11-28-2021
11-28-2021
Dr. E. Dale Locke (Loxahatchee & Online), Pastor Brandon Weaver (WPB), Rev. José Marerro (COH Español)
Sermon Series: Come Home
Week 1: Hometown
English PDF file for printing.
Para imprimir el archivo PDF en Español
1. Icebreaker: What are some of your favorite things about your hometown?
2. Read John 1:1-18 -
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
3. Note that John used the metaphor of light to talk about Jesus. What are some qualities of light that point to what Jesus was like as he came to earth?
4. John didn’t begin with the birth of Jesus like Mark and Matthew did in their gospels. He went further back to Jesus’ life before the very beginning of creation and time. The words he chose to begin his gospel with is like a hyperlink connecting Jesus to Genesis 1:1-3 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
What does the parallel between how John starts his gospel and how the first book of the Bible begins communicate about Jesus?
John wants us to understand 3 things about Jesus:
· John wants us to know about Jesus’ true home.
5. Describe what you think Jesus’ life in heaven was like as he lived together with his Father and the Holy Spirit before coming to earth.
6. John clearly wants us to recognize that Jesus wasn’t just a man. He is also God. What does this fact tell you about Jesus?
· John wants us to know why Jesus left his home.
7. It takes a lot to get a person to leave home when their home has been a wonderful place. But Jesus was willing to make the sacrifice of leaving his beautiful home so that he could help us understand what God is really like. Read John 1:14, our theme verse for this series. What do you notice here regarding what Jesus wanted us to know about God?
8. How would you define “grace”? What does it mean that God is “full of grace”?
9. We all love grace, especially receiving grace for ourselves regarding our own sin and shortcomings. But Jesus also wants us to understand that God is “full of truth” meaning that God tells us the truth about ourselves that there are things in our lives that need to change. Give some examples from Scripture of how Jesus offered people grace, but also told them the truth about their sin.
10. What did Jesus mean when he said to “take the plank out of your own eye” before helping someone else become aware of their sin?
11. Scripture makes it clear that we’re never to judge those outside the church, only those inside it. Why do you think that Christians tend to want to judge people outside the church, even though Jesus made it clear we shouldn’t do that?
12. If we live into God’s truth about our own lives, our lives will make others curious about our faith. What are you doing in your life right now that it takes Jesus Christ to explain or that would attract others to Jesus?
· You can always come back home.
13. Jesus left his heavenly home so you could find your way back home to him. What could you do during the month of December to “go home to Jesus” – things that would move you closer to him?
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 “connect” to 561-264-6079.
· Angel Tree – Here are two great opportunities to bless people this Christmas:
1. Support 4Kids’ ministry to foster children in Palm Beach County by donating $25 Amazon, Target, or Walmart gift cards so that every foster child has a present to open on Christmas Day.
2. We’re also collecting $15 gift cards to fast food restaurants like Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, and Taco Bell for our homeless neighbors.
Bring your gift cards to the Welcome Desk (on Sundays) or to the Church Office (during the week) before December 5th.
· Kids of Hope Christmas Movie Night – Friday, December 3 at LOX Campus. Kids can come dressed in their favorite Christmas pajamas to enjoy a kick-off to the Christmas season watching the movie The Star together. Popcorn and candy canes will be provided. Register and get more information at communityofhope.church/christmasmovienight
· 12 Days of Christmas Devotional – Family Ministries Team created a 12-days of Christmas Family Devotional to help you and your family see how the entire Bible leads up to and points to Jesus. You can pick one up this week at our Christmas movie night on December 3rd, or any time after that. There’s no cost, but you need to register at communityofhope.church/12days to reserve your devotional.
· 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.