Sermon Notes

THE TEXT: Acts 11:19-30.

A (re)new(ed) heartbeat for the church around Antioch-Aheim.

Make .

| Matthew 28:18-20 | Acts 1:8, 2:42-47, 4:32-37, 11:19-30 | Romans 12:1-12 |

God’s .

One at a .

| Matthew 22:37-40 | Mark 12:30-31 | Hebrews 10:23-25 |

the hinders us from God’s .

We ourselves to it and to it.

We the voices ( or ) that the new way.

We it until it’s .

| Lamentations 3:22-23 | 2 Corinthians 5:17 |

Primary Problems with Christians through the Ages and Today!

Professing Christians the Word of God.
They don’t or .
They consistently put before. (God’s Mission)
They don’t know how to .

| Matthew 16:21-23 |

Key things to remember as a Christian:

Our expectations are not necessarily God’s .
Just because you think it is, doesn’t mean it is!

| Isaiah 55:8-9 | Psalms 37:4 | Romans 8:28 |

Listening is the key to hearing.

Listening is paramount to Spiritual growth and maturity.

Spiritual Growth does not just happen! It takes effort!

| Psalm 81:8-14 | II Timothy 2:15 | II Timothy 3:16-17 |

God still speaks in Numerous Ways:

Revelation. (Genesis 37:5)
Dreams. (Daniel 7:3)
Written Word.
Prophets.
Circumstances. (Judges 6:36)
Angels. (Luke 1:11, Matthew 1:18, Acts 16:6)

We teach ourselves to LISTEN when GOD speaks, as EVERYTHING that HE says is important.

Two Types of Listening are passive and aggressive.

Passive will HEAR and not Act; What you see is what you get.
Aggressive will want to set the World on FIRE! They will make immediate changes for the fulfillment of the calling of God.

“Choose you this day who you will serve, as for me and my House we will Serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

START YOUR YEAR AS A JOSHUA!

THE TEXT: Matthew 1:18-25.

What we learn about Jesus:

Where He came . —
- Jesus is . – He is God.

What He came . —
- His name expresses His mission. –

- He accomplishes God . –

| Matthew 1:23 | John 1:18, 14:9 |

- All is a of prophecy.

| Matthew 1:22 | Genesis 3:15 | Jeremiah 33:14-16 |

What we learn from Joseph:

Choose as much and as possible.

| Matthew 1:22 | Micah 6:8 | Matthew 5-7 |

Don’t be to do the thing God has of you

| Matthew 1:20 |

- God’s way mine.

| Isaiah 55:8 | Psalm 18:30 | Proverbs 16:9 |

- Commit to model .

| Matthew 1:24-25 |

View others from God’s .

Your “YES” may be the to a of God!

THE TEXT: Luke 1:26-38.

Partnering with the Holy Spirit to live in God’s favor looks like…

Keeping a heart in this world.

| John 1:46 | Philippians 2:5 |

A heart that meditates on God’s .

| Luke 1:29, 2:19 |

in the secret of .

| Luke 1:34 |

A heart that to God’s over my .

| Luke 1:37-38 |

REMINDER: This week is the last week of Small Groups for 2025!
Enjoy celebrating all that God has done through our Fall/Winter season. Sign-ups for the next session will begin in January.

Sometimes it just seems like God has forgotten or is not paying attention.

Big Picture Theological Framework

God keeps .

| Deuteronomy 7:9 |

God works in and my .

| Daniel 2:21 | Psalm 22:28, 47:8 | Jeremiah 29:11 |

God’s goal in history is .

| Luke 19:10 |

Z’s Day and Mine

You may be surprised at God’s timing

You may be surprised at God’s choice

God works in my life to and His Kingdom.

| Luke 1:25 | Philippians 1:6 | Romans 8:28 |

Even if you don’t :
- Commit to faith and obedience.

HOPE is Coming

We are living on the side of God’s promise so your hope .

| Luke 1:4 | 1 Peter 1:3-4 |

Small Group Questions

What Do You Think?

Have someone quickly read over the main “fill-ins” from Sunday’s message to jog your memories.
From the message, what particular point challenged, stood out to you, or raised a question?

The story of your life.

Share your favorite moment from Thanksgiving weekend.
On Sunday, Pastor Willie shared how we are often surprised by God’s timing and His choices. Tell about a time when God surprised you with His timing (either positively or negatively). How did you see the Spirit of God work in that situation?

