Falls Church

In the ascension of Jesus, we learn about our King. 1. His timing. (v.6-7) 2. His witnesses. (v.8) 3. His plans. (v.9-11) What is it like to have Jesus as our king? When does the Lord do things? Rom 5:6 and 2 Peter 3:9 Where must we bear witness? Matthew 10:18 What does God have in store for us? Jeremiah 29:11-13

Because of the mercy of The LORD, we pray, marvel, wait, and hope. 1. From rock bottom, we cry to The LORD for mercy. (v.1-2) 2. God lifts us up by forgiving us in Christ; so, we marvel! (v.3-4) 3. We, the church, wait for The LORD's return. (v.5-6) 4. We, the church, hope in The LORD's love. (v.7-8) How are we redeemed from our iniquities? Who takes away the sin of the world? John 1:29 Heb. 9:7-10 Why do we call His name Jesus? Mt. 1:21; 9:6; 26:28, 1 Jn 1:8-10 How did He redeem us? Heb. 10:17, Titus 2:14

Because The LORD is righteous, the church maintains great hope by expecting a) persecution, and b) preservation. 1. Preserved through great hostility. (v.1-4) 2. Preserved to the great disappointment of haters. (v.5) 3. Preserved through all ages. (v.6-8) When people hate us, who are they ultimately hating? Why is hostility to Christ/church inseparable? Ps. 2:1-3, John 15:18 Was the violence in Jesus' parable brief or long? Mt.21:33-41 How did Paul describe being afflicted? 2 Cor. 1:10 and 4:8-9

The starting point and ongoing focus of The Church is Jesus' work and teaching, which He continues to do now through His Spirit. 1. Jesus teaches us. (v.1-2) 2. Jesus reigns over us. (v.3) 3. Jesus gives us gifts. (v.4-5) What is the most basic thing about us? What should convince us of Jesus' teachings? 1 Cor.15:5-7 How are we able to accept truth? John 14:16 From whom did the Spirit come upon us? Acts 2:33

In worship, we envision and celebrate the blessings that God often gives in Christ. 1. God often blesses God-fearers with fruit from our work. (v.1-2) 2. God often blesses God-fearers with marriages and spiritual children. (v.3-4) 3. We pray for God to give grandchildren, and the good/peace of the church. (v.5-6) What pathway does a blessed life often take? For our daily work/jobs, how is God involved? Col. 3:23-24 Where are echoes of this Psalm? Eph. 1:3; 6:4, Gal. 4:26; 6:16 Those who fear God also do what? Acts 10:34-35

In mighty restoring power, God provides a fountain of grace. How? 1. The LORD our God came to dwell with us. (v.17) 2. Grace from God flows like a fountain to us through His house. (v.18-20) 3. Our LORD God pardons our guilt. (v. 21) How does this grace fountain apply to us? What comes out of the temple? Ezekiel 47:1-12 Eph. 2:20-22 Where will the water of life flow one day? Rev. 22:1-2 What is God faithful to do for us? 1 Jn. 1:9 Jn.7:37-38

The husband role in marriage pictures Christ's loving relationship to us! 1. How Christ loves us, His Bride. (v.25-31) 2. This profound mystery refers to Christ and His Church. (v.32) 3. We keep reforming marriage with true love and respect. (v.33) What does the Reformation have to do with marriage? What is a good thing to find, and what is its true origin? Prov.18:22. Who should respect marriage? Hebrews 13:4a When do people forbid marriage? 1 Timothy 4:1-5

1. Jesus: the Word of our God 2. Jesus: the Light of our World 3. Jesus: the Glory of our God

We are utterly dependent on The Lord Jesus for any of our endeavors, especially spiritual ones. 1. Our efforts to build a house/temple/church are worthless, if The LORD is not building. (v.1a) 2. Our efforts to protect a city/Jerusalem/citizens are a fiasco, if The LORD is not protecting. (v.1b-2) 3. Our efforts to fill our homes/churches with believing children/people are useless, if The LORD is not giving and blessing. (v.3-5) How well are we depending on God? Col. 3:23-24 How much can we do without Jesus? John 5:19; 15:5, Mt. 16:18 Who is greater than Solomon? Mt. 12:42, Mk.4:38, Prov. 10:22 Who is/are the offspring of Abraham? Gal. 3:16,26, Rom. 8:29

