Why Don't You Grow Up?

Introduction:

Why Don't You Grow Up?
(Philippians 3:12-4:1)

1. Growing up involves Exertion . (Phil 3:12-14)
   1. Why we must grow: Jesus has Ahold of us .
   2. How we must grow: By Forgetting and Striving .

2. Growing up involves right Thinking and careful Imitation. (Phil 3:15-18)

   See: Matthew 19:16, 17b-22   |   1 Corinthians 6:12   |   1 Corinthians 10:23

3. Growing up involves glorious Transformation . (Phil 3:18-21,4:1)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Philippians 3:12-4:1

1. What is one thing that God revealed to you personally during the sermon?
   

2. Do you pursue Jesus as zealously as you once pursued sin? Why is it difficult for us to do that?
   

3. What comes to mind when you think of maturity? What do you think of Jesus’s perspective on maturity (Matthew 19:22)?
   

4. It was said during the message that a good starting point for evaluating what we value is that “everything is crap” and “everything about us and our values is wrong.” What do you think about those statements?
   

5. What does the process of sorting through your values look like for you? (1 Corinthians 6:12 and 10:23)?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Finding Joy in Work

Introduction:

We Have Joy in Work Because...
(Ecclesiastes 3:9-15)

1. It is a Gift from God. (Eccl 3:13b)
2. We are Made for working. (Eccl 3:10-11a)
3. It leads us to the "Big Picture".
   (Eccl 3:11b,14-15)

3 Ways Eternity Changes Our Work:

1. It changes our Mindsets of why we work.
2. It keeps work in its Proper Perspective .
3. It helps us to Reevaluate our work.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

1. What is one thing that God revealed to you personally during the sermon?
   

2. How does God’s view of work allow you to be joyful in your toil?
   

3. Why do we not have total satisfaction in our earthy work? What about people who are seemingly closest to God’s work (pastors, missionaries, evangelists, etc.)?
   

4. Why should eternity have such a strong influence over our work?
   

5. What changes can you make, in your mindset or circumstances, to bring joy in all your work?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Questions from the Congregation - Part 15

Note: The time signatures [00:00] below indicate the start of a question if you'd like to skip to a particular one of interest in the audio file.

1. [06:32] - Q: Were God the father, son, and spirit all present at the beginning of creation? How can we know this?
   A: See Colossians 1:16 - For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
   John 1:3 - All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
   
   REVELATION / ESCHATOLOGY / END-TIMES

2. [10:13] - Q: Do you personally see and feel the rise of the spirit of the antichrist throughout the world? All Romans 1 items checked within just a years time:

   • Pastors thrown in prison, churches fenced off, their homes burned with their children in them, US churches gladly shuttered in the name of "saving just one is worth it" while bowing to the alter of health, wealth, and science (the new religion)

   • Atrocities by world governments such as human trials of genetic modification supported by corporate coercion, suicide inducing lockdowns, planned starvation, destruction of small business, purposeful separating of sheep and goats due to testing and vaccination requirements, technological explosion ripe for the mark

   • Free speech removal, big tech takeover, cancel culture, woke culture, UFO/UAF disclosures, twisting of language and logic in that we have birthing persons because biological men can have babies, menstruate, and compete with girls in sports, amen must include “awomen”

   • Big tech takeover of everyone's lives: biometric data prepared for payment, cashless society by a false coin shortage, the US dollar move towards the digital dollar, shadow-banned to free speech isn't allowed on this platform to digital jail to digital exile

   • Israel: a new wars with many around them, a new government mixed with Jew and Muslim power, global antisemitism, US funded enemies, and the continued push for a 2 state solution

   • Nation fighting against nation with BLM peaceful protests, white guilt turned in to all whites are racist, Christians are racist, stolen elections, NWO schemes, and Israel is the oppressor of the world

     ...to name just a few
     
     That wedding feast seems to be getting really close now. So, personally how close are you feeling that the removal of His bride church is now?
     

