Sermon Guide

November 2: 1 John 1:5-2:2, Romans 7:5-24

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why?

Question: I know you give grace, and you forgive my sins, but as I have been following you for you so long I feel tired of sinning and doing what I don't want to do. What am I supposed to do knowing I'm not supposed to sin but that I always will? I know you always forgive. What should my mindset be? Just try to not sin? But we always sin!

Key Takeaway:

1. Don't Give Up - Struggling with sin means you're alive in Christ, not dead spiritually
2. Don't Fake It - Honesty about our sin is essential; confession is not negotiation
3. Jesus is Our Substitute, Not a Supplement - We don't add Jesus to our efforts; He is our complete righteousness
4. Walk the Same Way You Came - We continue in grace the same way we started—with empty hands and humble hearts
5. There is No Condemnation - Romans 8:1 reminds us that guilt and shame have been removed through Christ

Discussion Questions:

1. In the D-Day illustration of two soldiers, one alive and flinching, one dead and calm. How does this change your perspective on spiritual struggle? What does it mean that "the fight itself is evidence that Jesus has already won"?
2. Read 1 John 1:8-10. Why do you think John emphasizes both "if we say we have no sin" AND "if we say we have not sinned"? What's the difference between these two statements?
3. In Romans 7:15-24, Paul describes an intense internal battle. Have you ever felt like Paul—doing what you don't want to do and not doing what you want to do? Share an example (if comfortable).
4. "Jesus isn't a vitamin... He's your substitute." What does it look like in practical terms to treat Jesus as a supplement versus a substitute? How have you been guilty of this?
5. Discuss the statement: "Your standing with God doesn't rise and fall with your performance." Why is this so hard to believe? What lies do we believe that contradict this truth?
6. Sin becomes most obvious when we decide not to do it—like walking into brighter light reveals imperfections. Have you experienced this? Why might increased awareness of sin actually be a sign of spiritual growth rather than spiritual failure?
7. Read 1 John 2:1-2. How does understanding Jesus as our "advocate" change the way you approach God after you've sinned?
8. The sermon outlined a cycle: Don't give up → Confess (Don’t fake it, deny it, or rename it) → Enjoy forgiveness → Accept the cleansing → Rest in Jesus → Rinse and repeat. Which part of this cycle is hardest for you? Where do you tend to get stuck?
9. We often rename sin instead of confessing it plainly ("mistake," "slip-up," "error in judgment"). What sins do you tend to rename? What would plain, honest confession sound like?
10. Colossians 2:6 says, "Just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him." What does it practically look like this week to "walk the same way you came"—with empty hands, dependent and grateful?

Practical Applications:

1. When you sin this week, practice plain confession without excuses, minimizing, or renaming. Simply say to God: "I sinned. I [specific sin]. Please forgive me." Then receive His forgiveness and move forward.
2. Set aside 15 minutes to look back over the past year. Write down specific ways Jesus has changed you, even small ones. Thank God for the progress, not perfection.
3. Memorize Romans 8:1 and 1 John 1:9. When you struggle with guilt or shame this week, speak these verses out loud as a declaration of truth.
4. Each day this week, notice when you're trying to "supplement" Jesus with your own efforts versus resting in Him as your substitute. Journal about what you discover.
5. Share one lie you've been believing about God's forgiveness or your standing with Him. Pray for each other, thanking God for Jesus as our substitute and asking for grace to walk in freedom.

Sermon Guide

Understanding God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

November 9, 2025:  Romans 11:33-36

Begin with a prayer, asking God to open your hearts and minds to understand His Word and to guide your discussion.

Share a time when you had to make a difficult choice. How did you feel about the decision-making process?

Scripture Reading: Read Romans 11:33-36 together as a group.

Discussion Questions:

1. Understanding God's Sovereignty:
   • What does Romans 11:33-36 tell us about the nature of God?
   • How does the concept of God's sovereignty challenge or comfort you?
2. Human Responsibility:
   • Discuss the tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. How do you see these two concepts working together in your own life?
   • How does John 6:44 and Matthew 23:37 illustrate this tension?
3. The Role of Evangelism:
   • Why is evangelism important, even if God is sovereign and knows who will be saved?
   • How can we be faithful witnesses in our daily lives?
4. Security in Salvation:
   • Reflect on Philippians 1:6 and John 10:27-28. What assurance do these verses provide about our salvation?
   • How can we discern if someone is truly saved, and what should our response be to those who have walked away from their faith?
5. Personal Reflection:
   • Have you ever struggled with doubts about your salvation? How can the truths discussed in this sermon provide assurance?
   • How does understanding God's love and choice impact your relationship with Him?
6. Worship and Response:
   • How can we ensure that our study of theology leads to worship and doxology?
   • In what ways can you live a life that represents the greatness and majesty of God?

Application:

• Identify one area in your life where you need to trust more in God's sovereignty. Share with the group and pray for each other.

Conclude with prayer, thanking God for His sovereignty and asking for His guidance in living out these truths in your daily lives. Pray for those who may be struggling with their faith or who have walked away, asking God to draw them back to Himself.

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 Sermon Guide

November 16: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Question: What happens after we die? Are our loved ones who believed already with Jesus, or are they waiting for Him to return? What about what we call “the Rapture?” What is heaven anyway?