We have the only truly safe place within our LORD, by faith. 1. When the Judge is ready, He summons all the nations. (v.9-11) 2. God knows when the time is ripe for Him to swing the sickle. (v.12-13) 3. The LORD revealed the universal scope of the Day of Judgment. (v.14-16) How do we apply the Word to our minds? (Lk. 12:20) How do we respond to Jesus' tone of warning? Mt. 24:1-25:46 For what sort of things will God judge people? Mt. 12:36 Why has God waited so long to come? Romans 2:4-5

While we look back to God's great redeeming work in Christ, and while we struggle today, we constantly hope for and long for our future restoration. 1. We joyfully look back to the first coming of Christ in order to redeem us, since that gives meaning to every past moment of rejoicing. (v.1-3) 2. We pray for the future restoration of full blessings. (v.4) 3. We look forward with longing to the second coming of Christ, since it gives meaning to every present moment of suffering. (v.5-6) In what way does the metaphor of harvest fit our lives? In what do we abound more and more? Phil. 1:9-11 Why is patience an important piece of our lives? James 5:7-8 Who does the final harvesting? Revelation 14:14-16

When we return to the Lord, we gain sure hope of restoration. What can we expect from the Lord? 1. To the slavery, there will be an end. (v.1-3) 2. To the oppressors, there will be payback. (v.4-6) 3. Against all logic, there will be a full reversal. (v.7-8) How does returning to the Lord change so many things? How do trouble and mercy get dished out? Prov. 11:8 Jam. 2:12-13 What happens to those who troubled us? 2 Thess. 1:5-10 Who will be destroyed, and who will be saved? Phil.1:27-30

The portrayal of God encircling His threatened people shows that He gives such security, stability, and peace that we sing songs of trust! 1. Security is found in trusting that we are as safe as God is invincible. (v.1-2) 2. Stability is found in knowing that God will not let us be tested beyond our ability, and so we are realistic as we learn to patiently wait for God to remove wicked powers. (v.3) 3. Peace is found in learning to pray with the awareness that good and bad are mixed – for now. (v.4-5) How are we encouraged by the image of encircling? Why are we immovable? Mt. 16:18, 1 Cor.15:58, Heb. 12:26-29 When does patience become necessary? Rom. 13:1 1 Cor. 10:13 How can we learn to pray with assurance? Eph. 2:14, 1 John 2:19

God promised to rescue us, and described how we know that we are rescued. What is the evidence of our rescue? 1. The outpouring of The Spirit of The LORD. (v.28-29) 2. The coming of The Day of The LORD. (v.30-31) 3. The calling on The Name of The LORD. (v.32) What is the real benefit of being rescued? Of what day was Joel speaking? Acts 2:14-36 What does it mean for our future? 2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13-14 In what way does our rescue come? Titus 3:3-7

As Joel saw, the Spirit is God's amazing gift to restore us. 1. Know about the grand event, and celebrate. (v.1-4) 2. Evaluate the mixed reactions, and keep them in mind. (v.5-13) 3. Understand Peter's explanation, and call on God. (v.14-21) How does this apply to us? What do you know about the power of the Spirit? Ezekiel 37:9-14 Who may call on the name of the Lord? Romans 10:9-13 Who says not to harden your heart? Hebrews 3:7-12

As Joel saw, the Spirit is God's amazing gift to restore us. 1. Know about the grand event, and celebrate. (v.1-4) 2. Evaluate the mixed reactions, and keep them in mind. (v.5-13) 3. Understand Peter's explanation, and call on God. (v.14-21) How does this apply to us? What do you know about the power of the Spirit? Ezekiel 37:9-14 Who may call on the name of the Lord? Romans 10:9-13 Who says not to harden your heart? Hebrews 3:7-12

