Renew EPC: Sermons

"A God-Connected, Christ-Centered, Spirit-Controlled Life" - Ephesians 5:15-21 - Dr. Kent Matthews

Being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean I have more of the Spirit, but rather that the Spirit has more of me
Discussion/Personal Reflection Questions:
1. What was a piece of advice you would like to give your younger self?
2. Share something from the sermon that spoke to you and why.
3. If you are willing, share an experience where you have felt filled by and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
4. Why would it be dangerous to argue, as some people do, that we do not have all of the Holy Spirit until we are filled?
5. Paul doesn’t say “fill yourself,” but rather “be filled!” How can you go about increasing your “fillability?” What are some way you can make yourself more available to the Holy Spirit daily?
6. Which of the images used in the sermon is most helpful for you to understand the CONTROL of the Spirit in your life (wind filling the sail, salt permeating meat, hand filling a glove to play piano), and why?
7. Robert Munger writes, “You will never experience the life Christ died to win for you as long as you keep doors locked to him in the rooms of your life.” Pray for each other to open all our doors and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

"The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant" - Matthew 18:21-35 - Adam Lipps

What does true forgiveness look like?
Outline:
Forgiveness is costly
Forgiveness is difficult
Forgiveness is revealing
Forgiveness is transforming.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
1. Does forgiveness come easily or difficult for you? Would you be able to forgive as quickly and completely as the Amish community did? Why or why not?
2. Can you think of a situation where you are continuing to harbor resentment or holding a grudge against someone else? What do you think continues to hold you back from being able to forgive?
3. Can you think of a situation where you were able to forgive another person? What seemed to help you get to that point?
4. The Christian idea of forgiveness is a costly one for the forgiver. What costs come to mind when you think of forgiveness?
5. Re-read Matthew 6:14-15. How do these verses strike you? What is either comforting or unsettling about them?
6. Can you think of a time that you were forgiven by someone else for something you had done (or left undone)? What effect did that have on you?
7. Pray that your group would experience the loving mercy and forgiveness of Jesus anew and in a way that will make you all more loving and forgiving yourselves!

"The Great Adventure" - Acts 26:12-29 - Nathan Edwards

How does the gospel transform us into evangelists?
1. The gospel becomes our purpose (vv. 12-20) “I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness”
2. The gospel becomes our passion (vv. 21-27) “For this reason the Jews seized me . . . and tried to kill me”
3. The gospel becomes our priority (vv. 28-29) “Whether short or long, I would to God that . . . all who hear me might become as I am”
Personal Reflection Questions:
1. How have you experienced being a Christian as an adventure?
2. What are some of the obstacles (internally or externally) you face with sharing the gospel in the world today?
3. Paul explains the gospel through his testimony. He was a persecutor, but God made him a preacher of Jesus. What is something you can testify that the gospel has changed about you?
4. Read Philippians 1:29 and Romans 8:17. Why do you think Paul mentions suffering as part of the gospel life? How have you seen suffering make your faith and witness more powerful?
5. What are some of the reasons you give for “this isn’t a good time to witness.” Discuss how you can overcome these excuses.
6. Think of a person God has brought into your life that is not a believer. Close in prayer for God to give us opportunity and boldness to witness to that person this week.

