Justin Bryeans
The greatest hope we have is the confidence of our eternity with our great shepherd king. Through Christ, even death has been defeated and we are assured that we will live forever in a great celebration with Him. Imagine that, a feast, a festival, a life free from worry and stress, one simply bound up in the presence of God.
Mark McCabe
The analogy of shepherd and sheep now transitions to King and Servants. Beyond following the great loving shepherd we get to follow the great triumphant king. He is the greatest warrior and he has already fought the battle on our behalf…and he has won!! All of us will face battles in our life, whether it is a difficult and painful circumstances or sin that has seemingly enslaved us. But no matter what the situation is we get the privilege of living in the comfort of a mighty king who has already won the victory on our behalf.
What do you
fear in your life?
How have you
seen God triumph in your life, in others lives?
What happens when I decide to accept Jesus as my Shepherd? Are there any real life implications, and if there are what is my role and what is God’s role? How does this all live out? This Psalm although speaking poetically gives us a glimpse into 4 tangible places God leads us…green pastures, still waters, restoration, and paths of righteousness. In more modern day terminology he provides spiritual food and water to satisfy our soul, protection against our own destructive ways, and guidance into the purpose of our lives.
What “puddles”
have you been drinking out of?
What paths
has Christ been calling to you walk on?
Steve Hart
Everybody’s life is shepherded by something! We all place our trust in something! Ultimately we all find our worth and identity in something that is outside of ourselves. The most important question we can ever ask ourselves is, “What is it that I am giving my life to!” Most probably don’t take the time ask this question and those that do often are scared by the answer. We want to dive fully into this question being honest with ourselves and others and wrestle through the answers we discover and the tension it creates.
What is it
that you “want” in your life right now?
Who are some
of the false shepherds that we follow?
*we had some audio difficulties this day so instead of David you get to enjoy Steve Hart from Soma speak on Psalm 23.1
David Von
Over the past few months we have taken a look a the gospel explosion that took place in Thessalonica, today we take a look at our personal and corporate response to this letter. God has initiated reconciliation with us and he will finish it, we can be confident. This leads us to worship him from the depths of our souls. We become prayerful, thankful, and joyful because all that he has done, is doing, and will do.
Rob Fairbanks
We were excited to have a special guest with us today, Rob Fairbanks.
Rob & His wife Robi have been married 31 years. They have 3 children: Zac – 28, Karli – 26 and Trey – 11.
He has been involved in church planting for most of his adult life, most recently, New Community, a church which has been involved in launching 6 other churches. Under Rob’s leadership at New Community Emmaus was planted in September of 2010. We are incredibly grateful for his courage, passion, and care as we have endeavored to live on Mission with Christ in the Perry District.
Rob's not very complicated when it comes to ministry – he wants to start churches for people who don't like church; ones that are beautiful expressions of the Kingdom of God, churches that actually understand a missional/incarnational orientation to being. For the past few years Rob has lead Christian Associates International developing and working with Church plants all over the world. In November he transitioned out of that role sensing a calling back to church planting in the local context. Please pray for Him and Robi as they seek God’s direction on their next steps.
Riley Palmer
We often get a false picture of what it means to take Christ’s imminent return seriously. Apocalypse minded people often have a certain feel to them. The Thessalonians needed some guidance, as their responses to the imminent return were in misguided overzealousness, or lethargy. The Scripture asks us to spend our time being constructive with our Christian family. It urges us to reconsider how we treat one another, and who we value.
Who do you
see working to build you up, even with occasional criticism in love?
How can you
encourage those around you towards the Lord?
David Von
From the beginning of time many have been consumed with the end of time. Thousands of theories, hundreds of wrong predictions, and often much angst and confusion. In the midst of this Paul reminds us that we can be filled with hope not because of what will happen in the future but because of what has already happened in the past. The death and resurrection of our savior encourages us to be filled with hope and encouragement as we actively anticipate His return.
riley palmer
For most, death is something that is feared. But for the Christian, death is just the gateway through which we pass in order to be with our Savior for all of eternity. For us, life is the challenge and death the reward!
