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Sermon Study Guide February 2021

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Sermon Study Guide February 2021 Sermon Study Guide February 2021 Matthew R. Perry, Ph.D. Lead Pastor HOPEFUL JOYFUL PRESS Arapahoe Road Baptist Church 780 E. Arapahoe Road Centennial, CO 80122 http://www.arbc.net/hjp Copyright © 2021 by Matthew Perry, Ph.D. All Bible references are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted. Hopeful Joyful PRESS Table of Contents 1. Week of February 7-13: Selected Scriptures 2. Week of February 14-20: Ephesians 1:1-2 3. Week of February 21-27: Ephesians 1:3-14 4. Week of February 28-March 6: Ephesians 2:1-10 How to Approach these Studies How can you approach these studies to help you engage God's Word more eagerly and disciple each other more effectively? 1. Pray before you partake. Ask the Spirit to open your heart and mind to understand His Word (see 1 Corinthians 2:6-16). As you engage the Word of the Lord, engage the Lord of the Word. 2. Read the readings. At the beginning of each day, we give Scriptures for you to read. Read them. Engage with the Word. They are not extensive. While there is value in reading through Bible reading plans, value also exists in studying specific passages to glean all the possible information to bring about application and transformation. 3. Buy a notebook (whether a cheap Composition Notebook or a more expensive Moleskine notebook—or all types in-between) to journal your answers. I would even recommend sketching out the questions to refer to these interactions should you happen to lose the paper. 4. Go through this with others. This study aims to aid our discipleship to fulfill our mission: be, make, multiply, and send hopeful, joyful disciples who make much of Jesus. With our 3+3+3+1 strategy,1 we hope to provide tools and resources to expedite this discipleship process in fulfillment of the Great Commission. We need each other to progress in our walk with Christ and His church. 1That is, write three people per week, call three people per week, get up with three of the same people each week or two, and share the gospel with one person per week. These studies could help with meeting with your three people as a type of D-Group. Week of February 7-13 Matthew 16:13-20; Matthew 28:18-20 For the sermon, we asked the question we ask at the beginning of each Vision Talk that was first posed by missiologist Jeff Christopherson: "What would the church look like if Jesus had His way?" This compelling question cuts against the grain of so many leaders and members who may want the church to go their way. Yet, this is not the goal and this sermon sought to bring this important question to the forefront. Monday, February 8: Matthew 16:13-18; 1 Peter 2:4-10 • Jesus asked his disciples whom others said He was. What are some descriptions of Jesus that you hear from others in the culture/outside the church? What are some descriptions you hear from those inside the church? • When Jesus asked the disciples whom they believed He was, Peter responded correctly: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." To whom does Jesus credit for Peter’s correct answer? What does this tell you about the Spirit’s role in understanding God’s revelation? • Jesus was building His church on “this rock.” Some believe that the church was built on Peter, but in reality, He builds His church on Peter's confession. Read 1 Peter 2:4-10. Make a list of what this passage tells us about the “building” of the church and all the components. What does this passage tell us about the nature and makeup of the church? Tuesday, February 9: Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:1-4 • We often begin the Great Commission at Matthew 28:19, yet one must include verse 18. Why is this so important to start at v. 18, especially in light of Matthew 16:16-18? • Jesus called his disciples to go and make disciples, laying down a model for future disciples to come. The model was an “as you go” model for making disciples in the course of life. Read 2 Timothy 2:1-2. What is the difference between making a convert and making a disciple? What comes to your mind when thinking about discipleship? Do you see why discipleship is such a critical part of continuing the Christian faith through the generations? • Read Romans 6:1-4: The baptism is identification in the Triune Godhead, while teaching is learning how to live out that identification. Have you been baptized? Is your life marked by that identity in Christ and wanting to learn more about the Christ to whom you identify? Wednesday, February 10: 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Timothy 3:1-13 • The apostle Peter writes to the elders/pastors in the churches in Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1), reminding them to “shepherd the flock among you, exercising oversight (5:2). At the back half of verse 2 and all of verse 3 lists three characteristics of what this oversight should look like in the template of “not x, but y.” List the first parts of these three characteristics (x). What similarities you see in these characteristics. Next, list the last parts of these three characteristics (y). What similarities do you see there? • Read Hebrews 13:7 and 13:17. In verse 7, the writer of Hebrews tells them, “Remember your leaders.” In what way did the writer of Hebrews describe leaders? In verse 17, the writer calls for his readers to “obey your leaders and submit to them.” How does this admonition land on you— obeying your leaders? Is this a struggle for you? Why? What benefits does God bring to the believer when they follow through on this call to obey? In connecting with Hebrews 13:7, what is the basis of the leader’s leadership? • Read 1 Timothy 3:1-13: In this list of qualifications for an overseer/pastor and deacons, you see the list is more about character traits than competencies. Why do you believe that character meant so much when it comes to a leader in the church? Thursday, February 11: Ephesians 4:11-16 • God gave those to serve in various offices and roles in the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 4:11). As you read verse 12, why did God give the gifts of these leaders to the church? Pray that God would lead our leaders to equip others for the work of the ministry and pray for those in the church to receive this equipping so they may gladly engage in the work of the ministry. • Read verses 12-14. What is the reason for engaging in the work of the ministry? What is the ultimate goal the church should attain (v. 13)? What does maturity look like (v. 14)? • Read verses 15-16: We are called to speak the truth in love (rather than in cunning, craftiness, and deceitful schemes). As Paul calls Christians to grow into the head, what does this look like in practice? Friday, February 12: Read Ephesians 1:1-2 and get yourself ready for Sunday! Notes: Week of February 14-20: Why Ephesians? Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-2 Introductions to the churches who received these New Testament epistles contain important information. Sadly, we overlook these introductions to delve into the meat of the letter. Yet, like all words of Scripture, God inspired even the introductions. This week, we will learn more about Paul and also more about the saints of Ephesus. Monday, February 15: Ephesians 1:1a; Acts 7:53-8:1; Acts 9:1-19 • Paul authored the letter to the Ephesians. Given his life before coming to Christ, Paul was an enemy. Read Acts 7:53-8:1. What role did Paul play in Stephen’s martyrdom and toward the church thereafter? • Paul (i.e. Saul of Tarsus) had a life-changing experience on the road to Damascus. Read Philippians 3:1-6. He believed He was serving God before He met Christ on the Damascus Road. Read Acts 9:1-19. What happened to Paul on the way to Damascus that initiated his change? Has a change happened to you where your life is now given over to Christ? If not, what is preventing you? If so, how has your life changed? Tuesday, February 16: Ephesians 1:1b;1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; • Some of you grew up in churches where “saints” had a different connotation—of a super- spiritual, select group—yet Paul’s understanding is markedly different. What does this understanding of “saints” that we see in this introduction to the Ephesians convey? Do you recognize your status as a saint in the Kingdom of God? • Paul showed the Ephesian church (and the church in the centuries after) that his apostleship happened not by his own will but by the will of God. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12. What is God’s will for our lives as believers? Does this bring a disappointment or a relief to you know this is God’s will for our lives as Christians? Wednesday, February 17: Ephesians 1:1c;2 Chronicles 6:40-42; Jude 3; Ephesians 4:14-16 • Paul describes the Ephesian Christians as “saints.” The first time the word is used is in 2 Chronicles 6:40-42. According to this passage, what marks a “saint?” If you are a follower of Jesus, does this mark you as well? What keeps you from having these qualities? • Read Jude 3.
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