HOPE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

Topical Summer: Politics

MESSAGE | PASTOR JORDAN MOODY
Gen. 9:1-7, Rom. 13:1-7
 
INTRODUCTION: 
What is the Government for?
Genesis 9
Romans 13 
 
CONCLUSION: The Lord Reigns 
 
Small Group Discussion Questions
 
1. Why does everything seem so political today? What are some of the root causes to this “hyper-politicized” society? 
 
2. What does the story of John Newton and William Wilberforce inform our political engagement? (If you can’t remember, it’s worth looking up and discussing their relationship and influence upon history) 
 
3. What’s the difference between power and authority? How does this change the way we view and respond to certain authorities? 
 
4. How does Genesis 9:1-7 authorize human government? Why do you think God gave these directives after the flood? 
 
5. Discuss this definition of government for Jonathan Leeman. What sticks out to you from it, and what do you agree with or disagree with? 
Job Description for government: to administer the justice requisite for protecting human life, secure the conditions necessary for fulfilling the dominion mandate, and provide a platform for God’s people to declare God’s perfect judgment and salvation. 
 
6. Read Romans 13:1-7 and give another summary of the role of government and our response to government. 
 
Pray for our leaders and those in government: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Topical Summer: Community

MESSAGE | PASTOR JOSH PRATHER
Romans 12:9-21
 
INTRODUCTION: What is a church?
FAMILY BOND
GRACIOUS
UPWARD FOCUS
 
CONCLUSION: What can I do today?
 
Small Group Discussion Questions
 
1. How can you practically show brotherly affection and outdo one another in showing honor within your church community, as mentioned in Romans 12:10?
 
2. In what ways does affection drive believers to form connections with others they may not naturally be drawn to within the church community?
 
3. Reflecting on the failures of family relationships outlined in the sermon, how can you actively seek reconciliation, forgiveness, and grace in your interactions with fellow believers, striving to build a stronger and more loving church community?
 
4. Considering the concept of exclusivity and inclusivity in relation to the Gospel, how can you demonstrate the all-encompassing love of Christ to those around you, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds?
 
5. How can you actively participate in a small group within your church in order to deepen relationships, serve one another, and grow in community beyond surface-level interactions?

Topical Summer: Identity

Pastor Josh Prather
IDENTITY CREATED - Genesis 1-2
The Nature of Identity
The Crisis of Identity
The Biblical Basis for Identity
IDENTITY IN CHRIST - Ephesians 1:1-14
 
Chosen, Adopted, Forgiven, and Secure in Christ
 
IDENTITY EXPRESSED - Luke 9:23-24
The Universal Longing
The Way of Self
The Way of Jesus
 
Small Group Discussion Questions
How can the Biblical view of identity, as presented in Genesis 1-2, guide you in balancing the aspects of being created by God with being embodied and having purpose in your life?
Reflecting on the excerpts from the children's book 'My Own Way' shared in the sermon, how can you navigate societal messages about gender and identity while seeking to align your identity with God's design for you?
In what ways can the crisis of identity caused by 'expressive individualism' be seen in your own life or in the lives of those around you, and how can you offer a different perspective rooted in Biblical truth?
Considering the comparison between the way of self and the way of Jesus, how can you actively practice self-denial and follow the path of Christ in your daily life to find true identity and satisfaction?
     5.  Who are the people in your life who are finding their identity apart from God that you can pray for as a group?

