Southside Lexington Podcast

Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:9-11 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.  53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."  Lesson Notes Special Days Website: daysoftheyear.com Ascension Day: it is the 40th day of Easter. It is a Christian holiday that commemorates the belief of the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. This year it was on Thursday, May 29. Book: The Ascension of Christ: Recovering a Neglected Doctrine by Patrick Schreiner. Five Reasons Why The Ascension Has Been Neglected: 1 The Bible speaks little of it 2 It seems like a bad plan. 3 The implications are unclear. 4 The event is abnormal. 5 The resurrection subsumes the ascension. Andrew Murray on the Ascension: “Faith has in its foundation four great cornerstones on which the building rests – the Divinity of Christ, the Incarnation, the Atonement on the Cross, and the Ascension to the Throne. The last one, the ascension, is the most wonderful, it is the crown of all the rest, it is the perfect revelation of what God has made Christ for us. And so, in the Christian life, it is the most important, for the ascension is the glorious fruit of all that goes before.”  Discussion Questions 1. Have you ever been part of a church that has emphasized the ascension of Jesus Christ? Have you ever been part of a class or read a book about it? Would you agree that the ascension of Jesus Christ is a neglected doctrine? 2. Five reasons were shared as to why the ascension might be considered a neglected doctrine. Which one of the reasons do you think might have the most to do with its neglect? 3. In your own words, why do you think it is important to properly emphasize the ascension? 4. Discuss Andrew Murray's quote about the ascension. Do you agree that the ascension should be considered as the most important cornerstone of our faith? 5. Read again the above seven verses from Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:9-11. What stands out to you from these verses about the ascension of Jesus Christ?

Psalm 23 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Discussion Questions 1.      What are the ways you see God shepherding in scripture? 2.      What are the ways you see God shepherding you and the world around you today? 3.      Who are the shepherds in your life? How do you interact with them? 4.      What has God entrusted to you to shepherd—people, resources, responsibilities? 5.      How does Jesus' model of laying down His life challenge or inspire your approach to leadership?

Mark 1:2-8 2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" - 3 "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" 4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."  Discussion Questions 1 Who is someone in your life that helped prepare the way for you? (Spiritually, vocationally, relationally, etc.) 2 Humility before Jesus is vital in our allegiance to Jesus. In your current season of life, what situations, moments, or environments challenge your humility before Jesus and your submission to Jesus the most? 3 Until Jesus returns, we are the construction crew that is preparing the way for the King to enter into the city. Think about your areas of influence and impact. In what ways have you done a good job of preparing the way for Jesus to enter into the hearts and lives of those around you? Where are you/have you struggled? 4 "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30 In what ways does this verse speak most deeply to you in your season of life?

Mark 1:1 1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Lesson Notes The Beginning of the Gospels: Matthew - a genealogy Mark - an announcement Luke - a birth narrative John - a theological statement Three Aspects of Mark's Gospel: 1 It's a "not too late" gospel 2 It's a "do not wait" gospel 3 It's a "speak it straight" gospel NT Wright on the Beginning of Mark's Gospel: “It's as if you are sound asleep and dreaming, when suddenly the door bursts open and a bright light shines full in your face. A voice, breaking in on your dream-world, shouts ‘Wake up! Get up! You'll be late!” And without more ado, the speaker splashes your face with cold water to make the point. Time to stop dreaming and face the most important day of your life.” Unique Features of Mark's Style of Writing: It is written entirely in the present tense. It is the shortest of the four gospels and most fast paced. There is less teaching and more action in Mark's gospel. Mark asks a lot of questions - over 100 questions. Mark uses the word - immediately - 41 times in his gospel. Marcus Borg on Mark's use of the term "Son of God": “We will not fully understand Mark's affirmation that Jesus is the Son of God unless we realize that there was another Son of God in that world. For Christians to call Jesus “the Son of God” directly countered Roman imperialism and its rule of the world that they knew. So, already in the first verse, Mark names the conflict that will by the end of his story lead to the execution of Jesus.”  Discussion Questions 1. How does Mark's personal story—his early failure and later usefulness to God—shape the way we understand the Gospel as a “not too late” message? 2. What does the unique style of Mark's writing (see the examples in lesson notes) tell us about the urgency of the message and mission of Jesus? How does this sense of urgency influence your own faith and action? 3. How does Mark's bold proclamation that Jesus is “the Son of God” directly confront the culture and political power of his time? Discuss what it means to declare allegiance to Jesus in a world with competing loyalties. 4. The sermon compares Mark's Gospel to a college signing day announcement. How does this metaphor help us understand what it means to publicly declare our faith to Jesus? Share personal experiences of making faith “announcements” in your own life.

Hebrews 13:7, 17-21 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider their way of life, and imitate their faith. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom by the glory forever and ever. Amen. NOTES ON THE LESSON ON FOLLOWERSHIP Three Questions of Followership: 1 Whose faith are you imitating? 2 Are you willing to submit to someone else? 3 Are you a joy to lead? A Call to Imitate: 1 Corinthians 11:1 - "Be imitators of me, just as I imitate Christ." It is beneficial to have people in our lives whose faith we can imitate. Jesus Learned Obedience: Hebrews 5:8 - “Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” Obedience and submission are learned behaviors. The Whole of Christianity: The whole of Christianity is about learning to surrender and yield every aspect of your life – every part of it – all of it – to the lordship of Jesus Christ. That's what the Christian faith is all about. The Followership Continuum: The Hebrew writer makes a continuum for following leaders. On one side of the continuum is joy and on the other side of the continuum is burden. NOTES FROM THE LESSON ON SOUL CARE Book on Church Leadership: The Care of Souls:Cultivating a Pastor's Heart by Harold L. Senkbeil The task of the leader in the church is to maintain a constant watch over the souls who have been committed to his care. The Role of the Watchman in the Old Testament: Watchmen were individuals who were appointed to their role and given the responsibility to watch over a city. Typically, they would be posted on a high wall or a tower so that they could see either a messenger or the enemy coming from long distances. The Primary Task of the Church Leader is to "Tend to the Soul" Humans do not have souls, humans are uniquely souls. We are both physical and spiritual, mortal and immortal, ordinary and unique in all of creation. There is nothing else like us in all of God's creation. We are souls.  The Shepherd and His Sheepdog: The relationship of the shepherd and his sheepdog beautifully illustrates the work of the shepherd in the local church with his ears tuned attentively to the voice of the Great Shepherd and his eyes focused carefully on the Great Shepherd's sheep. The Because of Submission: We submit to the shepherds of the local church because they are in a position of responsibility and accountability to the one who is in a position of authority – our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep.  Discussion Questions 1. Who are some people who you have imitated in your life (in any aspect of life)? Who are two or three people whose faith you imitate? What is it about their faith that you imitate?  2. Are you willing to submit to someone else? Can you think of a time when it was hard to submit to someone else? What made it so difficult? Can you think of a time when it was a good thing to submit to someone else? What made it good? Does knowing the "because" of submission in verse 17 help you to be someone who is more willing to submit to them?  3. Where might you place yourself on the followership continuum? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a joy to lead? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a burden to lead?  4. What aspect of the lesson on soul care helped you to better understand the role of the leader in the church?  5. Spend some time praying for the shepherd nomination process at Southside. The shepherd selection team has provided us with a great prayer guide. There is a link to the prayer guide on church center. 

