1. Knowing Christ Jesus as Lord

Click link to listen to sermon: Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord

  • What most impacted you from the sermon?

Read Matthew 13:44

  • What does the parable of the hidden treasure teach us about the value of the Kingdom of Heaven?
  • In what ways does this passage challenge our understanding of what is truly valuable in life?
  • How do our choices demonstrate what we really believe?

Read Matthew 6:19-21

  • What do these verses say about treasure and our heart?

Read Mark 10:17-22

  • What was the fundamental problem that hindered the young man from receiving heavenly treasure?
  • How would you define idolatry and how might it continue to affect us?
  • Can you identify any idols in your life that rival the place of God and what steps must you take to remove these idols?

Read Philippians 3:3-9

  • What transformation occurred in Paul’s life after he encountered Jesus?
  • Based on Philippians 3:8, how would you describe the goal of the Christian life (See John 17:3 and 1 John 5:11-13).
  • What is eternal life?
  • How can you cultivate a heart that prioritizes God over earthly desires?
  • What sacrifices are you willing to make in order to fully embrace Christ and his kingdom?

Read Luke 6:43-49

  • What distinguishes a wise builder from a foolish builder?
  • What do these verses tell us about what it means to truly follow Jesus as Lord?
  • What is Jesus’ warning to those who call Him Lord but fail to do what He says?
  • Take time to prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to highlight any areas in your life that aren’t in line with God and His ways?
  • What steps must you take to yield fully to the Lordship of Christ?

2. Baptism

Click link to listen to sermon: Baptized into Christ Jesus (For sermon notes see: Baptism at the bridge church)

  • What most impacted you from the sermon?

Read Matthew 1:21, 3:13-15, Romans 6:23 and Hebrews 2:14-17

  • How does Jesus’ baptism help us understand the problem of sin and His redemptive mission? (See sermon notes 1.1.A. and 1.3.)

Read Ephesians 2:4-8

  • How do we receive the rescue from sin and reconciliation with God that Jesus’ baptism reveals?
  • Can we contribute in any way to our salvation? (See sermon notes 1.1.B. and 2.1.)

Read Romans 6:3-5

  • How does baptism speak of our union with Christ and what is the significance?
  • How does the story of Salvador illustrate this? (See sermon notes 1.2.)

Read Colossians 2:12–14, 1 Peter 3:20-21

  • How can we be saved from God’s judgment?
  • Does our baptism into Christ bring confidence that God will give us eternal life? (See sermon notes 1.2. and 1.3.)

Read Romans 6:6, 11-13, 1 Corinthians 6:15–20

  • How should baptism affect the way we live, our daily choices and spiritual warfare?
  • How does the illustration by John Murray speak to our ongoing fight against sin?
  • When is it most difficult for you to follow Jesus?
  • What steps can you take to grow as a disciple? (See sermon notes 1.4. and 2.1.)

Read 1 Corinthians 12:13

  • What does Galatians 3:26-28 say about who can become part of God’s family how this is possible?
  • How does baptism relate to our connection with the church? (See sermon notes 1.5.)

Read Colossians 2:12, Acts 2:37–41

  • What is our role in baptism and why is it important? (See sermon notes 2.1., 3.1., 3.2. and 3.3)
  • What does God do when we are baptised and what confidence does this give for the Christian life and overcoming enemy oppression? (See sermon notes 2.2.A. and 2.2.B.)

Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, 16,  2 Kings 5:10-14

  • What does God do when we are baptised and what confidence does this give for the Christian life and overcoming enemy oppression? (See sermon notes 2.2.A. and 2.2.B.)

3. God’s empowering presence

Click link to listen to sermon: Empowered by the Holy Spirit

  • What most impacted you from the sermon?
  • In the sermon I used the illustration of the wind storms that threatened to take away electrical power supply and despite having top of the line devices, lighting system, or appliances, without the necessary power these items won’t function as they’ve been designed.
  • How does this compare with the Christians dependency on the Holy Spirit?

Read John 3:3-8 and Rom 8:9-11

  • What is the role of the Holy Spirit in these verses?
  • Is it possible for a person to be a Christian and NOT have the Holy Spirit?

Read 1 Cor 12:13

  • What does this verse say about the Spirit’s activity in the body of Christ?
  • To whom does it apply?

