Harvest Bible Chapel St. Louis Podcast - Entries written by Michael Sust

Two fold test of faith:

i) ___________________________________ (v. 26)

ii) ___________________________________ (v. 28)

1. Compassion transcends __________________________

          (v. 30-33)

2. Compassion is __________________________________

          (v. 34-35)

     a) …proactive in ___________________________ (v. 34a)

     b) …unmoved by  __________________________ (v. 34b)

     c) …prepared to  ________________________ (v. 34c-35a)

     d) …committed to  _________________________ (v. 35b)

3. Compassion seeks _______________________________

                                                                                           (v. 36-37)

    “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”

(Mother Theresa)

Joy is

_______________________________________________.

Three compelling reasons for abiding in joy:

1. Supernatural ___________________ (v. 1)

2.  Supernatural ___________________ (v. 2-4)

·        Our relationship with Christ is expressed in:

a) W____________ (v. 2a, 4)

There is no access to the throne room except

_________________________________________.

b) W____________ (v. 3)

c) W____________ (v. 2b)

3.  Supernatural ___________ (v. 5)

“I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one

  will take your joy from you.” (John 16:22)

1. Refreshed by closeness (v. 1-3)

·        Spiritual closeness to God is reflected in

____________________________________________.

   (Mark 8:34-35)

2. Revitalized by devotion (v. 4-9)

·        Three areas of devotional life:

a) The devotion of _________________________

b) The devotion of _________________________

c) The devotion of _________________________

3. Reaffirmed by vision (v. 10)

·        The strength of a vision depends on

    _________________________.

4. Rejoicing in confidence (v. 11-12)

·        Confidence is

____________________________________________.

                                                                                                                (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Our ability to grasp the immensity of God’s mercy depends on our understanding of:

1. The power of Christ (to forgive) (v. 1-2)

2. The viciousness of sin (v. 3-4)

·        Conscious tolerance of corruption will

____________________________________________.

3. The blessing of repentance (v. 5-7)

·        Sin can’t be undone, ____________________________.

·        The 7 A’s of confession: (Ken Sande)

   i.     A_____________ everyone involved

   ii.    A_____________ if, but, and maybe

   iii.   A_____________ specifically

   iv.   A_____________ the hurt

   v.    A_____________ the consequences

   vi.   A_____________ your behavior

        vii.   A_____________ for forgiveness

·        Godliness is revealed through

_____________________________________________.

4. The necessity of obedience (v. 8-9)

·        Mercy comes through ______________; discipline comes through _____________.

5. The joy of true deliverance… (v. 10-11)

·        …is __________________________________________.

Understanding restoration as a process, not an event

1. The test of abiding (v. 5-6)

Question: Am I being convicted?

· The best evidence of His abiding presence is

____________________________________________

2. The test of obedience (v. 7)

Question: Am I doing what is right?

· Obedience is the evidence of

____________________________________________

3. The test of maturity (v. 8-9)

Question: Am I getting the right nutrition?

· Maturity in Christ begins when

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

4. The test of willingness (v. 10)

Question: Am I following without reservation?

· Two aspects of following:

a) ___________________        b) _________________

     (Following God & His Word)            (Following godly leaders)

· Sometimes ________________________________ is necessary for ________________________________.

 Epilogue: The impending love (v. 11)

· The results are contingent upon ____________________________________________

YOUR RESPONSE CARD:

1) The Test of Abiding:

Community: Is God present and working in my church community? Is there evidence of changed lives?

Yes ?                                  No ?

Personal: Is there evidence of God’s presence in my life resulting in active faith?  Am I being convicted and transformed?

Yes ?                                  No ? 

If not, why not? ___________________________________________

2) The Test of Obedience:

Community: Is my church community as a whole obedient to the Word of God rather than complacent or lukewarm?

Yes ?                                  No ?

Personal: Am I doing what is right in the sight of God? Am I a sincere and committed follower of Jesus Christ? 

Yes ?                                  No ? 

