Click here to download a printable version of the message notes and discussion questions for the weekend of 11.05.11.

Broken
Dreams
Lee Powell
November 5 & 6, 2011

I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.
PSALM 31:12 (NIV)

BE REALISTIC

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
JOHN 16:33 (NIV)

BE HONEST
How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face
from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have
sorrow in my heart?…PSALM 13:1,2 (NIV)

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”…MATTHEW 27:46

BE PATIENT

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his
work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns…PHILIPPIANS 1:6

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being
renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.
Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things
that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things
we cannot see will last forever…2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18

BE CLOSE

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
PSALM 34:18
…let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully
trusting him…HEBREWS 10:22A

BE GRATEFUL

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is
God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus…1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

BE HOPEFUL
…we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our
hope…HEBREWS 3:6
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to
keep his promise…HEBREWS 10:23

BE HELPFUL

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When
they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has
given us…2 CORINTHIANS 1:4

All Scripture is from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What are some of your broken dreams? What is the hardest part about dealing with the loss of something
you truly hoped would happen?

2. While we all come from different life situations, every one of us knows what it feels like to have a broken
dream. Describe the broken dream that has had the most impact on your life and how it changed you – for
better or worse.

3. Select the response(s) that you are most likely to say when life goes in a direction you hadn’t planned:
a. Haven’t I been through enough? I can’t buy a break! b. This isn’t fair! I’m a good person.
c. Why me? d. Other: _______________________

4. When someone has a broken dream, he or she might turn toward God in a variety of ways. Some call out
for help while others blast God for not doing something about the situation. What’s your attitude toward
God when your life goes down a dark and difficult road? Furthermore, is it okay for us to be honest with
God about our broken dreams?

5. Some people (including many Christians) are under the impression if they are a “good person” and try to
live a good life, then God should make sure things turn out well for them. What’s wrong with this mindset?
Use some of the verses from this weekend’s message to share how you would talk with someone who
doesn’t understand why God has let them down.

6. Even when life completely falls apart the Bible tells us that when we draw close to God we will experience
hope and healing. How can broken dreams cause us to draw closer to God in a way that we wouldn’t
otherwise? Describe how this has been true for you?

7. Gratitude plays an important role in healing from our broken dreams. How so? List five things that you are
grateful for – even though your life might not be going the direction you hoped it would be.

Click here to download a printable version of the message notes and discussion questions for the weekend of 10.15.11.

Refining Faith
Courage Under Fire
Steve Hutmacher
October 15 & 16, 2011

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong . . . 1 PETER 3:14-17 (NASB)

3 CATEGORIES OF CHRISTIANS
1. Self-centered Christian
2. ConvenientChristian
3. Christ-centered Christian

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution . . . 2 TIMOTHY 3:12 (NLT)

“. . . And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” ACTS 9:16 (NLT)

And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God . . . ACTS 20:22-24 (NLT)

“And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God”. . . 2 TIMOTHY 2:3-4 (NASB)

. . . but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence . . . 1 PETER 3:15 (NASB)

“Sanctify”- withdrawn from fellowship with the world and selfishness and drawing into fellowship with God.

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God . . . JAMES 4:4 (NASB)

Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? . . . JAMES 4:5 (NASB)

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you . . . 1 JOHN 2:15 (NLT)

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit . . . 1 PETER 3:18 (NLT)

“I need to be courageous in ______________________________.”

                                                          YESTERDAY           TODAY
A CHRISTIAN                                     YES   NO                YES   NO
SELF-CENTERED CHRISTIAN            _________           _________
CONVENIENT CHRISTIAN                 _________          _________
CHRIST-CENTERED CHRISTIAN        _________          _________

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What’s the most courageous thing you have ever done? Why does that exemplify courage?
2.  What areas do you feel God wants you to step up and be courageous in?
3. What would you do if you were told you can no longer meet as Christians in a church or life group?
4. Give examples of Christians living self-centered, convenient, or Christ centered lives.
5. Of these three categories, which do you feel you’ve been living up to? What’s keeping you from living a Christ-centered life?
6. Read James 4:4-5. God compares friendship with loving the world and as a form of adultery.
7. What are examples of this? What if anything in your life makes God jealous?
8. Are you equipped to share the message of Christ with someone on the spot to the point of leading them to salvation? How can you be better prepared to do so? What’s the most courageous thing you have ever done? Why does that exemplify courage?

Click here to download a printable version of the message notes and discussion questions for the weekend of 10.1.11.

