"The Heavenly Gift" - Luke 2:1-7

Outline- December 24, 2023

Text: Luke 2:1-7

Title: The Heavenly Gift

Quote: Jesus is many things . . . but He isn’t convenient.

Points:

I. Heavenly Plan Fulfilled ( vv. 1-5)

II. Heavenly Room ( vv. 6-7)

Application:

1. Do you expect the Christian life to be convenient? If not, why are we so

troubled whenever an inconvenience occurs in our lives? Do you see

anything that poses an inconvenience to our lives as a nasty negative.

2. What do you think of the following statement: When we choose God’s

choice, we find the joy of obedience in the midst of being inconvenienced.?

3. What do you think of the following: We cannot celebrate The Birth of

Christ without considering Calvary, The Cross.

4. What steps do you daily take to make room for the Lord?

Ministry Opportunities:

27 th - Praise/Prayer and Bible Study ( James 1:4-5)

"My Praise Song" - Luke 1 :46-56

Text: Luke 1:46-56

Title: My Praise Song

Quote: Christ sends none away empty but those who are full of themselves? D.L. Moody

Points:

I. Personal Praise ( vv. 46-48)

II. Providential Praise ( vv. 49-54)

Sermon Application:

1- What do you think of the following statement: Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.?

2- What do you think about D. L. Moody’s quote- Christ sends none away empty but those who are full of themselves.?  

3- How often do you burst into a song of praise of the Lord? Do you normally only sing praise to the Lord during Praise and Worship? Are you able to burst into a song of praise during bleak circumstances?

4- Have you created your own “Magnificat”?

5- What does it mean to you that the Lord is mindful of you?

6- What did you learn from our discussion on those who are objects of God’s mercy? 

Ministry Opportunities:

20th – Charter- 4pm

20th- Corporate Praise/Prayer and Bible Study-James 1:3-5

24th – Sunday School – 9:30am

"Godly Pursuit" - 1 Samuel 30:7-15

Outline-November 12, 2023

Text: 1 Samuel 30:7-15

Title: Godly Pursuit

Quote: Positive action is needed if we are to accomplish great things for God.

Points:

I. Receiving and Accepting God’s Will ( vv. 7-9)

II. Receiving and Accepting Divine Direction ( vv. 10-15) 

Application:

1. What did you learn from our discussion on- Ways to discern God’s Will?

2. Review and meditate on the following Scriptures- Prov. 3:6; Psalm 5:8; Psalm 32:8; Psalm 86:11; Psalm 143:10.

3. What do you think of the following quote: “Positive action is needed if we are to accomplish great things for God??

4. What do you think of the statement- When we do the possible; God does the impossible.

Ministry Opportunities:

14th- Advisory Board Meeting- 7pm ( All ministry leaders- zoom link )

15th – Charter-4pm

15th -Corporate Praise and Prayer (7pm)/ Corporate Bible Study (8pm)

16th- Ministerial-11:30-1

18th – Ladies’ Small Group- 10am

"The LORD Is My Strength" - 1 Samuel 30:1-6

Outline- November 5, 2023

Title: The Lord Is My Strength

Text: 1 Samuel 30:1-6

Quote: What life does to us depends on what life finds in us.

Points:

Strength In Self ( Background)

Strength Up in Smoke ( vv. 1-3)

Strength In The Lord ( vv. 4-6) 

Application:

 Have you ever experienced a “Line of Demarcation” moment in your life?

 Have you ever heard someone say about you-What is a Christian doing here?

 What do you think of the statement-“It is when we act foolishly- it is then that God has encouragement for us”?

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when your strength went up in smoke?

How well do you respond/handle criticism?

What do you think of the following statement: “A crisis does not make a person; it shows what a person is made of”?

How do you strengthen yourself in the Lord?

Ministry Opportunities:

5th- Lord’s Supper

7th- Search Committee- 7:30

8th- Corporate Prayer (7:00)/ Corporate Bible Study (8:00)

11th- Men’s Small Group-7:30am

14th- Advisory Board Meeting- 7:00pm

"Unbroken Saints" - 1 Samuel 28:15-25

Outline-October 29, 2023

Title: Unbroken Saints

Text: 1 Samuel 28:15-25

Quote: Just because there are people who will obey you does not mean you are right with God.

Points:

I. Last Conversation ( vv. 15-19)

II. Last Meal ( vv. 20-25)

Application:

1- Do you find yourself at times playing the role of the victim?

2- When was the last time someone asked you to go against God? Did you give in to their request?

3- Have you ever experienced the stiffening of the soul? ( William Blaikie’s quote)

4- What do you think of the statement- “Just because there are people who will obey you does not mean you are right with God”.

