Sermons

Praise

Here’s what happens…

Jesus teaches to start a prayer with praise. Psalm 100 is a great example of a prayer of praise, exclaiming that we can shout with joy to the Lord, sing with joy, enter his gates with thanksgiving and praise, and proclaim his unfailing love and goodness.

Questions

What six reasons does the psalmist give to praise God? Do these apply to “all the earth” or just “his people”? Which of the six motivates you more to praise God?

What responsibilities are involved in knowing that the Lord is God? Is any part of God’s creation out of his realm or concern?

What attitude characterises God’s people?

Talk About…

What’s your favourite word to describe God?

Pray

Say or write a Praise Prayer (purple in the rainbow prayer) each day this week. A praise prayer could start with, “Dear God, you are…”

Acts 10:9-33 - Peter's Vision

Discovery Bible Study

Choose a bible passage of about 10-15 verses –maybe one that relates to the Sunday preaching (below) or material you or your Explore Group is working through. Then it’s over to the Holy Spirit.

Read the passage in multiple ways

first read around the room

then one read with others listening

then with everyone pitching in to try and recall what they have read without looking at the passage.

Next, discuss these 4 questions:

- What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus, people and/or life?

- Does it give us any promises, principles, commands or warnings?

- What is God saying to me through this, and what am I going to do about it?

- Who can I tell about what I have learnt here, within the next week?

The first 2 questions are about exploration – what is the passage saying? You should spend half your time on these questions. This is giving space for the Holy Spirit to be speaking through all the members of the group. Follow this with a short pause for people to think on their own about what God might be saying to them (especially important for the introverts in the group!)

Question 3 is all about application – these two discipleship questions help people process their “Kairos” / light-bulb moments. If you’re not sure what this means here, please ask.

Question 4 is about reproduction – this helps people to think not just as a disciple, but also as a potential disciple-maker.

Have a go over summer . . . maybe invite someone for a coffee and do it together informally while you get used to it. It’s fun and you don’t have to be an expert. Try it on these readings which we’ll be using over Summer…

Acts 1: 1-20 - Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

Discovery Bible Study

Choose a bible passage of about 10-15 verses –maybe one that relates to the Sunday preaching (below) or material you or your Explore Group is working through. Then it’s over to the Holy Spirit.

Read the passage in multiple ways

- first read around the room

- then one read with others listening

- then with everyone pitching in to try and recall what they have read without looking at the passage.

Next, discuss these 4 questions:

- What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus, people and/or life?

- Does it give us any promises, principles, commands or warnings?

- What is God saying to me through this, and what am I going to do about it?

- Who can I tell about what I have learnt here, within the next week?

The first 2 questions are about exploration – what is the passage saying? You should spend half your time on these questions. This is giving space for the Holy Spirit to be speaking through all the members of the group. Follow this with a short pause for people to think on their own about what God might be saying to them (especially important for the introverts in the group!)

Question 3 is all about application – these two discipleship questions help people process their “Kairos” / light-bulb moments. If you’re not sure what this means here, please ask.

Question 4 is about reproduction – this helps people to think not just as a disciple, but also as a potential disciple-maker.

Have a go over summer . . . maybe invite someone for a coffee and do it together informally while you get used to it. It’s fun and you don’t have to be an expert. Try it on these readings which we’ll be using over Summer…

For families with children, the weekly Dig in at Home Resource with videos and other activities will be available under the devotions tab in our App and Website.

John 10:1-16 - Jesus is the Good Shepherd

Discovery Bible Study

Choose a bible passage of about 10-15 verses –maybe one that relates to the Sunday preaching (below) or material you or your Explore Group is working through. Then it’s over to the Holy Spirit.

Read the passage in multiple ways

- first read around the room

- then one read with others listening

- then with everyone pitching in to try and recall what they have read without looking at the passage.

Next, discuss these 4 questions:

- What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus, people and/or life?

- Does it give us any promises, principles, commands or warnings?

- What is God saying to me through this, and what am I going to do about it?

- Who can I tell about what I have learnt here, within the next week?

The first 2 questions are about exploration – what is the passage saying? You should spend half your time on these questions. This is giving space for the Holy Spirit to be speaking through all the members of the group. Follow this with a short pause for people to think on their own about what God might be saying to them (especially important for the introverts in the group!)

Question 3 is all about application – these two discipleship questions help people process their “Kairos” / light-bulb moments. If you’re not sure what this means here, please ask.

Question 4 is about reproduction – this helps people to think not just as a disciple, but also as a potential disciple-maker.

Have a go over summer . . . maybe invite someone for a coffee and do it together informally while you get used to it. It’s fun and you don’t have to be an expert. Try it on these readings which we’ll be using over Summer…

For families with children, the weekly Dig in at Home Resource with videos and other activities will be available under the devotions tab in our App and Website.

Discovery Bible Study

Choose a bible passage of about 10-15 verses –maybe one that relates to the Sunday preaching (below) or material you or your Explore Group is working through. Then it’s over to the Holy Spirit.

Read the passage in multiple ways

first read around the room

then one read with others listening

then with everyone pitching in to try and recall what they have read without looking at the passage.

Next, discuss these 4 questions:

- What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus, people and/or life?

- Does it give us any promises, principles, commands or warnings?

- What is God saying to me through this, and what am I going to do about it?

- Who can I tell about what I have learnt here, within the next week?

