Episode 5: God's Promise To Save Us
Discussion following the sermon from 4/2/2023
"The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel!' Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 'Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt.'" John 12:12-15
The most important of all God’s promises is His promise to save us. Humanity has no hope apart from God, and the world is like Jesus revealed in Matthew 9:36, “lost like sheep without a shepherd.” But God, in His marvelous grace and mercy, sent His Son Jesus to save us. God promises eternal life to all who believe in His Son, and this salvation is more than just being saved from the death sentence of sin (Romans 6:23). God saves us from the hurt and pain caused by this broken world under Satan’s control, and He gives us power to overcome sin in our lives. God gives us strength and direction for each day and a glorious hope for the future. In today’s sermon Pastor Beau gives us reasons to praise God for saving us.
We Will Praise Him Because...
- He came to save us from our enemy.
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." Matthew 16:18
Discussion: Describe the peace in knowing that Jesus defeated Satan and overcame the world.
He came to save us from ourselves.
"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." Jeremiah 17:9-10
"I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 7:21-25
Discussion: Identify specific things for which you must depend upon God for control.
- He came to save us for a purpose.
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:8-10
Discussion: Have you found God’s purpose for you? Are you living that purpose?
He came to save us for eternity.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17
Discussion: Describe the joy of knowing that you are eternally secure.
Episode 4: God's Promise Of Help
Discussion following the sermon from 3/26/2023
""I've picked you. I haven't dropped you. Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." Isaiah 41:10 (MSG)
"One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors. David asked the Lord, 'Should I go and attack them?' 'Yes, go and save Keilah,' the Lord told him. But David's men said, 'We're afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don't want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!' So David asked the Lord again, and again the Lord replied, 'Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.' So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah...Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. 'Good!' he exclaimed. 'We've got him now!'...So Saul mobilized his entire army to march to Keilah and besiege David and his men. But David learned of Saul's plan...and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside...Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn't let Saul find him." 1 Samuel 23:1-5, 7-9, 13-14 (NLT)
Today we continue in our series This I Know by looking at God’s promise to be our helper. The Bible is full of promises of God’s help, and this is why, as our key verse reminds us, there is no need to panic. Psalms 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalms 94:18-19 says, “When my foot was slipping, your love, O Lord, supported me. When my anxiety was great, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” And Jesus promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (John 14:18). “Helper” is the name the Bible uses to describe the Holy Spirit that God promises to all who put their faith in Him. In this message, Pastor Jody shows us, from the life of David, what God’s help looks like.
- Real help is responsive.
"One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors. David asked the Lord, 'Should I go and attack them?' 'Yes, go and save Keilah,' the Lord told him." 1 Samuel 23:1-2
Discussion: Why are we so often reluctant to seek God’s help?
Real help is risky.
"But David's men said, 'We're afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don't want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!'" 1 Samuel 23:3
"Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. 'Good!' he exclaimed. 'We've got him now!'...So Saul mobilized his entire army to march to Keilah and besiege David and his men." 1 Samuel 23:7-8
Discussion: Why does God limit His help to things related to His plan?
- Real help is rewarding.
"So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah." 1 Samuel 23:5
"Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn't let Saul find him." 1 Samuel 23:14
Discussion: Talk about the rewards that come from simply obeying God.
Application: Purpose to seek God’s help to combat that hurt or habit that you cannot overcome.
Episode 3: God's Promise Of Revival And Return
"'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Acts 2:17-21
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
We must...
1. Confess our need.
"The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead." Psalm 10:4
"I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief." Revelation 3:1-3
Discussion: What will it take for us to wake up and confess our sin?
2. Come together in prayer.
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:16
"Then he said to me, 'Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, 'Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!'" Ezekiel 37:4-5
Discussion: What will it take for us to confess our sin to one another and to pray for one another?
3. Commit our ways.
"Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." Psalm 37:5-6
Discussion: What would our church look like if we all committed our ways to God?
"He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon!' Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:20
Application: Commit to pray every day for 40 days for revival.
Episode 2: God's Promise For My Future
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 29:11
Six Guarantees Of God For My Future
1. God promises to guide me when I'm confused.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
Discussion: Life is complicated. Are you trusting God to direct your path?
2. God promises to help me when I'm tempted.
"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." 1 Corinthians 10:13
"But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Discussion: How does trusting God give us strength to endure temptation?
3. God promises to support me in trouble.
"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." Isaiah 43:2
"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Discussion: Trouble is sure, but so is God’s presence. Describe the peace God gives in trouble.
4. God promises to repay those who hurt me.
"Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD." Romans 12:17-19
Discussion: Does it give you comfort to know that you can depend on God’s justice?
5. God promises to reward my service and generosity.
"For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do." Hebrews 6:10
"Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life." 1 Timothy 6:18-19
Discussion: Is faithfulness its own reward? If so, then future rewards are just icing on the cake.
6. God promises to keep me saved until heaven!
"'I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.'" John 10:28-30
Discussion: Talk about the peace there is in knowing that you are eternally secure.
Episode 1: God's Promise Of Personal Peace
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10
How To Enjoy God's Promise Of Peace:
- Make peace with God.
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." Romans 5:1
Discussion: How does having peace with God affect how you think and live?
Take time to rest.
"And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the Lord, who had set them apart to be holy." Ezekiel 20:12
Discussion: Do you set aside days to rest? Describe what rest is like for you.
- Receive his peace as a gift.
"I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27
"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39
Discussion: What in your life hinders you from living every day in God’s peace?
- Express your needs to God.
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
Discussion: Do you believe that God’s peace guards your heart and mind?
- Refocus your thoughts on Jesus.
"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" Isaiah: 26:3
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Discussion: What does it mean to fix your thoughts on Jesus?
Application: Choose to tune out the world’s destructive voices and believe Jesus.