Sermon Notes
Two things: Being in PAIN and being POWERLESS will inevitably expose our immature, childish images of God.
| CHILDISH FAITH | MATURE FAITH |
| Good Christians don’t have pain or disappointment. | God uses our pain and disappointment to make us better Christians. (2 Corinthians 1:4) |
| God helps those who help themselves. | God helps those who admit their own helplessness. (John 15:5) |
| God wants to make us happy. | God wants to make us in the image of Jesus. (Philippians 2:5-8) |
| Faith will help us always explain what God is doing and things always work out. | Faith helps us stand under God’s sovereignty even when we have no idea what God is doing. (Job 13:15) |
| The closer we get to God the more perfect we become. | The closer we get to God, the more we become aware of our own sinfulness. (Romans 7:24-25) |
| Mature Christians have answers. | Mature Christians can wrestle honestly with tough questions because we trust that God has the answers. (1 Corinthians 13:12) |
| Good Christians are always strong. | Our strength is in admitting our weaknesses and our need for others. (2 Corinthians 12:9-11) |
| Strong emotional experiences are deeper spiritually. | We test every spirit and wind of teaching, as we worship emotionally in spirit balanced by truth. (1 John 4:1) |
| We go to church because our friends are there, we have great leaders, and we get something out of it. | We go to church because we are the body of Christ, and we are spiritual contributors. We celebrate and serve. (Hebrews 10:24-25) |
Circle Group Questions
Ice Breaker – Share a time you took a big risk, and experienced a step-out-of-the-boat-and-walk-on-water faith moment.
Share one of your Personal Reflections from the week.
Read Matthew 14:22-33.
Pastor Dave pointed out that, “Peter wanted to make a splash and not take a splash.” How can our desire to look important get in the way of seeing God at work? How did Jesus respond to Peter’s bold actions?
Was Peter the only one with little faith? Why or why not? How can fear get in the way of seeing God at work? How did Jesus reassure them not to be afraid?
Peter’s reaction to the wind was to doubt Jesus and the reality of the impossible. How can doubt get in the way of seeing God at work? How did Jesus respond to Peter’s doubt?
How does Jesus react to us when we are acting out of self-importance, fear, or doubt? Which of these is most likely to keep you from acting in faith? How can these lessons lead to spiritual formation?
Read 2 Corinthians 4:5. How does “preaching ourselves” and “serving ourselves” get in the way of spiritual formation? What is the alternative? How can you refocus?
InFORMATION + Application = TransFORMATION. Spiritual Formation happens over time when we apply what we learn. God is giving us opportunity to grow through life experiences to become more like Christ. What are some ways He is doing this?
2 Corinthians 12:10 (When I am weak, then I am strong)
Hebrews 12:5-11 (Fatherly discipline)
Ephesians 4:11-12 (Pastors and teachers)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (Through God’s Word)
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (Build each other up)
In what way is God inviting you to draw near to Him in the midst of the hardships you are facing? How can the members of the Circle Group pray for you?
Personal Reflections
Sunday
What stood out to you from today’s sermon? What teaching can you apply this week? What Reflections did you apply last week?
Monday – Reflect
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When has God comforted you? Who can you extend God’s comfort to this week?
Tuesday – Reflect
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
How can you remain connected to God?
Wednesday – Reflect
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8
When do you have an opportunity to demonstrate the attitude of a servant?
Thursday – Reflect
“Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.”
Job 13:15
Where do you truly find your hope?
Friday – Reflect
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Romans 7:24-25
When do you feel conflicted about God’s law and the law of sin?
Saturday
Choose one growth area from the Faith Chart and pray for God to bring you to mature faith in this area.