Week 3: December 12-16, 2016 (Sermon Subject: Faith, Mighty God) Bottom Line: Mighty God can bring order to our chaos. May you dig into this CG experience and find that When we say yes to God, it unlocks the future we seek, the journey we long for, and the purpose we have always wanted! I. Intro: Let s be honest. Waiting on God is a difficult test of faith. But what if the waiting is not the point? What if the waiting is actually helping us to become something instead of simply waiting on God to do something? This week as we wrestle with the implications and actions of our Mighty God, we will find a way through the waiting and find a reason for the waiting. II. Passages for study: Isaiah 9:1-7; Colossians 2:9; John 16:33 III. Discussion Questions: 1. Icebreaker: What is your favorite Christmas memory? 2. Do you know someone with a large amount of faith? Why do you answer this way? 3. In your opinion, who, from the bible, has a huge and heroic faith? Why? 4. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:9 NIV 84 Commentary: A born again believer has a measure of power and authority like Jesus. a. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 NIV b. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:14 NIV 84
5. Are you experiencing victory, power and authority over sins? 6. Do you agree with this quote from C. S. Lewis, Whether we like it not, God intends to give us what we need, not what we now think we want? Can you give a scriptural explanation why you answered that way? 7. Read 1 Corinthians 14:33. What does say about God? What does this say about the believer? What does this say about the unbeliever? What could this mean about a believer whose life is chaotic? 8. Is there a connection between a chaotic life and a life without power and authority over sin? Explain. 9. Has there been a time or are you waiting on God to move in power (financially, in your relationships)? IV. Review & Reflection: When we trust God with the future, we find the purpose we long for, the journey makes sense, and the future is limitless. God has a plan for you and he is preparing you for that plan. Other Passages: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:9 NIV 84 The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle. 9 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 10 Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven s Armies he is the King of glory. Psalm 24:8-10 NLT God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NIV 84 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7 NIV 2011 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 NIV 2011 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you see that you excel in this act of grace also. 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 NIV 2011 Isaiah 7:14 NIV84, Therefore the Lord himself will give you c a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom. Isaiah 28:29 NIV 84 c The Hebrew is plural.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2-3 NIV 84 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? 35 Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36 NIV 84 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV 84 Listen! The Lord s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. 2 It s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. Isaiah 59:1-2 NLT Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 NIV 2011