FEATURED MESSAGES

Resurrection Sunday is a major highlight in the Christian calendar. But why confine it to a single day, once a year? The truth of what Jesus accomplished in His resurrection points us to a lifestyle that reflects His nature. In this message, we are reminded of what Jesus did in those hours between His death and resurrection and how His nature now shapes our reality. SUGGESTED DISCUSSION POINTS & QUESTIONS: 1. Read and reflect on the following portions of Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18,19,22 (read this in the NLT, TPT, NIV); Ephesians 4:9; Colossians 2:15. Discuss the significance of what Jesus accomplished by going to Hades. 2. Read 1 Peter 3:22 and Paul’s declaration in Galatians 2:20 (in the TPT). How does the resurrection life of Jesus impact your everyday life? Your identity? Your expectations? 3. Read Romans 6:5. What does living, “...in the likeness of His resurrection...” mean? 4. Read Romans 8:11. If this statement is true (yes and amen!), why don’t we see evidence of this more frequently in the people of God? Why is the power of Jesus’ resurrection not more common today? How can this change? 5. Read 1 John 4:17. What does it look like to live “As He is...” in this world? If the cross is the entry point and the resurrection is the lifestyle, how will you adjust your life to give Jesus what He paid for? 6. Spend time praying together for an increased level of experiential faith and a lifestyle that gives clear evidence of Jesus’ resurrection power in and through you.

Not only are we saved, but we are also called—called to co-labour or partner with God to make an eternal difference. But how do we fulfil our part of this partnership in a mission that is humanly impossible? In this message, we look at how God rests upon a person and how He empowers them to do the “impossible.” A life consumed by the Holy Spirit is our promise. It equips us for our purpose and assures that the fruit of our lives is beyond human. SUGGESTED DISCUSSION POINTS & QUESTIONS: 1. Refer to Moses’ example and interaction with God at the burning bush (Exodus 3 and 4). Why do you think Moses was reluctant to surrender to God’s agenda? 2. What were some of Moses’ excuses? Can you relate to any of them? 3. Refer to Judges 6 where God called Gideon into an “impossible” mission. Read Judges 6:34a. How was Gideon able to do the “impossible”? 4. What does the Hebrew word “LABESH” mean in the context of Judges 6:34a? 5. How did God “come upon” or “rest upon” the Old Testament saints? Compare how He interacts with us today...what is the difference? 6. Is it possible to live the normal Christian life without being filled, baptised and consumed by the Holy Spirit? What happens if we are not filled? 7. Spend time together praying for the Holy Spirit to consume every single person. Address any honest comments or fears about this.

What sets the Church apart from any other group of people that gather together? What is the difference between the Church and the local social club? Since the birth of the first Church, the difference was always meant to be the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit! In this message, we dive into the beauty and the wonder of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and why it is necessary that we all be prepared for His fire to fall and continually consume us. SUGGESTED DISCUSSION POINTS & QUESTIONS: 1. Read Acts 2:1-4. Discuss what it means to be prepared (like kindling) for God’s fire to fall. How were the disciples prepared for His fire? 2. What insights about God have you received that have led you to encounter Him personally? 3. Read Ephesians 3:19. Paul writes that he desires his readers “...to be filled with the fullness of God...” What does this mean to you and why is it so important? 4. The Bible refers to the infilling of the Holy Spirit as a continual need to be filled and re-filled. It is not a one-time event (see Acts 4:31 – the disciples were filled again) Why do we need refilling? 5. If the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an issue of salvation, why do we still need Him in this way? What is the point of the Holy Spirit Baptism? 6. Spend time together PRAYING for a renewed desire for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. If you’re unsure about whether or not you’ve been Baptised in the Holy Spirit, position yourself with an open heart and pray for His fire to consume you.

God the Holy Spirit has been described as “The Forgotten God”. But how much can we know of this mysterious member of the Trinity? In this message, we dive into the absolute necessity of being a Christian in whom the Holy Spirit dwells and rests upon. We embrace the truth that we cannot live the normal Christian life without Him. SUGGESTED DISCUSSION POINTS & QUESTIONS: 1. How would you describe the Holy Spirit in relation to your personal experience? How do you become aware of His presence? 2. Read John 14:11-12. When Jesus described the wild idea that we will do the “same works...and even greater works” that He has done, what does He mean by saying that it will be possible because He is, “...going to be with the Father”? 3. Read John 16:7 and John 14:26. Why is the Holy Spirit described as our “Helper”? What other descriptions of Him awaken our faith in Him (read how The Amplified Bible expands on the title of “Helper”). 4. Is it possible to live the normal Christian life without an ongoing reliance upon, and relationship with, the Holy Spirit? How do you protect yourself from making it about something else (i.e. your own efforts, religious rules and relying upon others)? 5. Discuss the difference between the FRUIT of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). Why is it important that the FRUIT of the Spirit fuels the GIFTS of the Spirit and not the other way around? 6. What does this statement mean to you, “Don’t let your spiritual gifts take you to where your character cannot keep you”? 7. Bill Johnson writes, “The Holy Spirit lives in me for my sake. But He comes upon me for the sake of others, to release the Spirit to them.” Discuss the difference between the Spirit in you and the Spirit upon you. Why do we need to be aware of both? 8. How are you honouring and hosting the Holy Spirit in your life (i.e. how are you living with awareness of the dove resting upon you)?