Read Acts 1:4-8

  • Why would Jesus give this command to His disciples after they had received the Spirit (they were already born again—see John 20:21-22).
  • Does the baptism of the Spirit that Jesus is speaking of sound the same as 1 Cor 12:13 or different? Why?

Read Acts 2:2-4 and Acts 2:16-18

  • How would you describe what the baptism of the Spirit looked like at Pentecost?

Read Acts 8:12-17

  • What do these verses tell us about receiving the Spirit at a point subsequent to conversion?
  • Andy Hall highlights the difference between the Spirit “in me” speaking of salvation and the Spirit “upon me” with power to minister… In other words, they were already converted—the Spirit was “in them”—but the Spirit had not yet “come upon them.”
  • Why might we need the empowerment of the Spirit beyond conversion?
  • Is this a one time empowerment or is it something we should continue to pursue? (See Acts 4:29-31).
  • How does it make you feel knowing this is available to us?
  • What practical actions can you take to continuously seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

4. Spiritual Gifts

Click link to listen to sermon: Gifts of the Spirit

  • What most impacted you from the sermon?
  • In the sermon I gave the example of Esther baking a cake with our kids when they were small and how it would have been much easier if she did it herself.
  • Why would she do it?
  • How is this similar to the way God works through the body of Christ?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

  • Who operates in the gifts of the Spirit?
  • What do you think it means when Paul says “to each is given a manifestation of the Spirit”

Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-16

  • What does this tell us about diversity in the church and each persons significance?
  • Are spiritual gifts only for spiritual giants?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3

  • Why is it significant that Paul’s famous chapter on love is written in the middle of his discussion on spiritual gifts?

How does the following quote fit with Paul’s discussion of spiritual gifts?

  • “The baptism with the Holy Spirit is not self-centered, nor is the focus on the gifts of the Spirit self-centered. Rather, the focus of both the baptism and the gifts is to be empowered, to bring God’s tangible mercy and power to the felt needs of other people.” Randy Clark

Read Luke 9:23

  • What are the dangers if we minister in the gifts but lack character or use the gifts to build up our ego deficiencies?

How does the following quote warn against the dangers of wrong motivations with spiritual gifts?

  • “Bona fide spiritual power, when in the service of unmet ego needs, quickly becomes corrupted by reason of “admixtures”—i.e., incursions of fleshly and even demonic darkness. The Holy Spirit, offended, does not remain under such circumstances, so that what began in goodness ends in something carnal or even occult. Such Christians are then trapped in a fleshly “drive toward power”—one that has no connection at all with Christ’s cross and true spiritual power. In these cases, human pride has been left intact and the extent of sin in the heart unnoticed and unchallenged” Leanne Payne

5. Gospel truth

Click link to listen to sermon: The love of God was made manifest in Christ

• What most impacted you from the sermon?

Read John 3:16-19

• Imagine you’re sitting on a bus and someone asks you what Christians believe (and you only have 5-10 minutes until you arrive at your destination!) What key points would you share?

• What are some important Bible verses to remember?

• Are there particular themes that are best to share before others?

• How does a familiar verse like John 3:16 convey God’s goal in creation, the problem of sin, God’s solution, and our response?

• What is helpful language to use in sharing the gospel with someone who isn’t familiar with the Bible? (What would be unhelpful?)

• Is it helpful to share our testimony when sharing the gospel? Why or why not? How can we best do this?

Read Galatians 1:6-8

• What do these verses say about the gospel as truth?

• What are the implications for those who “are turning to a different (false) gospel?”

• What do these verses tell us about the importance of having right doctrine?

• Who does Jesus need to be in order to give us the kind of salvation we have in Him?

• Why is it important to be clear about the Bible as authoritative for the Christian?  What are the implications if its not?

• How do we determine the essentials of the gospel in comparison with where its okay to disagree?

Read Ephesians 2:1-10

• What do verses 1-3 tell us about the problems we all face?

• What do verses 4-8 tell us about God’s solution to the problem?

• What is the basis for our acceptance with God? (See 1 John 2:1-2; 4:9-13)

• How would you describe faith and repentance?

• Is the gospel better described as the “ABCs of Christian life” or the “A to Z of the Christian life?” Explain.