Refining Faith
Fail Proof Promise
Kyle Gray
October 1 & 2, 2011

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 PETER 1:3-5 (ESV)

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

JOHN 6:37-40 (ESV)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

JOHN 10:27-28 (ESV)

 

Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________________

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Last week, Kyle asked the CedarCreek.tv Facebook fans if someone could lose his or her salvation. There were a lot of people that believe it’s possible for a Christian to lose one’s salvation. Do you agree? If so, explain under what circumstances you believe someone could lose his or her salvation.

2. If you are a Christ-follower, have you ever messed up so badly that you worried that God would no longer let you into heaven? How did you feel when you feared God might turn you away? When did you regain your security? If you haven’t, what are you still worried about?

3. What was the most important thing you learned during this weekend’s message? How can what you learned strengthen OR change how you live out your faith?

4. Refer back to the verses Kyle taught on this weekend regarding eternal security. Pick a verse that impacted you the most and discuss why we can be assured of our salvation if we wholly trust in Jesus Christ.

5. Now, take that same verse and share how you would explain that verse to another Christ-follower who is unsure of his or her eternal security.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to download a printable version of the message notes and discussion questions for the weekend of 9.17.11.

Not a Fan
Passionate Pursuit of God
Lee Powell
September 17 & 18, 2011

 …“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your
strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ LUKE 10:27
…You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have
fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first…REVELATION 2:4,5
…you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since
you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my
mouth! REVELATION 3:15-16

R______________________

Look how far you have fallen!…REVELATION 2:5A

R______________

Turn back to me… REVELATION 2:5B

R_____________

…and do the works you did at first… REVELATION 2:5C

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship,
and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. ACTS 2:42

R____________

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. PSALM 51:12,13

R____________

God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride…. ISAIAH 62:5
Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep
within yourselves. PHILIPPIANS 4:23 THE MESSAGE

*Outline borrowed from First Love, New Life Publications, Bill Bright

Fasting Link:
http://www.ccci.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/personal-guide-to-fasting/index.htm

All Scripture is from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

ICE BREAKER QUESTION: If you are a Christ-follower, where and when did you first place your faith in Christ?

1. How long did the “honeymoon period” last after you accepted Jesus into your heart? List some words or phrases that could describe your feelings or experiences during the exciting early stages of your faith.

2. When did you notice that things began to change and you weren’t as “fired up” as you used to be? How did you react?

3. Why does the idea of a spiritual fast intimidate most Christ-followers? What is the goal of fasting? What questions or concerns do you have about engaging in a spiritual fast?

4. During this weekend’s message, Lee challenged us to consider a spiritual fast. Is this something you will do?

5. At its essence, prayer is talking to God. How would you describe your prayer life these days? What’s going well? What’s missing?

6. The goal of this weekend’s message is for us to remember what it means for a Christ-follower to return to Christ as our “first love.” What does that mean to you? How can you make progress toward returning to OR continuing to pursue Christ as your first love this week?

Living It Out – Scripture Memory
 (Memorize this verse for the month of September.)
Luke 9:23 (New Living Translation)
Then he [Jesus] said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

 

Click here to download a printable version of the message notes and discussion questions for the weekend of 9.03.11.

Not a Fan
One and Only?
Ben Snyder
September 2 & 3, 2011

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. “But don’t begin until you count the cost. LUKE 14:25-28

A Where we get stuck:

WE CONFUSE K__________________ WITH I___________________.

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.” JOHN 5:39-40

WE F_____ H______ I_________ OUR LIVES INSTEAD OF C____________________ S________________________ TO HIM.
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. MATTHEW 16:24-25

WE POLISH OUR A________________________ INSTEAD OF PRACTICE A__________________________.

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. MATTHEW 23:25-26

All Scripture is from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

1. When you think of knowing God – what phrases first come into your mind?

2. How would you rate how well you know God? 1- slight; 10- close/intimate

3. How should someone demonstrate their love for God? How would you describe the way you love God? Reserved? Reckless? What holds you back?

4. Do you turn to God first when you are hurt? Why or why not?

5. What discoveries can we make about ourselves by understanding what disappoints us or frustrates us?

6. What is it that really gets you excited? Do you ever get excited about God?

7. What part of your spiritual life are you thinking about the most: behaviors everyone sees or the internal attitudes only you know?

Living It Out – Scripture Memory
 (Memorize this verse for the month of September.)
Luke 9:23 (New Living Translation)
Then he [Jesus] said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”