The Lord is My Shepherd: In My Lord's House, part 3. 1. My Lord's house: the believer's incredible hope a. A meeting place b. A holy place 2. My dwelling place: the Lord's incredible grace a. Our claim b. Our assurance 3. My forever home: the believer's incredible life a. Our love song b. Our eternal song

Since we know that earthly armor fails, we are called to look to God alone for His supernatural help, which never fails. 1. God rescues us out of danger. (v.1-5) 2. God gives us a supernatural escape. (v.6-7) 3. God trains us to have great confidence in His help alone. (v.8) Upon what are we constantly relying? Luke 21:36 Why would King David win in battle? 2 Sam. 5:17-20 What one thing do we trust in for victory? Psalm 20:7, John 14:6 Why can we think of the Lord as being on our side? Rom. 8:31-39

In power, compassion, and grace, our Lord Jesus repays our losses. How? 1. The Lord in grace makes up for our sin and grief and loss. (v.25) 2. The Lord in grace removes our shame, supplies our need, and gives us every reason to praise Him. (v.26) 3. The Lord in grace protects us, and gives us certainty about His own presence. (v.27) How can we be sure, so that we can really start to hope? Over what do we grieve? Why? Isaiah 55:6-12 For what are we truly looking? Have we found it? Mt.1:21,23 What will happen to our shame? Ps. 27:1-6 Rev. 21:3-4

Only when we look to God do we learn to set our troubles into a context that is large enough to dwarf them. 1. As we pray in Christ's name, we look up to The LORD. (v.1-2) 2. We ask for God's mercy. (v.3) 3. God's mercy takes the sting out of contempt and scorn. (v.4) What is one type of honor for a believer? Acts 5:41 Where does it help us to look when facing troubles? Is. 55:9 In what direction does The Lord's Prayer have us look? Mt. 6:9 What is more murderous than anger? Mt. 5:22 Dn.12:2

Since the Spirit is in us, we have good reasons to hope. 1. We have hope, because of the Lord's compassion for us. (v.18) 2. We have hope, because the Lord turns barrenness into fruitfulness. (v.19-20) 3. We have hope, because the Lord turns grief into joy. (v.21-24) With what certainty can we begin again to hope? How important is the object of our hope? Psalm 25:3-5 Where is our hope placed? Psalm 39:7 What do we say to ourselves? Psalm 62:5-6

We rejoice that, through the grace of Christ, we now belong to His church and will enter His heavenly city, the New Jerusalem. 1. We rejoice whenever we are privileged to enter the presence of The LORD in worship. (v.1-2) 2. We marvel at the wonder of Christ's church and the New Jerusalem. (v.3-5) 3. We pray for Christ's church, and we long for the New Jerusalem. (v.6-9) Why do we long for true peace? 1 Tim. 2:2, Eph. 4:3 Where is gladness to be found for a believer? Ps.92:1-4, Heb. 7:2 What will our future gathering be like? John 4:20, Rev. 21:10 In the New Jerusalem, what is central? Heb. 11:10 and 12:22-24

When we hear the trumpet call to repent, God wants us to respond by returning to Him in repentance, faith, and worship. Why? 1. Because the coming day of judgment cannot be escaped or endured. (v.1-11) 2. Because the Lord's gracious character cannot be doubted. (v.12-13) 3. Because even the required repentance and faith are free gifts. (v.14-17) What should we be hearing now? How were the man's ears opened? What about us? Mark 7:35 What happened to the ears and minds of believers? Luke 24:31,45 When should we repent? Matthew 4:17

The LORD is our keeper. 1. Where can we look for help? (v.1-2) 2. What does the LORD do for us, and how consistently? (v.3-7) 3. When does it start? (v.8) How do we know that everything will be okay? Who should keep us? Gen.4:9, Is.64:1 Rom.8:35-39, Heb.12:3 The sages of wisdom ask if we know whose name? Pv. 30:1-4 What will it be like in the future? Psalm 23, Rev. 21:23

Because our God is The LORD, we must cry out to Him in repentance when our joy dies. (v.1-4) How do we respond to difficulty and sadness? 1. Cry out to The LORD solemnly – mourning over sin. (v.13-14) 2. Cry out to The LORD humbly – with utter dependence. (v.15-18) 3. Cry out to The LORD longingly – panting for Him. (v.19-20) What is our reaction to suffering? To what extent do we have pride? 2 Chronicles 7:13-14. Why would apathy be a struggle for us? Romans 8:18-25. When are we tempted toward passivity? John 15:11.