• How can we apply the gospel to our lives in an ongoing way? 

• What role do works play in the life of a believer? (See Ephesians 2:10 and Titus 3:5, 8)

• Can we contribute in any way to gain God’s acceptance?

• If our acceptance with God is based on what Christ has done rather than what we do, what is our motivation for love and obedience?

Read Romans 6:3-5

• How does baptism illustrate the Gospel’s message of salvation? (Consider the following quote: “Baptism is “a neon light flashing ‘Gospel, Gospel, Gospel.’” When the church practices baptism, she testifies to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and signifies the sinner’s union with Christ in all he did and accomplished on our behalf.” Thabiti Anyabwile)

• How can you reflect on your own baptism experience as a means of strengthening your faith in your day to day life?

6. Spiritual Warfare and God’s deliverance

Click link to listen to sermon: Spiritual warfare and God’s deliverance

• What most impacted you from the sermon?

Read Matthew 8:16-17 and Matthew 9:35-36

• In spiritual warfare what ways can you relate to sheep who are “harassed and helpless” because of the threat of predators?

• What difference does it make to remember the compassionate heart of Christ and His power to save us from a enemies who are stronger than we are?

Read Ephesians 2:1-6 and Ephesians 6:12

• What are the primary forces of evil in spiritual warfare and is there any way we can avoid it?

• In what ways can understanding spiritual warfare impact our approach to personal struggles?

Read Ephesians 6:10-13

• What does it mean to ‘put on the whole armor of God’?

“Wearing spiritual armor is an essential element of putting on Christ and applying the new life of grace in Him; it is not something separate. Putting on God’s armor is taking what God has so richly supplied in His Son and appropriating it personally each day. When we put on God’s armor… we are putting on Christ Himself. Since Christ is all-sufficient, everything that we need to be covered is found in Him.” Borgman and Ventura

• What is the significance of our union with in Christ during spiritual struggles and how does putting on the armor of God help with this?

Read 2 Corinthians 2:11 and 1 Peter 5:8–9

• Why is it important to recognise and resist the schemes of the enemy?

• In what ways are Christians vulnerable to enemy attack?

Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 and 2 Corinthians 11:14

• What do these verses tell us about the way that enemy often attacks?

• What was the enemies primary strategy against Adam and Eve and how does he do the same today?

Read Mark 8:31-33

• How does this exchange with Peter warn us against the dangers of religious attitudes and pride?

7. Spiritual warfare and the battlefield of our minds

Click link to listen to sermon: Spiritual warfare and the battlefield of our minds

• What most impacted you from the sermon?

Read Ephesians 4:26-27 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

• What are the dangers when we “give the devil a foothold” and how might it progress?

• What is the danger of a spiritual stronghold and how can we overcome it?

“Footholds tend to be built on sins of the flesh, occult activity, unforgiveness, and lies. The foothold that is not recognized and dealt with quickly becomes a stronghold, just as a beachhead in military strategy becomes a base for further invasion of enemy territory. A stronghold may be defined as a system of lies that gives the devil power in our lives… the foothold of the first lie or the first sin becomes a means of control in a person’s life” Neil Anderson

Read 2 Corinthians 12:7 and 1 Thessalonians 2:18

• What do these verses tell us about the devil’s opposition to Christians?

• Explain the difference between being ‘demon possessed’ and ‘demonized’ and can either affect Christians?

“Let me say emphatically that there is nothing in the verb daimonizo to imply possession. Personally I believe that every born-again Christian sincerely seeking to live for Christ belongs to Christ and is owned by Him (cf. Eph 1:13). It is monstrous to suggest that such a person belongs to the devil or is owned by the devil…On the other hand, I know on the basis of my own experience, and of ministering to thousands of others, that a born-again Christian can be subject to demonic influences. Such a Christian undoubtedly belongs to Christ, yet there are areas of his or her personality that have not yet come under the control of the Holy Spirit. It is these areas that may still be subject to demonic influence.” Derek Prince

• Why is it important to ask ourselves if we are showing hospitality to enemy through our thoughts and actions?

“It is likely that any sinful activity that the believer does not deal with by the power of the Spirit can be exploited by the devil and turned into a means of control over a believer’s life. Therefore Christians need to resist” Neil Anderson

Read Mark 16:16-17 and Luke 10:17

• What can believers do to support one another in spiritual healing and deliverance?