Hebrews 13:7, 17 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider their way of life, and imitate their faith. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.  Notes from the Lesson Three Questions of Followership: 1 Whose faith are you imitating? 2 Are you willing to submit to someone else? 3 Are you a joy to lead? A Call to Imitate: 1 Corinthians 11:1 - "Be imitators of me, just as I imitate Christ." It is beneficial to have people in our lives whose faith we can imitate. Jesus Learned Obedience: Hebrews 5:8 - “Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” Obedience and submission are learned behaviors. The Whole of Christianity: The whole of Christianity is about learning to surrender and yield every aspect of your life – every part of it – all of it – to the lordship of Jesus Christ. That's what the Christian faith is all about. The Followership Continuum:  The Hebrew writer makes a continuum for following leaders. On one side of the continuum is joy and on the other side of the continuum is burden.  Discussion Questions 1. Who are some people who you have imitated in your life (in any aspect of life)? Who are two or three people whose faith you imitate? What is it about their faith that you imitate?  2. Are you willing to submit to someone else? Can you think of a time when it was hard to submit to someone else? What made it so difficult? Can you think of a time when it was a good thing to submit to someone else? What made it good? 3. Where might you place yourself on the followership continuum? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a joy to lead? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a burden to lead?  4. Spend some time praying for the shepherd nomination process at Southside. Pray specifically for the Lord to bless our church family with a spirit of followership. 

Matthew 27:50-53 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 

Mark 11:1-11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?' say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'” 4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. FROM THE SERMON Cherubim - creatures with human heads, animal bodies, and often wings. They were guardians, standing outside of temples and other sacred spaces to serve as a warning. The Garden Genesis 3:22 - Humanity in its sinfulness is no threat to God, but a threat to itself and creation. Genesis 3:24 - The Cherubim guard the entrance to Eden for our own protection. From the book: The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross "It is wonderful to live with Him, but because of your sin you can't come in." The Curtain The account of building Solomon's Temple - 1 Kings 6, 2 Chronicles 3 Garden Iconography in the Temple: Carved with trees, flowers, and fruit (1 Kings 6:18, 29) Golden lampstand (Menorah) represents a tree (Exodus 25) The CURTAIN is covered in Cherubim Palm Sunday Mark 11:11 - Jesus visits the temple, remembers the garden, and sees the curtain. Discussion Questions Share a time when you or someone you know failed to heed a warning (funny or serious). What does the garden narrative in scripture (Genesis 2 and 3) tell us about God's design and intentions for humanity? How does the temple (or the tabernacle before it) point back to Eden? (Some examples were shared during the sermon, but there are more ways that weren't discussed as well!) Why would God have instructed the creation of the tabernacle and temple in a way that would reference and remind people of the Garden of Eden? How do you think Jewish people felt when they saw the curtain covered with Cherubim blocking the way to the Most Holy Place? When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the beginning of the week of his death, he went into the temple and looked around (Mark 11:11). What thoughts do you think went through his mind, knowing that his death was soon approaching? One way we worship God is by loving and caring for those who bear His image. What are some ways you could join others or your family in doing that this week to prepare to celebrate the resurrection on Easter?

Romans 1:16-17 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith and for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” NRSV Discussion Questions 1 Have you ever been offended by the gospel? Which one of these three is more offensive - Jesus is the only way, Jesus died for your sins, Jesus is your King. Is it possible for us to proclaim an offensive message without being offensive? 2 Share with your group some specific ways that you have experienced the explosive power of God in your life. How have you seen His transforming power most at work in your life in the past month? 3 The righteousness of God can be summarized in three ways: God is right. God does what is right. God is making everything right. How do you see the righteousness of God revealed in the faith of Jesus Christ? How have you experienced the righteousness of God in your life of faith?

ACTS 16:25-34 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. FROM THE LESSON Rome demanded allegiance. Matthew 22:15-22 Matthew 5:41 Philippi was a proud Roman colony. The Philippian jailer had a deep allegiance to Rome. 3 FACETS OF FAITH Belief - intellectual agreement Confession - Belief acknowledges Jesus is THE king, Confession says “Jesus is MY king.” Allegiance - a shift in loyalty that is lived out The way for early Christians to clear their name and regain their status in Roman culture was to proclaim “Caesar is Lord” rather than Jesus. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Jeremy shared the story of Benedict Arnold. How do you feel about someone who betrays their allegiance? Roman allegiance was a powerful force in its time. Do we have any parallels today? We looked at 3 facets of faith: Belief, Confession, and Allegiance. What other facets of faith do you see present in scripture? What are some other things we might give our ultimate allegiance to rather than Jesus? (examples: ourselves, job, someone we're in love with, family, etc.) What does it look like for you to live out a pledged allegiance to Jesus as your king? What shifts would you like to make?  

MARK 1:14-15 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." FROM THE LESSON To be fluent in a language is when you have the ability to speak that language easily and effectively. Faith is a response to the Gospel, faith is not a part of the core content of the Gospel.  Jesus' most central message, according to these Gospel writers, was that the kingdom of God had drawn near. When our need for Jesus is met with our submission to Jesus, our lives begin to reflect Jesus to those around us.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 If you had to rate your gospel fluency, how would you rate yourself? Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced, or Expert. 2 In your experience, what are some things that are commonly withheld or added in relation to the Gospel? 3 What encourages you or challenges you that the central message of Jesus was about the kingdom of God? 4 In your current season of life, what ways are easiest for you to submit to the Kingship of Christ? What is the hardest?

ROMANS 1:1-6 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. FROM THE LESSON Book about Fatih - Salvation By Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates Gospel - it literally means "good news." It translates the Greek word - euangelion - where the prefix eu- means "good" and then angelion means "message." It relates to the Greek word - angelos - meaning "messenger" from which the English word angel is derived. Characteristics of the Gospel - 1 The priority of the gospel (verse 1) 2 The promise of the gospel (verse 2) 3 The person of the gospel (verses 3-4) 4 The purpose of the gospel (verse 5) The Full Gospel - "the gospel tells the whole story of Jesus; it's not just a Good Friday story. No matter how central the cross is to the Story, we need to keep in mind that the story is much more than the story of the cross. Jesus didn't just die." Scot McKnight Faith-Fueled Obedience - The NIV translates it as the "obedience that comes from faith." The ESV translates it as the "obedience of faith." NT Wright translates it as "believing obedience." DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Ice Breaker: What if you had to share the gospel with another person only using one sentence? How would you summarize the gospel in one sentence? 1 When was the last time you had some really good news that you couldn't wait to share with someone else? What was the news? God gives us the honor and joy of being the ones to share His good news with the world. Is there someone in your circle of influence with whom you could share the good news?  2 Have you ever purposefully read the Old Testament through the lens of the gospel? When you do this, you see the promise of the gospel almost on every page. Is there an example of this that comes to your mind? 3 The good news of Jesus is about "the whole career of Christ." We know that the story of the cross is good news, but how is the rest of the story also good news? 4 In verse 5, Paul says the purpose of the gospel is to bring about "believing obedience." Discuss the important connection between faith and obedience.

