Submitting to the Seasons

Introduction:

How Should I Handle the Changing Seasons of My Life? (Eccl 3:1-15)

1. I should Wisely adapt to Change and Not resist it . (Eccl 3:1-8)
2. I should Trust in God's timing and Not force my own . (Eccl 3:9-15)

   A.W. Tozer - "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply."

David Gibson - "Living well in God’s world means recognizing that when it comes to our lives, we are not mini-gods, and this is His creation, not ours. We have all the pieces of our life given to us, and things come and go and seasons change, and it is only God who knows exactly where everything is meant to go, in which order, at what time, and why.”

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Taylor Brown is a CONTROL FREAK!

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Taylor Brown is still a CONTROL FREAK!

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Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

1. Why should it encourage us to know that the Lord is sovereign and in complete control of every single aspect of our lives?
   

2. Why does the Lord bring trials and difficult seasons into our lives? How is the presence of suffering in our lives the proof of God's love for us?
   

3. Discuss examples from the Bible where God used pain and suffering to prepare His servants for ministry. Share a time when the Lord used a painful trial to help you become more like Christ and bless others.
   

4. What does it look like to trust in the Lord and not yourself? How can you strengthen your dependence upon God over the upcoming week?
   

5. How can we as believers make the most of this current quarantine? How is the Lord calling you to grow and bless others?

Breakout
Pray for the strengthening of those suffering during this uncertain “lock-down/quarantine” season.

Jesus In The Clutch

Introduction:

How Do I Know Jesus Will Come Through In The Clutch?

1. Because He's My authority . (1 Pet 5:6)
2. Because He Cares . (1 Pet 5:7)
3. Because He's Stronger than my opponent . (1 Pet 5:8-9)

   Genesis 49:8-10 - "Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples."

Revelation 5:5 - And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scrolls and its seven seals."

Revelation 20:10 - "and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

4. Because He Always sees it through . (1 Pet 5:10-11)

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Small Group Discussion
Read 1 Peter 5:6-11

1. Are there anxieties in your life that you keep from God? Is there a reason you do that?
   

2. What does your adversary “seeking someone to devour” look like in your life?
   

3. How would you describe being “firm in your faith” mentioned in 1 Peter 5:9?
   

4. What are some ways that we can humble ourselves daily so that God may exalt us?
   

5. Is there a time that God came through in the clutch for you?
   

Breakout
Pray for each other’s anxieties that may be keeping you from your faith in God.

Lifecycle of Redemption

Introduction:

Lifecycle of Redemption (Psalm 107:10-22):

1. Recognizing our need for it is as hard as we make it (Ps 107:10-12 | Ps 107:17-18)

   How do we recognize our need for redemption?

   1. How are things working out for you now?
   2. Are you trying to do it on your own?
   3. Is there some nagging sin you're dealing with?
   4. How's your walk?

2. But being redeemed is practically free as we make it (Ps 107:13,19)

   How do we cry out to the Lord?

   1. In humility
   2. In reverence

   Psalm 145:19 - "He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them"

   3. In faith
   4. Submissively

   Psalm 66:18 - "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would have not listened"

3. And fulfills our needs abundantly (Ps 107:14,16,20)

   Psalm 50:15 - "and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

   Revelation 4:11 - "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

   How do we respond to being redeemed?

   1. Thanks and gratitude (Ps 107:15,21,22a)
   2. Sharing what he's done for you (Ps 107:22b)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Psalms 107:10-22

1. What prevents us from asking for redemption?
   

2. Why is redemption practically free and not scot-free?
   

3. How do we cry out to the Lord and why is it important to do it “properly”?
   

4. Why should we give God glory after being redeemed?
   

5. What is the appropriate response to being redeemed?
   What’re your favorite ways to go about doing those responses?

Breakout
Share with one another a time you went through a ‘Lifecycle of Redemption’.

Living in the Wrath of God

Introduction:

1. God Abandons a Nation That Abandons God.

   Read: Judges 10:13-14 | Hosea 4:17 | Matthew 15:12-14 | Acts 14:16

2. Why Does God Abandon a Nation? (Romans 1:18-23)

   They clearly Know about God.

   But they clearly don't Want God.

What Happens When God Abandons a Nation?

3. 3 Progressive Steps a Nation Takes When God Abandons It.
   1. First the Heart goes: Sexual Immorality. (Romans 1:24-25)
   2. Then What is Natural goes: Dishonorable Passions. (Romans 1:26-27)
   3. Finally, the Mind goes: Debased Minds. (Romans 1:28-32)

   Psalm 81:11-16 - "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

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Small Group Discussion
Read Romans 1:18-23

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. Have you heard of this aspect of God’s wrath (abandonment) previously? If not, what is your initial response to this concept?
   

3. Read Romans 1:19-20 again. How is it that everyone is “without excuse” when it comes to knowing there is a God? Explain how people know of God’s existence solely through creation.
   

4. What is the connection between giving thanks and having faith (Romans 1:21)?
   

5. Explain, briefly and in your own words, the progression that takes place when God “gives up” a nation (Romans 1:24-32). What can we do about it as a church?
   

Breakout
Pray for our nation, using Psalm 81:11-16 as your guide.

Questions from the Congregation - Part 13

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.

Q: How can we as Christians actively combat white privilege and racism? How are we at Harvest able to make a difference despite the lack of diversity in our church and immediate community?

A: See Acts 17:26 - And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place…

Ephesians 2:13-16 - But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Revelation 5:9-10 - And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Any question that was missed due to time constraints during the service Pastor Jeff will address the answer on the blog.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

Discuss any of the topics covered on Sunday! Consult the thorough notes I’m certain you took.

Breakout Questions:
Pray for our nation - and pray for our church to have opportunity to love people with the Gospel in the face of racial tension.