• What is the significance of humility and repentance in seeking deliverance from oppression?

• What role does the church community play in helping each other ‘stand firm’ in faith according to the teachings of Ephesians?

• How might the approach in the following statement by Ellel Ministries be helpful in our spiritual growth and freedom?

“We believe healing is God’s supernatural work of bringing order into a person’s life where there has been disorder! It includes looking at the root problems that may be the cause of a person’s struggle – dealing with any unforgiveness, sin, wounding, or hold of the enemy. As we help a person do their business with God in forgiving, repenting and making godly choices, we then pray for the Lord to bring His healing.”

Read Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Peter 1:3-4

• What steps can we take to bring God’s truth into areas of our lives where we struggle and what different does it make in overcoming the enemy?

8. Biblical Peacemaking

Click link to listen to sermon: Biblical Peacemaking  

• What most impacted you from the sermon?

Read John 13:34-35 and John 17:20-23

• What does Jesus pray for His disciples and why do you think it’s important?

• If unity and love are priorities to Jesus, what might we expect in terms of spiritual warfare?

Read Ephesians 4:1–6

• What are the elements needed to maintain unity within the church according to these verses?

• What does it mean to bear with one another in love?

Read Ephesians 4:15-16

• What do these verses tell us about God’s design for us to flourish as the body of Christ?

• Why do so many people lack connection and accountability within the body of Christ?

Read Hebrews 12:14–15

• What is the warning in these verses and why is it a problem?

• How does the enemy work through these attitudes and what can we do to avoid the trap?

• What actions might you take to ensure you don’t let a ‘bitter root’ grow in your heart against others?

9. The Redemptive Power of Forgiveness

Click link to listen to sermon: The Redemptive Power of Forgiveness

• What most impacted you from the sermon?

Read Matthew 18:15-17

• What did Jesus set forth as the first step in resolving conflict? (18:15)

• Why is it best to resolve conflicts in private?

• What should we do if someone comes to us with their grievance rather than following the steps Jesus gives?

• How can gossip cause our conflicts to escalate?

• What should we do if a person will not listen to correction and does not want to work things out? (18:16)

• What are the benefits of approaching conflict resolution according to the steps Jesus gives?

• Why do so many people fail to obey Jesus steps in Biblical Peacemaking?

Read Matthew 5:23-24

• How does Matthew 5 differ from Matthew 18 and why is it important?

• How can you actively promote peace and unity in our church community?

Read Ephesians 4:26-32

• What warnings does Paul give in these verses?

• What are the consequences of our failure to follow Paul’s instructions?

Read Matthew 6:12-15

• When is it appropriate or necessary to forgive others?

• What might be the long-term effects on your spiritual life and relationships if you choose to harbor unforgiveness? 

• Is it appropriate to wait until others acknowledge their guilt or we feel ready before we forgive? Why or why not?

How does the following quote describe the process of forgiveness?

• “I found that I had to… (make) a daily commitment to forgive those who hurt me, and to forgive them totally. I therefore let them utterly off the hook and resigned myself to the knowledge that: (1) they wouldn’t get caught or found out; (2) nobody would ever know what they did; and (3) they would prosper and be blessed as though they had done no wrong. What is more, I actually willed this! I prayed for this! I asked God to forgive them. But I had to do it every day in order to keep the peace within my heart.” RT Kendall

What does the following quote tell us about forgiveness and the restoration of relationship?

• “In many cases, even if an offender confessed his wrong to the one he hurt and appealed for forgiveness, the offended person could justifiably say, “I forgive you, but it might take some time for me to regain trust and restore our relationship…” When someone has been significantly hurt and feels hesitant about restoration with (their) offender, it’s both right and wise to look for changes in the offender before allowing reconciliation to begin.” Steve Cornell

What does the following quote tell us about different stages of forgiveness and why does it matter?

• “The first stage requires having an attitude of forgiveness, and the second, granting forgiveness. Having an attitude of forgiveness is unconditional and is a commitment you make to God… Granting forgiveness is conditional on the repentance of the offender and takes place between you and that person.” Ken Sande

Read Romans 12:19

• What does this verse tell us about God’s responsibility to make things right and how does that help us in forgiving others?