5- Do you have better communication with unsaved people than you do with saved people?

Ministry Opportunities:

Meet our New Chicagoland Superintendent- Steve McCausland- Today

1st- Corporate Praise/Prayer and Bible Study – 7-8pm and 8-9pm

4th- Couples’ Small Group-10:30-12

5th- Lord’s Supper

"U-Turn Saints" - 1 Samuel 28:8-14

Outline- October 22, 2023

Text: 1 Samuel 28:8-14

Title: U-Turn Saints

Quote: A scared world needs a fearless church. A. W. Tozer

Points:

I. Disguising (vv. 8-11)

II. Deceiving ( vv. 12-14)

Application:

1. During your spiritual journey with the Lord, have you ever experienced

traveling on the wrong road, making a wrong turn? What caused you to

make a U-Turn?

2. What are factors leading you to be defiant of authority? To be defiant of

God?

3. Have you ever used the Lord to get what you wanted?

4. Have you ever found yourself talking to someone dead? Have you ever

desired to hear from a dead person?

Ministry Opportunities:

25th – Prayer and Bible Study ( Church of Laodicea)

28th - PSTF-9:30-12/12:30

4th – Couples’ Small Group- 10:30-noon

"Tomfoolery Saints" - 1 Samuel 26:13-21

Outline- October 1, 2023

Text: 1 Samuel 26:13-21

Title: Tomfoolery Saints

Quote: If we are to avoid being the fool, we must instead seek to be wise.

Points: 

I. What’s Up With You (vv.13-20)

II. What A Fool I Am (v.21)

Application:

1. What do you believe your epitaph will be?

2. Have you ever been challenged by someone saying to you-“Are you not a man” or “Are you not a woman”?

3. How do you feel when you fail to accomplish your God-given assignment?

4. Do you hunger like David to be in the presence of the Lord? Do gather in the Lord’s House?

5. When was your latest “Aha Moment”? concerning your sinfulness?

6. What did you learn about playing the fool? ( i.e. foolish ways of living, foolish beliefs, ways Saul played the fool)

Ministry Opportunities:

3rd- Corporate Praise and Bible Study

5th – PASS Fundraising Banquet

7th- Couples’ Small Group- 10:30am

8th – Sunday School Class-9:30

28th – Workshop-Sharing My Faith With My Children/Grandchildren-9:30-12

" Deliver Us From Evil" - 1 Samuel 25:29-44

Text: 1 Samuel 25:39-44

Title: Deliver Us From Evil

Quote: You may have won a battle yesterday, but that doesn’t count when

today’s conflict comes.

Points:

I. Evil All Around ( v.39a)

II. Evil of Matrimony (vv. 39b-42)

Application:

1- What did you learn from today’s message about evil? Types of evil?

2- What did you learn from the Three Lessons about conflicts?

3- What do you think of the statement: “Yesterday’s victories may become

today’s temptation-the sin we shunned yesterday, we may embrace

today”?

4- What did you learn from our discussion on the “Worldly Perspective on

Marriage”?

5- What did you learn from our four closing lessons?

Ministry Opportunities:

Today- Ministry Sign up/Kidz Zone

20th -Corporate Praise and Bible Study-7pm-Church of Philadelphia

Ministry Sign-Up-9/17-9/25

PASS-Fundraising Banquet- Sign up by 9/23- Banquet on October 5th-doors open at 5:45- Dinner served at 6:30-Odyssey Country Club

"Speak To My Heart Lord" - 1 Samuel 25:32 - 38

Text: 1 Samuel 25:32-38

Title: Speak To My Heart Lord

Quote: If you lay down your rage, your anger, it doesn’t get lost; God picks it up.

Points:

I. A Heart Touched by God ( vv. 32-35)

II. A Heart Turned to Stone by God ( vv. 36-38)

Application:

1. Are you able to hear God speaking to you? What gets in your way from

hearing God’s voice?

2. What did you learn from our discussion on the levels of anger? What steps

do you take to let go of your anger?

3. What do you think of the following statement: When we do what is right,

without tiring of it, God takes care of the impossible things?

Ministry Opportunities:

12 th - Advisory Board Meeting-7pm- link will be sent out on Sunday or Monday

"You're Better Than That" - 1 Samuel 25:25-31

Text: 1 Samuel 25:23-31

Title: You’re Better Than That

Quote: Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be since

you cannot make yourself as you wish to be – Thomas Kemp

Points:

I. Don’t Forget To Recognize ( vv. 23-25)

II. Don’t Forget To Remember ( vv. 26-31)

Application:

1. What did you learn about humility from today’s message?

2. Have you ever taken upon yourself someone’s else guilt? Why? Did the

Lord tell you to do so?

3. Has anyone ever told you- “You’re Better Than That”? If so, how did you

respond? If not, why not?

4. What’s your biggest regret? Have you talked with God about it?

Ministry Opportunities:

6 th - Corporate Prayer and Corporate Bible Study- 7-9pm

12 th - Advisory Board Meeting- 7pm

"Losing Ones Mind" - 1 Samuel 25:13-19

78 views Streamed live on Aug 27, 2023

Outline- August 27, 2023

Text: 1 Samuel 25:13-19

Title: Losing One’s Mind

Quote: Anger blows out the lamp of the mind

Points:

I. Spiritual Insanity (vv. 13-17)

II. Spiritual Interference (vv. 18-19)

Application:

1. Do you wrestle with anger? Has anger become a habit?

2. What did you learn from our discussion on the benefits of spiritual habits?

3. What do you think of the following statement: “Anger takes control of the mind and turns sane saints into raving lunatics”?

4. Are you approachable? What makes you approachable?

5. What did you learn about Abigail from this week’s message?

Ministry Opportunities:

Bro. Royce Coleman’s funeral- September 1st

Lord’s Supper- September 3rd

Through Eyes of Faith - Hebrews 11:1,16

Heb 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Announcements:

Guest Speaker - Gilbert Russell (20th Aug)

"Do The Right Thing" - 1 Samuel 24:8-13, 16-22

Outline- July 23, 2023

Title: Do The Right Thing

Text: 1 Samuel 24:8-13, 16-22

Quote: All tears shed are not tears of repentance or a true change of heart.

Points:

Godly Confrontation- vv. 8-10

Godly Communication- vv. 11-13

Godly Consolation- vv. 16-22

Application:

Do some people consider you a difficult person? Who is the most difficult person in your life?

Do you have a difficult time doing the right thing when dealing with a difficult person?

What do you think of the following statement: All tears shed are not tears of repentance or a true change of heart?

What do you think of the following statement: Sometimes, assurances of God’s faithfulness come from the enemy?

What did you learn from our discussion on “Dealing with Difficult People”?

Ministry Opportunities:

26th- Corporate Prayer/Praise-7pm / Corporate Bible Study 8pm

30th – Sunday School –9:30 Application based on July 23rd sermon

6th – Back to School Sunday

"It's A Big Deal" - 1 Samuel 24:1-7

Outline-July 16, 2023

Title: It’s A Big Deal

Text: 1 Samuel 24:1-7

Quote: A sensitive conscience is a great treasure and a valuable guide.

Points:

I. The Cave ( vv. 1-3a)

II. The Big Deal (vv. 3b-7)

Application:

1. When a person doesn’t like you is it because you are a believer? Is it

because you have done something to them?

2. When you become aware that an enemy is vulnerable-do you take

advantage of their vulnerability? Why or Why not?

3. What do you think of the following statement: A sensitive conscience is a

great treasure and a valuable guide. Don’t lose it!

4. Do you have a problem with respecting authority?

5. Are you a vengeful/retaliatory person?

Ministry Opportunities:

19th - Charter

19th - 21st - VBS- 7:00-8:30

23rd - Church Picnic

30th – Sunday School- 9:30am

"Lead Me, Guide Me" - 1 Samuel 23:1-5, 10-12

Outline-July 2, 2022

Text: 1 Samuel 23:1-5, 10-12

Title: Lead Me, Guide Me

Quote: Before victory comes obedience

Points:

I. Obedience Is Seeking God’s Direction ( vv. 1-2)

II. Obedience In Leading God’s People (vv. 3-5)

III. Obedience Is Accepting Betrayal (vv. 10-12)

Application:

1. What did you learn from our two-part steps relating to obedience?

2. What did you learn from our discussion on inquiring of the Lord?

3. What did you learn from our discussion on reasons for following chosen leaders?

4. What do you think of the following statement: Do not expect everybody you help to appreciate what you have done?

Ministry Opportunities:

2nd- Lord’s Supper

5th – Corporate Praise and Prayer (7pm) and Corporate Bible Study (8pm)

16th – Members’ Meeting-After Morning Service

           VBS Meeting and Decoration ( After Members’ Meeting)

19th-21st- VBS- 7-8:30 (Email Pastor Denny for more information)

23rd – Church Picnic- After Morning Service

30th – Sunday School-9:30

"It’s My Fault" - 1 Samuel 22:6-10 & 20-23

Outline-June 25, 2023

Text: 1 Samuel 22:6-10 & 20-23

Title: It’s My Fault

Quote: God is a very present help in trouble. However, in worry, you’re on your

own.

Points:

I. Unwilling To Accept Responsibility ( vv. 6-10)

II. Willing To Accept Responsibility ( vv. 20-23)

Application:

1. Do you suffer with worrying? What steps have you taken to address your

worrying?

2. Have you ever felt that everyone is out to get you? If so, why? If no, why?

3. What do you think of the following statement: “The worst kind of

accusation or lie is the one that makes you look good and someone else

bad.”?

4. What did you learn from our discussion on “sin”?

5. Do you have a problem with taking responsibility for your actions? Do you

still participate in playing the blame game? What did you learn about the

importance of taking responsibility for our actions?

Ministry Opportunities:

27 th - EFCA Nominating Committee- Zoom 2pm

28 th – Corporate Praise and Prayer-7pm/ Corporate Bible Study-Church of Thyatira

1 st – Couples’ Small Group- “Spiritual Enrichment”- 10:30-noon

2 nd – Lord’ Supper

Announcements:

If you are interested in attending VBS, every person must fill out a registration form. Contact Pastor Denny for more information.

VBS will be July 19th-21st

"Choosing Sides" - 1 Samuel 20:35-36;41-42

Outline-June 4, 2023

Text: 1 Samuel 20: 35-36; 41-42

Title: Choosing Sides

Quote: Mankind is made for relationship-vertical relationship with God and a

horizontal relationship with others.

Points:

I. Choosing Friendship ( vv. 4-34)

II. Choosing To Go Separate Ways ( vv. 35-36; 41-42)

Application:

1. What additional information did you learn from David and Jonathan’s

friendship?

2. Have you ever been involved in a “Family Feud”? If yes, how was it

resolved?

3. What did you learn from our discussion on family?

4. What did you learn from our “Four Lessons” discussion?

Ministry Opportunities:

10 th - PASS Hike For Life- Walk begins at 8:30

11 th - VBS- Informational Meeting

13 th - Advisory Board Meeting-7pm

24 th - Men’s Prayer Breakfast

" Causing Mess" - 1 Samuel 18:20-26

Sermon Outline- May 21, 2023

Text: 1 Samuel 18:20-26

Title: Causing Mess

Quote: One of the terrible effects of sin-it makes you think you are right and

everybody else is wrong.

Points:

I. King Saul-The Great Instigator ( vv. 20-22)

II. King Saul- At It Again (vv. 23-26)

Application:

1. Do you struggle with interfering in other people’s lives? (i.e. mother-in-law,

father-in-law, etc.)

2. What did you learn from our discussion on being an instigator?

3. What did you learn from our discussion on types of women and men?

4. What did you learn from our discussion on “soul ties”?

Ministry Opportunities:

24 th - Corporate Praise and Prayer-7pm

24 th – Corporate Bible Study- 8pm ( Application Church of Pergamum)

28 th – Sunday School- “Causing Mess” Application Questions

" Dealing With Hatin People" - 1 Samuel 18:12-19

Outline-May 7, 2023

Text: 1 Samuel 18:12-19

Title: Dealing With Hatin People

Quote: We must learn the way of the Cross before bearing the weight of the Crown.

Points:

I. Animosity Connected to Ascendancy (vv.12-16)

II. Animosity Connected to Treachery ( vv. 17-19)

Application:

1. Have you ever become afraid of someone because you saw God’s favor upon the person?

2. Have you ever had a person that demonstrated animosity towards you?

3. Do you struggle with humility? Do you struggle with false humility?

4. What did you learn from our discussion on The Operation of Animosity, The Outcome of Animosity, How to Overcome Animosity?

Ministry Opportunities:

10th- Corporate Prayer and Praise (7pm)/Corporate Bible Study (8pm)

17th -Charter-4pm

20th- Ladies’ Prayer Breakfast-9:30am

28th -Sunday School-9:30

"Ducking Spiritual Spears" - 1 Samuel 18:10-11

Outline-April 30, 2023

Title: Ducking Spiritual Spears

Text: 1 Samuel 18:10-11

Quote: We must be careful not to attack those who have attacked us

Points:

I. Choosing Weapon of Choice (v.10)

II. Choosing to Duck (v.11)

Application:

1. What’s in your hand? An instrument of war or an instrument of worship?

2. What did you learn from our discussion on types of spears; methods of spear attacks; types of spear throwers?

3. Have you ever thought your “spear attacks” were not fair? If yes, why? If no, why?

4. What do you think of the following statement: “We must be careful not to attack those who have attack you?” 

5. Have you learn to duck?

Ministry Opportunities:

3rd- Corporate Praise and Prayer- 7-7:45pm

3rd- Corporate Bible Study- 8-9pm ( Church of Pergamos)

4th- National Day of Prayer

6th – Couples’ Small Group- 10:30am

20th- Ladies’ Prayer Breakfast- 9:30am