LUKE 18:1-8 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!'” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” FROM THE LESSON Book about Fatih - Salvation By Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates The Fatih Question - his question in verse 8 is "not asked for the purpose of speculation but for the purpose of self-examination." Importance of Faith - "Jesus has more regard for faith than for anything else the earth can yield him." Charles Spurgeon Misconceptions About Faith: 1 Faith is NOT a leap in the dark 2 Faith is NOT the opposite of works 3 Faith is NOT having a positive mindset 4 Faith is NOT a decision to just believe DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Ice Breaker: Do you have a favorite Rocky movie (or a favorite scene) or do you have a Rocky story from your life you could share with your group? 1 Read again Luke 18:1-8. Discuss the widow of this parable as an illustration of the kind of faith that the Son of Man will be looking for upon His return.  2 Would you describe your faith as more of a leap into the unknown or a decision grounded in solid reasoning and substantial proof? 3 Read James 2:26. How has this verse helped you think about the relationship of faith and works? 4 Are you more of a optimist, pessimist, or a realist? What is the difference between having a positive mindset and having faith? 5 Belief has often been reduced to nothing more than mental agreement. Discuss the difference between this kind of belief and the belief of Scripture.

PSALM 39 For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. 1 I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.” 2 So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; 3 my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: 4 “Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. 5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. 6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. 7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. 8 Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. 9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. 10 Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. 11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth—surely everyone is but a breath. 12 “Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. 13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.” FROM THE LESSON Hevel - a Hebrew word literally meaning "vapor, mist, smoke, or breath." It is translated also translated as "meaningless, vanity, futility, and insignificant." My favorite definition is by a Hebrew professor who described it as "what's left after you break a soap bubble." This word is located in verses 5, 6, and 11. Amusement - a compound word of two main parts - the heart of the word is "muse" which means to ponder, to meditate upon or to think about. The prefix of the word is the negative "a" which means no or not. So, literally, amusement means "to not think." David's Conclusions About Life and Meaninglessness: 1 Life is too short to have any meaning 2 Life is too swift to have any meaning. 3 The way we live our too short and too swift lives is meaningless. Max Lucado Quote - "God loves you just the way you are, however, he loves you too much to leave you that way." DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ICE BREAKER: What is your favorite form of amusement? What do you do for entertainment? Discuss the connection between amusement and not thinking.  1. Read the first three verses. This is the introduction. David is concerned about talking too soon. He talks to God in prayer before talking to others about what he is thinking. Have you ever struggled with talking too soon? Discuss the principle "pray before you say" with your group. 2. Read verses 4-6. Discuss David's three conclusions about life and meaninglessness in these verses. Which one of the conclusions resonated most with you this morning? 3 Read verses 8-13. Now read the words of Job in Job 7:16-21. Compare the two statements. Can you relate to their sentiments? Attempt to put their thoughts into your own words.  4 Read verse 7. The ESV reads, "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you." Start living out your hope in Jesus Christ today. Are there any actions you want to take or changes you want to make in your life with Jesus? Is there a neighbor you have talked about inviting to church? Is there a missionary you have always thought about supporting? Have you thought about fasting but have never done it? Start today. Share with your group.

PSALM 38 A psalm of David. A petition. 1 LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me. 3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin. 4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. 5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. 6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. 7 My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. 8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. 9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. 10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes. 11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. 12 Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie. 13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak; 14 I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply. 15 LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. 16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.” 17 For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. 18 I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. 19 Many have become my enemies without cause ; those who hate me without reason are numerous. 20 Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good. 21 LORD, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. 22 Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior. FROM THE LESSON The penitential psalms : These are the psalms of repentance. There are seven of them in the Psalter: Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143 Four characteristics of repentance: A - Ask for His correction with mercy (verse 1) B - Bring it all to Him (verse 9) C - Convicted by your sin (verse 18) D - Desperate for His help (verses 21-22) Four areas David brought to the Lord: 1 the iniquity caused by his sin 2 the ill effects caused by his sin 3 the isolation felt because of his sin 4 the injustice experienced because of his sin A person of repentance: "I don't want to be known as a person who has made a difference,  I want to be known as a person who has been made different." DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ICE BREAKER: Do you have a testimony or story from your life about repentance that you can share with the group? 1. How do you feel about the prayer, "Correct me, Lord"? Read verse 1 again. David is not asking the Lord to not correct him, he is asking the Lord to correct him with mercy. Discuss the difference with your group. 2 The sermon highlighted all of the different areas that David brought to the Lord (each one begins with "my" - ie. my sin, my guilt, my heart). Read verse 9 again. David is bringing "all" of these areas to the Lord. How does his example encourage you? 3 Read verse 18. We must not only confess our sin with our mouths, we must also be convicted by our sin in our hearts. Discuss the importance of both of these responses to our sin.  4 Read verses 21 and 22. What do you hear in David's voice? Do you sense his desperation and his urgency? When are the times when you need the Lord's help most in your life?

PSALM 36 For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. 1 I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. 2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. 3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. 4 Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong. 5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. 7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. 10 Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart. 11 May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—thrown down, not able to rise! FROM THE LESSON Three sections of Psalm 36 Section 1: Verses 1-4 are in the form of a lament. Section 2: Verses 5-9 are in the form of a praise or hymn. Section 3: Verses 10-12 are in the form of a prayer. No Fear of God "To have no fear of God is failing to believe not that He exists but that He matters" Timothy Keller The Four Chambers of God's Heart 1 Your love reaches to the heavens (verse 5) 2 Your faithfulness reaches to the skies (verse 5) 3 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains (verse 6) 4 Your justice is like the great deep (verse 6) Definition of Hesed The Hebrew word occurs 245 in the Old Testament but it is really difficult to translate into English. It is a bigger and better word than our English word for love. The ESV translates is as "steadfast love." The NLT translates it as "unfailing love." It is love "with super glue on it." It is love with an "mmph." DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ICE BREAKER: Can you think of an example of how you have personally experienced the pervasiveness in our culture of the message to "follow your heart?" 1. In verses 1-4, David laments the condition of the human heart. Read these verses again. What stands out to you about his description?  2. Keller's description of what it means to have no fear of God is helpful. Discuss his description with your group. Can you think of an example from your life when you or someone close to you was indifferent to God? 3. In verses 5-6, David praises the beauty of God's heart. Read these verses again. How does the idea that these four attributes are all part of God's heart help you to think about the heart of God?  4. Hesed is a great Hebrew word that does not translate well into English. What are some ways you have understood or been taught to think about hesed? Read again verses 7-9. How do these descriptions of hesed help you to understand? 5. The takeaway from the lesson today is to not follow your heart, but instead to know God's heart. Discuss this takeaway with your group.

