week of 8/25

Unit 36  Session 3

WORHIPING OUR GLORIOUS GOD

REVELATION 21-22

 

When Jesus returns, He will renew all of creation and live with His people forevermore.

Amid all of the descriptions of judgment, it's easy to lose sight of the marvelous blessings of God's people found throughout the Book of Revelation. Sinners will be judged, but saints - those saved through faith in Jesus' work on the Cross - will be saved. Not only will they be saved, but they will inherit an eternal dwelling place that far surpasses the beauty of this earth primarily because sin, death, and pain will never be found there.

Points to consider:

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      renew His creation.

     * What are you most looking 

        forward to in the new 

        Heaven and earth?

     * How can we also be in the 

        business of renewing and 

        restoring in this life?

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      reveal His glory.

     * How is God dwelling within 

        us without a temple appealing?

     * Whether light is literal or 

        figurative or both, how is 

        living in constant light appealing?

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      reside with His people.

     * What do you imagine you will 

        spend your time doing in Heaven?

     * How is your longing to see Christ 

        face to face and eternally 

        reflected in your life?

week of 8/18

Unit 36  Session 2

WORHIPING OUR CONQUERING KING

REVELATION 19-20

 

Jesus will return one day to receive His bride, the church, and to end sin and death once and for all.

The worship that filled the first portion of the book of Revelation continued to overflow to the end. John's vision captured the heavenly worship that is taking place now and will take place in the future. Along the way, John highlighted the nature of Jesus' return, the fate of God's people, and the future for those who reject Jesus' offer of salvation.

Points to consider:

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      receive His bride.

     * How is Jesus' return like a 

        marriage celebration?

     * How can you praise God 

        for inviting you?

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      crush all rebellion.

     * How does Jesus' justice 

        encourage you?

     * How can you see Jesus 

        as a warrior more?

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      judge sin and death.

     * What makes the concept 

        of judgment difficult?

     * How should a believer 

        respond to the thought 

        of Heaven and why?

week of 8/11

Unit 36  Session 1

WORHIPING OUR RESURRECTED LAMB

REVELATION 4-5

 

The risen Jesus is worthy of worship because He has conquered sin and death.

The book of Revelation is the most vivid description of the victorious, resurrected Christ. John, the brother of James and author of several New Testament books, received a vision from God that captured the essence of the eternal dwelling of Christ and His people. As the nature of the content suggests, this book is filled with themes and images that are often difficult for the modern reader to grasp. It's important for readers to distinguish between the essential themes of the book and those secondary topics that are up for debate among Christians. Revelation 4-5 presents the main theme of the entire book - the resurrected Christ is worthy of worship!

Points to consider:

✞   Worthy is the King Who has created.

     * What crowns might you need to 

        lay aside in order to worship 

        Jesus properly?

     * How can we try to convince 

        others that Christ is worth 

        our worship?

✞   Worthy is the Lion Who has conquered.

     * What is something you seek 

        to keep securely sealed or 

        locked, and why?

     * What does Jesus' ability to 

        open the scroll tell us 

        about Him?

✞   Worthy is the Lamb Who was resurrected.

     * When you think of Jesus, do 

        you think Him more as a 

        Lion or a Lamb, and why?

     * If you were to write a new 

        worship song, what 

        elements would be in it?

week of 8/4

Unit 35  Session 6

ENDURANCE AND CHRIST'S EXALTATION

PHILIPPIANS 3

 

Christ is exalted when His people allow the Spirit to work through them as they pursue the things of Heaven rather than earth.

The Greek city of Philippi is the first town in Europe where Paul established a church (Acts 16:12-40), so we can imagine the fatherly care and loving concern he always held for people in this congregation. But his letter to the Philippians was composed when Paul was a prisoner in Rome. Like any good sermon - and this was most certainly a sermon in writing - Paul included elements of encouragement, thankfulness, information, and warning.

Points to consider:

✞   Christ's exaltation comes through 

     the work of the Spirit.

     * What false teachings today may 

        make us stray from exalting and 

        boasting in Christ alone?

     * How do we make sure we are 

       boasting in Christ and Christ alone?

