Questions from the Congregation - Part 7

Note: The time signatures [00:00] below indicate the start of a question if you'd like to skip to a particular one of interest in the audio file.

1. [06:36] - Q: What has been Harvest's response (both here and Chicago) to the growing ecumenical movement (unity movement, Manhattan declaration, etc) and evangelical Christian pastors who've signed onto it? Should we stop listening to pastors and Christian bands who've been taking part of this (People that have spread the gospel but have made weird declarations that go against Sola Scriptura). The more oddities I hear, the more I fear having my ear tickled and thinking I am being fed, when in actuality, they're wolf in sheep's clothing.
    
2. [10:43] - Q: What does the Bible say about worshipping God as a congregation on Sunday versus Saturday? Why has there been a shift in churches offering both Sunday and Saturday services? Is this Biblical?
   A: See Acts 20:7 - On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together...
    
3. [20:18] - Q: What is up with the thousand years? What is the purpose and why or when is Satan released?
   A: See Revelation 20:1-10 - 
    
4. [21:55] - Q: Why does God allow Satan to exist? Why can't Satan be destroyed and killed? Then there would be forever peace on earth.
   A: See 2 Corinthians 12:1  |  Job 1-2 |  Revelation 20:10
    
5. [25:21] - Q: In Numbers 13:33, the scouts that Moses sent into the Promised Land reported, "We saw Nephilim there…" How did the Nephilim survive the flood of Noah's time?
   A: See: Joshua 15:14 - And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak.
    
6. [30:00] - Q: In Matthew 27:52-53, when Jesus was crucified and died, it says, "The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." Besides the fact that this represented a miraculous sign (like the tearing of the temple curtain) drawing attention to Jesus' resurrection, is there some significance to this event? It seems odd to me that we frequently hear about the temple curtain, the daytime darkness, and the earthquake that accompanied Christ's death, but this raising of the dead is rarely mentioned.
    
7. [37:46] - Q: 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 seems to indicate that women are not permitted to speak in church. What is the correct interpretation and application of this passage?
   A: See 1 Timothy 2:12-1

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

Review and discuss any of the questions and answers given on Sunday's Q&A day together. Have you found any additional biblical support for the answers given?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

Unstoppable Legacy.

Intro / Review:

Leaving a Legacy: 4 Things I'd Like to Say at Your Funeral:

1. Your name here had a sincere Faith. (Acts 20:17-21)



2. Your name here followed Jesus, even when it was Hard. (Acts 20:22-24)

3. Your name here loved God's Word. (Acts 20:25-30)



4. Your name here loved to Give. (Acts 20:31-35)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 20:17-35

1. What are the two sides of the Gospel, according to Acts 20:21? Why are both parts important? What happens if you leave a part out?
    
2. Who do you know that follows Jesus no matter how hard his/her life gets (Acts 20:22-23)? How does this person inspire you?
    
3. What are the characteristics of someone who loves God’s Word (Acts 20:25-32)?
   are ways the church can keep youth from disengaging? How can you help?

Breakout Questions:

In which of these areas are you weakest?: Sincere faith, following Jesus during hard times, loving God’s Word, being a giver. 
 
Have your breakout group pray for you to grow in that area.

Unstoppable Urgency.

Intro / Review:

Death to "Status Quo": Four Reasons You’'d Better Be Urgent in Ministry!

1. Because people need Encouraged (Acts 20:1-2)



2. Because enemies need Avoided (Acts 20:3-6)

3. Because the youth need Engaged to your financial goals. (Acts 20:7-12)



4. Because the plans need Made to your financial goals. (Acts 20:13-16)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 20:1-16

1. Why did Paul spend so much time encouraging churches? What would have happened to these churches if he hadn't? What does this say about the way WE should encourage others in the church?
    
2. In Acts 20:3, we see that Paul changed his plans so he could avoid the enemies who were after him. How do YOU know who you need to avoid and when? Can we know? If the Bible says to love our enemies, why would we ever avoid them?
    
3. Who do YOU think takes the blame for Eutychus falling asleep (Acts 20:7-12)? Eutychus or Paul? Another option?
    
4. What are ways the church can keep youth from disengaging? How can you help?

Breakout Questions:

Who do you know from our church that needs encouraged right now? Name that person to your breakout group, pray for them, and then you have 24 hours to encourage that person in some way (text, email, call, letter, card, your choice!).

Unstoppable and Blameless.

Intro / Review:

Proverbs 22:1 - A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

A Good Name -> Riches.

1. The love of money brings Destruction (Acts 19:21-29)

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Three Signs Money has Become Your God:

1. You view Jesus/the Church as an Obstacle to your financial goals. (Acts 19:25)
2. You religious Beliefs are based on your financial well-being. (Acts 19:26).
3. You get Anxiety over the thought of losing money. (Acts 19:27).

2. A good name brings Protection. (Acts 19:30-41)

Titus 2:7-8 - Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 19:21-41

1. How can you tell if YOU YOURSELF have made money an idol in your life? What are the signs? What should you do if you have the signs?
    
2. What are ways the church today gets involved with idols? How can we be done with them?
    
3. The town clerk, or "mayor" (Acts 19:35-41) stopped the riot. Should Christians use the government for protection / advancing the kingdom? To what extent?
    
4. "I don't care what other people think about me!" Is this a Christian attitude? Why or why not?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for your witness and testimony to reflect Christ.
Pray for favor from even your non-believing friends who see Christ in you.
Pray that any persecution that comes is because of the Gospel, not your personality.
 

Dedication

Introduction

A Prayer for Harvest Bible Chapel: May Our New Home Be...

1. A place where we Recognize God's goodness. (1 Kings 8:22-23)


2. A place where we Study the Bible. (1 Kings 8:24-26)


3. A place where we Say Our Prayers. (1 Kings 8:27-30)


4. A place where Grace is valued. (1 Kings 8:30)

A Prayer for Harvest Bible Chapel: May Our New Home Be...

1. A place where we Worship God from the heart.


2. A place where we embrace God's Promises.


3. A place where we Pray with Expectation.


4. A place where grace is Lived and Proclaimed.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read 1 Kings 8:22-30

1. How do you know God is active in a church? What are the signs?
    
2. What is the significance of Solomon’s repeated use of the name "God of Israel"?
    
3. What's the difference between "saying your prayers" and "praying"? How do you know which you are doing? How can you become a better "pray-er"?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for our church to be Christ-glorifying in our new place. Like Solomon prayed for the Temple: a place where the Word of God is believed and embraced (1 Kings 8:26) and where the people of God pray passionately (1 Kings 8:28).