Digging Deeper in God’s Word.

Pastor Willie shared how God’s goal in history is redemption, with the goal of seeking and saving those who are lost through our lives. In Luke 19:1-10, we see a perfect example of this in the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector seeking to come to Jesus. Read it together and respond to the following prompts and questions.
1. Have a few members recap the main tenets of the story using their own words.
2. What does this story tell us about God? People and ourselves?
3. How might God be surprisingly using your story to reach someone right now?
Zacchaeus is a great example of someone Jesus did not give up on, though believers did. Now go back a chapter to Luke 18:1-8 where we see the story of the persistent widow. Read it together and respond to the following prompts and questions.
1. Have a few members recap the main tenets of the story using their own words.
2. What does this story tell us about God? People and ourselves?
3. Who might you be giving up on that God wants you to persistently show love to, even if they are undeserving?
As we head into the Christmas season, people tend to be more open to the Gospel and especially to an invitation to church. Have everyone in the group put one person in their mind who needs Christ. Once everyone has that person in their mind, read the following verses. What insight do these verses offer in terms of sharing Christ with them this Christmas season.
1. Daniel 2:21.
  
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2. Jeremiah 29:11.
  
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3. Proverbs 3:5-6.
  
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4. Colossians 4:2.
  
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5. Galatians 6:9.
  
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6. In light of all these insights, is there anything you need to do differently?

Personal Reflection and Application.

Have everyone share one thing someone else said in this discussion that struck a chord with you.
Break up into smaller groups and pray for one another (preferably men with men and women with women).

THE TEXT: Joshua 23-24.

Be sure to the real of your .

REMEMBER: God’s is greater than your .

Be of the who live rightly in the .

Never stop to God.

| Joshua 23:8, 24:29 | Psalm 63:8, 91:14 |

THE TEXT: Joshua 10:1-15.

WINNING = Learning to and the point of a Bible passage without getting up on issues.

WINNING = The God of the Bible + a and Christian.

WINNING = and in such a way that God !

WINNING = Having a for your that is bigger than your .

Small Group Questions

FRIENDSGIVING is happening this Friday, November 21st at 6:06pm. Go around the circle and everyone shares whether they are going. If possible, make a plan to sit together as a group.

REMINDER: There is no Small Group the week of Thanksgiving. The last Small Groups meeting is the week of December 7th, start to plan for a celebration.

What Do You Think?

Have someone quickly read over the main “fill-ins” from Sunday’s message to jog your memories.
From the message, what particular point challenged, stood out to you, or raised a question?

The Story of Your Life.

What’s the most ridiculously small thing you’ve prayed for (parking spot, A/C to work, your team to score) and you’re still not sure if God answered or just had mercy?
What battle in your life right now feels bigger than you? (Ex. The kind where, unless God shows up, victory isn’t possible). How can our group support you in that battle this week?

Digging Deeper in God’s Word.

On Sunday, we looked at the victorious, forward momentum of God’s people as they took the Promised Land. God continues to call His people to purposeful victory in Christ though sometimes we feel like we’re going backwards. In this story in Acts 12, the Gospel is advancing forward powerfully. At the same time, many are experiencing hardships. Read Acts 12:1-19 and respond to the following prompts/questions.
1. Have a few members recap the main tenets of the story using their own words.
2. What does this story tell us about God? Victory in Christ? People and ourselves?
3. Where do you sense God inviting you to see His work in your life, perhaps even in a hardship?
4. What might God be saying to our small group about how we can face hardship together?
The second half of Acts 12 tells us the story of what happened to Herod. Read Acts 12:20-24 and respond to the following prompts/questions.
1. Have a few members recap the main tenets of the story using their own words.
2. What does this story tell us about God? Victory in Christ? People and ourselves?
3. In light of this, is there anything you need to do differently?
What insights do the rest of these verses offer about experiencing purposeful, forward momentum in the Christian life?
1. Psalm 66:18.
  
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2. Proverbs 15:29.
  
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3. Matthew 6:33.
  
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4. Hebrews 11:40.
  
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5. James 5:16.
  
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6. 1 John 5:14–15.
  
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7. Based on these verses, what is one small practice our group might try together this week to pursue spiritual momentum.

Personal Reflection and Application.

Have everyone share one thing someone else said in this discussion that struck a chord with you.
Break up into smaller groups and pray for one another (preferably men with men and women with women).

