Life Group Announcements:
- Continue to pray for Pastor Joe Houser as he takes extended time off to focus on his health, family, and relationship with God.
- Divorce care will be a weekly seminar and help support group that will help those heal from the hurt and reality of divorce. It will be a 13-week class starting Saturday, September 8th at 9 AM and then Wednesdays after that (starting September 12th) from 6:30-7:30 PM. The class will meet in the church office entrance and child care will be available upon request. Cost is $25. Please see church site for registration details.
- Young adult ministry starting September 13th. Ages 18-26, every Thursday from 6:30-8:30 PM. If interested, talk to Matt Wadley on Sunday or email him at Matt@OB1church.com.
- September 16th is the youth bake sale to help raise money for the winter camp! Sale will be that day from 8 AM-11 AM.
- Starting September 27th, from 6:30-8:30 PM, there will be a class on prophecy to include growing in listening to God as well as learning more about the prophetic gift. It will be a 7-week class taught by Jamie Weston. Cost is $25. Please see church site for registration details.
Life Group Questions:
Speaker: Pastor Julian Malotti
Sermon Series: Joy!
Title: Can Love Grow? If So, How?
- Pastor Julian started out the sermon by asking us this, “Can love grow? If so, then how?”
What are some biblical ways that your love can grow for God and others? Are the two connected? Will one cause the other? Will one motivate the other?
- Next, we learned in Philippians 1:9 that there are two main ways that our love for God can grow: Through knowing Him more (knowledge of what Scripture teaches about Him) as well as through experiencing Him (i.e., answered prayer or other ways you experience His goodness and power).
Do you find yourself fitting into one of the two common extremes of either all knowledge with no experience, or all experience with no knowledge? What are some dangers of having one and not the other?What can you do in your personal life to find that healthy middle ground of both knowledge and experience?
- When we grow in love and discernment (experience) as seen in Philippians 1:9-11, we can expect three things to happen: (1) know what is best in our situations (discern), (2) become genuine people (consistent character), and (3) be filled with the fruits of the Spirit of God (like Joy!)
As a group (perhaps even break up into individual smaller groups), discuss what each of the three truths looks like in your own life. Do you have experience in discerning the best action to take in your circumstances? What does it look like to be genuine at home? In the workplace? At church? Lastly, what are some fruits of the Spirit you have seen in your life as well as those around you when obeying God (hint: Galatians 5:22-23).
- We saw a miracle happen in Philippians 1:12-14, that is, Paul being locked up actually helped bring confidence to those around the area and the gospel was being spread even further!
What trials in your life do you need to look at from a different perspective? What if the thing you are going through today is actually going to help bring confidence to those around you and further spread the gospel?Does this bring joy to you instead of fear, anxiety, or worry?
- Lastly, we were told that it is common to blame God for negative situations and trials we go through in this life, instead of taking responsibility for our free will. Instead of blame God, we should thank God for the opportunity to grow under pressure (think of the analogy of a caterpillar in a cocoon and the pressure it takes to become a beautiful butterfly).
Are there some past situations where you can now look back and say that perhaps it was God using it to build your “struggle muscles”? What benefit(s) came from that now that you can see clearly?What is some good advice to give those around you to keep the faith and to keep using their faith muscles?
Bible Verses Read Sunday:
- Philippians 1:9-14