3. [17:16] - Q: It seems like Christ's return is imminent, I believe that he's coming back soon. I can't wait to be taken up to heaven. I just don't know how to live day to day with that type of mindset, knowing that I'm going to be taken away. How do I live "normally" worrying about work/job, finances, buying cars/stuff, upkeep for my house, etc. In first 1 Thes Paul tells the believers there that they haven't missed it and they need to keep on working. So I know I need to continue on, I'm just challenged by how to do that. Christ's love is in me and yes I can share that with others and try to get as many to heaven as possible, but really preacher, I'm exhausted from what God has given me. I'm ready to go. Can you give a few pieces of advice for how to persevere? How should I be praying? Thanks
   A: See Matthew 24:45-51, 1 Thes 5:6-11
   

4. [24:16] - Q: In Revelation John sees the events of the end times and since John is a saved man, would he also be seeing himself in the future? Meaning that there would be a past John and a future John. Also, if John is there for the end times, that he had already seen, wouldn’t he have known that the Lamb was worthy to open the scroll and break the seals?
   
   A: 1 Corinthians 4:6 - I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written...

   
   OLD TESTIMENT LAW / DOCTRINAL ISSUES

5. [30:22] - Q: Were multiple marriages in the Old Testament considered a sin? For example, David had multiple wives, if that was considered a sin and he continued to live in that sin seemingly unrepentant why did God still use him?

   • Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines and God still used him... what? Was Solomon saved?

6. [35:16] - Q: Why are there so many different versions of the Bible? Specifically the message, I know it gets the same point across but it says it completely differently than my NIV or ESV.
   

7. [39:15] - Q: How do we know the Bible we have today is God's complete word? How does the apocrypha and other extra-biblical literature factor in? How can we be confident in it when it was seemingly assembled and decided by humans during various meetings/councils?
   A: Luke 24:27
   
   Any question that was missed due to time constraints during the service Pastor Jeff will address the answer on the blog.

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

Review the questions submitted above. Discuss any of these that stuck out to you, or that maybe your group finds particularly interesting.

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another!

The Day of the Lord is Near - Can You Imagine?

Introduction:

Gone Forever: 5 Things That Will Soon Be Behind Us (Zephaniah 3:9-20):

1. Our Shame: gone forever. (Zeph 3:9-11)
2. Our Sin: gone forever. (Zeph 3:12-13)
3. Our Want: gone forever. (Zeph 3:13)
4. Our Fear: gone forever. (Zeph 3:14-16)
5. Our Doubt: gone forever. (Zeph 3:17)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Zephaniah 3:9-20

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

2. Why can’t Jesus make all things new without judgment / punishing sin? Why the need for 7 years of Tribulation (The Day of the Lord)?
   

3. In the Millennial Kingdom, do you think we will remember our life on earth from before? If so, how is it we will feel no regret (Zeph 3:11, 15)?
   

4. Read Zeph 3:17. Why does the Lord love us in this way? What effect does this have on you today?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

The Day of the Lord is Near - Are You Ready?

Introduction:

1 Peter 4:17 - For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness...

How Do You Respond to Correction? (Zephaniah 2:4-3:8)

1. I throw a Pity party.
2. I get Defensive .
3. I kill the Messenger .
4. I Flee .
5. I Examine myself.

How to Receive Correction: 3 Questions of Self-Examination.

1. Could this be True ?

   Proverbs 15:32 - Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

2. Why is this person telling me this?

   Proverbs 27:6 - Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

3. Am I hurting my Testimony ?

   Proverbs 12:1 - Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Zephaniah 2:4-3:8

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

2. What kind of thoughts / emotions do you experience when you consider God's coming judgment (the Day of the Lord)?
   

3. “We can't hold worldly people to Biblical standards.” Why is this impossible?
   

4. Be honest, how do you typically respond to correction? Why?
   

5. Explain how “accepting correction” is connected to “trusting God” and “drawing near to God” (Zeph 3:2).

Breakout
Pray for one another. Correct one another and see if the sermon landed.