"Confess and You Will Be Forgiven" - Psalm 32 - Nathan Edwards

Why is the way of confession better than the way of hiding our sin?
Outline: The way of hiding vs. the way of confessing our sin…
Four consequences to the way of hiding:
Consequence 1: Deceit 2b in whose spirit is no deceit.
Consequence 2: Discipline vv. 3-4 your hand was heavy on me
Consequence 3: Dullness v. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule
Consequence 4: Disaster v. 6b the rising of the mighty waters
Four gifts to the way of confessing:
Gift 1: Cleared (v.1-2a) Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven
Gift 2: Cleansed (v. 5) And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Gift 3: Communion (v 7-8) I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Gift 4: Cheerfulness (v. 11) Rejoice in the LORD and be glad
Personal Reflection Questions:
1. What are some of the ways hiding makes itself seem more appealing than confessing?
2. Read 2 Samuel 11:2-17. What does David do to hide his sin? What lessons does this story teach you about the way of hiding sin?
3. Look at the consequences of hiding. How does the way of hiding make confession harder as time goes by? What does this teach about the best time to confess?
4. The word used for forgive is “to lift or carry.” How does recognizing forgiveness requires someone else to bear the sin, reveal how costly a gift it is to forgive?
5. Read Luke 15:11-24. How do you see the father bearing the cost of his son’s sin? How does this story show the gifts of communion and cheerfulness that come with confession?
6. If you met someone burdened with guilt, how might you testify to them that the way of confession is much better than the way of hiding?
7. Pray for one another for God to reveal any way of hiding in us and give thanks that God forgives us and will forgive us.

"Glory to God Alone" - Romans 11:33-36 - Nathan Edwards

Where will our glory hunger be satisfied?
Outline: 3 reasons God Alone satisfies our glory hunger:
1.Because He alone is Glory (vv. 33) Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
2.Because all glory belongs to God (v. 34-36a) For from him and through him and to him are all things.
3.Because He is worthy of all glory (v. 36b) To God be the glory forever, Amen.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
1. What are some ways you see glory hunger in our modern world? What are some of the consequences you have seen from self-glorification?
2. Paul breaks out in wonder at the God of the gospel in Rom 11:33-36. What are some ways the gospel excites wonder in you? How can we develop more gospel wonder in our lives?
3. What are some ways we could use our culture’s glory hunger to point to the gospel?
4. If someone were to say “God seeking his own glory is selfish” how would you respond?
5. Read Genesis 50:20. What are some ways you have seen God bring good out of a bad/evil situation? How can we use this truth to endure bad/evil situations?
6. Read 1 Corinthians 10:31, how might you apply this verse to your job/school, your relationships, your free time, your family? What does it mean for God to get the weight and the praise in these areas?

"Grace Alone" - 1 Corinthians 15:8-11 & Ephesians 2:1-10 - Dr. Nathan Edwards

How does Grace Alone set us free from fear?
Outline: Three truths about grace alone that secure us in the good news:
I. We are saved wholly undeservedly (Eph 2:1-3) “. . . by nature children of wrath.” (v. 3)
II. We are saved by God's determination (vv. 4-7) “But God, being rich in mercy . . .” (v. 4)
III. We are saved entirely as a gift (vv. 8-10) “We are his workmanship” (v. 10)
Personal Reflection Questions:
1. Have you had a time where you experienced it’s not me holding on to God, but God holding on to me? How did this experience make you more secure in the gospel?
2. Read Ephesians 2:1-3, what phrase of the sinfulness of our world and ourselves most catches your attention and why?
3. “You were dead in trespasses and sins” why is it important to remember Ephesians 2:1-3 is describing all of us? What effect does minimizing our own sin have on understanding the gospel and of having compassion toward the lost?
4. Read Ephesians 2:4-6. What reason does Paul give for why God shows mercy upon sinners? Why is it good news that God’s mercy is not grounded in something about us?
5. If someone were to say they don’t accept the gospel of grace because “God’s grace is unfair” how might you respond?
6. Read Ephesians 2:8-10. Do you struggle with faith being part of God’s grace? Why or why not? Why do you think Paul includes faith as part of God’s grace?
7. Pray for one another to be more aware of God’s grace and our security in His love.

