FAITH: The Man That Never Died

Text: Hebrews 11:1-6, Genesis 5:21-24

Summary: Faith invites us to turn away from the world and find true contentedness, hope, and confidence in God as we walk with him. 

Understanding God’s Word: Know and Understand the Truth

READ Hebrews 11:1

• Everybody who has ever lived has faith in something. As we look at the world around us who or what do you see people putting their hopes and confidence in? (Hint: Money, politicians, technology, achievements, ect.) 
• As Christians, we've been changed so that we put our hopes and confidence (faith) in something new, something different from the rest of the world. What are those things?
• As Christians, when Jesus is the object of our faith, do we have more or less assurance and hope than people who put their faith in the things of the world? Why?

Living and Applying God’s Word: Give a Vision of Life With God. 

READ Hebrews 11:5-6

• These two verses give us a picture of what it looks like to live a life in faith. What can we learn from Enoch’s life about hopeful confidence?
• What is God offering us when we live in faith like Enoch? (Hint: Walk with God, we will never experience death, living a life that pleases God, assurance of all the rewards He’s offered us {Ephesians 1 gives us a good idea of what some of these rewards are.} ) 

Assessing the Heart: Identify and Address Sin. 

• However, as Christians, there are times when we become content with the things of this world, when we put our hopes in them, and when we pursue and draw near to them. How are we in danger when we choose those things over God? (Hint: We can get burned by them when they fail us, they don’t give us truly fulfilling or lasting rewards, we can end up living a life void of eternal purpose and significance, etc.)
• What does it communicate to God when we turn our hearts from Him and give them over to these other things of the world? (Hint: Pride - We think we know what is best for us; Unbelief - We don’t believe that God is inviting us into a life that is better than what the world can offer; Idolatry - We elevate people or things to the status that only God should have.)

Turn to God: Confess and Renew Belief in God

• What do you feel God is calling you personally to confess and repent of? 
• Psalm 119:105 —> God is using His Word as a gracious reminder to help us see how empty the things of this world truly are. It’s His Word, these reminders, that give birth to a holy discontentedness to the things of this world. This holy discontentedness becomes a catalyst for our faith; God is inviting us to draw near to Him instead and walk with him. What are some practical ways God is inviting you to walk in the same direction as Him this week, or what are next steps He’s inviting you to take in faith? 

BODY PARTS: Follow or Fail

Summary:  There are spectators, fans, and players in the Body of Christ.  Which one are you?  How can you move from being on the outside looking in to actually using your gifts to be a part of the life change through Jesus that we see inside the Church all over the world?

Text: Matthew 16:13-18, Matthew 4:18-20, Matthew 28:19

1. Jesus saw people that thought he was 1 of many good prophets, people that thought he was just a good guy doing good things, and people that actually believed he was the Christ.  This is a difference between spectators, fans, and players.
There is 1 thing that moves you from a spectator/fan to a player in the body of Christ.  It's commitment.  What are things that you are currently committed to in your life?  What does commitment look like for you in the local church, and what commitments do you need to make to take the next step?


2. READ Matthew 16:18.
What's one thing that can stop the church from being effective in its mission.  Is it God?  Is it Satan?  (It's the church.)  What are ways that the body actually hinders itself from being effective?


3. READ Matthew 4:18-20
Pastor Nathan said in his message that "to truly follow Jesus, you have to be willing to STOP following what you are currently following."
a. What are things in our lives that we follow?  How are they distracting us from following Jesus?
b. What nets do you need to drop in order to be a faithful member of the body?  Vs 20 says they IMMEDIATELY dropped their nets.  What nets have you been holding on to that you know that you need to drop?  What's keeping you from dropping it and finally being a player in the body of Christ?

4.  READ Matthew 28:19
"Followers help other people follow."  There's no way around it.  Unfortunately, most Christians cannot point to a single person that they have helped to follow Jesus.
a. What is the big command from vs 19 that Jesus gives his followers?  (MAKE DISCIPLES)
b. Making disciples is easy as "1 beggar telling another beggar where to find the bread."  Practice on each other!  What would you say to someone if they asked you about being a follower of Jesus?  What parts of your story would you share?

BODY PARTS: Together or Alone

Summary: As a part of the body, we were made to function in relationships with God and one another. But even though community can be divided by walls of hostility, we can experience truly satisfying and meaningful community through a bloody man on a cross.  

Text: Ephesians 2:12-22

Understanding God’s Word: Know and Understand the Truth

-Paul is speaking to the church in Ephesus, a people that were challenged by the division of Greeks and Gentiles. Who are the kinds of people that we see divided in the world around us today?

-What kinds of dividing walls of hostility do we notice around us? What are the root causes of those walls?

-What is the ultimate reason that we are called to live in community as Christians?

-How can the way we live in community be a great way of sharing the gospel with unbelievers?  

Assessing the Heart: Identify and Address Sin. 

-Who is someone in your life that you are are struggling to getting along with?  

-What kind of walls of hostility might you be bringing to that relationship? What is the root issue in your heart that is causing this?

-What are the consequences of our actions? 

Turn to God: Confess and Renew Belief in God

-There’s ultimately nothing that we can do to change our hearts towards this person/people. Why do you need the cross?

-As long as we’re in this world, there’s going to be times when we'll inevitably struggle with our desire to be loved and accepted by others. There will inevitably be times when we aren’t having that need met. How might living in light of your acceptance in Christ change the way you work through those struggles? 

Living and Applying God’s Word: Give a Vision of Life With God. 

-Since our ultimate relationship with God has been restored, what kind of hope can that give you for the torn or hostile relationships that you mentioned in your life?

-What are some practical ways that we, as a community, can live out our family identity by serving, caring, and loving one another?

-How can we as a community be a place where we can invite others to experience God by the way we live in relation with one another? How can we be this kind of community outside of the rGroup setting?

BODY PARTS: Real of Fake

Summary:  What does it mean to be a "real" follower of Jesus?  The Bible is very clear about what a true disciple looks like, what true disciples do, and what true disciples say.  Are you are real or fake?

Texts:
Matthew 7:21-23


1. What's most intimidating about the idea of being a disciple of Jesus?  What's the most compelling about it?

2. Jesus said that not everyone who calls out to me "Lord Lord" is a real follower.  Here, we see that simple belief that God is real or that Jesus walked on earth does not make you a disciple.  Belief always leads to behavior.  How has your belief led to a change in behavior as you've grown as a follower of Jesus?

3. Read Matthew 15:8.  What's so bad about poeple that honor God with their lips, but are far from Him in their hearts?  Isn't honoring God with your lips good enough?  Why is it important for behavior to coincide with beliefs?

4. Read Titus 1:16 and Luke 6:46.  What are some characteristics of "fake" Christians?

5. Read John 13:34-35.  Talk about someone who loved you well when you were growing up.  How has that person's influence carried over into your adult life?

How has your obedience led to action in your life?