Write this down: Every Moment Matters: God is working until your final breath.
Philippians 1:6
I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
1. Who is 2 Cities Church
2. Discipleship matters
3. We are not a perfect church
4. We’re down but not out
5. We’re going to get better before we get bigger
6. We’re going to measure what truly matters
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Big Idea: No one knows the Father better than the Son, and no one can show the Father like the Son.
John 3:17-18
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
I. God’s perfect Son
II. God’s powerful Son
III. God’s promised Son
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Big Idea: The Gift that keeps on giving.
Isaiah 9:1-6
1. The great light.
Isaiah 9:1-2
Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he jumbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.
2. A joyful future.
Isaiah 9:3-4
You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoiced when dividing spoils. For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressors, just as you did on the day of Midian.
3. The Ultimate Gift.
Isaiah 9:5-6
For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
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Discussion Questions:
1. Do you love giving gifts or receiving them?
2. Do you enjoy the holidays, or do they make you sad?
3. How do you think the people hearing this prophecy felt, knowing they will not live long enough to see it fulfilled?
4. Which of the titles in verse 6-Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father or Prince of Peace- impact you the most?
5. How would you describe the Son of Man as the light of the world to someone?
6. How does “the government will be on His shoulders” change how you view authority and leadership?
7. Pray for the Holy Spirit to show you where to serve this week.
Big Idea: God completely cleanses and restores his sin-stained children.
I. God cleanses a filthy man of his sin.
Zechariah 3:1-5
Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! May the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. So the angel of the Lord spoke to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” Then he said to him, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with festive robes.” Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him in garments while the angel of the Lord was standing nearby.
II. God restores an untrustworthy man to his service.
Zechariah 3:6-7
Then the angel of the Lord charged Joshua, “This is what the Lord of Armies says: If you walk in my ways and keep my mandates, you will both rule my house and take care of my courts; I will also grant you access among these who are standing here.
III. God promises a broken world his salvation.
Zechariah 3:8-10
“Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your colleagues sitting before you; indeed, these men are a sign that I am about to bring my servant, the Branch. Notice the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. I will engrave an inscription on it”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—“and I will take away the iniquity of this land in a single day. On that day, each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree.” This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
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Genesis 49:9-10 Judah is a young lion— my son, you return from the kill. He crouches; he lies down like a lion or a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah or the staff from between his feet until he whose right it is comes and the obedience of the peoples belongs to him.
Big Idea: Enemies run, friends rest, when the lion roars.
I. All creatures on earth will bow before this Lion.
Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
II. Only the fearless Lion is worth following.
Hosea 11:10
They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
III. You need fear no other prey when the Lion protects.
Joel 3:16
The Lord will roar from Zion and make his voice heard from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the Israelites.
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Big Idea: You share the promises of Abraham through faith in his Son.
Galatians 3:14-16
The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith. Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ.
I. The blessings of Abraham are yours through faith.
Galatians 3:14
II. The family treasure is yours through adoption.
Galatians 3:15
III. Covenant promises are yours through Christ.
Galatians 3:16
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Big Idea: Make Thanksgiving a habit, not a holiday.
Psalm 66:1-4
I. Shout of God’s works.
Psalm 66:1-2
Let the whole earth shout joyfully to God! Sing about the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.
II. Speak to God’s worth.
Psalm 66:3
Say to God, “How awe-inspiring are your works! Your enemies will cringe before you because of your great strength.
III. Sing of God’s worship.
Psalm 66:4
The whole earth will worship you and sing praise to you. They will sing praise to your name.” Selah
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Big Idea: Trees thrive together… and so do you.
1 Corinthians 16:15-24
I. Submit for harmony.
1 Corinthians 16:15-18
Brothers and sisters, you know the household of Stephanas: They are the firstfruits of Achaia and have devoted themselves to serving the saints. I urge you also to submit to such people, and to everyone who works and labors with them. I am delighted to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus present, because these men have made up for your absence. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore recognize such people.
II. Serve from the heart.
1 Corinthians 16:19-21
The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla send you greetings warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home. All the brothers and sisters send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
III. Stand with hope.
1 Corinthians 16:22-24
This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse be on him. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
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Big Idea: In a fight, keep your guard tight.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
I. Be alert
II. Be steadfast
III. Be strong
IV. Be loving.
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Big Idea: Your generosity opens doors and hearts.
1 Corinthians 16:1-12
I. Be generous with your money
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
Now about the collection for the saints: Do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches. On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come. When I arrive, I will send with letters those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it is suitable for me to go as well, they will travel with me.
