Study Questions: 1. What are some ways in which not understanding the will of the Lord can be foolish? 2. Why is it so important to preserve the Biblical exhortations of submission and love to wives and husbands when we live in “evil days?” 3. What is the mystery of marriage according to Scripture? How much of a reality has this been in your marriage? 4. Pray for the future of our church. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the elders of our church specifically as it regards our future location....
May 18, 2014
Study Questions: 1. What difference does it make that we are “beloved children” God in this context? 2. How should the church “expose” sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness? How do we apply the gospel to this task? 3. In general, how can we as the church make better use of the time we have? 4. Pray for the future of our church. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the elders of our church specifically as it regards our future location. Pray that God would make ready our hearts to be a par...
May 11, 2014
Study Questions: 1. What is Paul getting at when he tells the Ephesians “but that is not the way you learned Christ”? 2. What does it look like to put off your old self? When was the last time your mind was renewed by something you read or were taught in scripture? 3. Would you say that people experience “grace” when they talk to you? How would you know? How can you ensure this? 4. How can we practically “put away” all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander? 5. Pray for the future of our ...
May 04, 2014
Study Questions: 1. In verse 7 what does Paul mean when he says that grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift? 2. What does it look like for the saints to be building up the body of Christ? 3. According to Paul, what would “mature manhood” look like? 4. In reference to verse 16, how would we know if a “part” was working properly? 5. Pray for the future of our church. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the elders of our church specifically as it regards our future ...
Apr 27, 2014
Study Questions: 1. Read and meditate upon Acts 13:15-43. What keeps us from being as excited about the gospel as those in Antioch? What can we do about it? 2. What does it mean to continue in the grace of God? What does that look like? 3. Pray for the future of our church. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the elders of our church specifically as it regards our future location. Pray that God would make ready our hearts to be a part of this huge next step for ARCC. Pray that it would result in...
Apr 20, 2014
Study Questions: 1. Read and meditate upon Isaiah 53. What part of this text resinates the most with you? Why? 2. Pray for the future of our church. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the elders of our church specifically as it regards our future location. Pray that God would make ready our hearts to be a part of this huge next step for ARCC. Pray that it would result in many people coming to know Jesus, leading to many disciples being made, leading to many being sent out with the gospel to the...
Apr 13, 2014
Study Questions: 1. How would you know if your inner being was being strengthened by the Spirit? How do you know if Christ is “dwelling’ in your heart? Would those closest to you confirm this? 2. What does it mean to be rooted and grounded in love? 3. When do you best comprehend God’s love? What would help you better comprehend this? 4. Pray for the future of our church. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the elders of our church specifically as it regards our future location. Pray that God wou...
Apr 06, 2014
Study Questions: 1. What does Paul mean in verse 6 that they are partakers of the promise in Christ? How does the gospel come into play? 2. How is the church displaying the manifold wisdom of God? 3. The first word in verse 13 “So…” implies that Paul has just given the reason why he is asking them not to lose heart. Finish this sentence: You should not lose heart while walking in darkness, uncertainty, suffering, mystery, etc. because…. 4. Pray for the future of our church. Pray for wisdom and d...
Mar 30, 2014
Study Questions: 1. Who are those who are “far off”? Why are they considered far off? Who are those who are “near”? Why are they considered near? What was the message of peace? How does this situation in verse 17 relate to us in our generation, culture, and nation? 2. In what ways do we see the Holy Spirit working to ensure that we are built together? 3. Pray for the future of our church. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the elders of our church specifically as it regards our future location....
Mar 23, 2014
Study Questions: 1. Why does Paul have to spend so much time in his epistles reminding these churches that their salvation wasn’t their doing? Ex: In Eph. 2:8-13, Paul reminds them that they don’t get to take credit for their faith, works, or being “brought near.” 2. Take a few minutes to read Galatians 3. What are some things can we gather about God’s purpose for the law? (v19-24) 3. What are some of the “ordinances” Paul is referring to in verse 15? (Hint: Colossians 2:8-23) In what ways were ...
Mar 16, 2014
Study Questions: 1. What are the implications of being “dead in our trespasses and sins”? 2. Paul has given us the picture of what our fallen state (being outside of Christ) really looks like. Certainly we were all once in this state of deadness. How are we as the church supposed to respond to such a truth with regards to our relationship to the world around us? How might this truth, regarding our own children who don’t know Christ, effect the way we parent? 3. Pray for the future of our church....
Mar 09, 2014
Study Questions: 1. What is Paul’s aim when he speaks of “knowledge” of God? 2. Read and meditate on Romans 8:28-39. What hope is linked to the “calling” of God? 3. If we have the power that raised Jesus working in us, what implications does that have on us moving forward? As the church, how do we picture Christ’s rule and reign to the rest of the world? 4. Pray for the future of our church. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the elders of our church specifically as it regards our future locati...
Mar 02, 2014
Study Questions: 1. Read and meditate on 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10. What does Paul mean that they “became imitators” of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy? What would that look like for ARCC? 2. What were the idols that these people turned from in order to serve God? How do we know what the idols are in our own life? What does it look like to turn from them? 3. What does it mean that their “faith in God” had gone forth everywhere? How did/does God accomplish this? 4. Pray for the future of our church. Pra...