✞   Christ's exaltation comes through 

     the losses of the world.

     * What are some things we need 

        to see as losses compared to the 

        surpassing value of knowing 

        Jesus Christ?

     * How would you write your 

        spiritual life goal?

✞   Christ's exaltation comes through 

     the promises of Heaven.

     * How can we find encouragement in

        knowing that Paul hadn't reached 

        his goal yet at this stage of his life?

     * What kind of faith life would invite 

        others to imitate it?

week of 7/27

Unit 35  Session 5

ENDURING WITH GOD'S PURPOSE

ACTS 28

 

Being a prisoner in Rome did not stop Paul from spreading the Gospel as he continued to tell all who would listen about Jesus.

When we last saw Paul, he was on the island of Malta. The people received him, as well as the rest of the men on the ship, with hospitality. They stayed there for three months. But the final destination was still in Paul's focus: Rome. As with any journey, Paul's trip to Rome didn't go exactly how he planned. He arrived as a prisoner in chains. Yet God's plan was still progressing, and the Gospel was still spreading.

Points to consider:

✞   God's people find encouragement 

     from the church.

     * Why is it encouraging to find 

        fellow brothers and sister in 

        Christ in times of trouble?

     * How can you go out of your 

        way to support, encourage, 

        or help another believer 

        this week?

✞   God's people refuse to compromise 

     the truth.

     * Who do you still need to share 

        the Gospel with, whether they 

        are convinced or not?

     * How do we guard ourselves from 

        being calloused to the Word and 

        the Holy Spirit?

✞   God's people welcome all into 

      the kingdom.

     * When we are going through 

        our own struggles, how do

        we stay passionate about 

        proclaiming the Gospel?

     * How does your life proclaim 

        the kingdom of God in your 

        words and actions?

week of 7/21

Unit 35  Session 4

ENDURING WITH GOD'S PEOPLE

ACTS 27-28

 

Even as Paul traveled to Rome in chains, he continued to serve others and direct them to find hope in God.

Last week, we saw Paul in a courtroom with King Agrippa and Governor Festus. Though both men found no fault in Paul, he had requested an audience with the emperor. The journey was not unusual at that time; the ship would follow the traditional maritime route through the Mediterranean. The 1800-mile trip to Rome was full of highs and lows, victories and defeats, and plenty of opportunities to live out his faith.

Points to consider:

✞   Even in adversity, God's people 

     seek the welfare of others.

     * How are you using your 

        wisdom to help others?

     * What happens when someone 

        doesn't take wisdom?

✞   Even in adversity, God's people 

     offer hope to others.

     * How can we use words 

        given to us to help others?

     * How do we live with hope 

        in Christ in difficult times?

✞   Even in adversity, God's people 

     serve others.

     * In difficult times, how do 

        you still minister to others?

     * How can you show your 

        social concern this week?

week of 7/14

Unit 35  Session 3

ENDURING WITH GOD'S PROMISES

ACTS 24-26

 

God fulfilled His promise that Paul would go to Rome to preach the Gospel in God's own timing and way.

Claudius Lysias, the Roman commander in Jerusalem, sent Paul by armed guard in the middle of the night to Caesarea. Today's passage finds Paul waiting in Caesarea, still in Roman custody. They'd wait a few days for Paul's accusers: the high priest, some elders, and a spokesman lawyer, Tertullus. Now it was Paul's turn to speak.

Points to consider:

✞   God's people stand faithfully 

     on His promises.

     * How can we use confrontations 

        as a reminder to give an honest 

        assessment of our own lives 

        and faith?

     * How do you know you can trust 

        in the authority and hope found 

        in God's Word as Paul did?

✞   God's people wait patiently 

     on His timing.

     * How can we better wait for 

        God's timing when life seems 

        chaotic?

     * What does a life with a clear 

        conscience look like and how 

        can it impact the unbelieving 

        world around us?

✞   God's people rest assuredly 

     in His sovereignty.

     * What is your response to people 

        who think you're crazy because 

        of what you believe or how you 

        live?

     * If you had one wish or prayer 

        for an unbeliever in your life, 

        what would it be and why?