The Church at Brook Hills Dr. Jim Shaddix April 21, Corinthians 2:1-5

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1 Small Grup Guide The Church at Brk Hills Dr. Jim Shaddix April 21, Crinthians 2:1-5 Use this resurce as a tl t help Christ-fllwers mve frward in their spiritual grwth. T d this well requires that the Small Grup Leader is building a relatinship with the individuals in the small grup and has identified where the peple are in their relatinship with Gd. Are they Christfllwers? Are they grwing in Christ? If s, in what areas d they need t grw further? As disciplemakers, Small Grup Leaders shepherd peple t knw the truth f Scripture, t understand why it matters, and t apply it t their lives. Small Grup Leaders cme alngside thse whm they disciple t discver hw lving Gd, lving each ther, and lving thse nt yet in the Kingdm shuld shape hw they live. The structure f this resurce cincides with mving peple frm knwledge (Main Truth) t understanding (Why It Matters) t applicatin (Nw What D We D?). Utilize this Small Grup Guide as a flexible teaching tl t infrm yur time tgether and nt as a rigid task list. GETTING STARTED Welcme Incrprate time fr greeting ne anther, enjying any refreshments, and making annuncements. If guests are visiting, make intrductins and help them feel welcmed. Ask fr their cntact infrmatin, s yu can fllw up with them. Lking Back Prvide an pprtunity fr small grup members t share what Gd is teaching them, hw they are applying what they are learning, and hw He has given them pprtunities t share the gspel with thers. This can be dne as a whle grup r in smaller grups. D the peple knw each ther well enugh t share mre than surface level infrmatin? Hw can time tgether be used t fster deeper relatinships amng thse in the small grup? Als, what are the struggles and needs f the peple in the small grup? Hw can the peple in the small grup sacrificially serve each ther? Lking Up Hld prayer as fundamental t small grup time rather than supplemental t it. Give adratin and thanksgiving t Gd in prayer. Submit yurself t Him, cnfessing sin. Petitin Gd fr persnal needs and ther requests. Pray fr the disciple-making effrts f thse in the grup and fr the salvatin f the lst in each ther s families, spheres f influence, and in the wrld. The Weekly Prayer Fcus belw can als be incrprated in the grup s prayer time. Weekly Prayer Fcus (frm Our Wrship Guide) Pray fr Our Lives: Pray fr us all t understand the prper place f preaching in ur wrship and ur lives. Pray fr ur preachers t faithfully and humbly deliver the truth f Gd s Wrd each week in ur crprate wrship gatherings. Pray fr us t grw in ur cmmitment t the message f the preachers rather than the preachers themselves. Ask Gd t help us see the act f preaching and ur listening as wrship. Pray fr us t grw in ur knwledge f a relatinship with Gd thrugh the act f preaching. Pray we will magnify the message f the gspel abve anything else. Pray fr Our City: This week we are praying fr Grace Huse Ministries (gracehuse.rg) in Fairfield, a residential Christian ministry fr 24 schl age girls wh are frm crisis backgrunds. We are als praying fr Hunter Street Baptist Church and Buddy Gray, Pastr. Pray fr Our Wrld: Thrughut the mnth f April, ur faith family is cmmitted t praying fr the Hui, a Muslim peple grup in China. There are arund 13 millin Hui in China and up until recently n Hui church established amng them. This week we are praying fr Hui believers. There are very few believers amng the Hui and even The Crss and Christian Preaching Part 1, April 21, 2013 Page 1

2 Small Grup Guide The Church at Brk Hills Dr. Jim Shaddix April 21, Crinthians 2:1-5 fewer churches. This week, jin us as we pray fr the small number f Hui believers in China. Fr mre infrmatin g t Message Outline MAIN TRUTH The Crss and Christian Preaching Part 1 1 Crinthians 2:1-5 Reminders fr the church... The message f the crss is the resurce f Gd s pwer. (1 Crinthians 1:17-31; cf. Rmans 1:16) T cnvert thse wh receive it. T cndemn thse wh reject it. The preaching f the crss is the respnse f Gd s peple. (1 Crinthians 1:17-18, 21, 23) Challenges fr pastrs and peple Let s wn the preaching event as a cmmunity f faith. (1 Crinthians 2:1-5; cf. 