Due to the coronavirus, this video is more than just the Sunday sermon, but a sampling of our entire service. We pray it ministers to those who are staying home this weekend. Please contact the church if you need prayer.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU DIG DEEPER INTO THE MESSAGE FOR YOUR FAMILY DEVOTIONS OR SMALL GROUP:
Read Text; Luke 14:12-14. In the Jewish mind-set, eating a meal with someone was a big deal. In their minds a person is not “what they eat”, but “WHO they eat with”. Jesus ate with the lowest of the low in their society and culture. What does this say about Him to you? Is it important to you? Why?
Oftentimes we care more about what ‘others’ think of us, than what God thinks. Jesus is challenging our consideration of certain people as better than others, and possibly our fear of rejection. Read Galatians 1:10 and talk about some of what defines an authentic follower of Jesus.
We are currently dealing with something that none of us, in our lifetimes, have ever had to deal with (COVID-19 and its effects on our society). This can cause fear… and is causing fear in many.Fear is a very real, and powerful emotion that causes people to act in a way that does not look like they have self-control. Fear can keep us from taking action or thinking clearly. It can create doubt in our minds and cause us to respond in ways that make us look like our trust is NOT in the Lord.
Read: Joshua 1:1-9 & Psalm 111:1-10. What words do you notice that are repeated in both passages? In Joshua 1:5, what is the key promise? How does this promise from God enable us to have rest and trust in Him?
In verses 1-3 of Psalm 111, what is the author telling us about God? Why is this important for us to understand? In Psalm 111:6 we see the power of God on display. How does God show His power to us? Psalm 111:7-9, what are the works of his hands? How can we trust in this? What is the beginning of wisdom? What does this mean?
Read 2 Timothy 1:5-9 5. How does fear keep us from doing what God wants us too? How does the devil use the tool of “fear” to distract us or cause us not to move? How can you “rekindle” the gift that God gave you? What does God do to get the spirit of fear out of us?
Read Acts 8:4. We aren’t meeting together on Sundays for a while… could this be a good thing? How could God use this? No doubt the folks outside the faith are fearful, and concerned about the future on so many levels. God’s people in Telluride can display to local unbelievers the peace and love of God as a place to connect with Him for stability and salvation in their time of need. Wouldn’t it be awesome to begin to hear many locals ask, “what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:3)
PRAYER TIME:
- Split up into groups of two.
- Share one small “next step” that you feel God is calling you to take in the next 7 days.
- Ask God to help your prayer partner get over their fear and anything holding them back from radically trusting God and for God to give you both wisdom about your situations.
- Commit to calling your prayer partner sometime this next week to encourage them and let them know you’ll be praying for them every day during the week.