If not, why not? ___________________________________________

3) The Test of Maturity:

Community: Is the Word being proclaimed in my church community? Are challenges and opportunities to grow regularly made available?

Yes ?                                  No ?

Personal: Am I receiving the right nutrition? Is there a measurable spiritual growth in my faith and in my walk with the Lord Jesus Christ?

Yes ?                                  No ? 

If not, why not? ___________________________________________

4) The Test of Willingness:

Community: Are the church leaders willing to apply the challenging aspects of faith such as admonishment and church discipline?

Yes ?                                  No ?

Personal: Am I following the Lord without reservation?  Am I imitating and following my leaders as they follow the Lord Jesus Christ?

Yes ?                                  No ? 

If not, why not? ____________________________________________

  Things to remember when walking through trials

1. He is my Helper, __________________________ (v. 2)

· The quality of help we receive is defined by ___________________________________________

2. He is my Guide, _________________________ (v. 3-4)

· God’s vigilance does not exempt us from

___________________________________________

3. He is my Keeper, ________________________ (v. 5-6)

· Trials are intended to not only test our faith but also ___________________________________________

4. He is my Defender, _______________________ (v. 7)

· Biblical antithesis of love is ___________.

5. He is my Compass, ________________________ (v. 8)

· Ignoring the pathways we should have taken results in

__________________________________________

How can I find out God’s will for me?

     God is more interested in

     ________________________________________than  

     ___________________________________________.

1. Be _______________! (Psalm 37:1-2)

· How do I stay focused?

A) ___________________ (2 Corinthians 4:18)

B) ___________________ (Hebrews 12:1-2)

2. Be ______________! (Psalm 37:3)

· Faith is ____________________________________ (James 1:22-25)

· _________ it! - ___________ it! - __________ it!

3. Be _________! (Psalm 37:4)

· Gladness originates in _________________________

___________________________________________

(Psalm 84:10)

· Gladness consists in ___________________________

4. Be ___________________! (Psalm 37:5-6)

· Commitment is the residual bond when

___________________________________________.

5. Be ________________! (Psalm 37:7)

Sometimes God’s will can be hidden, but at all times

__________________________________.

1. Getting inside (1 Peter 3:18)

· How did I get in?

a) B ___________ in

b) B ___________ out

c)  B ___________ up

· What are the implications in my life?

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

2. Understanding the inside (1 Peter 3:19-21)

· Days of Noah:

       Sin               __________________________________

       The world  __________________________________

Believers    __________________________________

The ark       __________________________________

· Days of Jesus:

       Sin               __________________________________

       The world  __________________________________

Believers    __________________________________

Christ          __________________________________

· Object lesson:

____________________________________________

3. Abiding on the inside (1 Peter 3:21-22)

· Principles to follow in Noah’s example:

What did Noah do?  ____________________________

How was his faith manifest?  _____________________ What was the result? ___________________________

	(Mark 5:1-20)

1. Demon possession reveals the

______________________________________________

(Mark 5:1-5)

2. Every spiritual entity must

______________________________________________

(Mark 5:6-9)

3. The healing work of Christ frustrates

______________________________________________

(Mark 5:11-13)

4. God’s transforming power infuriates

______________________________________________

(Mark 5:14-17)

5. The #1 priority Jesus set for His followers is

______________________________________________

(Mark 5:18-20)

1. Family at home (Colossians 3:18-21)

a) Women (v. 18) ______________________________

____________________________________________

b) Men ______________________________________

  i) Husbands (v. 19)  _______________________

______________________________________

 ii) Fathers (v. 21) _________________________

______________________________________

c) Children (v. 20) ______________________________

____________________________________________

2. Family under authority (Colossians 3:22-4:1)

a)___________________ (doulos) - (Chapter 3, v. 22-24)

b)___________________ (kyrios) - (Chapter 4, v. 1)

3. Family at large (Colossians 4:2-6)

a) Approaching with prayer

i) C _________________ (v. 2)

 ii) C _________________ (v. 3)

iii) C _________________ (v. 4)

b) Advancing with wisdom

i) E _________________ (v. 5)