Good morning! We hope you’ll join us for worship today.
On-Campus – Contemporary worship 9am and 11am, Blended 9:45am.
Streaming online 11am at mybelmont.org/sermonsonline or facebook.com/mybelmont/live
Verses for the week:
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We’ve been reading this week about God’s Word is a sharp sword.
Discuss with your small group what you’ve drawn from your reading this week and how God has spoken to you. You can also pull from the questions in each day’s reading.
The HEAR method is also an excellent structure for your discussion as a group. If you aren’t currently in a group we’d love to help you connect with one. Contact sharon@mybelmont.org or go to mybelmont.org/smallgroups
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
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Small Group Discussion Read More »
Romans 15:4
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Paul is saying that that even though the Old Testament was written before, they were written to still teach us today, not just those who read them in the past. The Scriptures are for us too – to bring encouragement and hope to God’s people in every generation. They help us to endure through suffering and give us hope. It is still the Word of God yesterday, today, and forever, and we can always fall back on God’s word.
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
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Scripture Gives Us Hope Read More »
Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Nothing lasts forever in this world. Our jobs, bodies, health, money, knowledge, and abilities – those things we take pride in and depend on gradually fade away. We look at our lives and admit that we aren’t able to do as much as we once could. Things come and go with our seasons of life, and we need to be willing and ready to move with that flow.
These changes can be very hard to come to grips with – losing a job, a family member, an ability, even our independence. Everyone is looking for something to give them a sense of security and value. We have a deep desire to feel in control of our lives. And we are shaken when we realize that we don’t have control over much at all. At moments we feel as we do because we hit a speed bump that leaves us confused and frustrated. Our world is always changing. This last year and a half has pounded that point home. The only One with actual control in this world is Jesus Christ.
I hope you believe that to be true. And moreover that your daily actions prove that you do. We know that most things will pass away, however, this verse gives a clear promise that the word of God will never pass away. This is good news for followers of Jesus. This allows us to press on when we lose our job, when we lose a family member, or feel alone and without hope. When our marriage is struggling, our kids are struggling, or even if our struggle is wondering if we’ll ever have a husband or wife, or children. The never-changing words of God will always give us the ability to press on, to take one more step. I ask you, are you spending time with the thing we are promised will not pass away? Are you studying God’s word? If not, and you desire something that lasts, I encourage you to start!
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
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God’s Word will Not Pass Away Read More »
James 1:22
“But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.”
When we are anxious, overwhelmed, or depressed God’s word is a wonderful place to turn. The scriptures remind us of His love and give us a proper perspective in light of His mercy and grace. But it also calls us to action and obedience. It’s important to spend time reading, meditating, and memorizing the Bible but we have to remember, it was given to us as a road map of how to live.
Francis Chan gives a great illustration of this point. He imagined a scenario in which he was going out of town on a speaking engagement and left a note for his daughter. The note explained that he would be gone for a while but when he returned, he wanted her room to be clean. When he got back, he walked down the hall and noticed the mess still untouched in her room. He stepped into her doorway and asked her in surprise, “didn’t you get my note?” Her response shocked him. “Yes, dad, I sure did! I made sure that I read it every single day. In fact, I have it memorized and I even had some of my friends over and we discussed the letter!”
Of course, we recognize the absurdity of such a story, but many times we’re guilty of the same thing. We may spend time reading God’s word, thinking about it, discussing it, and even memorizing it. We might take great pride in doing so. But we would be missing one of the main intentions of God’s letter. He’s left us instructions on what we’re to do and He has expectations that we represent Him before He returns.
God’s word was written to give us hope and lead us into a new life in Christ, but make no mistake, it will not be fully realized in us until we live out its words.
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
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Don’t Just Read It, Do What It Says Read More »
2 Timothy 3:10-17
“You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
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