II. Be generous with your time.
1 Corinthians 16:5-7
I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia—for I will be traveling through Macedonia—and perhaps I will remain with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. I don’t want to see you now just in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows.
III. Be generous with your attention.
1 Corinthians 16:8-9
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me—yet many oppose me.
IV. Be generous with your relationships.
1 Corinthians 16:10-11
If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear while with you, because he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. So let no one look down on him. Send him on his way in peace so that he can come to me, because I am expecting him with the brothers.
V. Be generous with your leadership.
1 Corinthians 16:12
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, he will come when he has an opportunity.
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Big Idea: Living a transformed life at work this week.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
I. Long for the trumpet
1 Corinthians 15:50-52
What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
II. Live triumphantly
1 Corinthians 15:53-54
For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory.
III. Let nothing terrorize you
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
IV. Love tenaciously
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
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Big Idea: The God of Restoration.
II SAMUEL 12: 1-13
So the Lord sent Nathan to David. When he arrived, he said to him: There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very large flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised her, and she grew up with him and with his children. From his meager food she would eat, from his cup she would drink, and in his arms she would sleep. She was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest. David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan: “As the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.” Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. Why then have you despised the LORD’s command by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hethite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife-you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword. Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hethite to be your own wife. “This is what the LORD says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them in broad daylight. You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.’” David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Then Nathan replied to David, “And the LORD has taken away your sin; you will not die.
1. God is watching.
2. You can’t cover up what God sees.
3. When you ask for forgiveness, He will forgive you.
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Big Idea: Just like Jesus…
1 Corinthians 15:35-49
I. was transformed through death…
1 Corinthians 15:35-38
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the body that will be, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. But God gives it a body as he wants, and to each of the seeds its own body.
II. was uniquely a child of God…
1 Corinthians 15:39-41
Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; in fact, one star differs from another star in splendor.
III. was raised with power…
1 Corinthians 15:42-44
So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
IV. was eternal…
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. Like the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; like the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.
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Big Idea: Live today like you’ll stand before Jesus tonight.
1 Corinthians 15:29-34
I. Live a faith that is stronger than death.
1 Corinthians 15:29
Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?
II. Live by Jesus’s power, not your own.
1 Corinthians 15:30-32
Why are we in danger every hour? I face death every day, as surely as I may boast about you, brothers and sisters, in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus as a mere man, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
III. Live with people who share your faith… often.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Come to your senses and stop sinning; for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.
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Big Idea: Jesus is Lord Over All, or not Lord at all!
1 Corinthians 15:12-28
I. Jesus is the Lord with all power.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.
II. Jesus is the Lord who goes before you.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23
But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ.
III. Jesus is Lord over all your enemies.
1 Corinthians 15:24-28
Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death. For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.
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Discussion Questions:
Big Idea: The resurrection causes radical life change.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
I. Hope in Jesus’s resurrection power.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…
II. Hold on to Jesus’s resurrection promise.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8
…and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
III. Help others see how Jesus’s resurrection has changed you.
1 Corinthians 15:9-11
For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.
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Big Idea: Love is the root system that allows you to reach toward Heaven.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
I. Love is greatest
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
II. Love has grit
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
III. Love lasts
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.
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Discussion Questions:
Big Idea: God sets the order of service for his church. It’s up to us to keep it orderly.
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only? If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything is to be done decently and in order.
I. If prophecy is so important, why do so many people want to speak in tongues?
II. If someone is speaking in tongues and no one is around to interpret, what should I do?
III. What is the "purpose" of praying in tongues?
IV. Why do some people accept 1-2 gifts but reject the others? Are they a package deal?
V. Because you spoke a word of prophecy, does that give you the title “prophet”?
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Discussion Questions:
Big Idea: “… that same prophet must die.”
1 Corinthians 14:1-25
Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. For the person who speaks in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. I wish all of you spoke in tongues, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up. So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding. Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the outsider say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. It is written in the law, I will speak to this people by people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to me, says the Lord. Speaking in tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are .......
I. What does the gift of prophecy look like today? Is it the same as in Old Testament times?
II. How do you determine if someone's prophecies are from the Holy Spirit or some other spirit?
III. Can someone tell me where to buy the winning lottery ticket?
IV. What should I do when someone speaks a word of prophecy to me?
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Discussion Questions:
Big Idea: Why do tongues cause so much trouble in the church?
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.
I. Should I pray for the gift of tongues?
II. Are all Christians supposed to speak in tongues?
III. Why don’t we offer the chance for people to speak in tongues here?
IV. Do you have to be baptized by/in the Holy Spirit to speak in tongues?
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Discussion Questions: