This is the Message Based Discussion Question sheet for the message presented on March 31, 2013, titled, “Get a Grip on your Father’s Promise.” The message was posted on the April 1, 2013 blog. Below, you will find the insert information for the message and then the questions are repeated with considerations for suggestions to the Message Based Discussion Questions. They are only designed to assist your thinking and help you see that there are several answers for the Digging Deeper questions and there are many ways to answer the application questions.
Get a Grip on your Father’s Promise
Luke 24:32-49
How do you get a grip on your Father’s promise?
1) When you experience Jesus, you can’t stop talking about Him Luke 24:32-35
2) When you encounter Jesus, you can’t help but enjoy His presence Luke 24:36-43
3) When you are empowered by the Father’s promise, you can’t help but lead Luke 24:44-49
· Acts 18:8; 16:31-34
The Promise of your Father will empower you to
Get a Grip on real life!
- God has called every man to serve as a model of the Father. Joh 14:9
- We men need to step up to the line and practice until we get it Phil 4:9
- God will supply you what you need Phil. 4:19
- We can do all things through Christ Phil. 4:13
- Come join the team at Grace
Message Based Discussion Questions
1) Do you remember a promise your father gave you growing up fulfilled?
Digging Deeper:
2) Who are three heroes of faith in Hebrews 11? __________; ____________; _____________ What are examples of what they were trusting God for in the present and future life? How many didn’t see the promise fulfilled in life? Did that cause them to waiver in faith?
3) Look up the following passages related to Father promises about the coming Messiah (Gen. 3:15; Gal. 4:4; Is. 7:14; Matt 1:18,24,25; Ps. 2:7; Matt 3:17; Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:16. How many of the passages prophesy of the coming Messiah? ___________ How were those prophecies fulfilled? What does that say about the promise of the Father? What promises has He made to/for you?
4) Compare Eph. 5:18 with Col. 3:16 and their contexts. What is similar about each passage? ______________. What is different? _______________. Note Rom. 15:13-14. What are the three ingredients of growth? (cf. Rom. 15:4) Why is your utter dependence on these three aspects crucial to enjoying God’s presence?
Making application of the message to life:
5) How have you experienced Jesus this week? Have you shared that with anyone? If not, what will you do?
6) How would you describe enjoying Jesus’ presence to a sixth grader? What are several ways a believer can enjoy His presence?
7) The Father’s Promise is real. Is it causing you to lead others in faith? How could you initiate trust and application so it becomes a reality?
Message Based Discussion Questions
1) Do you remember a promise your father gave you growing up fulfilled?
a) He promised he’d pay me 2 cents per minute if I worked on waxing his car. He paid me.
b) He promised that however the family chose to go on a side trip while on a vacation that we’d go to that site. I cast the deciding vote and we went.
c) He promised he’d come down for my officer graduation and he came.
Digging Deeper:
2) Who are three heroes of faith in Hebrews 11? _Abraham_; _Moses_; __Sarah_ What are examples of what they were trusting God for in the present and future life? How many didn’t see the promise fulfilled in life? Did that cause them to waver in faith?
a) Example of those who trusted God:
i) Abraham trusted God for a land of promise and a city which has foundation. He offered up Isaac and received the blessing, because he trusted God would provide for him.
ii) Moses chose to suffer affliction with God’s people rather than the passing pleasures of Egypt looking to the reward in the future, fearing God instead of Egypt.
iii) Sarah trusted God for a child when she was beyond the age of conception.
b) How many didn’t see the promise?
i) Abraham didn’t see the coming seed
ii) Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau not knowing what would come
iii) Jacob blessed his sons, not seeing the future
iv) All of them (11:39)
c) They did not waver in faith to lose the promise and were an example for us.
3) Look up the following passages related to Father promises about the coming Messiah (Gen. 3:15; Gal. 4:4; Is. 7:14; Matt 1:18,24,25; Ps. 2:7; Matt 3:17; Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:16. How many of the passages prophesy of the coming Messiah? __four_ How were those prophecies fulfilled? What does that say about the promise of the Father? What promises has He made to/for you?
a) The prophecies were fulfilled:
i) Gen. 3:15; Gal. 4:4 promise of the coming Messiah; He came in fullness of times.
ii) Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:18,24,25 promise of the virgin birth of Jesus and fulfilled in Mary and Joseph
iii) Ps. 2:7; Matt. 3:17 Jesus was the begotten Son of God and the voice from heaven spoke it.
iv) Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:16 The seed was promised and the seed was Christ.
b) The Promise of the Father will be fulfilled. He will provide what I need in life Phil. 4:19; He will train me up and strengthen me through Christ Phil. 4:13
c) He promised that:
i) If I cast my cares on Him, He would care for me 1 Pet. 5:7
ii) If I chose to trust Him rather than be anxious, His peace would guard my soul. Phil. 4:6-7
iii) If I chose to practice what I’m learning in the Word and from others, that His peace would be with me Phil. 4:9
iv) If I chose to humble myself, He would draw near to me Jam. 4:8
4) Compare Eph. 5:18 with Col. 3:16 and their contexts. What is similar about each passage? _I need to be filled with something___. What is different? _Spirit/Word_. Note Rom. 15:13-14. What are the three ingredients of growth? (cf. Rom. 15:4) Why is your utter dependence on these three aspects crucial to enjoying God’s presence?
a) Three ingredients of growth
i) Faith
ii) Word
iii) Spirit
b) My utter dependence is crucial, because I cannot produce anything good apart from His Spirit. I cannot do anything except by His Word. I must be totally dependent on Him to receive His blessing.
Making application of the message to life:
5) How have you experienced Jesus this week? Have you shared that with anyone? If not, what will you do?
a) He has strengthened me to do His work, when I’ve felt rotten.
b) He has caused me to watch my tongue, when my flesh wanted to say something sarcastic.
c) He caused me to steady my thinking when I might have been frustrated working on the wiring.
d) He caused me to get a better mortgage deal by waiting on Him and not rushing the decision.
e) Can share with family tonight at dinner.
6) How would you describe enjoying Jesus’ presence to a sixth grader? What are several ways a believer can enjoy His presence?
a) It’s like sitting with a good friend who accepts you the way you are. He also loves you to laugh and help where you’re failing. He desires to help you stand up and keep moving toward sanctification. It’s chilling out when no one else is around and enjoying being with Him. It’s not having to talk. It’s enjoying to just be silent and looking at the world around me. It’s like you know He cares and He’ll never leave you alone.
b) A believer enjoys His presence by silence, meditation on God’s Word, looking at scenery, being alone in the dark.
7) The Father’s Promise is real. Is it causing you to lead others in faith? How could you initiate trust and application so it becomes a reality?
a) Yes, it motivates me to use opportunities to talk to people about Christ, especially in counseling and discipleship.
b) I need to build bridges to people so I am using those opportunities to walk through the gospel.
c) Am I leading others to Christ? Have I put roses in the vase?
Shepherding Truth 