Sunday Sermons - Audio

It’s a family thing to honour one another…

                  …by how you manage your cash (Proverbs 3:9-10)

                  …by how you establish your character (Proverbs 22:1-5; 25:27)

Make the pledge: It’s our family thing to honour one another.

Small Group Questions

1.    How have I done in honouring God with the first fruits of my labour (my finances)?  What about the specific areas of taxes, spending (fixed expenses and disposable), saving (short and long term; investments) and giving?  What does my spending say about who/what I honour in my life?  Do I recognize the link between me honouring God with my finances and God honouring me?  Explain.
2.    In the last month has there been some level of conflict in my home?  Remembering back to the sermon, do I already utilize some of the conflict management T.O.O.L.S.?  What areas do I need to improve upon?
3.    Do I need to get my own way?  When was the last time I set aside self in place of someone else?  

Breakout

1.    How have I done with acting in humility in my relationships?  In what aspects do I need to continue to set aside self in place of someone else or God?
2.    Commit to memorizing one passage from Scripture each week through this study.  Consider Proverbs 15:33b.

Transforming Prayer

Pray that God would help you seek his glory above your own.

It's a Family Thing - Proverbs to know; Priorities to make

Priority # 3 - Forgive Freely

It’s a family thing to freely forgive one another.

1.     Who it’s for …you

2.     What it costs …surrender

3.     Why it’s needed …rebellious hearts

4.     How it happens …your initiative

5.     What it shows …genuine love

6.     Why it’s so hard …pride

7.     What it overcomes …heartache and division

Make the pledge: It’s our family thing to freely forgive one another.

Breakout

Transforming Prayer

It's a Family Thing - Proverbs to know; Priorities to make

Priority # 1 - Worship together

Todd Dugard

Proverbs 30

It’s a family thing to worship together.

So ask,

                  “Does my family really know GOD?” (v1-4; cf. 1:7)

                  “Are we acting on the truth of his Word?” (v5-6)

                  “Are we seeing the obstacles in the way?” (v7-17)

                  “Are we standing in awe of who he is?” (v18-31)

And establish the priority…

                  “Our family thing is to worship the LORD our GOD!” (v32-33)

Small Group Questions

1.     Do I have a real, intimate, and growing relationship with Jesus?  How am I helping the next generation transfer factual/intellectual knowledge into experiential knowledge of God? 

2.      “Every word of God proves true” (v.5a).  What am I doing to ensure that I “take refuge in him” (v.5b)?  What are some specific things that I can do act upon the word of God?  When was the last time I memorized Scripture?

3.     What are some specific things that I do that undermines my worship and obedience to Jesus?  What idols have I created in my life?

4.     What can I do to strengthen my relationship with God?  How would my actions change if I acknowledged Christ as the head of my house?

Breakout

1.     Thinking back to the discussion in question 3, note some specific consequences of my disobedience and halfhearted worship on my family and myself.

2.     Commit to memorizing one passage from Scripture each week through this study.  Consider Proverbs 30:5-6.

Transforming Prayer

·      Pray that you would more fully submit yourself to Christ as the head of your family.

Things Not Seen

When Faith is Made Sight

Todd Dugard

Genesis 48-50

You’ll know that faith is enough for you when…

§  You are passing on a godly legacy to the next generation (48:1-49:27)

§  You are honouring the previous generation (49:28-50:14)

§  You are finding freedom from your own sin-tainted past (50:15-21)

§  You are increasingly looking for and longing after what is beyond this life (50:22-26)

Small Group Questions

1.     Am I passing on a godly legacy?  What am I investing in – do I seek to store up earthly or eternal things?  What specific things have I done to leave a godly legacy to those around me?

2.     How am I doing at honouring my mother and father?  Do I recognize that honouring my parents is obedience to God?  What are some specific instances when this has been difficult?  How can I better honour my parents?

3.     Do I identify with Joseph or his brothers? Do I live as someone freed from the curse of sin or do I live as though I am still shackled to the sin?  What are some specific Scriptures that can teach me about how to respond?

4.     Faith is believing the Word of God and acting upon it, no matter how I feel, knowing God promises a good result.  Am I focusing on eternity and glorifying God or do I allow emotions and circumstance to draw me away?  How can I better ensure I am focused on God?

Breakout

1.     Do my words build-up or tear down? 

2.     What can I do to leave a godly legacy?

Transforming Prayer

·      Pray for God’s protection on his church and that we would have a bold witness for his glory.

Things Not Seen

The Power of Faith

Todd Dugard

Genesis 42-47

The power of faith is seeing God at work, forgiving as he forgives, abounding in grace.

§  Understand that in a sin-sick world, offense happens (42:1-17)

§  Trust God that “truth and time walk hand in hand” (42:18-22)

§  Reject grace-killing guilt, fear and shame (42:23-43:15)

§  Watch GOD do his work through every offense (43:16-25)

§  Forgive freely whether you’re asked for it or not (43:26-44:34)

§  Pour out grace as if the offense never happened (45:1-15)

§  Rest in the confidence of “things not seen” (45:16-47:31)

Small Group Questions

1.     In a sin-sick world, offense happens.  How do I respond to offenses and hurts done to me?  Think about a recent offense; did I respond as a person of faith?  How might that look?  Do I trust that God will deal with the offense in his time?

2.     Guilt, fear and shame kill the grace of God in my life.  God shows me undeserved grace; do I show it to others?  How can I love others the same way Jesus loves me?  Think of an outstanding offense – how can you go about demonstrating Jesus’ love to that person?

3.     Every difficult situation I go through can be used by God to advance his glory in my life.  How has God used difficulties to bring himself glory through my life?

4.     Am I prepared to allow God to act on my behalf or do I want to be the one in control?  How can I respond in faith in difficult situations?  What would this look like?

Breakout

·     What are some specific situations in which I have not yet freely forgiven someone?  Use this time to confess unforgiveness and ask God to help you forgive.

Transforming Prayer

·      Pray that God would help you to live a life in which you freely forgive.