As we leave one year behind and step into the next, what is God saying to us about the path ahead? What is He doing and how will our lives be aligned with Him more deeply? In this message, we learn a valuable lesson from King David who had a remarkable ability to reduce his options to only “ONE THING”. Be inspired to step into this new year with a renewed focus and a refreshed lifestyle of worship. SUGGESTED DISCUSSION POINTS & QUESTIONS: 1. Read Psalm 27. How would you describe, in real-life terms, David’s devotion to the “One Thing”? What can this look like in your life today? 2. What was God’s invitation to David in Psalm 27:8? What does God mean when He says, “Seek My face”? Get practical with this and discuss ways in which you can apply this to your relationship with God. 3. Read Psalm 63:1-8, preferably in The Passion Translation. Discuss what gets in the way of you being thirstier for God. 4. What proactive decisions can you make today that will set you up for a year of deeper connection to the Holy Spirit and an ongoing experience where God’s Presence becomes the centre of your life? 5. Spend time praying together for the year ahead and pray specifically about God’s tangible Presence being the ONE THING that governs our decisions, that shapes our Gatherings and fuels our motivation.

Our world’s greatest, most amazing day is yet to come. At a time when all hope seems lost all will turn their faces to the sky and see Jesus descending to earth, followed by His raptured saints and angelic armies. What a day that will be...the return of our King! In this message, we bring this series to a close with the most action-packed and earth-shaking events of the End Times calendar. SUGGESTED DISCUSSION POINTS & QUESTIONS: 1. Read Revelation 22:7. What promise is given to those who obey the words of the prophecies? 2. What motivation should that provide for studying and teaching the End Times prophecies? 3. Share with your group how the messages in this series have changed your own attitude about biblical prophecies and the future. 4. Read Revelation 19:11-15. How will Jesus appear at His Second Coming? How does this encourage you? 5. Consider the roles of Jesus throughout Scripture – the Gospels, at the Rapture and at His Second Coming. What do these roles teach us about Jesus? 6. Read Revelation 20:1-10. Discuss the beauty and awe of life with Jesus during the Millenium. 7. Consider the Great White Throne Judgement. Who will be judged at that point and by whom? When and where will Christians be judged and what will they receive? How does this differ from how unbelievers will be judged? 8. How does the reality of the Great White Throne judgement inspire you to share the Gospel with unsaved family and friends? 9. Why is it important for the Christian to keep the end of the age and the appearing of the new heaven and new earth fresh in our minds? How has this helped persecuted Christians? 10. What happens when we don’t live with eternity on our minds? 11. Spend time praying for unsaved family and friends and for your community. We don’t want any of them left behind!

The world after the Rapture will be unlike anything humanity has ever seen or experienced. The revealing of the Man of Evil (Anti-Christ) and the progression into the Tribulation will bring seven years of intense suffering, misery and trouble. In this message, we dig into this period of time and highlight the amazing grace of God who lovingly gives the world a final opportunity to hear the Gospel and turn to Jesus before it is too late. SUGGESTED DISCUSSION POINTS & QUESTIONS: 1. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. What event is Paul writing about here? What follows this moment described “as a thief in the night”? 2. Read Matthew 24:21-22. How does Jesus describe the Tribulation? What does He say He will do for the sake of the elect? 3. If time allows, read the following Scriptures about the Tribulation and list the events that will take place: Revelation 6:2-17; Revelation 8:8-13; Revelation 9:1-20; Revelation 16:1-21. 4. How will God keep an invitation open for salvation for those living through the Tribulation? Discuss...How will He deal with Israel? Who will He send out as end times evangelists and who are the two witnesses and what’s their purpose? 5. How does knowing God’s heart to reach people with the Gospel during the Tribulation encourage you? 6. How are you praying for your family and friends now so that they won’t have to go through the hardship of the Tribulation? 7. How are you feeding your hope and resisting fear, worry and discouragement as you keep the end in sight?

There is a great day coming – the Rapture! In this second part of our series “Almost Home” we are diving into this mysterious and yet highly anticipated event when the followers of Jesus will be suddenly caught up from this earth into the heavens to be finally home with Jesus. Oh what a day that will be! SUGGESTED DISCUSSION POINTS & QUESTIONS: 1. As a group, discuss what the great day of the Rapture means for each of you and how living in anticipation of Christ’s return affects your daily life. 2. Read 2 Timothy 4:8. What assurance does this verse give you? Is it good for us to live expectant of a reward? 3. What three sounds will we hear at the Rapture? Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16. 4. Read 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. Discuss the characteristics of our redeemed heavenly bodies that we will receive on that day. What hope does this give you? 5. Read 2 Thessalonians 4:15-18. Discuss what you believe will be happening on the earth as the Church is caught up in the sky to be with Jesus. 6. How does the glorious Reunion at the Rapture bring you encouragement when facing the death of a Christian loved one? 7. How can you live prepared to face the moment of the Rapture with excitement and assurance? How can you reach those you love who are yet to follow Jesus so that they are not left behind? 8. Spend time earnestly praying for the salvation of your unsaved family and friends and also for your local community where you live.