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Begin in prayer, welcoming the Holy Spirit, inviting Him to lead, guide, and convict. Then, reflect on the sermon. What were some highlights? Was anything particularly helpful, convicting, or confusing?

Examine the Word

• Read Genesis 1 & 3
• Read Romans 5:1-11

For Discussion

• What has been your personal experience with being trained in “God’s Big Story”? In other words, who taught you about the overarching meaning of Scripture? How has your understanding of God’s message grown, adapted, and been corrected over time?
• Define “creation” and “fall.” How do you see both the goodness of the creation and brokenness of sin everywhere you look?
• Define “redemption” and “new creation.” How would you explain to someone what God has done through His Son Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection? What is coming next in God’s plan of salvation?
• Why is the message about Jesus referred to in Scripture as “good news”? What good things has God done in your life since you believed in Jesus?
• Can you be more creative or bold in sharing the good news? Who is on your mind as someone God wants you to tell?

For Practice

• Share: Find a friend(s) who can hold you accountable to sharing the gospel. Write down the name of the person on your mind and pray for boldness and open doors to tell them about Jesus.
• Watch: Search for “The Story of the Bible” from the BibleProject. Watch it and discuss it with someone! Pay attention to new ways of thinking about God’s plan in His world.
• Write: If you’ve never had the opportunity to write out a 1 minute testimony of your life before and after knowing Jesus, spend some time composing it. Ask God to show you who you should  share it with.

For Family Discussions

• Talk about the sermon together. What did you learn that was new? Were there any parts that were confusing?
• Talk about the four major movements in the Bible: Creation, Fall, Redemption, New Creation

Begin in prayer, welcoming the Holy Spirit, inviting Him to lead, guide, and convict. Then, reflect on the sermon. What were some highlights? Was anything particularly helpful, convicting, or confusing?

Examine the Word

• Read Acts 1:5; 2:42-47; 11:15-16
• Read Ephesians 2:11-22 and Colossians 1:18

For Discussion

• Share an experience from your formative church years. What did you learn implicitly and explicitly about what the church is and how it works? Have you changed or matured in your understanding since then and, if so, how? Right now, how would you define “church”?
• Talk about the miraculous beginning of the church detailed in the book of Acts. How did the church begin? Who formed it? What did it look like? How did they function? What stands out about these early believers?
• Ephesians 2 describes the church in many ways: “one” (v. 14), “one new man” (v. 15), “fellow citizens” (v. 19), “members of God’s household” (v. 19), a “building” (v. 21), a “holy temple in the Lord” (v. 21), “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Pick one or two of these descriptors and discuss the rich meaning of Paul’s message to the multiethnic Ephesian church.
• A common metaphor for the church is “body.” What do you learn about this body in Colossians 1:18?

For Practice

• Join: The body of Christ is not simply a doctrine to believe but a reality to participate in. Ask God if He is calling you to join your church in membership, join a Bible study or small group, or simply go deeper with the people you already are investing in.
• Invite: Consider who you can invite to experience what church is - not a building but a group of diverse people united together under the leadership of Jesus?

For Family Discussions

• Talk about the sermon together. What did you learn that was new? Were there any parts that were confusing?
• Have each person draw a picture of a body. Talk about Paul’s metaphor that Jesus is the head of the body, with each believer in Jesus serving as one part of the rest of the body. Talk about the ways that God has wired and gifted each family member to serve within the body of Christ.

Begin in prayer, welcoming the Holy Spirit, inviting Him to lead, guide, and convict. Then, reflect on the sermon. What were some highlights? Was anything particularly helpful, convicting, or confusing?

Examine the Word

• Read Ephesians 1:4-8; 1 Corinthians 6:17, 19-20
• Read 1 Peter 2:9

For Discussion

• The affirmation for this week is “I believe God created me with value, dignity, and purpose.” How true is that of you? Pick one of those three words and share with others how God has encouraged and taught you in that area.
• As a follower of Christ, what is your new identity? Use Ephesians 1 to get specific.
• Talk about the value of the physical body (1 Cor 6). How does this inform the way that we use our bodies? How is the way that we use our bodies a testimony of our faith in Jesus?
• The New Testament mainly talks about identity in plural terms, for those of us who have become members of the body of Christ through faith. What does 1 Peter 2:9 say about us, the church? Talk about the ways we can improve and grow in living this out.
• If you had to write a purpose statement for your life, what would you include in it?

