Abounding Grace Church

Wonderful Counselor - Isaiah 9-6--Jesus is the wonder-working Counselor whose Spirit and word can transform us-

What Should We Do As Society Unravels-- Psalm 11-Notes---David's situation - --------------------- --David's advisors - ----------------------- --David's decision - ---------------------- - ---- -- As you see the foundations of society being destroyed, how are you tempted to respond-- -- How is a confident trust in the Lord lived out in our fallen world-- What can we do to fuel that kind of trust---- What truths about God were you reminded of from this passage-- Which ones do you especially need to keep before you right now-- Why---Other passages to consider- Gen 19-24- Ps 2-4-6- 5-4- 7-6,11-12- 9-7- 10-10-14- 33-10- 75-8- 103-19- 115-3- Isa 66-1-2- Rom 12-17-21- Eph 5-6-17- Heb 10-30-31.

Our Identity---1- New of God of Christ-- -- --2- New of God of Christ-- -- --Our Purpose---1- God's glory with our lips- - - - -2- God's glory with our lives-- -- -- ---How would you explain the identity and purpose of the church to a new Christian-----How will Peter's explanation of the church shape and influence your view of the church and your participation in it-----How can you help AGC declare and display the gospel to the glory of God----Other passages to consider- Ex 19-5-6- Isa 43-14-21- 55-1-5- Hos 1-6-2-13- Mt 6-9-13- Acts 1-8- Rom 12-1- 1 Cor 3-16- Eph 2-19-22- Rev 5-10- 20-6.

Christ the Cornerstone- 1 Peter 2-4-8-Notes-------------------1- -------------------------------------------- of Jesus-----2- -------------------------------------------- of Jesus------3- ---------------------------------------- through Jesus------4- ------------------------------------------ over Jesus- ---- What is God doing through Christ-- What do we learn about the privilege and purpose of the church from this text---- Why do people find Christ and the Gospel offensive---- How does this passage help Christians endure suffering now---Other passages to consider- Ps 118-22-24- Isa 8-11-15- 28-14-16- Mt 7-24-27- 16-13-20- 21-42-46- Acts 4-8-12- 1 Cor 3-16-17- 14-24-25- Eph 2-13-22.

Crave God's World - 1 Peter 2-1-3--Command ---1st Reason ---Illustration ---2nd Reason --- ---Would your spending time with the Lord in his word be described as craving-- Why or why not-----How might reflecting on your past experiences of -tasting God's goodness- encourage you to read his word more regularly and more expectantly-----Do you need to change your Bible intake habits-- How so-- Develop a plan, a time, and a place for pursuing God in his word.---Are you taking in too much of the world's stuff that it is hinders your hunger for God's word-- If so, what can you do to cut back----Other passages to consider- Ps 19-7-11- 34- 119- Isa 40-6-8- Col 3-16-17- 2 Tim 3-10-17- Heb 4-12.

Sermon - Saved to Love - 1 Peter 1-22-25--Love one another earnestly because---1- You are for the Lord to live a life .-- --- Salvation is restoring the of God.-- --- Salvation has placed us in the of God.-- --2- You have been with an .--The new birth means we---- have undeserved love.--- are to love.-- ---What should Christians be known for-- How would that bring glory to God-----In what ways do you find it hardest to love your church family-- ---Do you tend to seek to love others through summoning up a desire or by thinking about the gospel-- How could you do the latter more and more----Other passages to consider- Ps 4-3- John 13-34-35- 15-1-17- 17-23-26- Col 3-12-17- 1 Jn 4-7-12.

Saved to be Set Apart - 1 Peter 1-14-21--Gospel-bases reasons for holy living-

1- What we hope in - .--- Hope - certain expectation of a future event- Hoping in - where we look to give us what we need--2- To live as God's people in our conduct, we need to set our hope fully on .--3- Setting your hope fully on God requires .--4- To set our hope on God, we need to be-.- - clear-sighted about .-- - not drunk on the .----Think of an area of your conduct where you often fail to obey God. Can you discern how your thinking, and your choice of what to hope in, might be off, which leads to disobedience----In what ways are you being influenced by the philosophies of this fallen world----How can you keep God and the Gospel daily in the forefront of your mind-- What specific steps will you take to do that---Other passages to consider- Ex 12-11- Pr 4-24- Lk 12-35-36- Rom 12-1-2- Eph 6-14- Phil 4-8- Heb 11-8-16.

We are truly blessed- - 1 Peter 1-10-12--By God's grace, we---1- live in a blessed -------------- - vv10-12a--- --a. A time of -------------- - vv10-11.-- -- --b. A time of many ----------------------- - v12a.-- -- -- -- --2- experience a blessed ---------------- - v12b--- -- -- ---How do the OT and NT fit together-- How does this help us know how to read and apply the OT-----What blessings do we enjoy by living at this time in redemptive history-----How does this passage encourage you to praise God the Spirit for all He has done for God's people-----What blessings of salvation are you especially thankful for today----Other passages to consider- Gen 3-15- 12-1-3- Isa 35- 52-55- Jer 31- Ezek 37- Dan 8-13-14- 9-2- 12-4-13- Mt 11-11- Lk 24-25-27- Acts 2-14-21- 3-21- 1 Pet 1- 2 Pet 1-21.