The first 2 questions are about exploration – what is the passage saying? You should spend half your time on these questions. This is giving space for the Holy Spirit to be speaking through all the members of the group. Follow this with a short pause for people to think on their own about what God might be saying to them (especially important for the introverts in the group!)

Question 3 is all about application – these two discipleship questions help people process their “Kairos” / light-bulb moments. If you’re not sure what this means here, please ask.

Question 4 is about reproduction – this helps people to think not just as a disciple, but also as a potential disciple-maker.

On Sunday we had our Carols service and it was great to see so many coming and celebrating community and the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you would like to dig deeper into the readings we shared on Sunday please use the bible reading tool below or you can also use the Dig In Tools that Jess has written over on the Devotional Page https://www.vinteract.com.au/client/manage_devotionals

Sunday 29 December – Sunday 28 January

We hope that you have been enjoying Digging into Discipleship during 2019 and deepening your understanding of God’s word and your relationship with him during this time. During our Summer worship period, we will not provide weekly follow up questions in the newsletter, but there will be weekly Dig in at Home resources on the ‘Devotions’ Tab on our App and Website. Instead, we have included here information on the ‘Discovery Bible Study’ method for you to try. It can be used as a handy help in D.I.Y. bible study and is also useful in helping lead a bible study or explaining something you’ve read to another person. It’s designed to work best in a small group of 4-7 people, especially in terms of practising what you might explain to others but you can use it on your own, it just removes the discussion and multiplication part.

Discovery Bible Study

· Choose a bible passage of about 10-15 verses –maybe one that relates to the Sunday preaching (below) or material you or your Explore Group is working through. Then it’s over to the Holy Spirit.

· Read the passage in multiple ways

· first read around the room

· then one read with others listening

· then with everyone pitching in to try and recall what they have read without looking at the passage.

Next, discuss these 4 questions:

· What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus, people and/or life?

· Does it give us any promises, principles, commands or warnings?

· What is God saying to me through this, and what am I going to do about it?

· Who can I tell about what I have learnt here, within the next week?

The first 2 questions are about exploration – what is the passage saying? You should spend half your time on these questions. This is giving space for the Holy Spirit to be speaking through all the members of the group. Follow this with a short pause for people to think on their own about what God might be saying to them (especially important for the introverts in the group!)

Question 3 - is all about application – these two discipleship questions help people process their “Kairos” / light-bulb moments. If you’re not sure what this means here, please ask.

Question 4 - is about reproduction – this helps people to think not just as a disciple, but also as a potential disciple-maker.

Have a go over summer . . . maybe invite someone for a coffee and do it together informally while you get used to it. It’s fun and you don’t have to be an expert. Try it on these readings which we’ll be using over Summer…

December 29 Revelations 21

January 5 John 10:1-16

January 12 Luke 23:26-43

January 19 Acts 1: 1-20

January 26 Acts 10: 9-33

For families with children, the weekly Dig in at Home Resource with videos and other activities will be available under the devotions tab in our App and Website.

In 2020 we will continue to Dig in to ‘Epic Teachings of the Bible’ together as a whole congregation, and we look forward to journeying with you then.

God Bless and Shalom,

Jess, Dom & Helen

Jesus Is Selfless

Here’s what happens…

In a letter to the church in Philippi, Paul advises them to have a selfless attitude like Jesus. That means thinking of others as better than ourselves and looking out for the interests of others. Jesus was selfless when he came from heaven to earth and died for us.

Talk About This…

- Share about a time someone in your family gave something up for you.

- How are humility and unity related? How can a person look after both his interests and the interests of others? In the case of conflict of interests whose interests should have priority? Why?

- How can you be humble and confident at the same time?

- How would your life be different if you consistently lived by verses 5-11? How would your relationships be changed?

God’s Armor Gives Us Strength

Here’s what happens…

In a letter to Christians who live in Ephesus, Paul instructs them on how to be strong. He tells them to put on God’s armor, including a helmet of salvation, a shield of faith, and a sword—God’s Word. God gives us everything we need to stand strong!

Talk About This…

- What’s one thing you’re strong enough to do?

- When have you felt the strongest? Was your strength emotional or physical? What gave you your strength?

- What pieces of armour are mentioned? What does each represent? What piece of armor is used for offense?

Through the Week

- Gather the family together and have everyone draw a suit of armor to hang by his or her closet or dresser. (Intimidated by drawing a whole suit of armor? Just draw a shield or a sword instead.)

- Whenever you get dressed this week, your picture will remind you to put on God’s armor, too! Pray that you’ll stand strong in his armor.

- You can also remind each other to put on God’s armor when you’re leaving home…and at home, too!

God Protects Paul From a Snakebite

Here’s what happens…

Shipwrecked on an island, Paul is gathering sticks to build a fire when a poisonous snake comes out of the sticks and bites Paul’s hand. Because God is our protector, Paul is unharmed and shakes off the snake.

Talk About This…

- What worries you? Are there places associated with those worries? What can you do to not allow those worries to take over and control your life?

- Look up Philippians 4:6. With that in mind how do you respond?

- Do you feel that God has ever used a disaster (in yours or someone else’s life) for a ministry purpose? Did you realise at the time, or only after? What did you learn in that?

- Since God wanted Paul to get to Rome, why do you think he allowed all the events of Acts 27:1-28:10 to happen? What stories do you think the centurion would tell his fellow officers once they arrived in Rome?

- What is your key take-away about God, discipleship and spreading the gospel from this part of Paul’s life?