Both God and Money

With over a decade of Real Estate experience, Alex began as an investor and at the market's peak in 2006 owned 11 properties including his personal residence. The bubble burst and hit his family hard, but they regrouped and carried on with a No Debt Philosophy thanks to discovering the teachings of Dave Ramsey. Alex and his wife, Stacie, began teaching Dave's course, Financial Peace University and to date have helped hundreds of people to pay off over a million dollars in debt. Alex and Stacie are members of Harvest Bible Chapel with their two college-age boys, Christian and Samuel.

Guest Speaker - Alex Giannetti
alexgiannetti.com

Introduction:

Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

1. God wants you to be a Giver .

   See: Proverbs 11:23-24

   Malachi 3:8-10 - "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

2. Be Content . (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

   Live the life that God is calling you to live and be grateful for that which he has given you.

   See: Proverbs 12:9

3. There is no such thing as Good Debt.

   Proverbs 22:7 - "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender."

   See: James 4:3-4 | Proverbs 21:20

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 6:24

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. Have‌ ‌you‌ ‌ever‌ ‌experienced‌ ‌first‌ ‌hand‌ ‌that‌ ‌the‌ ‌borrower‌ ‌is‌ ‌slave‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌lender?‌ ‌(Proverbs‌ ‌22:7)‌
   

3. When‌ ‌was‌ ‌the‌ ‌last‌ ‌time‌ ‌that‌ ‌you‌ ‌wanted‌ ‌to‌ ‌give‌ ‌but‌ ‌didn’t?‌ ‌How‌ ‌did‌ ‌that‌ ‌make‌ ‌you‌ ‌feel?
   

4. Do‌ ‌you‌ ‌feel‌ ‌pressure‌ ‌to‌ ‌”keep‌ ‌up‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌Jones’?”‌ ‌Do‌ ‌you‌ ‌cave‌ ‌in?‌ ‌If‌ ‌not,‌ ‌how‌ ‌do‌ ‌you‌ ‌fight‌ ‌the‌ ‌urge?‌
   

5. Is‌ ‌it‌ ‌ok‌ ‌for‌ ‌a‌ ‌follower‌ ‌of‌ ‌Christ‌ ‌to‌ ‌have‌ ‌abundant‌ ‌wealth?‌
   

6. Tell‌ ‌us‌ ‌about‌ ‌a‌ ‌time‌ ‌when‌ ‌you‌ ‌received‌ ‌a‌ ‌perfectly‌ ‌timed‌ ‌blessing‌ ‌that‌ ‌could‌ ‌only‌ ‌have‌ ‌come‌ ‌from‌ ‌God.‌

Breakout
Pray for one another.

My Everlasting Father

Introduction:

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
~Isaiah 9:6

You Will Call Him... (Isaiah 9:6)

How Can a Baby Be an Everlasting Father?

1. Everlasting: Born , but without Beginning .

   Luke 2:25-32 - ...waiting for the consolation of Israel...
   ...revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
   ...my eyes have seen your salvation
   that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

   John 8:56-58 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

2. Father: Unique , but Exactly Identical .

   Hebrews 1:2-3 - ...the exact imprint of his nature"

   Colossians 1:15-19 - in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell...
   ...you do know him and have seen him."

   John 14:6-10 - Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."

What Do We Need from a Father?

• Provider (Luke 11:9-13)
• Role Model (Eph 4:32-5:2)
• Selflessness

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Small Group Discussion
Read Isaiah 9:6

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. Do you think of Jesus as eternal? How has your understanding of Jesus’ eternality increased as you have matured in Him?
   

3. If available, read different translations of Isaiah 9:6 (HBC uses the English Standard Version, or ESV). How do those translations differ, if at all? How does the present tense of the verb “to be” (used in the Hebrew text) affect your understanding of Jesus?
   

4. In what ways are we helped by knowing Jesus is “the exact imprint” of God? How does that affect your understanding of God?
   

5. What are ways Jesus models God the Father for us?
   

6. If you do not or did not have a positive relationship with your earthly father, how can Jesus as your everlasting father transform and satisfy your need for that essential relationship?

Breakout
Pray that Jesus will reveal Himself to you as your everlasting father.

My Wonderful Counselor.

Introduction:

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
~Isaiah 9:6

Three Reasons Why Jesus is The Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6):

1. His counsel is Timeless . (Isaiah 46:9-10)
2. His counsel is Personal . (Hebrews 2:17-18 | Hebrews 4:15)
3. His counsel is Life . (John 12:46 | John 8:12 | Matthew 11:27-30)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Isaiah 9:6

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. Why are we prone to take counsel from “experts” whose perspective is limited?
   

3. Does the timelessness of Jesus’ counsel affect the value you place on it? Why or why not?
   

4. Can you recall a time when Jesus gave you counsel, e.g., through the Scripture, through a sermon, during prayer, etc.? What was that counsel, and what did you do in response?
   

5. Light and darkness are recurring themes in Scripture. What does light make possible? What does the light of Christ do to or for us? (John 12:46)
   

6. What is the relationship between light and counsel? (see John 8:12)

Breakout
Pray that God will illuminate the Scripture and your mind more and more to better understand and apply Jesus’ wonderful counsel.

Therefore, Let Us...

Introduction:

Therefore, let us... (Hebrews 10:19-25)

1. Let us Draw near . (Heb 10:22)

   (Heb 10:22) - let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Guest Speaker - Fred Neal III
https://redemptionpa.org/

2. Let us Hold fast . (Heb 10:23)

   Heb 10:23 - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

3. Let us Consider one Another (Heb 10:24-25).

   Heb 10:24-25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Hebrews 10:24-25

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. What are some of the things that keep us from drawing near to God?
   

3. What is required of us to draw near to Him according to Hebrews 10:22?
   

4. What can you do this week to draw near to God?
   

5. Do you think COVID is making it easier or harder for Christians to hold fast to the confession of our hope? How about you personally… how has this situation strengthened your own commitment to the gospel? How has this weakened it?
   

6. In regard to holding fast, Hebrews 10:23 points us to God’s faithfulness. How does being reminded of HIS faithfulness help us to hold on during times when our faith is being challenged?
   

7. Tell of a time when another believer really stirred you up to “love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
   

8. Who are you going to try to “stir up” this week and how?

Breakout
Pray for one another and to be strengthened to stir up those on our hearts this week.

The Whirlwind

Introduction:

The Whirlwind (2 Kings 2):

3. never leaves. (v15-25)

1. God is with you: Trust His direction. (2 Kings 2:2-6)
2. God is with you: rely on His Power , not your own. (2 Kings 2:7-14)
3. God is with you: know that He Never Leaves. (2 Kings 2:7-15-25)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read 2 Kings 2

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

2. Did you ever have a difficult time trusting God’s direction? How can we guard our relationship with God during those times?
   

3. Ultimately God is the only one with the power to restore us, but what are ways that we can support or show God’s love to a grieving brother or sister in Christ?
   

4. It is easy for “God is with you” to become a truth that we ignore, or don’t fully absorb. Why is that? How can we avoid trivializing God’s presence, and how could that strengthen us through losing someone?

Breakout
Pray for each other that may see and feel God’s presence from within the whirlwind.