Weekly Reading for January 8 – 14
Preparing for Next Week’s Message
Sermon Series: Church...Why Bother?Sermon Title: Because I Was Created for Community
This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on January 15, 2017:
- SUNDAY: Romans 12-13, Romans 12-13,
- MONDAY: Romans 14, Romans 14,
- TUESDAY: Romans 15-16, Romans 15-16,
- WEDNESDAY: 1 Corinthians 12-13, 1 Corinthians 12-13,
- THURSDAY: Ephesians 1-2, Ephesians 1-2,
- FRIDAY: Ephesians 3-4, Ephesians 3-4,
- SATURDAY: Ephesians 5-6, Ephesians 5-6,
Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon
Sermon Series: Church: Why Bother?Sermon Title: Because the Church Helps Me Move from Where I Am to Where I Want to Be
Delivered On: January 8, 2017
WATCH SERMON VIDEO
VIEW WEEKLY BULLETIN
VIEW SERMON NOTES
Memorize and Reflect
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)Prayer Direction
Ask God to help you grow in your faith and mature as a follower of Jesus. Confess where you know you are not growing up in faith. Invite the Holy Spirit to show you what your life of faith could look like if you will take bold and consistent steps forward in following Jesus.“Live It!” Challenge
The Big Six - At Shoreline we talk about six markers of spiritual growth and maturity:- Growth in Character
- Growth in Knowing and Applying God’s Word
- Growth in Prayer and Worship
- Growth in Service
- Growth in Community
- Growth in Outreach
Reflect on each of these and identify which one you feel is strong and growing in your life. Take time to thank God and rejoice in this area of growing maturity. Take time to identify which area you feel is weakest. Ask God to strengthen you and help you identify practical ways you can take steps of maturity in this specific area of your life.
Small Group Discussion
Tell about a goal you set and accomplished over time…and describe how other people helped you reach this goal.
Read: Hebrews 5:12-6:3 When the writer of Hebrews describes spiritual immaturity, what images does he use and what do you think he is trying to communicate? Give an example of what a person’s life looks like when they remain immature and have no desire to grow up in faith.
What images does the writer of Hebrews use to paint a picture of a person who is striving toward spiritual maturity? Give an example of what you picture when you think of someone who is making spiritual growth a high priority in his or her life.
Read: Ephesians 4:11-31 What are indicators that a person is growing in spiritual maturity (according to this passage) and what are indicators that a person is remaining immature in their faith?
What have you discovered that helps you grow up in faith and move toward spiritual maturity? What would you recommend to anyone who is serious about taking a next step in growing up in his or her faith?
Why is accountability and being around people who will challenge us to grow in faith so important for every Christian? What dangers might we face if we never let other people close enough to keep us accountable?
How does being part of a church and around God’s people act as a tool for God to use as He grows us in generosity? Why is God so concerned that we learn to give, share freely, and invest in His work?
How does being in Christian community, hearing sermons, and listening to other Christians help challenge our thinking to be more biblical? Why do we need this?
We live in a time when many people think that if we disagree with each other, we can’t love each other. Some think that we hate one another when we disagree. How is the local church a perfect place to learn that we can disagree strongly and still love each other deeply? Why does our world need people to learn this lesson?
Tell about a goal you set and accomplished over time…and describe how other people helped you reach this goal.
Read: Hebrews 5:12-6:3 When the writer of Hebrews describes spiritual immaturity, what images does he use and what do you think he is trying to communicate? Give an example of what a person’s life looks like when they remain immature and have no desire to grow up in faith.
What images does the writer of Hebrews use to paint a picture of a person who is striving toward spiritual maturity? Give an example of what you picture when you think of someone who is making spiritual growth a high priority in his or her life.
Read: Ephesians 4:11-31 What are indicators that a person is growing in spiritual maturity (according to this passage) and what are indicators that a person is remaining immature in their faith?
What have you discovered that helps you grow up in faith and move toward spiritual maturity? What would you recommend to anyone who is serious about taking a next step in growing up in his or her faith?
Why is accountability and being around people who will challenge us to grow in faith so important for every Christian? What dangers might we face if we never let other people close enough to keep us accountable?
How does being part of a church and around God’s people act as a tool for God to use as He grows us in generosity? Why is God so concerned that we learn to give, share freely, and invest in His work?
How does being in Christian community, hearing sermons, and listening to other Christians help challenge our thinking to be more biblical? Why do we need this?
We live in a time when many people think that if we disagree with each other, we can’t love each other. Some think that we hate one another when we disagree. How is the local church a perfect place to learn that we can disagree strongly and still love each other deeply? Why does our world need people to learn this lesson?