PSALM 37 1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;     be not envious of wrongdoers! 2 For they will soon fade like the grass     and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;     dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord,     and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord;     trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,     and your justice as the noonday. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;     fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,     over the man who carries out evil devices! 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!     Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,     but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. 10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;     though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land     and delight themselves in abundant peace. 12 The wicked plots against the righteous     and gnashes his teeth at him, 13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,     for he sees that his day is coming. 14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows     to bring down the poor and needy,     to slay those whose way is upright; 15 their sword shall enter their own heart,     and their bows shall be broken. 16 Better is the little that the righteous has     than the abundance of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,     but the Lord upholds the righteous. 18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless,     and their heritage will remain forever; 19 they are not put to shame in evil times;     in the days of famine they have abundance. 20 But the wicked will perish;     the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;     they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. 21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,     but the righteous is generous and gives; 22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,     but those cursed by him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,     when he delights in his way; 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,     for the Lord upholds his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old,     yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken     or his children begging for bread. 26 He is ever lending generously,     and his children become a blessing. 27 Turn away from evil and do good;     so shall you dwell forever. 28 For the Lord loves justice;     he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever,     but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land     and dwell upon it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,     and his tongue speaks justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart;     his steps do not slip. 32 The wicked watches for the righteous     and seeks to put him to death. 33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power     or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. 34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,     and he will exalt you to inherit the land;     you will look on when the wicked are cut off. 35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,     spreading himself like a green laurel tree. 36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;     though I sought him, he could not be found. 37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,     for there is a future for the man of peace. 38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;     the future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;     he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;     he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,     because they take refuge in him. FROM THE LESSON Psalm 37 is an instructional psalm in the Wisdom Literature genre, concerning itself with passing on advice that will help someone live in a way that leads to wisdom, righteousness, and life, rather than foolishness, wickedness, and death. "Fret not" is a phrase that occurs several times in the psalm. It carries a strong meaning, literally translated as "do not let your anger burn". Verse 1 - the WHAT Do not be overwhelmed by your anger over the wicked and prosperous actions of others. Verse 2 - the WHY The prosperity of the wicked is fleeting, and evil brings its own terrible consequences.   Verse 3 - the HOW Trust God, do good, dwell in the land, and befriend faithfulness. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ICE BREAKER: Jeremy shared some observations about "unfairness" that children make. What are some things you've observed that are "unfair" in a similar way? David composes this psalm to address the challenge that followers of God face when they watch people who seem to profit from wickedness. What does "profitable wickedness" look like today? David writes about how the tools of the wicked will be turned against them. How does evil bring its own terrible consequences? What might this look like? Instead of repaying evil with evil, David encourages us to trust God, do good, dwell in the land, and befriend faithfulness. What do you think is intended by the phrase "dwell in the land"? Do these seem like adequate responses to egregious injustice and wickedness? Jeremy contrasted two responses to perceived injustice - that of the United Healthcare shooter and that of MLK Jr. and the civil rights movement. Which sort of response do you see our culture moving more towards? Which response do you see Christians moving toward? How can we make sure we respond in the way David instructs in Psalm 37?

PSALM 35 1 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. 3 Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation." 4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. 5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away; 6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. 7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, 8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. 9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation. 10 My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, O Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.” 11 Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about. 12 They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved. 13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, 14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. 15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing. 16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. 17 How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. 18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. 19 Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye. 20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. 21 They gape at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it." 22 O Lord, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, Lord. 23 Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. 24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God; do not let them gloat over me. 25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!” or say, “We have swallowed him up.” 26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. 27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” 28 My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long. FROM THE LESSON Schadenfreude - it is a German word that literally means "harm-joy" and has come to mean "the pleasure that is derived from another's misfortune." Imprecatory Psalms - to imprecate is a word that means to utter a curse against someone or something. The imprecatory psalms are psalms which call for God's judgment to fall down on the wicked. Of the 150 psalms in our Bible, anywhere between 14-28 of them are put in this category of imprecatory psalms. Three Things to Know about Imprecatory Psalms: 1 Complaint is a good and necessary thing. 2 Cursing is God's right response to sin and disobedience. 3 Cursing becomes blessing at the cross. Three Responses to Reading Psalm 35: 1 We agree with David that cursing is God's right response to sin and disobedience. 2 We admit that cursing is God's right response to my sin and disobedience. 3 We allow this reality to motivate us to tell others about the cross of Jesus Christ.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 One of the primary things David is wrestling with in this psalm is schadenfreude. Read verses 15-16, 19, 24, and 26. People were rejoicing over his misfortune. How have you seen or experienced this in your life?  2 Read verses 17 and 22. Biblical complaint is communicating with God about the tension created between what we know about God's character and how we feel about our circumstances. Talk about Biblical complaint with your group. 3 Read verses 4-6 and 26-27. How do you hear these words of cursing from David? Have you ever felt like this toward anyone else? Does knowing that cursing is God's right response to sin and disobedience help you to better understand his words? 4 Read Galatians 3:13-14. Cursing becomes blessing at the cross. Discuss this gospel reality with your group.  5 Read over the three responses to reading Psalm 35 that are listed in the section above. Which one of these responses did you connect with the most this morning? 

PSALM 34 1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; 20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22 The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. FROM THE LESSON The Story Behind the Psalm: you can read about the historical context of this psalm in 1 Samuel 21:10-15. Two Kinds of Fear: David deals with two very different kinds of fear in this psalm. First, there is the fear addressed in verse 4 which scholars refer to as "mortal fear." It is a very negative kind of fear. It is synonymous with dread and terror. It is an intense, irrational kind of fear that comes from trouble. Second, there is the fear addresses in verses 7 and 9 which scholars refer to as "saving fear." It is an extremely positive kind of fear. It is a humble, relational kind of fear that comes from trust.  Four Parts of Psalm 34: Words of Introduction (verses 1-3) Words of Illustration (verses 4-7) Words of Invitation (verses 8-10) Words of Instruction (verses 11-22) Worship is a Choice: it must be a conscious decision made beforehand that no matter what the circumstances I am going to choose to worship God. Process of Praying through Unhealthy Fear: Seek the Lord in prayer - Trust that the Lord hears and answers your prayer - Know that the Lord delivers and saves His people DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Do you have a go-to worship song when you are struggling with fear, anxiety or worry? How have you made worship a choice in your life?  2 Read verses 4-6 in this psalm. David shares a prayer process twice in these verses for emphasis. How have you seen this process in your own life? 3 One of the most well-known verses in all of Scripture is Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed are all who trust in Him." How has this verse ministered to you in your life? Is the Lord inviting you to something more in your relationship with Him?  4 Was the discussion of the two different kinds of fear helpful for you this morning? In what ways? How have you experienced the mortal fear of verse 4? How have you experienced the saving fear of verses 7 and 9?

John 5:1-11

John 1:1-5, 14

LUKE 2:8-20 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, I will bring you good news of greta joy that will be for all people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a greta company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  FROM THE LESSON Signs in the Bible - when something was too good to be true and too great to be real, a sign was given to encourage and to confirm belief. Parabola of Salvation - the good news of the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and the ascension. The good news of the gospel includes a manger, a cross, an empty tomb, and a crown. Presence Matters - the good news of the manger is that presence matters to God. When God seems distant to you, let the manger remind you of the distance God came to be with you. Donkey Dish - the word "manger" comes from a Latin word meaning "to eat" or "to chew." The manger was a feeding trough for dirty animals.  The Helper - "Is anyone crying for help? God is listening and He is ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; and if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath." Psalm 34:17-18 (The Message) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Icebreaker: What is the closest you have ever been to a United States president? Share the details with your group. 2 Has God ever seemed distant to you? Have you ever been through a season in your life when God felt distant and far away? Share the details with your group. 3 The nearness of the King means He has come to be with us. Talk about the importance of God's presence with your group. 4 The nearness of the King means He has come to know us and to be known by us. Discuss both the humility and the accessibility of the manger. 5 The nearness of the King means He has come to help us. The Greek word for Helper means one who is called alongside to help (to comfort, to encourage, to empower, to sustain). How have you experienced the help of the Lord?

