Advent Series - The Journey, Walking the Road to Bethlehem - Adam Hamilton

Our Advent series begins today.  We will be using Adam Hamilton's The Journey, Walking the Road to Bethlehem.  Please join the class as often as you can throughout this Advent season!

Amazon Link for The Journey

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Forty Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Forty Scripture - Mark 9:35 - Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
Day Forty The Heart of The Matter:

• How do you think serving others could help deepen your relationship with God?
• Is there anything that hinders you from serving more often?  What would that be?
• How can serving others with the right motives help demonstrate Jesus' love to the world?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Thirty-Nine Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Thirty-Nine Scripture - Proverbs 23:4-5 - Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.  Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone . . .
Day Thirty-Nine The Heart of the Matter:

• Has tithing been a challenge for you?  Why or why not?
• Has this study changed your perspective on generosity?  If so, how?
• Why do you think it is important for Christians to model generosity to the world?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Thirty-Eight Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Thirty-Eight Scripture - Revelations 19:6-7 - Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Day Thirty-Eight The Heart of the Matter:

• Have you ever experienced a deeply moving worship service?  How did you feel?  How did that experience have an impact on your life?
• How are you doing with your commitment to attend worship?  Are there areas where you could improve on your vow to be present in your family of faith?  If you have any resistance to this idea, take it to God in prayer.
• Has your time in this study helped you focus more on paying attention to God?  Have you experienced any changes as a result?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Thirty-Seven Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Thirty-Seven Scripture - 1 John 5:14-15 - This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.
Day Thirty-Seven The Heart of the Matter:

• Do you consider prayer the least you can do for someone, or the most?  Why do you think that is?
• Have you ever prayed for someone and seen that prayer answered?  Remember the experience now.  How did that encourage your faith - as well as the faith of the person you prayed for?
• Do you keep a list of people and situations to pray for?  Some Christians find it helps keep them on track.  If you don't have such a list, would you consider starting one now?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Thirty-Six Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Thirty-Six Scripture - Phillipians 1:4-6 - . . . I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Day Thirty-Six The Heart of the Matter:

• Have you ever questioned whether the promises of the Scriptures apply to you personally?  If so, take that to the Lord now.
• Do you consider it a privilege to be a Christian?  Why or why not?
• What does it mean to you to be a partaker of grace?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Thirty-Five Scripture

Day Thirty-Five Scripture - Matthew 28:19-20 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Thirty-Four Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Thirty-Four Scripture - 1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Day Thirty-Four The Heart of the Matter:

• Why do you think Christianity is spreading so much more quickly in other countries than in the United States?  What kind of hindrances has our society put in place?
• Is your congregation more of a "come-to" or "go-to" church?  Why do you think that is?  What can you personally do to help it become more "go-to"?
• Think now of the last time you experienced something miraculous.  Thank God for that miracle once again.  (And if you don't believe you ever have experienced a miracle, ask God to show you how he is at work around you.)

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Thirty-Three Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Thirty-Three Scripture - Acts 2:42-43 - They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
Day Thirty-Three The Heart of the Matter:

• When you hear stories about the couples who gave up the comforts of their suburban neighborhoods for the challenges of poverty-stricken communities, how does that make you feel?  Inspired?  Challenged?  Uneasy?  Why do you think that is?
• Where do you personally find fellowship in the body of Christ?
• How is your congregation like/unlike the early church?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Thirty-Two Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Thirty-Two Scripture - 1 Peter 2:10 - Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.
Day Thirty-Two The Heart of the Matter:

• What has God taught you through the fellowship of other Christians?
• Why might congregational evangelism - the idea of the church itself being the witness - be as important as individual evangelism?
• What does it mean to you to love your neighbor as yourself?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Thirty-One Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Thirty-One Scripture - 1 John 4:7 - Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 
Day Thirty-One The Heart of the Matter:

• On a scale of one to ten (ten being the highest), how "addicted" would you say you are to God?  Why is that?
• In what ways could holiness be contagious?  What about joy?
• Is your congregation bound by common love, common worship and common mission?  In what ways can you individually improve - or detract - from the situation?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Thirty Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Thirty Scripture - 1 Corinthians 12:27 - Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Day Thirty The Heart of the Matter:

• What does it mean to you to be a part of the body of Christ?
• In what ways has the church represented the body of Christ to you?
• If you were to be honest, how do you do at seeing others through the eyes of Christ?  Why do you think that is?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Twenty-Nine Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Twenty-Nine Scripture - Ephesians 1:22 - And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church . . .
Day Twenty-Nine The Heart of the Matter:

• Be honest, how do you feel about the idea of the church as the home for all?
• Is it difficult for you to share with others what God has done in your life or to invite them to church?  Why do you think that is?
• How did you end up in your current congregation?  Did you first come because you believed it could be a home of wonder or grace?  If someone invited you, take a moment to thank God for that person now.

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Twenty-Eight Scripture

Day Twenty-Eight Scripture - Psalm 51:10, 12 - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Twenty-Seven Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Twenty-Seven Scripture - Proverbs 3:6 - . . . in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Day Twenty-Seven The Heart of the Matter:

• In what ways has God offered you guidance?
• Do you relate more to the tree planted by the water or the bush in the wastelands?  Why?
• Is there anything God has revealed to you about your life that you have yet to take hold of ?  What's standing in your way?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Twenty-Six Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Twenty-Six Scripture - Matthew 6:9-10 - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Day Twenty-Six The Heart of the Matter:

• How would you describe your prayer life?
• Describe a time that God directly answered a prayer.  How did that make you feel?
• What steps could you take to make your prayer times even more personal and relevant to your life?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Twenty-Five Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Twenty-Five Scripture - James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Day Twenty-Five The Heart of the Matter:

• When you hear the word discipleship, what comes to mind?  Is the term positive, negative, or a mixture of both?
• Does your family of faith have structured discipleship programs?  And if so, have you considered being involved?  Why or why not?
• How can discipling others help us grow?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Twenty-Four Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Twenty-Four Scripture - John 19:30 - When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished."  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Day Twenty-Four The Heart of the Matter:

• How do you think perserverance in suffering leads to character, and how do you think character leads to hope?
• Have you experienced rebellion and/or resignation in your relationship with God?  Describe your experience.
• What does "sharing Christ's sufferings" mean to you?

Irresistible Invitation ~ Day Twenty-Three Scripture & The Heart of the Matter

Day Twenty-Three Scripture - John 14:12 - I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Day Twenty-Three The Heart of the Matter:

• When you hear that you will do greater things than Jesus, how does that make you feel?  Why do you think that is?  What is your deepest desire in that area?
• Have you ever gone through the Bible in search of the promises God has made to you?  If not, consider doing so now, and jotting down a few that you find.  You might also consider memorizing these Scriptures, so you'll have them immediately on hand in your times of need.
• Are there any areas where it's hard for you to completely trust Jesus?  What are they?  Why do you think obstacles are present there?