Key Takeaway:

1. The Gospel foundation: The Bible tells us what God has done to earn our salvation through Jesus Christ, not what we must do to earn it.
2. Grief is real and okay: Being a Christian doesn't mean floating around like a "spiritual robot." Grief shows up because something mattered—it's a sign of great love, not a failure of faith.
3. Death doesn't change what matters most: If you're in Christ, nothing—including death—can separate you from God's love (Romans 8:38-39).
4. Christians who die are resting in Jesus: They immediately go into God's presence and are awaiting the resurrection.
5. The great reunion: When Christ returns, the dead in Christ will rise first, and we will all be together—with Him and with each other—forever.
6. Heaven is Physical and Beautiful: It's not clouds and harps, but a recreated, perfected world where all good things exist without sin's stain.

Discussion Questions:

1. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 together. What stands out to you most from this passage? What questions does it raise for you?
2. Why do you think Paul uses the word "sleep" or "asleep" so many times when talking about death? What comfort does this metaphor provide?
3. Paul says we "do not grieve like the rest who have no hope" (v. 13). What's the difference between Christian grief and grief without hope?
4. Have you experienced the loss of a loved one? How did your faith (or lack of faith at the time) shape how you processed that grief?
5. Lament isn't just allowed—it's modeled, patterned, and necessary. Do you find it easy or difficult to be honest with God about your pain? Why?
6. Christians often argue about the timing of the rapture but that Paul "does not care about the timing" in this passage. Why do you think Paul focuses on what happens rather than when it happens?
7. How does the promise of bodily resurrection (not just spiritual existence) change the way we think about our physical world and bodies now?
8. Read Romans 8:38-39. How does this passage complement what Paul is saying in 1 Thessalonians 4?
9. For those grieving: What practical steps can you take this week to honestly bring your grief before God in prayer? (Consider journaling, praying the Psalms of lament, or sharing with a trusted friend)
10. For the whole group: How can we better support those in our church or community who are grieving? What should we say (or not say)?
11. How does the hope in the reminder that "one day we will see [Jesus] as we stand next to [our loved ones].” change the way you live today?

Practical Applications:

1. When you sin this week, practice plain confession without excuses, minimizing, or renaming. Simply say to God: "I sinned. I [specific sin]. Please forgive me." Then receive His forgiveness and move forward.
2. Set aside 15 minutes to look back over the past year. Write down specific ways Jesus has changed you, even small ones. Thank God for the progress, not perfection.
3. Memorize Romans 8:1 and 1 John 1:9. When you struggle with guilt or shame this week, speak these verses out loud as a declaration of truth.
4. Each day this week, notice when you're trying to "supplement" Jesus with your own efforts versus resting in Him as your substitute. Journal about what you discover.
5. Share one lie you've been believing about God's forgiveness or your standing with Him. Pray for each other, thanking God for Jesus as our substitute and asking for grace to walk in freedom.

Sermon Guide

November 30: Romans 8:18-30

Question: Why do bad things happen?

Key Takeaway:

1. God doesn't hide from our pain—He runs to it, enters it, and will ultimately reverse it.
2. "Good" in Romans 8:28 doesn't mean comfortable or easy—it means being conformed to the image of Christ.
3. God is not an all-powerful version of us; His ways and thoughts are infinitely higher than ours.
4. The Holy Spirit groans with us and prays the will of the Father over us when we don't know what to pray.
5. Bad things are actually bad—God hates the effects of sin, and it's okay to lament.

Discussion Questions:

1. How was your understanding of Romans 8:28 challenged? What does it mean that "good" is about being conformed to Christ's image rather than comfort?
2. We often treat God as "an all-powerful version of me." What does this look like practically? How does this misunderstanding affect our expectations during difficult times?
3. Read Romans 8:26-27. What comfort does it bring knowing the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groans when we don't know what to pray?
4. The sermon mentioned three categories of suffering:
1. Consequences of our own sin
2. Results of others' sinful choices
3. Situations that don't fit neatly (like the blind man in John 9)

How does identifying which category we're in help or not help? Why is it important not to assume we always know?

5. The pastor gave the example of Jesus weeping at Lazarus's tomb even though He knew He would raise him. What does this teach us about God's character in our suffering?
6. Discuss the "holy reversal" concept—how God turns graves into gardens and crosses into thrones. Where have you seen glimpses of this in your own life or the lives of others?
7. Have you ever been hurt by well-meaning Christians trying to explain your suffering? How can we better support each other without minimizing pain or offering "bad fortune cookie" theology?
8. The sermon emphasized that "lament is an honest cry of a child of God living in the tension of pain and future promises." How comfortable are you with bringing your honest frustration to God? What holds you back?
9. Where are you right now:
1. In the middle of suffering and needing to hear these truths?
2. In a season of peace and needing to prepare your theology for future trials?
3. Walking alongside someone in pain and needing wisdom?

Practical Applications:

1. Read through several Psalms of lament (Psalm 13, 22, 42, 88). Write your own honest prayer to God expressing your current struggles while also declaring His faithfulness. Share it with one trusted person if you feel comfortable
2. Identify someone in your life who is suffering. Instead of trying to explain or fix, simply be present. Text them: "I'm thinking of you. I don't have answers, but I'm here and praying for you.” Follow up with a specific act of service.
3. Memorize Romans 8:28-30 in its full context. Journal about what "being conformed to the image of Christ" looks like practically. Reflect on Jesus in Gethsemane as the model: "Not my will, but yours"