LUKE 1:8-17 8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshippers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. FROM THE LESSON A Christmas Carol - "Good Spirit, assure me that I may yet change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life. I will honor Christmas in my heart." Ebenezer Scrooge Preparation Day - the Israelites had a day designated each week, a day that was part of their weekly routine called the Preparation Day. It was always the day before the Sabbath. In order to keep the Sabbath properly, adequate preparation was necessary. Make Ready A People Prepared - in ancient times, before a King visited any part of his realm, a messenger was sent before him to prepare the way. And this included everything from repairing the roads to preparing the people. This was the specific role for John the Baptist in the coming of Jesus. Lamps Without Oil - this is meant to be comical. This is not an accident. It is making a choice to be unprepared. The equivalent today would be showing up for something just holding a light bulb, instead of bringing a flashlight. KB - he is a Christian hip-hop artist and music executive. He has a podcast called The Southside Rabbi and has written a book titled "Dangerous Jesus." He reminded us that Christianity is not about coming to a building to hear about the King, but about the King coming into our life.

ISAIAH 9:6-7 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.  FROM THE LESSON An Anointed Person - in Hebrew (the language of the Old Testament) the word is meshiach, from which we get the title, Messiah. In Greek (the language of the New Testament) the word is christos, from which we get the title, Christ. A Promise to David - "When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom...and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father and he will be my son...Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:12-16) 14 Generations - in Matthew's genealogy, there are fourteen generations from no king to a king (Abraham to David), fourteen generations from a king to no king (David to exile), and fourteen generations from no king to a king (exile to Jesus). Drum Roll Please - “The average person who thinks maybe I'll read the New Testament is puzzled to find, on the very first page, a long list of names he or she had never heard of. But it is important not to think that this is a waste of time. For many cultures ancient and modern, and certainly in the Jewish world of Matthew's day, this genealogy was the equivalent of a roll of drums, a fanfare of trumpets and a town crier calling for attention.” (NT Wright) Eager Expectation - it is a word found only in Christian literature. Paul used it twice in the New Testament (Romans 8:19 and Philippians 1:20). In fact, most scholars think it was a word coined by the early Christians to describe their unique way of living. Literally the word means "to stretch your head away from your body." DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Do you enjoy learning about your family's genealogy? Do you have any interesting information to share about your family tree? Share with your group.  2 Have you ever thought it strange that the New Testament begins with a genealogy? Does it help you better understand the purpose of the genealogy to think of it as "the equivalent of a roll of drums, a fanfare of trumpets, and a town crier calling for attention"? 3 Read Romans 8:19 and Philippians 1:20. The word Paul used in these two verses is translated as "eager expectation." It is a word to describe the unique way that early Christians lived. Can you think of a time when you have lived "eagerly expecting" something or someone? Describe how it affected the way you lived.  4 Would you say as Christians that we live in "eager expectation" of the return of Jesus Christ? Discuss with your group.  5 The season of Advent teaches us to learn from our ancestors to once again be a people who long for the coming of our King. How might we live differently if we lived eagerly expecting the coming of our King?

Psalm 24 1 The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. 3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face , O God of Jacob. 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty - he is the King of glory. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 How would you describe or define worship? When have you seen misguided worship? When have you experienced misguided worship in your own life – maybe an idea or a person or wealth or some possession? 2 “All things were created by him and for him” – Colossians 1:16-17 Talk about that line for a moment. What does this mean? What does this line promote or inspire? 3 Read Psalm 145:3-5. Talk about your role in the lives or younger believers as described in this psalm. How can you honor this principle of passing your experiences with God to the next generation? Be practical in your response. 4 In the saga of the ark's journey, what stands out to you? What do you learn? The Israelites were pretty torn up about losing the ark. What are the parallels related to this event in your life? What impacts you in this saga surrounding the ark? 5 David has a passion for people to know God is among his people. To what lengths are you willing to move to honor this same goal or passion of David's for the person sitting next to you at Southside (assuming this person next to you is not your clone). 6 When have you struggled with the question, “Who is this God? Who can stand in his presence?” What was your answer to that question? When someone observes your life, what would prompt this question, “Who is this God?” 7 When has a worship experience inspired change in your life? When has your life or worship left you standing alone or swimming upstream? What do you do with moments like that? What would it take for you to experience more moments of authentic worship?

ACTS 28:23-31 23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law and from the Prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet: 26 " 'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever seeing but never perceiving." 27 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' 28 "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in hi sown rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.  FROM THE LESSON Paul's Journey to Rome: The Storm - Acts 27:20 - "When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved." The Shipwreck - Acts 27:41 - "But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf." The Snake Bite - Acts 28:3 - "Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand." Acts 28:31 (literal translation): "proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness unhinderedly." Conclusion to the book of Acts: 1 The book of Acts encourages us to have an unhindered faith. 2 The book of Acts reminds us that we have an unhindered gospel. 3 The book of Acts calls us to be an unhindered church. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Have you ever had a difficult experience on a boat? Describe the situation to your group. Which part of Paul's journey to Rome would have been the most difficult for you: the storm, the shipwreck, or the snake bite? Why? 2 Paul's circumstances hindered his abilities, but they did not hinder his faith. I used this point to encourage my parents this week, how does it encourage you in your faith journey? Can you think of an example in your life? 3 In 2 Timothy 2:7, Paul wrote, "And because I preach this good news, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained." He wrote these words right before he was executed. Discuss this important reminder with your group.  4 One author writes, "The abrupt ending leaves us with the challenge and the opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to write the next chapter in the book of Acts today in and through us." How might we live unhinderedly as followers of Jesus today?

ACTS 26:24-32 24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." 25 "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 29 Paul replied, "Short time or long - I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." 30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is n o doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment." 32 Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." FROM THE LESSON The Herod Dynasty and the New Testament Timeline: Herod the Great - he tried to kill Jesus at his birth and had all of the boys in Bethlehem under the age of two killed. Herod Antipas - he beheaded John the Baptist and mocked and ridiculed Jesus on the morning of his crucifixion. Herod Agrippa I - he beheaded the apostle James, the brother of John Herod Agrippa II - Paul was a witness to him in Acts 26 Three Aspects of Paul's Witness: 1 His witness was to all people - small and great (verse 22). 2 His witness was persuasive - true and reasonable (verse 25). 3 His witness was patient - short or long (verse 29). DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 The witness of Paul to Herod Agrippa II after all the Herod dynasty had done during the New Testament is an amazing testimony to the grace of God. What is your response to this example?  2 Whether great or small, how does the message to use every opportunity to be a witness encourage you? Can you think of a small way you could be a witness this week? 3 Our witness is persuasive because it is true and reasonable. It does not depend on you being a great storyteller or a good communicator. It does not depend on your personality or your charisma. How does this important aspect of our witness encourage you? 4 What do you think about our witness being compared to seed planting? Discuss the role of prayer in the life of a witness. Spend time at the conclusion of your meeting praying specifically for people who you have been a witness.

ACTS 26:19-23 19 "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen - 23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." FROM THE LESSON The three realities of the resurrection: 1 Hope fulfilled - verses 4-11 2 Light revealed - verses 12-18 3 Kingdom arrived - verses 19-23 The three defining characteristics of the kingdom: 1 It's a kingdom of obedience - verse 19 Paul is both a Jew and Roman citizen by birth, but first and foremost, he is a citizen of the kingdom of heaven by rebirth.  Philippians 3:20 "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior who is from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." 2 It's a kingdom of repentance - verse 20 Paul preached that they should repent (change their minds) and turn to God (change their direction) and prove their repentance by their deeds (change their behavior). The Greek word translated prove is also translated "to practice, to exercise, to perform habitually and repeatedly." 3 It's a kingdom of unity - verses 21-23 Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This is not just a geographical outline for the book of Acts, but it is also God's blueprint for uniting all of His people into one kingdom. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Paul says that our citizenship is in heaven. What does it mean for you to live as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven?  2 The primary desire of the heart for a citizen of the kingdom of God is obedience to the words of King Jesus. You know conversion has occurred when obedience is no longer something you have to do, but something you get to do. How have you experienced this kind of kingdom conversion in your life?  3 The lesson looked at three parts to kingdom repentance. There is a change of mind, a change of direction, and a change of behavior. Repentance means a great deal more than just "turning around." Which one of these three parts helped you most in your understanding of repentance? 4 Have you ever been part of a movement that purposefully worked to unite different cultures or people groups? What was that like? How could we as citizens of the kingdom of God be more purposeful in living into the "sneak peak" of Revelation 7:9-10?