1 Crinthians 1:1-31) Pray fr it in advance. Plan fr it in yur schedule. Prepare fr it in yur heart. Participate in it every week. Prcess it when it s ver. Practice it in yur life. 2. Let s apprach the preaching event as an act f wrship. (1 Crinthians 2:1-5; cf. Nehemiah 8:1-8; Psalms 56:4,10; 119:48; 130:5-7; 138:2; 1 Crinthians 1:29-31) Gd has chsen a flish message f atnement the crss. Gd has chsen a flish methd t advance it preaching. Gd has chsen flish men and wmen t annunce it us. Why? S when He releases His pwer t transfrm lives, we can draw nly ne cnclusin: Only Gd culd have dne that! Bring yur Bible s yu can interact with Gd s vice. Recrd yur insights s yu can reflect n Gd s vice. Express yur emtins when prmpted by Gd s vice. Still yur spirit when verwhelmed by Gd s vice. 3. Let s receive the message frm Gd, nt just abut Gd. (1 Crinthians 1:1; cf. Genesis 1:26-27; 3:22; Psalm 17:15; Rmans 8:29-30; 2 Crinthians 3:17-18; The Crss and Christian Preaching Part 1, April 21, 2013 Page 2

3 Small Grup Guide The Church at Brk Hills Dr. Jim Shaddix April 21, Crinthians 2:1-5 Galatians 4:19; Philippians 3:20-21; Clssians 3:9-10; 2 Peter 1:2-4; 1 Jhn 3:2; Revelatin 21:1; 22:2,4) Expect the sermn t re-create yu, nt merely rehabilitate yu. Expect the sermn t make yu gdly, nt just give yu guidance. Expect the sermn t prvide transfrmatin, nt just infrmatin. 4. Let s reslve t magnify the message f the gspel alne. (1 Crinthians 2:2; cf. Luke 9:23-24; 2 Crinthians 4:10; Philippians 3:8-11) Listen fr the crucified Lrd in every sermn. Lk fr the crucified life in every sermn. Message Summary Cntinuing with ur series n 1 Crinthians, this week s message is the first f tw fcusing n Christian preaching. The message f the crss is the resurce f Gd s pwer, and it saves r cndemns all wh hear it. We shuld take wnership f the preaching event as Gd s peple. The cmmunity f faith shuld be active participants in the preaching event and value it as an act f wrship t Gd. All Christian preaching shuld exalt the gspel message abve all else. As Christ-fllwers, we shuld lk fr the crucified Lrd in every sermn and let that mtivate us t mdel the crucified life befre a lst and dying wrld. Digging Deeper WHY IT MATTERS Since the inceptin f the Christian church, believers have gathered tgether t wrship the Lrd thrugh the preaching and teaching f His Wrd, the singing f sngs, and the rdinances f baptism and cmmunin. Hw d the peple in yur grup view preaching? What d they believe preaching t be? Wh is qualified t preach? What ideas t they have abut its purpse? D they view it as wrship? Has their view f preaching prgressed as they have matured in their faith? There may be new believers in yur grup wh are just nw beginning t regularly hear frm Gd thrugh preaching. Others may have grwn up in different Christian traditins where preaching des nt lk the same as it des in ur faith family. All f this will shape the way the peple in yur small grup respnd t the preaching f Scripture. The litmus test f Christian preaching shuld ultimately be whether it prmtes the gspel. The crss f Christ is the benchmark f Christian preaching. The crss establishes hw we preach as well as what we are t preach. In ur recent Threads sermn series, we fcused n the necessary elements r threads f the gspel. What are the necessary elements f preaching? Hw des the Bible define preaching? What passages f Scripture wuld yu use t frm this definitin? What makes Christian preaching distinct? Why d we intentinally fcus ur preaching n the crss as ppsed t a tpical message abut felt needs like parenting r mney management? What are the differences between Christian preaching and a Gd-hnring discussin n these tpics r a variety f ther tpics? Take sme time t discuss with yur grup why we make the crss the crnerstne f ur preaching and teaching. We are blessed t live in a place where we can regularly, penly, and publically gather t hear frm Gd thrugh the preaching f the gspel. This is a great privilege that many Christians arund the wrld d nt enjy freely. Pray tgether fr ur brthers and sisters wh lack these freedm, and pray fr the church t be strengthened in such areas, fr the Wrd f Gd t be faithfully taught, and fr these believers t be unified. Remind yur small grup that as we gather we are nt merely spectatrs wh are passively invlved in the preaching event. Encurage the members f yur small grup t intentinally set aside time each week t The Crss and Christian Preaching Part 1, April 21, 2013 Page 3