Topical Summer: Finances

SERMON NOTES
AUGUST 18, 2024
MESSAGE | PASTOR JORDAN MOODY
TOPICAL SUMMER | FINANCES
1 Tim. 6:5-10, 17-19
 
1. WORK HARD: According to the Creation narrative; work is good.
2.GIVE MUCH: Lord’s followers are to minister to the poor
3.LIVE FREE: Wealth can be a stumbling block 
Conclusion: Disrupt the Corruption of Greed with Generous Stewardship 
 
 
Small Group Discussion Questions
 
1. In what ways have you observed the truth of the saying, “Money reveals the heart,” in your own life or in the lives of others? How does this phrase resonate with your experiences?
2. Let’s explore the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. What lessons can we draw from this parable about how we should manage our finances and the resources God has given us?
3. According to 1 Timothy 6:6-12, 17-19, we are warned not to love money. What guidance does the Bible give us on how we should use our money instead? How can we apply both the warnings and positive actions in our daily lives?
4. How can practicing generous stewardship help us resist the negative effects of greed, especially in our American Western culture? What does it mean to work hard, give generously, and live free from the entanglements of riches?
5. Let’s compare and discuss different biblical characters who were wealthy and those who were not. How does the Bible portray wealth and poverty in their lives? How did these individuals serve (or fail to serve) God in their particular circumstances? 
Examples: Abraham, Job, Elijah, Moses, Solomon, David, Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Nehemiah, Paul, Jesus, John the Baptist, Corneilus, Joseph of Arimathea, Judas, Joanna, Susanna, Mary Magdalene, Lydia, Priscilla and Aquila, Dorcus/Tabitha many others etc….)

Topical Summer: Parenting

SERMON NOTES
AUGUST 11, 2024
MESSAGE | PASTOR JORDAN MOODY
TOPICAL SUMMER | PARENTING
DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9, 20-21
 
Introduction:
Love God (4-6)
Teach and Train (7)
Remind and Reinforce (8-9,20-21) 
 
Small Group Discussion Questions and Notes
 
Extra resources make sure to check out the film course on intentionalparenting.org and Phil and Diane Comer’s book: Raising Passionate Jesus Followers 
 
Phases of Parenting: Spend time in your group describing the differences between the variety of stages and what is different about them. How is God’s grace necessary through all of them? 
Phase 1: Laying the Foundation (Birth through Age 5) 
Phase 2: Doing the Framing (Ages 6-12) 
Phase 3: Installing the Functional Systems (Ages 13-17) 
Phase 4: Completing the Finish Work (Ages 18-22) 
Phase 6: Opening the Front Door 
The Parenting Box: (Building the house) Draw a box with the follow instructions and discuss how each side is necessary when raising a child. 
Jesus: the undergirding foundation of every part of life (Bottom of box) 
Foundation of everything.
Discipline: using the 5 tools of discipline and discipleship (left side of box) 
5 tools: (1) Correction, (2) Rebuke, (3) Encouragement, (4) Patient Instruction, (5) Rod of Discipline 
Order: a structure that enables your child to thrive (Right side of box) 
Routines and culture 
Fun, affection, and affirmation: (top) keeping relationships strong and close 
Roof of box/house: prayer

Topical Summer: Heaven

SERMON NOTES
AUGUST 4, 2024
MESSAGE | PASTOR JORDAN MOODY
TOPICAL SUMMER | HEAVEN
MATTHEW 6:9-15
 
Introduction: Misconceptions of Heaven and Earth
 
Body: Kingdom of Heaven 
Conclusion: Reframing Your Conception of Heaven and Earth
Application:  Your Work is Not Wasted (1 Cor. 15:49-58) 
Discussion Questions
1. What are some general conceptions and possible misconceptions people have about heaven? What do you think of when you think of heaven? Do you include the earth in your hope for heaven as well? 
 
2. What does the phrase from the Lord’s prayer in Matt. 6:10 teach you about heaven and earth and our purpose for being here right now?
 
3. Discuss this quote: Kevin Deyoung: “Think of the good news of Revelation 11:15, which you may have heard in Handel’s Messiah. ‘The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.’ That’s what’s coming. The kingdom of God is the heavenly world breaking into our earthly existence. Do not think of the kingdom as a realm to which we are going as much as a reality that is coming to us.” 
 
4. What encouragement can you draw from 1 Cor. 15:58 for living now in light of eternity? What should we be doing right now?
 