Acts 26:12-18

REVELATION 17:1-6 17 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” 3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH 6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS What are some examples of "drinking the kool aid" in our culture? Why do you think people can be so strongly influenced by the culture around them? The image of Babylon John sees is very striking. Why do you think he is shown Babylon in this way? Jeremy mentioned 4 values of Babylon - Pride, Power, Pleasure, and Progress. Where do you see these values in our culture today? In Revelation 18, God's people are urged to "come out" of Babylon. What might that look like for God's people today?

PSALM 40:1-5 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 What do you think about the messiness of the Isaac - Rebekah, Jacob - Esau, Jacob - Laban, Rachel - Leah saga? Why does God continually seem to find people's lives to highlight which would make for a good Jerry Springer episode? Thinking about some of the messes in your life, how can you relate to the hope found in Psalm 40:1-5? 2 Review all of the deception found in Genesis 25-31. Among all this deception, who, if anyone, do you think felt a sense of belonging? Where have you found a place to belong? How can you relate to being viewed as "not Esau" or "not Rachel"? 3 "God can't bless who you pretend to be." What do you think about that statement?How have you learned the truth of that statement? 4 "Life is full of let-downs." What are the let-downs you've experienced which have hit you pretty hard? Describe one of your - "When morning came - there was Leah" type moments. 5 "Regardless of how big of a mess we make, God's good and gracious will shall be accomplished." How have you seen this to be true? When have you been amazed at what God does with the glorious mess you made? 6 Describe the encouragement you receive from what emerges when you overlay the hope in Psalm 40:1-5 on top of the three statements above.

ACTS 26:1-15 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." So Pail motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 "King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest set of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? 9 I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. 12 On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15 Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied."  FROM THE LESSON The Herodian Dynasty - it lasted for four generations and was an opponent of Jesus and his movement all throughout the New Testament. It started with Herod the Great who had tried to destroy the infant Jesus. His son, Herod Antipas, was the one who had John the Baptist beheaded. His son, Herod Agrippa, was the one who had James put to death with the sword in Acts 12. His son, Herod Agrippa II, was the one who Paul stands before in Acts 26. Paul's Speech Before Agrippa II - it is Paul's last and longest speech in the book of Acts. It begins in verse 2 and lasts through verse 23. It is the third time the reader of Acts hears the story of Jesus' appearance to Paul on the road to Damascus. The other two times are in Acts 9 and in Acts 22. Conversion Story - "the language of conversion may be misleading because at no point did Paul waver in his belief that the God of Abraham was and is the true God, the one and only creator God. Paul didn't change Gods. And from his point of view, he didn't even change religions." (NT Wright) Hope of Israel - Paul preached that the hope of Israel has been fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection fulfills Paul's hope in God in three ways: 1 Hope is rooted in resurrection promise. 2 Hope is renewed in resurrection praise. 3 Hope is realized in resurrection practice.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 How would you define hope? How is biblical hope different from the way hope is used in our everyday language?  2 Hope is rooted in resurrection promise. Read Acts 26:6. Discuss what it means for our hope to be rooted in the promises of God. 3 Hope is renewed in resurrection praise. Can you remember a time when your hope was renewed through worship? Share the story with your group. 4 Hope is realized in resurrection practice. Can you remember a time when something that you desperately hoped for was actually realized? Share with your group. How did it make you feel? How did it affect the way you live? Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we have a realized hope. How does the resurrection of Jesus Christ transform the way we hope?

ACTS 25:13-22 13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. He said: "There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned. 16 I told him that it is not the Roman custom to hand over any man before he has faced his accusers and has had an opportunity to defend himself against their charges. 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. 21 When Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar. 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him."  FROM THE LESSON Resurrection Responses: Response 1: Curious non-believers Example of this response is Felix He had a genuine curiosity but no belief because of his complacency. Response 2: Confused non-believers Example of this response is Festus He had a general confusion about belief caused by religion and disagreements. Response 3: Cultural believers Example of this response is the Sadducees They had a belief in God but were greatly influenced by culture. Response 4: Correct believers Example of this response is the Pharisees They had a belief in God but were overly concerned with being correct. Response 5: Changed believers  Example of this response is Paul He had a belief in God and was forever changed by the resurrection of Jesus.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Which one of the five responses to the resurrection did you think about the most this morning? Why? Can you think of some other common responses to the witness of the risen Jesus?  2 When someone is genuinely curious about Jesus, what are some of the obstacles that keep them from coming to faith in Him?  3 Have you seen disagreements about religion add confusion to our primary witness? How can you keep this from happening in your own life? How can the church keep our primary witness primary? 4 Have you heard the term cultural Christian? In what ways? Talk about how one can make Christianity more about a portrayal than an actual practice.  5 Have you ever been so overly concerned about getting things correct that you have missed Christ? What are the essentials for you when it come to faith in Jesus Christ?  6 How has the gospel of Jesus Christ changed your life? Each person share at least one way your life is different because of your belief in the risen Jesus.

ACTS 24:22-27 22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs. 24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. 27 Two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but Felix because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.  FROM THE LESSON Felix the Governor: The Roman historian, Tacitus wrote about Felix that he “practiced every kind of cruelty and lust, wielding the power of a king with all the instincts of a slave.” Drusilla the Jewess: Her mother was a Jew, however her father was Herod Agrippa, the one who killed the apostle James, the brother of John in Acts 12. Her great-uncle was the one who had John the Baptist beheaded, and her great-grandfather was the one who had tried to kill Jesus in Bethlehem. Three Reasons for Faith in Christ Jesus: 1 Because of righteousness What are you going to do about yesterday's sin? The answer is to have faith in Christ Jesus as your Savior. The answer is to trust Him with your past. 2 Because of self-control What are you going to do about today's struggles? The answer is to have faith in Christ Jesus as your Lord. The answer is to trust Him with your present. 3 Because of the judgment to come What are you going to do about tomorrow's scenarios? The answer is to have faith in Christ Jesus as your Judge. The answer is to trust Him with your future.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 If someone had asked you last week to give them a compelling reason as to why you have faith in Christ Jesus, how would you have answered the question?  2 Discuss with your group the deal of eternity: the exchange of your sin for His righteousness. How does the reality of this exchange transform the way you live? 3 The only way to have self-control is to be under His control. Discuss the importance of relying on the Lord through the Holy Spirit when life seems out of control.  Are you going through any struggles today that the group can be praying about? Share with the group.  4 Do you worry or get anxious about the future? What kinds of things do you worry about? We often talk about having faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, but what do you think about having faith in Him as your Judge?  5 The answer to all three faith questions is to have faith in the person of Jesus Christ. Which of the three do you find most difficult: to trust Him with your past, your present, or your future? Why?

