09-27-2020
09-27-2020
Dr. E. Dale Locke, Rev. Trevor Johnston and Pastor Efrain Silva
Sermon Series: Come Alive!
Week 1: Daddy Issues
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. Icebreaker: What was your favorite TV cartoon as a child, and why did you like it?
2. Our memory verse for this series is Ephesians 5:14 where the Apostle Paul quotes the lyrics of an ancient hymn: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
What do you think about this verse? What comes to your mind when you read it?
3. Note two core ideas that are foundational for this sermon series:
(1) You’ll never fully live into who you were created to be outside of a relationship with God.
Do you agree with this? Why, or why not?
(2) Your emotional well-being and your life with God are completely inter-connected.
What do we mean by “emotional well-being,” and how is it inter-connected to your life with God?
4. The cartoon character Popeye often said, “I am what I am, and this is all that I am.” What was Popeye getting at when he said this? What tragic belief is behind this statement?
5. The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, “Now with God’s help, I shall become myself.” What did he mean by that? How does this work practically?
6. Read Matthew 4:1-11:
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
7. Scripture tells us Jesus was tempted in all the ways we are tempted. Read Hebrews 2:17-18: “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
What does this passage communicate to you that could help when you experience temptation?
8. This passage describes three areas of temptation that Jesus experienced:
The temptation to believe that I Am What I Do (Performance)
Matthew 4:3 – Turn some stones into bread.
If you’ve ever experienced the temptation to define yourself by what you do, describe how that felt. What’s the problem with doing that?
9. The temptation to believe that I Am What I Have (Possessions)
Matthew 4:8-9 – Worship Satan and the whole world will belong to you.
Why do so many people believe the lie that having more possessions increases their value?
10. The temptation to believe that I Am What Others Think (Popularity)
Matthew 4:6 – Throw yourself down and impress people.
Actor Jim Carey said, “I wish everybody could get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they could see that it's not the answer.” What does it communicate to you that Jim Carey said this?
11. My wholeness actually depends on me believing I am whose I am.
Read Matthew 3:16-17, which describes Jesus’ baptism:
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”
What points was God the Father making by what he said to Jesus here? Why was it important for Jesus to hear this from his Father, especially at the outset of Jesus’ public ministry?
12. Note that Satan’s temptation of Jesus took place immediately after the Father told him this. Given that, what light does it shed on what Satan was trying to tempt Jesus to do?
13. Each of us is a COGPOW, which stands for “Child of God and Person of Worth.” What difference does it make for your daily life to know this?
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 so we know who you are.
· 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.
· Kids of Hope is reopening on both campuses, on Sunday, October 4. Be sure to register your kids each week online to save them a spot. Only one adult will be able to drop & pick up kids. Find out about our safety protocols and procedures and our new check-in process at https://communityofhope.church/kids
· Pumpkin Patch is coming on October 5th at West and October 7th at East. There will be no Punkin’ Chunkin this year, but you can support our Students Ministry by purchasing pumpkins and baked goods, and it’s a great place to take some fall pictures! Open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. each day.
· Financial Peace University starts October 7 and will meet Wednesdays at 8pm online. This practical course has changed the lives of hundreds of people in our church, helping them live debt-free and plan for their future. The course fee of $129 per family includes a full year of access to videos and online financial tools. As always, you can try before you buy - attending the first week for free before you purchase your materials. Register at fpu.com/1124805.
· Annual Charge Conference – Sunday, October 11, 2020 on Zoom. |
· New Online Women’s Group: Marge Keller is leading a 12-week study designed to help you understand the Old Testament, called “Epic of Eden” by Sandra Richter. If you’re ready to go deep in Scripture, this is the group for you! Mondays at 7 p.m. Join in on Zoom from the comfort of your own home! Register at 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.