Who Will You Choose?

Introduction:

We Choose Barabbas Because (Matthew 27:15-23):

1. We are too Self-centered (Matt 27:17-18).
2. We are too willing to Listen to others (Matt 27:19-20).
3. We are too eager to Worship idols .

   John 19:15 - "They cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar."

How Do We Stop Choosing Barabbas?

Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 27:15-23

1. What was your big takeaway from this week’s sermon?
   

2. As Christians we know that God's plan is better for us and we will be fully blessed if we follow his path. Why do we continue to follow our own self ambitions and try to solve “bad” situations ourselves?
   

3. Read Matthew 26:59-66. We see that Jesus did not crumble under the most severe form of peer pressure, why is it so important that we know God's Word and stand for what is right in our current culture? How can we use God's Word to resist peer pressure?
   

4. Typically we think of idols as addictions or greed, but an idol is anything in your life that takes Jesus from being your first priority? How can you recognize an idol in your life? What is something you have allowed to take priority over your walk with Christ? How can you remove or realign those priorities?

Breakout
Pray for each other to work on their relationship with Jesus. Be honest about your walk. Share the areas you’re good and share your areas of weakness.

Submitting to the Seasons

Introduction:

How Should I Handle the Changing Seasons of My Life? (Eccl 3:1-15)

1. I should Wisely adapt to Change and Not resist it . (Eccl 3:1-8)
2. I should Trust in God's timing and Not force my own . (Eccl 3:9-15)

   A.W. Tozer - "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply."

David Gibson - "Living well in God’s world means recognizing that when it comes to our lives, we are not mini-gods, and this is His creation, not ours. We have all the pieces of our life given to us, and things come and go and seasons change, and it is only God who knows exactly where everything is meant to go, in which order, at what time, and why.”

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Taylor Brown is a CONTROL FREAK!

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Taylor Brown is still a CONTROL FREAK!

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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

1. Why should it encourage us to know that the Lord is sovereign and in complete control of every single aspect of our lives?
   

2. Why does the Lord bring trials and difficult seasons into our lives? How is the presence of suffering in our lives the proof of God's love for us?
   

3. Discuss examples from the Bible where God used pain and suffering to prepare His servants for ministry. Share a time when the Lord used a painful trial to help you become more like Christ and bless others.
   

4. What does it look like to trust in the Lord and not yourself? How can you strengthen your dependence upon God over the upcoming week?
   

5. How can we as believers make the most of this current quarantine? How is the Lord calling you to grow and bless others?

Breakout
Pray for the strengthening of those suffering during this uncertain “lock-down/quarantine” season.

Jesus In The Clutch

Introduction:

How Do I Know Jesus Will Come Through In The Clutch?

1. Because He's My authority . (1 Pet 5:6)
2. Because He Cares . (1 Pet 5:7)
3. Because He's Stronger than my opponent . (1 Pet 5:8-9)

   Genesis 49:8-10 - "Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples."

Revelation 5:5 - And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scrolls and its seven seals."

Revelation 20:10 - "and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

4. Because He Always sees it through . (1 Pet 5:10-11)

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Small Group Discussion
Read 1 Peter 5:6-11

1. Are there anxieties in your life that you keep from God? Is there a reason you do that?
   

2. What does your adversary “seeking someone to devour” look like in your life?
   

3. How would you describe being “firm in your faith” mentioned in 1 Peter 5:9?
   

4. What are some ways that we can humble ourselves daily so that God may exalt us?
   

5. Is there a time that God came through in the clutch for you?
   

Breakout
Pray for each other’s anxieties that may be keeping you from your faith in God.

Lifecycle of Redemption

Introduction:

Lifecycle of Redemption (Psalm 107:10-22):

1. Recognizing our need for it is as hard as we make it (Ps 107:10-12 | Ps 107:17-18)

   How do we recognize our need for redemption?

   1. How are things working out for you now?
   2. Are you trying to do it on your own?
   3. Is there some nagging sin you're dealing with?
   4. How's your walk?

2. But being redeemed is practically free as we make it (Ps 107:13,19)

   How do we cry out to the Lord?

   1. In humility
   2. In reverence

   Psalm 145:19 - "He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them"

   3. In faith
   4. Submissively

   Psalm 66:18 - "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would have not listened"

3. And fulfills our needs abundantly (Ps 107:14,16,20)

   Psalm 50:15 - "and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

   Revelation 4:11 - "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

   How do we respond to being redeemed?

   1. Thanks and gratitude (Ps 107:15,21,22a)
   2. Sharing what he's done for you (Ps 107:22b)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Psalms 107:10-22

1. What prevents us from asking for redemption?
   

2. Why is redemption practically free and not scot-free?
   

3. How do we cry out to the Lord and why is it important to do it “properly”?
   

4. Why should we give God glory after being redeemed?
   

5. What is the appropriate response to being redeemed?
   What’re your favorite ways to go about doing those responses?

Breakout
Share with one another a time you went through a ‘Lifecycle of Redemption’.

Living in Exile

Introduction:

Daniel 1

5 Responsibilities While We Are Away From Home:

1. Maintain Perspective. (Dan 1:1-4)
   1. Heaven is our Home. (Dan 1:1)
   2. God is in Control. (Dan 1:2)
2. Live as Undefiled. (Dan 1:5-8)

   Colossians 3:5-10

3. Pray . (Dan 1:9, 2:17-18, 6:10)
   1. Pray for Wisdom
   2. Pray for Provision
   3. Pray for Leaders

Jeremiah 29:7 - But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

4. Test your Faith . (Dan 1:10-16)
5. Do your Job . (Dan 1:17-21)

   Micah 6:8 | 1 Timothy 5:8 | Titus 3:1-2

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Small Group Discussion
Read Daniel 1:1-21

1. Do you ever feel as though you are in exile? How so?
   

2. Of the responsibilities listed, which one encouraged you the most? Which one convicted you the most?
   

3. What job are you neglecting? How do you plan to fix this?
   

Breakout
In what ways are you “defiling" yourself? Pray for repentance there and for the proposed actions above.