Exodus 2:11-15 11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well. Numbers 12:3 3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) Numbers 20:1-12 1 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. 2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. 3 They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! 4 Why did you bring the Lord's community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? 5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” 6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” 9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. 12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” FAILURES OF MOSES Exodus 2:11-15 Exodus 3 Exodus 4:24-26 Numbers 20:1-12 ON PRIDE AND HUMILITY C.S. Lewis: “The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility...According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” Jesus in Luke 14:11: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” ICE BREAKER Share a time where either you failed, or you witnessed a memorable failure. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Glance over chapters 1 and 2 of Exodus. How does scripture set the scene so that the reader might expect an immediate heroic victory? Consider some of Moses' failures that scripture records (2:12-14, chapter 3, 4:24-26, Numbers 20:1-12). Which ones stand out to you? Does our culture punish certain types of failure differently than others? Numbers 12:3 tells us that Moses was the most humble person alive in his day. How can failure contribute to someone developing humility? Jeremy said "a more accurate understanding of the battle for our souls is the battle between our pride and our humility." C.S. Lewis called pride "the essential vice, the utmost evil." What makes pride so dangerous? How does humility counteract pride? What are some positive ways humility can be displayed... ...in our homes? ...at Southside? ...by our leaders? ...in our community?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 What are you waiting for right now? 2 "God will not do something when you want him to do it. " Chad Bird What do you think about this statement? When have you been aggravated with God's timing? 3 Considering these examples about waiting in the Bible, which one hits home with you? Abraham and Sarah Isaac and Rebekah Jesus, asleep in the boat Promise made to Simeon God taking the Israelites the long way around 4 Why do you think God shows up late, at least from our perspective? What is there to gain in waiting? 5 Which of these lessons do you think you need to be learning in this season of your life - while you wait? God is our only hope God will transform you in the waiting We gain perspective God has no timetable How to relinquish control

Mark 2:1-12 Jesus Heals a Paralytic [1] And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. [2] And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. [3] And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. [4] And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. [5] And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” [6] Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, [7] “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” [8] And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? [9] Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk'? [10] But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—[11] “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” [12] And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (ESV)  FROM THE LESSON 1 How can we, Southside church of Christ, be a fox hole worthy church for UK's campus? 2 Southside is committed to bear the weight of whatever season of life college students will go through. 3 Because Southside loves college students so deeply, we are committed to point college students to Jesus at all costs. 4 Southside is committed to seeing God completely transform college student's lives. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 If you were to holistically describe how you feel in your current season of life, what actual season of the year (spring, winter, etc) would best fit you? Why that season? 2 When you think over your life, in what ways has the church been fox hole worthy for you? Are there any ways that you have felt that the church has not been fox hole worthy for you? If so, how? 3 What are some challenges/obstacles to being a fox hole worthy friend?

Acts 22:12-21 12 "A man named Ananias came to me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him. 14 Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know is will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' 17 When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking. 'Quick!' he said to me. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.' 19 'Lord,' I replied, 'these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.' 21 Then the Lord said to me, 'God; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'" (NIV 84) FROM THE LESSON The 10,000-hour rule - "ten thousand hours is the magic number of greatness" (Malcolm Gladwell). This number serves as a kind of metaphor for the extent of the commitment that is necessary to fully develop or learn a skill. The content of Paul's witness - there are two parts to this text. 1 Verses 1-11 - Paul is a witness to His experience of Jesus Christ 2 Verses 12-21 - Paul is a witness to His obedience to Jesus Christ Hebrews 5:8-9 - "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." Course not source - "Our obedience is no longer the source, but our obedience is still the course." (Dallas Willard) How is Paul able to obey the Lord? 1 He is available. 2 He is amenable. 3 He is adaptable. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Icebreaker - what are some of your favorite memories from watching the Olympics?  2 Read Hebrews 5:8-9. Obedience is mentioned twice in these verses. What do these verses teach us about the role of obedience in the life of a disciple? 3 Dallas Willard wrote that "our obedience is no longer the source of our salvation, but our obedience is still the course." Discuss this quote with your group. 4 In verses 17-21, we discussed three characteristics of Paul's obedience to the Lord. He is available. He is amenable. He is adaptable. Which one of these three characteristics stood out to you the most? Why? Which one of these three characteristics do you need to grow in the most? Share with your group. 

Acts 21:37-22:11 37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?" "Do you speak Greek?" he replied. 38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?" 39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people." 40 Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic: 1 Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." 2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of your are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?' 8 " 'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. " 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. 10 " 'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. " 'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.' 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me. (NIV 84) FROM THE LESSON Dagger men - the word translated "terrorists" or "assassins" in Acts 21:38 is literally the word for "dagger." This was a group of violent Jewish revolutionaries who received their name from their practice of carrying daggers under their cloaks. They were trained to stab someone to death and then slip away unnoticed. Not the right time - stop letting circumstances determine the right time and instead start trusting the Lord to make the time right.    The content of Paul's witness - there are two parts in this text. 1 Verses 1-11 - Paul is a witness to His experience of Jesus Christ 2 Verses 12-21 - Paul is a witness to His obedience to Jesus Christ 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 - “The god of this age – that is Satan – has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as the risen Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness” and God made his light shine into our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Icebreaker - have you ever been told that you have a doppelgänger? Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? Share an example or a story with your group. 2 If you had to rate on a scale of 1-10, your willingness to be a witness, how would you rate yourself? Discuss your answer with the group. Stop and pray for the Lord to give us the willingness to witness. 3 Before you share your experience, you must first connect with your audience. Read Acts 22:1-5 and make note of all the ways Paul connects with his audience. Where do you already have a connection with your audience? List out people in your life who do not know Jesus who you already have a connection.  4 How would you describe your conversion experience? Try to put it into your own words. How would you answer these questions: How have you encountered the glory of Jesus Christ? How have you experienced the grace of the risen Lord Jesus? 

Acts 21:27-36 27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place." 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple area.) 30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. 35 When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, "Away with him!" (NIV 84) FROM THE LESSON "The best laid schemes of mice and men, go oft awry." A quote from Robert Burns'I poem titled "To A Mouse." According to legend, he penned these words after accidentally destroying a mouse's nest while ploughing the fields at his farm. Keep Out - Archaeologists have discovered some of the actual signs that hung on the wall the separated the inner court from the outer court of the temple area. These words were inscribed on them: "“No foreigner may enter within the barricade which surrounds the sanctuary. Anyone who is caught so doing will have himself to blame for their ensuing death.” In Chains - For the last quarter of the book of Acts, from Acts 21:33 to the end of the book (seven chapters), Paul will be in chains. Witness - the word translated as witness in the New Testament is the Greek word, martus. Because of the way the disciples would bear witness to Jesus in their suffering and even in their death, the word that simply means to witness in the Greek language would become the source of the English word, martyr. This word describes a person who suffers death for being a witness to their faith.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Icebreaker - when you hear the saying, "best laid plans," does an illustration or an example from your own life come to your mind? Share with the group. 2 The "event" of Paul's witness is suffering. "It's in our darkest moments, hottest fires, and deepest pain that we have the greatest opportunity to share the gospel." Discuss how our suffering provides us with a unique platform to be a witness.  3 The gospel provides us with a lens to view our suffering through. The world does not have this lens and so when they see suffering they ask the question, where is God in our suffering? But we have the lens of the gospel and so when we see suffering, we don't ask where is God, but proclaim there is God in our suffering. Jesus meets us in our suffering. Discuss this gospel reality with your group.  4 "All of us can be a witness to Christ through our mundane and daily trials." Have you ever thought about your mundane and daily trials as an opportunity to be a witness to Jesus Christ? What might it look like in your life to bear witness to Christ in your mundane and daily trials?