 

Topical Summer: Grace Over Sin

PASTOR JORDAN MOODY
ROMANS 5-8
The Power of Grace (Romans 5-6) 
1. Grace is a Free Gift 
 
2. Grace Abounds 
 
3. Exploiting Grace 
 
4. Union With Christ 
 
5. Death to Life
 
The Presence of Sin (Romans 7)     
 
The Freedom of the Spirit (Romans 8) 
 
Discussion Questions
1. How have you experienced and received the grace of God? Share a testimony of God’s grace for you. 
 
2. What is union with Christ?  Why is this one doctrine called the “theological shorthand for the gospel itself”? (Romans 6:2-5)
 
3. Discuss these quotes:  “Growing in Christ is . . . deepening. Implicit in the notion of deepening is that you already have what you need. Christian growth is bringing what you do and say and even feel into line with what, in fact, you already are…Real change occurs through this reality: the life of God is in the soul of Man. – Dane Ortlund” 
 
4. What resonates with your own life experience with Paul’s example of his war with sin as a believer? (Romans 7:15-25)

Topical Summer: Anxiety

TOPICAL SUMMER | Matthew 6:24-34
COMMAND STATED (25) Don’t be anxious
 
QUESTION 1 (25) Isn’t life more than stuff? 
 
EXAMPLE A (26) Think about the birds and food/needs.  
  
OBJECTION (27) Does worrying add value to your life? 
 
EXAMPLE B (28-30) Think about the flowers and beauty. 
 
QUESTION 2 (30) Where is your faith?   
 
COMMAND APPLIED (31-32) 
 
ACTION (33)  
 
SUMMARY (34)  
 
Discussion Questions
1. What do you think is the source of the majority of our worries? What is causing our anxiety? 
 
2. Think through Jesus’ logic from the sermon notes. Talk through the case Jesus builds from start to finish. After Jesus builds his case against anxiety, he gives an action step for what we should do now. Why are verses 33 and 34 the crucial conclusion to his case on counteracting our anxiety?  
 
3. Look back at Matthew 6:24. How does this fit into the conversation on anxiety? 
 
4. Give examples of how you can WEED out anxiety, FEED the roots of faith, and WATER the grass to thrive. (Weed+Feed+Water)  
 
5. Share some of your anxieties and worries. Pray about them together as a group.

The Movement Continues

Acts 28:17-31
1. Proclaiming the Kingdom
 
2. Already/Not Yet
 
3. Inside Out
 
4. Upside Down 
 
5. Teaching Jesus 
 
6. Unhindered  
 
Discussion Questions
1. What is your major takeaway from the sermon series, “Acts: The Movement Begins”? 
 
2. I think you could use ellipses (...) instead of a period at the end of Acts 28:31. What does this tell us about our mission and identity as the church today? 
 
3. Discuss the three natures of the Kingdom of God. How is the Kingdom of God “Already/Not Yet (Luke 19), Inside Out (Luke  17:20-21) , and Upside Down (Matt. 5:2-12)?” 
 
4. We might look at Paul and see him as hindered, imprisoned, and bound. The world might look at Paul and say he foolishly wasted his life. But what can we learn from Paul’s faith and confidence in the gospel’s advance despite the outward hindering circumstances? (2 Tim. 2:8-9, Phil. 1:12-14)

Sailing With Paul

Acts 27-28:16
1. Have you ever been in a life threatening situation? How did you react? How might this passage instruct someone facing a trial or similar situation? 
2. How does this narrative display the sovereign providence/control of God and the responsibility of humans?  3. Discuss this quote in its relation to the passage your current journey of faith:  “Storms and shipwrecks can actually be for our benefit. Paul was mature in Christ but was still being shaped through trials. We are often objective-oriented, but God is process-oriented. We just want to get to Rome, but God is even more interested in how we get there.” - Kent Hughes 
4. What is courage? How do we see this in today’s passage and Paul’s life? 
5. Read Hebrews 4:14-16. The same greek word is used for “supports” in Acts 27:17 and “to help” in Hebrews 4:16. How does this paint a picture of God’s help for us?