Since our Heavenly Father cares so well for birds, lilies and grass, it would be non-sensical for us to be anxious about our own food, lodging, clothing, or the future. Caution: anxiety is distracting! 1. Don't fret, for our Creator-Father takes good care of everything He created, always knowing what we need. a. Look at the birds of the air. (v.26-27) b. Consider the lilies of the field (v.28-30) c. He cares for us! Our souls, bodies, even clothing. (v.32) 2. Don't be anxious, for our Savior-Father has taken our souls into His care-kingdom-reign and He has placed His righteousness upon us, so of course God will take care of our bodies, too. (v.33) 3. Don't imagine tomorrow's possible troubles, which is worrying (distraction!); instead focus today on the One who holds tomorrow. If tomorrow contains trouble for us, then it will also contain grace for us to overcome that trouble, too. (v.34) Conclusion: Whenever we feel anxious, we are falling for a distraction! Quickly, we turn our minds back to the spiritual work of our God in this world. What is a common distraction from spiritual things? What is the lesson from looking at the birds of the air? Rom. 8:28 How can we learn from the lilies of the field? Luke 10:41-42 When should we focus on God's work in the world? Heb. 13:15

God, because of His love for us, shows us that our joy withers whenever we fail to give Him our undivided attention! 1. God shows Himself to us in our suffering. (v.1-4) 2. God insists that we awake from our complacency. (v.5) 3. God reveals the withering of our joy, whenever He is not our very life. (v.6-12) What is distracting us from God, and how harmful is that? To whom are we called to pass on truth? 2 Tim 2:2, Ps. 78:4 How is complacency a present danger in our lives? Rev. 4:11. Evaluate our level of joy; what is God's goal? John 15:11

1. Let us be thankful for fellow believers, despite their present sins and shortcomings. 2. Let us be thankful for fellow believers, because they, like you, partake of Christ's Salvation

Study directions: how to get passion for Christ back/teach future generations to do so. Direction 1. Draw near (v. 19-22) Direction 2. Hold fast (v. 23) Direction 3. Consider others (v. 24-25) Conclusion: got enthusiasm?

The Lord fully equipped His apostles with authority to upbuild His church and to gently restore unity. 1. The proof of true apostles was that they gently warned of the impending exercise of the power of Christ. (v.1-4) 2. True apostles taught others how to prayerfully detect where Christ truly was in His church: in you and in me! (v.5-9) 3. As gently as possible, true apostles were upbuilding Christ's church and restoring peace, harmony and unity. (v.10-14) How important is a soft touch when exercising authority? Why are multiple witnesses required? Deuteronomy 19:15 For whom did both Jesus and Paul pray? Mt. 5:44-45 Where are unity and harmony found? Col. 3:14

Since Jesus is our Prince of Peace, we look to Him as we cope with lies, hatred and warring. 1. As we join with Jesus in praying, we can be confident that the lies of Satan will be fully repaid in The Judgment. (v.1-4) 2. We enter into the grief of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, after He lived in this hateful world. (v.5-6) 3. We walk in the footsteps of Jesus, as he journeyed through a warring world. (v.7) Why is peace so precious in our fallen world? What is the relationship between Satan and lies? John 8:44 Where is the fire of the lying tongue kindled? James 3:6 Who understands our misery regarding liars? Mt. 17:17, Heb. 4:15

Christ provided the tell-tale mark of true Christ-likeness: strength in weakness while reaching out to souls in order to build them up. 1. The signs of a true apostle. (v.11-12) 2. The sacrifices of a true apostle. (v.13-18) 3. The concerns of a true apostle. (v.19-21) How much does a believer care about the souls of others? Why did Paul view himself as the least? Eph. 3:8 What are the family responsibilities of Christians? 1 Tim. 5:8 Which love do we imitate? 1 John 3:16 and 4:19