The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength!

Hearing and understanding the Word of God leads to genuine JOY!

The Progression of the Involvement of the Hearers:

The people were INTERESTED in the Word of God. (Neh 8:1)

The people were ATTENTIVE to the Word of God. (Neh 8:2-3)

The people were RESPECTFUL towards the Word of God. (Neh 8:4-6)

The people UNDERSTOOD the Word of God. (Neh 8:7-8)


A proper understanding of the Word of God leads to:

1. CONVICTION of SIN. (Neh 8:9)



2. CELEBRATION of SALVATION. (Neh 8:10-12)

Mark Ort - HBCPN Elder

This is a photo of what archaeologists believe is the Water Gate, from where Ezra read from the Law in Nehemiah 8.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above with your cursor for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Nehemiah 8:1-12

1. When you come to a passage of scripture that is dry or tedious (genealogies, measurements of the temple, etc), what can you do to maintain interest and focus?
    
2. When someone is explaining the Word to you (preaching, commentaries, etc), how do you know if what they are saying is right and true?
    
3. Does weeping and mourning over your sin increase or decrease your capacity to experience true joy? Why? Or how so?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another!

Love is...

SACRIFICE

Lay down a FORK .
Lay down a BUNT .
Lay down a LIFE .

ACTION

HOSPITALITY .
SERVICE to others.
MINISTERING to others.
MISSIONARY work.
Developing a RELATIONSHIP with the one who loves you!

OBEDIENCE

Check out this logic:

1. We will not OBEY Him if we don't BELIEVE and TRUST Him.



2. We will not BELIEVE and TRUST Him if we don't LOVE Him.



3. We cannot LOVE Him unless we KNOW Him.

So...

1. If you come to KNOW Him, you will LOVE Him.



2. If you LOVE Him, you will BELIEVE and TRUST Him.



3. If you BELIEVE and TRUST Him, you will OBEY Him.

Jay Knauer - HBCPN Elder

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read 1 John 3:16-24

1. How did this concept of love ever start? Would humans have ever come up with the idea of loving each other?
    
2. When you are truly motivated by love, describe how different it is performing tasks or acts of service than when motivated by more self-serving motives?
    
3. How would you respond to someone who says the Bible is just a book of "don'ts" meant to make us miserable?
    
4. What does the concept of sacrifice mean to you? In 1 John 3:16, it says "we should lay down our lives for our brothers." Are we really doing that? How do we do that?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another. Pray for Pastor Jeff while he is in Thailand teaching the pastors at the conference.

Spiritual Blessings and the Glory of God

Introduction:

ELECTION: We are CHOSEN. (Eph 1:4)

ADOPTION: We are FAMILY. (Eph 1:5-6)

REDEMPTION: We are BOUGHT. (Eph 1:7-8)

FORGIVENESS: We are DEBT-FREE. (Eph 1:7-8)

INHERITANCE: We are BENEFICIARIES. (Eph 1:11-12)

SEALED: We are SECURE. (Eph 1:13-14)


God's primary purpose in lavishing spiritual blessings on you is for THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY

Mark Ort - HBCPN Elder

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
int: Highlight blanks above with your cursor for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Ephesians 1:1-14

1. What kinds of emotions does being chosen by God as His own possession provoke in you? What sort of active responses should we have, knowing that we are chosen by God?
2. What kind of impact should the concept of adoption have on your prayer life?
    
3. How does being forgiven by God change your attitude about guilt?
    
4. What excites you about knowing you have a heavenly inheritance?
    
5. How does God receive glory by lavishing spiritual blessings upon you?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another.

Jesus Over Hard Hearts

4 Steps to Restoring a Hard Heart: Step 1. Yield to the AUTHORITYof Jesus Christ. (Luke 6:5)

Step 2. Find REST and RESTORATION in the authority of Jesus Christ. (Luke 6:9-10)

Step 3. Seek FORGIVENESS for your CRITICAL SPIRIT. (Luke 6:11)

Solution to a Critical Spirit:








Step 4. Forgive your CRITICS . (Luke 6:2, 7)

Guest Speaker - Luke Ahrens

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Luke 6:1-11

1. Have you found freedom in fully yielding to the authority of Jesus Christ in every area of your life?
    
2. Where do you struggle with Hardness of Heart?
    
3. Discuss the Solutions to a Critical Spirit:
   1. Do you set your expectations based on God's Word?
   2. Do you discuss your expectations mutually with those close to you?
   3. Have you yielded your expectations to God?
       
4. Who do you need to go to and seek forgiveness from regarding your critical spirit?
    
5. Who has hurt you with a critical spirit? Have you forgiven them in Christ?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another.

Gifted to Serve

Why Should I Serve?

1. Because God HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR ME . (Rom 12:1)



2. Because God WANTS ME TO GROW . (Rom 12:2)



3. Because God HAS GIFTED ME . (Rom 12:3-8)


God has gifted me with the ability/abilities to:

Guest Speaker - Laylor Brown

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Romans 12:1-8

1. Do you see examples of conforming to the world in your own life? How can you fight against these things and work to renew your mind?
    
2. Which do you struggle with more: thinking too highly of yourself or thinking far too lowly of yourself? Why are both of these harmful and destructive?
    
3. What spiritual gifts has God given to you? How can you use those gifts to serve at Harvest and help others around you?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another and the development of each person's spiritual gifts.