4 Small Grup Guide The Church at Brk Hills Dr. Jim Shaddix April 21, Crinthians 2:1-5 prepare their hearts and minds fr crprate wrship. Discuss what Saturday nights and Sundays lk like leading up t their attendance at a wrship gathering. D their current rutines prepare them t be attentive and sensitive t the preached Wrd? If nt, hw can they alter their current rutines t better prepare themselves and t reflect afterwards n what they heard? Help them becme better hearers f teaching and participants in preaching. In the sermn, Pastr Jim ffers six exhrtatins t wn the preaching event as a cmmunity f faith, which are included belw. Discuss these in depth with yur small grup. Encurage grup members t identify ne f these exhrtatins that they can practice next Sunday, and the next time yur grup meets, discuss the attempts t heed these exhrtatins. Pray fr it in advance. When we hear Christ-centered preaching, we are receiving a message frm Gd. The message f the crss is the pwer f salvatin t all wh hear and believe (Rmans 1:16; 10:9). D yu spend intentinal time in prayer that Gd wuld use the preaching f His Wrd t bring many peple int His Kingdm? The great 19 th century preacher Charles Spurgen was cnverted t faith in Christ when he wandered int a small church t get ut f the snw n his way t anther appintment and heard the gspel. Likewise, there may be many peple in ur wrship gatherings wh are nt yet in the Kingdm. They may have cme by invitatin r by circumstances, but because Gd is svereign, their attendance is nt by accident. Pray that the Lrd wuld graciusly save many thrugh the prclamatin f the crss each week. Pray als that the Lrd wuld use the preaching t wrk in yur wn life. Since preaching Gd s Wrd is an incredible privilege and respnsibility (James 3:1), spend time in intentinal prayer fr the leaders wh are preaching each week. Plan fr it in yur schedule. We live in a wrld where there are cntinuus strains n ur time and energy. It is essential that we make intentinal time t hear frm Gd thrugh crprate wrship gatherings with a lcal church. D yu and the members f yur grup priritize being invlved with a crprate wrship gathering abve and beynd ther plans and events? There are certainly thse in the small grup whse jbs that will keep this frm happening every week, but we shuld all seek t make crprate wrship a pririty. D ur schedules reflect this? Prepare fr it in yur heart. Preaching is nt a lecture centered n the intake f infrmatin. True preaching shuld interact with ur hearts and minds and apply t ur lives as Christ-fllwers. We shuld all expect t hear frm Gd thrugh the preaching f the crss. What des the night befre church r the hurs befre yu attend a wrship gathering lk like? Are the filled with a flurry f activity and stress, r d yu intentinally take time t quiet yur heart befre Gd with the expectatin that He will speak t yu thrugh His Wrd in preaching? Carve ut time t be still and quiet befre the Lrd as yu prepare t hear the Wrd preached. Participate in it every week. We are nt passive bservers in preaching. After we have prepared ur hearts, we shuld cme t preaching as an eager participate. Christian preaching invlves hearing and interacting with truth frm Gd Himself. Often, we attend a wrship gathering and find ur hearts and minds are smewhere else. The preaching f Gd s Wrd is nt the time t zne ut. We shuld be vigilant and active participants in the preaching event. Fllw alng in yur Bible. Bring a pen and paper t take ntes. As yu hear truth, actively respnd in yur heart r respnd verbally if yu feel cmfrtable. Respnd with reverence and awe. There is n ne crrect respnse, but we shuld all seek t take part in preaching. Prcess when it s ver. Our interactin with preaching des nt end when we clse ur Bibles and put away ur ntes. Allw rm fr the message t interact with yur heart and life in the mments, minutes, hurs, day, r weeks after. Take a few mments later in the week t pull ut yur ntes and t review the Scriptures taught. Cnsider meeting with a few ther believers t pray and cntinue t prcess the truths frm the sermn. Ask yurself tugh questins and respnd. Meet with an unbeliever and tell them what Gd is teaching yu. Practice it in yur life. Gd s Wrd is t be applied and beyed in ur lives. If we simply take in infrmatin and never mve t practicing with ur lives we are missing the pint. What we hear frm The Crss and Christian Preaching Part 1, April 21, 2013 Page 4