Sermon - Joy in the Midst of Grief - Suffering--Basis of joy - He gives us in Christ - v6a.--Results of suffering---1- Suffering brings - v6b.--2- Suffering leads to - v7.--3- Suffering draws us - vv8-9.-- -- -- ---Where is your joy-- Where are you tempted to place it other than in the gospel-- What impact does it have on your life when you seek joy in something more than you seek it in your salvation-----How have past -or present- trials shown you the genuineness of your faith-- How might that change the way you think about those times of hardship-----Do you tend to grow closer to God in times of difficulty-- Why-----Who around you needs encouragement as they go through trials----Other passages to consider- Mt 5-10-12- Jn 16-33- 20-29- Rom 8-16-18- 31-39- 2 Cor 4-16-17- Phil 3-10-11- Col 1-11- 1 Thes 1-6- Jam 1-2-4- 1 Pt 4-12-13- Rev 21-1-4.

Praise God for saving us- - 1 Peter 1-3-5--1- Grounds of our salvation - v3a-- --2- Guarantee of our salvation - vv3b-5-- ---Why can we be certain that our salvation is secure-- When will we receive our final salvation -inheritance------How does having hope give us an opportunity to point others to Jesus -see Eph 2-14- 1 Th 4-12- 1 Pt 3-15----As you think about your salvation, what attributes of God do you want to praise Him for-----How should knowing that we have a future incorruptible inheritance affect a Christian's view of money and possessions-----How has this passage both excited you about where you are heading, and increased your confidence that you'll get there----Other passages to consider- -Ex 34-6- Matt 5-5- 6-19-21- Jn 3-1-6- Rom 8-12-25- 1 Cor 15-50-58- Eph 1-16-18- 2-1-7- Col 3-4- Titus 2-13- 1 Pet 1-3-9,13,23- Rev 21-1-5

Elect Exiles - 1 Peter 1-1-2--Christians are the chosen people of God who are--- -- -- ---Did the description of Christians as -elect exiles- comfort you, discomfort you, or both-- Why-----How does the reality that God set His love on you before the creation of the world encourage you-----Describe how all three persons of the Godhead were involved in your salvation. What thrills you as you consider how the triune God has saved you----Other passages to consider- Dt 7-6-11- Ps 33-12- 135-3-4- Jn 15-18-21- Rom 1-7- 8-28-30- Eph 1-3-14- 2-19-22- 1 Th 1-4- 2 Th 2-13- Heb 11-13-16- 1 Pt 2-9-12.

God's Love for Us in Christ---------How does the costliness of a gift or sacrifice point to the amount of love behind it-- How does the worthiness of the recipient also highlight the love of the giver-----Why is it so important for believers to grasp the enormity of God's love for them-- ---In what ways does God help us understand His love for us-- How can we continually remember -abide- in God's love for us-----Other passages to consider- -Isa 53-4-10- Mk 15- Jn 13-1- 15-5-13- 17-23- Rom 8-32,37-39- Gal 2-20- Eph 3-18-19- 1 Jn 3-1.

Hope in God - Psalm 42-43-- -- -- -- ---Why does the psalmist say the same thing three different times-- What does that teach us as we seek to hope in God-----What is the difference between listening to ourselves and talking to ourselves-- What do we need to tell ourselves-----Where might you be placing your hope instead of in God-----Other passages to consider- Job 13-15- Ps 33-18- 73- 130-7- 147-11- Mt 26-38-39- Rom 15-13- Phil 4-8- Heb 4-14-16- 1 Pet 1-3-4- 2-23- 1 Jn 3-1-3.

Yahweh's Gracious Hesed - A Basis for Intercessory Prayer-Numbers 14-1-20

-The extraordinary passage before us today is foundational and highly significant in Scripture in terms of revealing the attributes and character of God. This momentous disclosure of Yahweh to Moses would become a historical marker to which God's people would return again and again throughout their history, a disclosure that continues to give enormous hope to God's people in all generations. The passage easily divides itself into four related movements.- - -1. Yahweh's Gracious Summons -vs. 1-5-- -- Carve out two stone tablets.-- Come alone in the morning up to Mt. Sinai.-- Call on My name when I reveal Myself.- -2. Yahweh's Definitive Revelation -vs. 6-7-- -- Yahweh, Yahweh God-- Compassionate and gracious-- Slow to anger.-- Abounding in hesed and truth.-- Keeps hesed for thousands.-- Forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin.-- Will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.- -3. Moses' Humble Response -vs. 8-9-- -- Instantaneous, contrite worship-- A humble, reverent request for Yahweh's presence, pardon, an

Wait for the Lord- - Romans 8-24-25

Colossians 2-8-10 - Emptiness of the World- Fullness of Christ

Emptiness of the World- Fullness in Christ-Colossians 2-8-10

King Over All - Zechariah 14-- -- ---When and how did Jesus establish His Kingdom-----What realities of Christ's Kingdom do we already experience-- How will the fulness of Christ's Kingdom be experienced at His return-----How should the truth that God is king over all impact us now-----Other passages to consider-- Ezek 38-1-40-2- Hag 2-6,21-22- Mt 4-17- 27-51-54- Lk 4-43- 1 Cor 15-23-28- 1 Pet 1-6-16- Rev 21-22.