Where the Rubber Meets the Road - The Life Giving Power of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is key to joyful living. 

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Questions To Discuss:

What role does Philippians 4:6-7 tell us that thanksgiving plays in overcoming anxiety?

Have you ever experienced “the peace of God” in an otherwise anxious situation? What was happening in that situation?

What do you tend to do when stressed? (How might someone close to you know that you are feeling anxious?)

When you find that your emotions and/or intellect are compromised because of anxiety, where might you start to “rebuild” your reasons for Thanksgiving?

What are 10 things that you are especially thankful for?

What is a request you are presenting to God?

Where the Rubber Meets the Road - Applying Faith in Friendship

As I choose my friends. I choose my future. 

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

John 15:15

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Questions To Discuss:

Read Proverbs 27:17 and Proverbs 13:20

What's something “dumb” that friends influenced you to do?

What's something good that friends gave you the courage to do?

Read John 15:12-17

What are marks of true friendship? (Make a list)

Jesus calls us his friends - how might that change how each of us see ourselves?

Application:

How are you hoping you will deepen in your friendships?

What “marks of friendship” are you most wanting to grow in?

What's an example of how a true friend might get involved when they see their friend morally struggling? (See Matthew 18:15-17)

Where The Rubber Meets the Road - Your Stuff Has a Story

Human Trafficking - What it is and what we can do about it.

Some resources for followup from today's sermon:
IJM.org
Notforsalecampaign.org
Covchurch.org/resources/category/trafficking

Greg Yee - The Trajectory of the Cross

Special guest speaker Greg Yee, North Pacific Conference Superintendent.

The Trajectory of the Cross.