5 Small Grup Guide The Church at Brk Hills Dr. Jim Shaddix April 21, Crinthians 2:1-5 Gd in preaching shuld mve us clser t Christ-likeness. James 1:22-25 ffers a stern warning against merely being a hearer f the Wrd. Revelatin frm Gd shuld result in actin in ur lives. The practice f ur faith in ur lives is the evidence f the fruit f salvatin. True heart change results in us becming ders f the Wrd. NOW WHAT DO WE DO? Grup Discussin & Applicatin Use the fllwing questins t help review the applicatin f Gd s Wrd t ur Head (What des Gd want me t knw?), t ur Heart (What des Gd want me t desire/value?), and t ur Hands (What des Gd want me t d?). The preaching f Gd s Wrd relates t the whle cmmunity f faith, nt simply t thse individuals wh may be seminary trained and teach the whle bdy n a weekly basis. Paul s letter was addressed t rdinary Christians in the church at Crinth (1:2, 10, 26). What steps can we as a faith family d t take wnership f the weekly preaching f Gd s Wrd? Read 1 Crinthians 1: Paul puts a chrnlgical pririty n discussing preaching befre he mves n t address ther issues within the church in Crinth. Why des he d this? Hw des Paul s definitin f preaching shape the rest f his letter t the Crinthians? The crss demands actin and bedience. Why is the prclamatin and teaching f Gd s Wrd the nly natural respnse t the truth f the crss? D yu and the members f yur small grup respnd t preaching this way? Des the faithful preaching f Gd s Wrd encurage and press yu t prclaim these truths t thers? Are there any unbelievers in yur sphere f influence whm yu can tell what yu learned this week? D yu make it a pririty t hear preaching in ur faith family every time yu are able? D yu eagerly anticipate the weekly teaching f Gd s Wrd? If nt, what des that say abut the value yu place n preaching? If yu d nt place a pririty n preaching, what can yu d t make yurself mre available t hear the teaching f Gd s Wrd? If we d anything t the glry f Gd, it is an act f wrship. Yet we ften use wrship as a synnym fr music. The line between musical wrship and preaching is a line we have drawn urselves. What is wrship? Hw is the public preaching f Gd s Wrd a pwerful act f wrship? Hw wuld yu respnd t smene wh des nt value preaching r wh sees it as flish as many peple in the first century wrld did? What can yu d t demnstrate t thers the value f the preaching f Gd s Wrd? When we hear the faithful preaching f Gd s Wrd, we are hearing frm Gd s wn vice. The wrds f the Scripture are Gd s wn wrds. Hw des the Bible speak abut itself? Des it make a distinctin between the wrds f Scripture and Gd Himself? Cnsult Psalm 56; 119:48; 130:5; 138:2. Read 1 Crinthians 2:1-2. What des Paul seek t prclaim as the central message f his preaching? Hw is Christ described in these verses? Why des Paul preach Christ as crucified as ppsed t a great mral teacher r cnquering king? When yu share Christ t thers, des yur descriptin align with Paul s descriptin? If yu see the Bible as a set f questins and answers, a guidebk fr life, r a rad map t salvatin, hw will that affect hw yu heard Gd s Wrd? What d yu believe the purpse f the Bible t be? D yu need t crrect yur wn thinking abut the Bible? Christian preaching shuld always lead us t the ft f the crss. D yu actively lk fr the crucified life in every sermn? D yu seek t be cnfrmed t the image f Christ as a result f preaching? Hw can yu begin t interact with preaching n a deeper level? Hw des the weekly prclamatin f Gd s Wrd mtivate yu t mdel the crucified life befre thers? Ding nthing with the truth f Gd s Wrd is still a respnse t Gd s Wrd. In light f this sermn and passage, hw can yu this week apply what yu have heard? The Crss and Christian Preaching Part 1, April 21, 2013 Page 5