Feb 23, 2014
Study Questions: 1. Where were you when you first hoped/believed in Christ? What was your conversion like? Looking back, can you see what God was up to in bringing you to Himself? 2. To what would you point to, in your life, as the source of your confidence in your salvation? 3. Read and meditate on Galatians 5:18-25. What sticks out the most to you in this text? What are your thoughts as you read over the fruits of the Spirit? In what areas, with regard to this fruit, do you see the Spirit work...
Feb 16, 2014
Study Questions: 1. What is this “mystery” that God is now seemingly revealing? 2. What does it mean that in Christ all things will be united? 3. Read and meditate on Romans 8:18-25. What is the over-arching theme of this text? What does it mean when it says that all creation is groaning?…that we groan inwardly? What does it look like for us to wait patiently? 4. Pray for the future of our church. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the elders of our church specifically as it regards our future ...
Feb 09, 2014
Study Questions: 1. What does scripture say we were actually redeemed from? For what did Christ have to pay a ransom? 2. Read and meditate on Revelation 5. Focus specifically on verses 9-10. What is scripture saying about the purpose and effectiveness of the blood of Christ? What implications might this text have for us in terms of global missions? 3. In light of what Christ had to go through in order to secure the forgiveness of our trespasses against Him, what must we say in regards to our abi...
Feb 02, 2014
Study Questions: 1. What does the concept of adoption tell us about God’s view of us? 2. What does the picture of adoption tell us about God’s view of our salvation and redemption? 3. Read and meditate on John 5:1-17. Clearly Jesus healed one man when “multitudes” were there in need. Is God’s grace more or less glorious in this instance? Why or why not? 4. Now what? What do we do about all these kids who need homes? How does the Church’s spiritual adoption play itself out practically? Additional...
Jan 26, 2014
Study Questions: 1. Why is theology important? 2. Why would Paul bring this concept of election (being chosen) to the attention of His churches? How is this profitable for the believer? (You may want to meditate on Romans 8:28-39 and focus in on verse 33) 3. If the saints have been chosen since before the foundation of the world then what does that mean for evangelism?…prayer? Additional Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 1:18; John 6:60-65; John 1:13; Romans 9:16; 1 Corinth...
Jan 19, 2014
Jan 12, 2014
Jan 05, 2014
Additional Scripture References: Jonah 1:17, Habakkuk 1:5-7, 9-11, Jonah 2:5-6, Matthew 12:39-40, Matthew 12:41
Dec 29, 2013
Christmas Music, Reading, Children's Songs, & Message
Dec 22, 2013
Additional Scripture References: Phil. 1:21: Mic. 5:2; Job 14:1, 2, 5; Matt. 5:5; Luke 1:38; Mark 10:45; Gen. 41:32; Luke 22:22; Acts 17:24-27
Dec 15, 2013
Study Questions: 1. Is it possible for secular (non-biblical) traditions to stir our affections for Christ? Why or why not? 2. Read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Would Christmas look different in America / in the Church if we were able to buy in to verse 18? How do we know if we have bought in? Additional Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 15:10; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 1:11
Dec 08, 2013
Study Questions: 1. What do we learn about God from this text? 2. What do we learn about man from this text? 3. What are some specific areas of our life here and now that make “the fall” feel like a reality? 4. How do we, as followers of Christ, redeem the relationship that God speaks of in verses 16b and 17a? Additional Scripture References: Psalm 108
Dec 01, 2013
Study Questions: 1. Why did satan go to the woman and not the man? 2. What is one practical thing you can look out for in the way of satan’s temptation in your own life? 3. What tools has God given us to combat satan? How, as a small group, can you implement them? 4. Why is there a correlation between their eyes having been opened and their realization of their nakedness? Additional Scripture References: John 8:44; Job 2:10; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Psalm 1:2; Proverbs 14:12...
Nov 24, 2013
Study Questions: 1. What defines rest? What can we learn from God’s creation example with regards to rest? 2. Read and meditate on Matthew 12:1-14 and Mark 2:27. How does Jesus’ view of “Sabbath” help us in our pursuit of rest? 3. What kind of rest is the writer of Hebrews speaking of in Hebrews 4:9-10? Is it different than the rest we strive for in Hebrews 4:11? 4. From a practical standpoint, what should “sabbath” look like for us on a weekly basis? Additional Scripture References: Ecclesiaste...
Nov 17, 2013
Study Questions: 1. What does it mean that God made man in His image? Are we still in His image? 2. What attributes of God do we learn from chapter 2? 3. Why would God put something in the garden of “pleasure” (Eden) that man could not freely have? (The tree of the knowledge of good and evil) 4. Does your small group have someone (family or individual) either inside or outside the church to bless/minister to this holiday season?
Nov 10, 2013
Study Questions: 1. What attributes of God do we get from verses 1-25? 2. What does it mean when God sees His creation as good / very good? 3. What has God done in your life to show that He is a creator? In other words, what has God done in your life that makes the Bible’s version of creation believable for you? 4. What implications and/or applications come to mind with the fact that God created light before He created the sun and the moon and starts? Additional Scripture References: Psalm 90:1-...
Nov 03, 2013
Study Questions: 1. What is the connection between the worshippers of the beast and the “book of life”? 2. How does the “book of life” give understanding to God’s purpose for creating the universe?…for creating man? Additional Scripture References: Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 5:5-6; Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 1:11-12; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:6; John 3:16; John 11:50-52; John 6:37-39; John 17:9; Ephesians 5:25; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 11:26...
Oct 27, 2013