Partner with the Holy Spirit to look more like and at the end of it.

| Joshua 9:1-27 | Galatians 5:22-25 | Titus 3:3-7 |

Keep your … especially when it’s .

through the – allowing to form .

Trust that God’s : He can the things you did not .

Small Group Questions

What do you think?

Have someone quickly read over the main “fill-ins” from Sunday’s message to jog your memories.
From the message, what particular point challenged you, stood out to you, or raised a question for you?

The story of your life.

Have you ever fallen for a harmless trick or prank? What happened, and how did you react?
When you’re stressed or discouraged, what’s usually the first “good thing” you tend to drop (serving, prayer, community, generosity, etc.)? Conversely, have you ever stuck with it and felt the reward?

Digging deeper in God’s Word.

On Sunday, we saw the importance of trusting in God’s providence. Have a few group members (as best as they can) summarize Joseph’s life. Today we will pick up the story in the end, where he is unveiled before his family and he displays grace to them. Read Genesis 50:1-21 and respond to the following prompts/questions.
1. Have a few members of the group recap the main tenets of Genesis 50.
2. What does this story tell us about God? Providence? People and ourselves?
3. Where do you sense God inviting you to extend the same grace Joseph extended—to someone, a situation, or even yourself?
On Sunday, we saw how keeping our word, especially when it’s hard, can form us into the disciples Jesus wants us to be. Read the following verses on keeping your word and share an aspect of it that comes naturally for you as well one that is harder for you.
1. Matthew 5:33-37.
  
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2. Psalm 15:1-4.
  
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3. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5.
  
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4. In light of this, is there anything the Spirit is asking you to do differently?
Finally, let’s slow down for the end of the discussion. Read each of the following verses in at least 3 translations. Have the reader read each one three times through. Do not move on to the next verse immediately. Give some space for reflection (30-60 seconds).
1. Genesis 50:20.
  
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2. Romans 8:28.
  
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3. Consider something you are going through right now. How do you sense the Spirit shaping and forming you through it? In light of these verses, is there something God wants you to do differently about it?

Personal reflection and application.

Have everyone share one thing someone else said in this discussion that struck a chord with you.
Break up into smaller groups and pray for one another (preferably men with men and women with women).

THE TEXT: Joshua 7-8.

The unholy shift of the Israelites: in the .

| Joshua 7 | 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 |

Three “Holy Shifts” that God wants believers to make.

in the → in the of Christ.

and → Good and total .

Fear of → Fear of → movement in .

BONUS: A “Planning With Dependence Checklist”

Did I first?

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Am I and Godly ?

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Is it a good ?

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Am I listening to God’s more than my own ?

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Am I staying as I go?

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Small Group Questions

What do you think?

Have someone quickly read over the main “fill-ins” from Sunday’s message to jog your memories.
From the message, what particular point challenged you, stood out to you, or raised a question for you?
How might God be inviting you to respond to that truth this week?

The story of your life.

Tell about a time you were winning at something, then it all suddenly fell apart.
Have a few people share about a time when they made a “holy shift” that was instrumental in their faith.

Digging deeper in God’s Word.

On Sunday, we looked at Joshua 7-8 that begins with Achan’s “sin in the camp” that results in the defeat of the Israelites. Sadly, this pattern of God giving a direct command that is met with disobedience goes all the way back to the story of Adam and Eve. Read Genesis 3 out loud together and respond to the following prompts/questions.
1. Have a few members of the group recap the story using their own words.
2. What does this story tell us about God? Hiding? People and ourselves?
3. What helps you come back into the light when you realize you’re hiding from God?
Another example of “sin in the camp” in the New Testament is found in Acts 5:1-11. Read it together and respond to the following prompts and questions.
1. Have a few members of the group recap the story using their own words.
2. What does this story tell us about God? Hiding? People and ourselves?
The Bible has so much to say about walking in the light of Christ. What insights do the following passages offer in terms of how to do that? Go through them one at a time.
1. Job 24:13-17.
  
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2. Psalm 32:1-5.
  
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3. Proverbs 28:13-14.
  
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4. Luke 8:16-18.
  
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5. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11.
  
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6. How might you practice walking in the light this week — through confession, community, or accountability?
7. Who could you invite into that light with you?

Personal reflection and application.

Have everyone share one thing someone else said in this discussion that struck a chord with you.
Pray for one another (men with men and women with women if possible).