For Practice

• Love: Jesus told us that our main purpose is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And…love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40). This week, what is one tangible thing you can do to love God and love a neighbor?
• Learn: One of the ways to show value to someone is to appreciate and care for them in ways that are specific to their personalities and preferences. Pick someone in your life (a friend, spouse, child) and ask them how you can practically show them that you value them? Take notes and then implement that behavior.
• Identity: Pick one of the above verses on identity in Christ, write/type it out, and put it in a place where you’ll regularly see and read it.

For Family Discussions

• Talk about the sermon together. What did you learn that was new? Were there any parts that were confusing?
• Ask your kids where people like to find their identities (in academics, ethnicity, performance, athletics, sexuality/gender, religion, etc.). What does it look like to be identified first and foremost as a child of God? How does that identity bring joy and freedom?

Begin in prayer, welcoming the Holy Spirit, inviting Him to lead, guide, and convict. Then, reflect on the sermon. What were some highlights? Was anything particularly helpful, convicting, or confusing?

Examine the Word

• Read Acts 1:1-11
• Read Philippians 3:18-21
• Read Revelation 19:11-16 and 21:1-8

For Discussion

• Describe what the initial stage of Jesus’ return will be like, as foretold in Acts 1:11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-11.
• How would you describe heaven and hell? What Scriptures have been instructive to you?
• What is the connection between God’s love and justice? How do these two attributes of God inform what heaven and hell will be like?
• Heaven is temporary. When Jesus returns again, He will usher in a new creation and establish an eternal kingdom here on earth. Is this new information to you? Share about how you’ve grown in your understanding of where humanity is headed and what your future hope is in.
• Talk about the imagery of Revelation 21:1-8. How is your faith impacted by knowing (some of) what’s to come in the future?

For Practice

• Praise: Listen to “Sons and Daughters” by New Creation Worship as a practice of worship.
• Meditate: Read through Revelation 21 and meditate on the grace and mercy of our God who will one day return for us and remake the world.

For Family Discussions

• Talk about the sermon together. What did you learn that was new? Were there any parts that were confusing?
• Talk with your kids about Jesus’ return - that it will happen soon, that we don’t know when, that we will be immediately and forever in God’s presence, that He has plans to recreate the world. Discuss what it means to have a God who will remove evil and bring eternal holiness and happiness to His people.
• Draw/paint a picture of the new creation.

Begin in prayer, welcoming the Holy Spirit, inviting Him to lead, guide, and convict. Then, reflect on the sermon. What were some highlights? Was anything particularly helpful, convicting, or confusing?

Examine the Word

• Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and Romans 5:8-9
• Read  John 10:27-29 and 1 John 5:13

For Discussion

• Why do we need to be saved? Look at Ephesians 2:1-3 for details.
• Define grace. What does it mean that God saves us “not by works” (Eph 2:9)?
• Salvation is a gift motivated by God’s mercy, grace, and love for His people. How have you seen Him be merciful, gracious, and loving in your life?
• Jesus, as fully God and fully human, served as our substitute by dying in our place. He also provided us with righteousness (justification). Why is it important that we remember both of these and not just one (see Romans 5:8-9)?
• When we are saved, we move from death to life. How have you seen death give way to life in your own story?
• One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is assurance in our salvation. How has the Spirit given you assurance in times of doubt or suffering?

For Practice

• Praise: Worship God through one of the following songs: “In Christ Alone,” “Death Was Arrested,” “God So Loved,” “King of Kings”
• Tell: Purposely pray for someone who you can share your story of salvation with. Ask God for an opportunity to tell them how Jesus has transferred you from death to life, darkness to light.

For Family Discussions

• Talk about the sermon together. What did you learn that was new? Were there any parts that were confusing?
• Talk about the consequences of sin and the gift of salvation. Why is Jesus’ death and resurrection called “good news”?
• What is grace? How can you show grace to your family and friends this week?