Why do
people fear death? Why should Christians not fear death?
How can the
reality of what awaits the Christian at death encourage us today?
mark mccabe
The call of every Christian is to become more Christ like. There is a progressive path that unfolded for the Thessalonians. The sanctification they were experiencing was filled with God’s love that caused them to live quietly, take care of their own business, and work hard so that they could contribute rather than take from those around them. This path is also one that we are called to walk.
How can your
work be part of God’s sanctification in your life?
Does the way
you live contribute more to those around you or does it take from those around
you?
david von
The way in which Christians approach sex, work, and death are in direct contradiction with popular culture. One of our greatest hermeneutics is how we treat our money, sex, and death. We have revolutionary impact when we live lives of sexual purity as God designed. Not just in this letter but throughout the Bible sex is a major theme, when used within a Godly covenant it is one of the most wonderful and powerful gifts we have from God. When used outside of that covenant for selfish ends it is powerfully destructive.
Has your
sexual practice been defined by covenant relationship or consumerist
consumption?
Are there
sexual sins in your life that you would like to confess and repent of?
david von
Knowing the truth is very different from believing the truth. Sanctification is the process in which our knowledge becomes our reality. How we live and act prove exactly what we believe. Paul’s plea is to tangibly live out of the power and richness that Christ has given us so that we will show a life pleasing to God.
What is the
difference between moralistic living and sanctification?
How have you
seen Christ’s transformative work shaping your life?
brent harris
Loving others – all others – is of supreme importance to the Lord. This love is the root of holiness. Paul’s prayer for us to increase in this love is right in line with God’s plan to sanctify us. As this love is poured into our lives not only are we transformed but our world is as well.
Why do you
think Paul would pray that our love would increase for “one another” and for
“all”?
How will the
answer to Paul’s prayer change us & impact our world?
mark mccabe
The Bible clearly states that all of us will be confronted with trials in this lifetime. But God also promises that we will overcome those trials as we walk with Him. How is it that some are discouraged or even devastated and others seem to triumph in the face of adversity? Our study will help us recognize trials, equip us to confront them and grow closer to God in the process!
What trial(s) are you currently experiencing in your life?
How is the work of Christ good news to that situation?
david von
Objective: we would know the power of God’s word effectually at work within us
We place our trust in so many different things, some good, some bad. But there is only 1 thing that has the power to rescue you, transform you, and free you. The very word of God. Paul repeatedly speaks the gospel to the Thessalonians. He speaks the gospel to the head (exhorting), heart (encouraging), and hands (charging), so that his disciples grow up and mature and become a trophy of grace. When the gospel does the work, no one gets to take credit other than Jesus, but we get to boast and rejoice in his work through us.
How is the word of God currently working in your life?
What things other than the word of God do you place your trust in to rescue, transform, and free you?
david von
Paul acted with great boldness in proclaiming the gospel because he had been “approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.” He knew his new identity and his new mission, and he refused to back down despite persecution and suffering. He has no desire to please man, flatter his hearers, or gain monetarily from his preaching. We believe our call is the same as Paul’s. With confidence we are to clearly proclaim the gospel and willingly share our very own lives. We are to be gentle “like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” and courageous like a good father “exhorting, encouraging, and challenging”, calling people into the kingdom and glory.
What is your heart and passion for this community of Christ followers we call emmaus?
What is your mission, who are you discipling, how is that going?
david von
We live in a culture and time where almost everyone believes they are a Christian. But even a cursory look would demonstrate that many are living under a false presumption of what it means to truly be Christian. Although many people attend church, try and live good lives, and even agree with sound doctrine we are not Christian until we have experienced the power of the gospel in our lives. While the gospel consists of assertions and affirmations it is so much more. Irreligious people don’t believe the affirmations of the gospel, religious people believe the affirmations of the gospel but a Christian is something altogether different. A Christian is someone to whom the gospel has become a power in their lives.
What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Have you experienced the power of this gospel in your life?