Acts 21:17-26 17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. 26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them. (NIV 84) FROM THE LESSON 1 Corinthians 9:19-23: "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." Witness: "A witness is someone who sees or experiences something important for others to know about. Used as a verb, as in to witness or to bear witness, it just means to tell others about what you saw or experienced (John Mark Comer)." Extent of Witness: The extent of Paul's witness was to "all" people. Can the church be made up of all people - all ethnicities, all races, all socio-economic levels, all ages, all backgrounds - can we set aside our differences and unite together in Jesus Christ? Intent of Witness: The intent of Paul's witness was to bring people to Jesus in order to gain a brother or sister in Christ. The word translated "to win" is actually an economic word which means to gain or to profit from an investment.  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Icebreaker - practice being a "witness" with your group. Spend a few moments sharing with your group about something significant that you have seen or experienced in the last month.  2 What do you think about when you hear the term "witness?" What are your initial thoughts? How might you be His witness this week? What would that look like? 3 In 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul writes, "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." This is the extent of his witness. Discuss this statement with your group.  4 In 1 Corinthians 9:19, Paul writes, "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible." This is the intent of his witness. Discuss this statement with your group.  5 A core value of Southside is "to be relevant in an ever-changing culture with the never-changing message of Jesus." The goal is to have cultural sensitivity and yet to maintain gospel integrity. Discuss how Paul and James attempt this delicate balance in the predominantly Jewish Christian church in Jerusalem.

Acts 21:1-14 1 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3 After sighting Cyprus and passing through to the south of it, we sailed to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4 Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 5 But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6 After saying good-by to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home. 7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord's will be done.” (NIV 84) FROM THE LESSON William Willimon: “This notion that only good things happen to faithful people was put to rest on a Friday afternoon at Calvary.”  Paul's perspective on suffering: He did not view adversity as an oddity, instead he viewed adversity as an opportunity.  Paul's four responses to suffering: 1 Adversity is an opportunity for conformity. 2 Adversity is an opportunity for community. 3 Adversity is an opportunity for Christianity. 4 Adversity is an opportunity for clarity. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Icebreaker - can you think of any other examples from the Old Testament when a prophet acted out the word of God for the people of God? Share with the group your favorite example.  2 Have you ever asked the Father to give you a spirit of resolve like Jesus or like Paul on their way to Jerusalem? What kind of character traits can only be learned and developed through adversity? 3 We must never go down a difficult road alone. Share an example when you experienced the importance of community during adversity.  4 Following the example of Paul in verse 13, how might you fill in this blank this morning, “I am ready to __________ for the name of the Lord Jesus.”? 5 When you pray for “the Lord's will to be done” what does that mean to you?

Acts 20:32-38 32 Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' 36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. (NIV 84) FROM THE LESSON The supreme beatitude - Pastor and author, Dr. Earl Pierce, called these words of Jesus the "supreme beatitude" because unlike the other beatitudes found in the New Testament, this one tells us that we are more blessed. It is blessed to receive -  "Faith is empty hands held open for God to fill." It is not blessed to want what others have received - When we are content with what we do have, then we will not covet what we don't have. It is more blessed to live to give - "A disciple is someone who has moved from being the recipient of the church's mission to being responsible for the church's mission." DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Icebreaker - can you remember a recent question that you have asked Google? Share with the group. 2 Are you a good receiver? Read verse 32. It is absolutely necessary for salvation that you are a good receiver. Discuss this statement with your group. Ask the Lord to help you become a good receiver.  3 Read verse 33 and then ask this question to yourself: Can I honestly and genuinely say as Paul does here that I do not want what someone else has? Instead of Paul's three examples, come up with your own examples that might actually tempt you.  4 Read verse 34-35. Based on Jesus' teaching in verse 35, Paul believed it was more blessed to live to give. What can you learn from his example in these verses?

Acts 20:28-31 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. (NIV 84) FROM THE LESSON The farewell speech - this speech given by Paul to the elders at Ephesus it is a kind of speech that is very familiar in Scripture. We have farewell speeches given by Moses, Joshua, and Jesus. The purpose of a speech like this one is for the leader who is giving the speech to review his life as an example for the others to follow. Put your oxygen mask on first - this phrase is always shared by a flight attendant during pre-flight instructions. In case of a change in cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop down from above your seat, and if you are traveling with children, then you are instructed to put your oxygen mask on first before helping your child.  Choose to cheat - this phrase is from pastor/author Andy Stanley. It means that you should choose who you are going to cheat because you are going to cheat someone. Someone is going to be cheated of your time and effort. It is not about better time management. Because there are only so many hours in a day, someone is going to be cheated. Who is it going to be? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Icebreaker - do you have a crazy story about something that happened to you at the airport? Share with the group. 2 In verse 28, Paul reminds them to "keep watch over yourselves." In between the Holy Spirit's compelling them to serve and the words of Jesus convicting them to sacrifice, Paul reminds them to "keep watch over yourselves." Discuss your thoughts about this reminder with your group. 3 The instruction to "put your oxygen mask on first" is not just good instruction on an airplane but serves as a good metaphor of taking care of yourself so that you will be in a better position to help others. Talk about how you have seen this to be true in your life.  4 The phrase used by Andy Stanley is "choose to cheat." It is a call to intentionally order your life in such a way that your job is last in priority. It isn't a call to not work hard at your job, but it is a call to not prioritize your work over the important relationships in your life. Discuss this principle with your group.

Acts 20:17-27 17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. 25 Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. (NIV 84) FROM THE LESSON The farewell speech - this speech given by Paul to the elders at Ephesus it is a kind of speech that is very familiar in Scripture. We have farewell speeches given by Moses, Joshua, and Jesus. The purpose of a speech like this one is for the leader who is giving the speech to review his life as an example for the others to follow. Servant - literally it is the Greek word "doulos" that can be translated as "slave." For Paul, embracing the life of a servant is what Christianity is all about. Compelled by the Spirit - literally this phrase means "bound by the Spirit" (NLT) or "constrained by the Spirit" (ESV) Three characteristics of a Servant: 1 The servant is compelled to speak without hesitation (verse 20, 27) 2 The servant is compelled to go without consideration (verse 24) 3 The servant is compelled to live without resignation (verse 24) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Icebreaker - can you recall a time that you participated in a gathering like the one between Paul and the Ephesians elders? A time when you got together with a group one last time prior to someone being gone for a significant amount of time? What was the occasion? Share the details with your group. 2 If you were asked to summarize your Christian life into one sentence so that someone else could follow your example, what would that one sentence be? Spend some time with this individually and try to summarize it in a sentence. Then share these sentences with your group. 3 Paul summarized his life in this way in verse 19: I served the Lord with great humility. For Paul, embracing the life of a servant is what His life was all about. Discuss this summary with your group. How does this summary of Paul's life influence your life? How is it an example for you to follow? 4 In verse 22, Paul writes that he was "compelled" by the Spirit. Have you ever felt compelled by the Spirit to serve the Lord in some way? The word literally means "bound" and "constrained." Talk about this understanding of the word with your group. 5 Three characteristics of a servant that the Holy Spirit compels us to embrace are listed above. Which one of these characteristics encouraged you this morning?