Español service at 11am.  If you don’t feel ready yet for an in-person service, continue to join us online; and we would love to help you have some fellowship over Zoom right after the service. For more information go to: https://communityofhope.church/coronavirus

·      It’s not too late to join a group!  At COH, we get it that not everyone can “just believe,” so we offer groups where you can explore faith in a pressure-free environment. Our Skeptics Group discusses topics like: “Why is there suffering and pain in the world? What happens to people from other religions when they die? Does the Bible conflict with modern science? and Why should I believe Jesus is God?” If you have still have some major questions about faith, or you need some evidence before you can commit your life to Jesus Christ, this is the group for you. And this is a great group to invite a skeptical friend to attend with you!  To sign up go to:  https://communityofhope.church/groups/

·      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.