Moving on to what God has for you

In week two of Joy to the World Pastor Chip talks about how we shouldn't let grief hold us back from what God has in store for us.

Dive deeper into the message with these discussion questions!

General:

How can we train ourselves to pay attention and notice when God is working in our lives or circumstances?

Can you think of a time when you realized God was at work only in hindsight? What helped you see it, and what might you have missed by not noticing sooner?

• Anna dedicated her entire life to serving God in the temple. What might it look like for us to serve with that same level of devotion today?

How can Anna’s story help us see the importance of faithfulness in small, everyday acts of devotion?

• How can you cultivate a posture of gratitude like Anna’s, even when circumstances are challenging?

What does the Lord want you to do with what you just heard in this sermon?

Take Home 1: To properly receive the King, we need to move on from what's behind and move towards the purpose God has for us (Lk. 2:36)

Has what Pastor Chip mentioned about "young pain can become old bitterness" crept into your life? Could your grief be keeping you from what God has for you?
How have you been able to move on from what's happened to you in the past? How can we allow God to bring purpose and hope into our lives during seasons of grief?
How can trusting in God’s purpose for your life help you let go of hurts or disappointments?
Do you truly believe that God still wants to transform or restore? What might be keeping you from believing that?

Take Home 2: To properly receive the King, our tongues need to be used for their intended purpose (Lk. 2:38)

Take a moment to reflect on your words and relationships. Does your tongue speak life or death? What are some ways you might misuse our words that prevent you from fully honoring God or others?
Pastor Chip highlights that when people are filled with the Spirit in Scripture, they speak out. Are you so filled with the Spirit that you can't help but talk about Jesus?
Anna’s words pointed others to Jesus. How can we use our conversations to point others toward Him in our daily lives? How does “receiving Jesus” motivate us to share His hope with those around us?

Take Home 3: To properly receive the King, we must be willing to embrace the spiritual disciplines (Lk. 2:37)

Do you embrace Spiritual Disciplines (prayer, worship, meditation, fasting, etc.) in your life?
In what ways can we create space in our lives for worship, prayer, and reflection to receive our King this Christmas season?

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In this series

December 15, 2024

Watch God Transform Unexpectedly

Dr. Chip Bennett

Watch

December 8, 2024