"Saving Faith" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 & James 2:14-26 - Nathan Edwards

What is saving faith? And how do good works help us know if we have it?
Outline: How can we know we have saving faith?
I. Saving faith convicts us (vv. 15-17) “He says he has faith, but does not have works”
II. Saving faith changes us (vv. 18-19) “I will show you my faith by my works”
III. Saving faith compels us (vv. 20-26) “Faith was completed by his works”
Personal Reflection Questions:
1. What is something from the sermon that spoke to you?
2. Which do you think is more reliable for knowing a person’s true beliefs: their words or their actions?
3. Read Acts 2:37 why do you think Luke includes the detail “cut to the heart”? Do you think being ‘cut to the heart’ is essential to believing the gospel? Why or why not.
4. How would you explain the difference between good works being part of the root of our salvation vs. being part of the fruit of our salvation? Why is this distinction so important?
5. How might you correct someone who says “your belief in salvation by faith alone encourages Christians to live sinfully”?
6. What is something in your life you can see that the gospel has changed/is changing about you?
7. How have you seen your faith strengthened through acts of faith?

"Faith Alone" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 & Romans 10:5-13 - Nathan Edwards

How can we know that we are saved? Discover the vital importance of knowing we are saved by faith alone.
What does faith alone mean?
1. Good works don’t save (v. 5)
2. Faith is enough (v. 6-8)
3. We trust in Christ alone (vv. 9-11)
4. We have assurance of our salvation (vv. 12-13)
Personal Reflection Questions:
1. Where do you see a drift from salvation by faith alone toward faith plus works in the church today?
2. What are some ways you have struggled with assurance of salvation? What stirs up your doubts?
3. Why does adding works to our faith end up decreasing our trust in Jesus?
4. If someone were to say “having assurance of salvation is the sin of pride,” how might you explain that justification by faith alone denies any place for pride.
5. What doubt, anxiousness, or guilt in your life do you need to preach: I am justified by faith alone to today?

"Christ Alone" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 & Colossians 1:13-23 - Nathan Edwards

You need Jesus, and once you have Jesus, you have all you need.
Outline:
Christ alone is necessary and sufficient for our salvation
I. Why Christ Alone is necessary for salvation
A. He is above all things
B. His death covers all sins (20b)
II. Why Christ alone is sufficient for our salvation
A. As the perfect Prophet, He fully reveals God to us
B. As the perfect Priest, He fully returns us to God.
C. As the perfect King, He fully cares for us.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
1. What are some ways you see Christ becoming small in the modern church? What effect do you see that having on what the church says and does?
2. Paul tells us that Jesus is Supreme, Creator, Ruler, Judge, Sustainer, and Reconciler. Is there one of these that you don’t typically associate with Jesus? What effect does knowing Jesus is all these things have on your view of the gospel?
3. How might you gently correct someone who says they believe every religion offers a path to heaven?
4. Jesus is sufficient to save us because he is the perfect prophet, priest, and king. Which of these three roles is most comforting to you today and why?
5. Do you think you can have Jesus as Savior (i.e. priest) and not as Lord (i.e. as king)?
6. How do you answer the question: “Why should I let you into my heaven?”
7. Pray for one another to see Jesus as bigger and bigger and fully sufficient to save all who trust in Him.

"Scripture Alone" - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - William Baker

Three reason we can have confidence in God’s Word
1. God speaks truthfully
2. God speaks clearly
3. The Holy Spirit confirms God’s Word
Discussion/Personal Reflection Questions:
1. What does "Sola Scriptura" mean, and how does it shape your understanding of authority in the Christian life?
2. The movie scene from "Talladega Nights" is used to illustrate relativism. How do you see relativism influencing people's beliefs about God and truth today?
3. The Bible is described as trustworthy because God always keeps His promises. Can you share a time when God's Word gave you confidence or comfort, even when your experiences or feelings said otherwise?
4. God’s Word is clear, especially regarding the gospel. What are some examples from Scripture that show this clarity? Are there areas where you still struggle with understanding?
5. How should believers balance tradition, reason, experience, and Scripture in their lives? Give some examples from your life how you have tried to do this.
6. The Holy Spirit is involved in both the writing and illumination of Scripture. How have you experienced the Holy Spirit helping you understand and apply the Bible?
7. Pray for one another to have full trust, confidence, and submission to the Word of God.