Message Notes
Matthew 4:17
- Repentance isn’t just saying sorry, it’s reorienting our life around Jesus’ reign (Romans 5:17).(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
- Live differently because you belong to a different King (Ephesians 4:22, 24).(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
- Practice forgiveness, humility, and generosity; these are kingdom habits now (1 Corinthians 13:13)(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
Revelation 21:1
The two eternities:
- The first – Revelation 21:2-4(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
- The second – Revelation 21:8(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
Our Daily Lives are Opportunities to Live Out Heavenly Values in Earthly Spaces
- The Kingdom In-Between — Live as a Bridge Between What Is and What Will Be (John 3:16-17)(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
- Be agents of renewal — bring hope where there’s despair (1 Peter 2:9)(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
- Let His kingdom reign in your hearts (Matthew 6:10)(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
Praying Together
Praise the Lord
- for the gift of faith to trust Him with our financial futures, including our ongoing giving to the Lord through the ministry here.
- for using us to be part of bringing Jesus to our city, region, state, nation, and world.
- for the goal of enriching our city and county.
- for the physical and emotional healing of those in and connected to our church community.
- for all the new people the Lord is sending to join with us who are experiencing hope in Jesus.
- What are you praising the Lord for this week?(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
Ask the Lord
- to bless, expand, and protect our brothers and sisters of the persecuted Church, especially in Vietnam.
- to bless, provide, and empower our brothers and sisters of the Church of Merced.
- for the healing of physical and emotional illness of those in and connected to our church community.
- for our military member of the week: Meaghan Brown, Army.
- for the blessing and success for our missionary of the week: ACE Overcomers (Dave Lockridge, Executive Director).
- What are you asking the Lord about this week?(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
Discussion Guide
CHECKING IN
What’s something about you that your group doesn’t know?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
CONVERSATION
- What is one thing that stood out to you from Sunday’s message?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
- If you knew Jesus was returning in exactly one year, what would you do differently starting tomorrow?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
CONSIDERATION
- As part of your S.I.P.S. (Sing, Investigate, Pray, Stay) for today, read Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15, and Revelation 21:1 and then answer the following questions.
- What are the “bookends” to the Kingdom of God?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
- Why do you think Jesus’ very first message was about repentance and the nearness of the kingdom? What does that tell us about his priorities?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
- How does the promise of a new heaven and new earth shape the way we live in the “in-between” right now?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
- Where do you see yourself in that story? Are you living more like a spectator of the kingdom or a participant in it?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
- When you hold Matthew 4 and Revelation 21 side by side, what do they reveal about God’s big story—from Jesus’ first coming to His final restoration?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
- Making disciples often feels intimidating. What are some fears, obstacles, or excuses that hold you back personally?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
- Our church’s mission is to make more disciples for Jesus. What would it look like for your group to move from talking about disciple-making to doing it together?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
CONNECTION
- Who is pouring into you? In other words, who is discipling you? Who are you discipling?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
- How are you serving to ensure our church makes disciples of those young in faith?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
Addendum: Marriage Groups
CONVERSATION
What’s something you and your spouse have accomplished together that made you feel like a team?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
CONSIDERATION
- Read Matthew 4:17 together. How might Jesus’ call to “repent” and live for the kingdom look different within a marriage relationship?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
- What would it look like for your marriage to be not just Christ-centered, but mission-centered— actively seeking to make disciples together?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
CONNECTION
Think about the people already in your world (friends, neighbors, family, coworkers). Who could you, as a couple, begin praying for or inviting into spiritual conversations?(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)