Mark 6:1-29 NIV

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord With Your Wealth Summary: Did you know that everything you own is a gift from God? How do you think it might change our attitude toward our money and the things we own if we knew they were a gift from God? Today we're going to think about what it means to honor the Lord with our wealth (our money and our possessions). Let's think about it as we study Proverbs again: Outline: 1. The command - honor the Lord with your wealth 2. The promise - overflowing blessing Verse: Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce... Discussion questions: 1. Why do you think Solomon tells us to honor God with our wealth and firstfruits? Why two different categories? 2. As a believer in Christ, this command is not lessened, but heightened for us. So, how are you approaching your use of your wealth and resources? What would it look like to honor God with these things God has given you? 3. How should we interpret the promise of verse nine? Is God promising to make us wealthy if we keep the command of verse nine? 4. How does the generosity of God the Father, and the self-giving of Jesus help you think differently about how you use your resources?

Proverbs 16 Commit Your Work to the Lord Summary: Today we begin a time of praying for wisdom for our church and our future together. It is always good to pray. But there are times when it is good to devote ourselves to seeking God for big decisions. Today let’s listen to wisdom from Proverbs so we can seek God and commit our plans to Him. Outline: 1. Commit your work to the Lord 2. Commit yourself to contentment 3. Commit yourself to the righteous King Verse: Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Discussion questions: 1. Read Proverbs 16 again. What are the major themes you see? 2. How do you see the sovereignty of God and the plans of man interact in the chapter? How do you see this in your life? What plans do you have and how might they be shaped by this chapter? 3. Why do you think he spends so much time speaking about a righteous king? 4. How can we seek to commit our plans and work to the Lord as a church?

Mark 5:1-20 NIV

Proverbs 3:1-8 Who Will you Trust? Summary: Have you ever felt like it is hard to trust God? We wonder if He is really caring for us sometimes, especially when life is hard. We hope we can figure out problems on our own and fail to realize that God calls us to lean on Him. Today we’ll see in Proverbs 3:5-6 that our own wisdom often fails, but God calls us to trust Him with our whole heart. Let’s think about it: Outline: 1. The folly of independence from God 2. The wisdom of dependence on God 3. The spiritual health God promises Verse: Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart... Discussion Questions: 1. What are the areas in life where you feel “competent?” Where do you feel the weakest? Where might you be tempted to “lean on your own understanding?” 2. How does leaning on your own understanding cause you to live by works instead of by faith in Jesus? 3. Since Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in in the Lord with your whole heart, spend time praying about situations in your life where you are not trusting God. 4. Spend time this week meditating on the character of God, the power of the Gospel, and how He is worthy of your trust

Proverbs 1:8-19 Fatherly Wisdom Summary: Do you remember a time when you got into trouble for doing something that your parents said not to do? Did they warn you of the dangers? God gives parents the job of teaching their kids the way of godliness and wisdom. Today our passage in Proverbs 1 tells us all about this, so let's listen in! Outline: God’s plan for kids (and adults!): Hear and heed your parent’s wisdom A father’s wisdom: run from sinful influences A father’s warning: Unrepentant sinners get what they deserve Your parent’s hope: a victory of God’s grace in your life! Verse: Proverbs 1:8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, Discussion Questions: 1. What is the role of parents as you read Proverbs 1:8-19? What is the role of children? 2. How do you see the enticements of sin in this passage? What is enticing you currently (or your kids?) 3. What is the positive motivator to embrace wisdom in this passage? How do we balance the warnings with these motivations? 4. Where might you see Jesus through this Proverb? 5. If you are a parent, how can this passage shape your parenting?

Matthew 1:1-21 NIV

Jesus calls His first disciples to follow Him and become fishers of men. Luke 5:1-11

Proverbs 1:1-7 The School of Wisdom Summary: Every single day, we need wisdom from God; wisdom on how to live, how to serve God, and how to worship Him with our lives. As we start a new year together, let's seek wisdom from God as we study the book of Proverbs. Let's begin by understanding why God gave us this book of the Bible: Outline: 1. The subject of the Proverbs: We need wisdom 2. The two paths in Proverbs: the way of wisdom or the way of folly 3. The goal of Proverbs: to worship JESUS, the source of wisdom Verse: Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Discussion questions: 1. What are the areas of life where you need wisdom the most? Where do you tend to go for wisdom? 2. What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? 3. According to Proverbs 1:1-7, what might be the goal of the book? 4. Read Colossians 2:1-3. How is Jesus described? How then should we read the Proverbs?

Text: Revelation 12:1-6 Sermon Title: Cosmic Victory Outline: I. Preview II. The Woman III. The Dragon IV. The Child Questions: Preview What did

Shining as Lights in the World Philippians 2:12-18 Welcome today Pastor Ming Li from the Chinese Reformed Church of SD, which meets together Sunday afternoons in our worship center here after North City. God calls us as believers to shine as lights in the world, but how are we to do this? Pastor Ming will share with us two characteristics that Paul focuses on in our passage this morning from his letter to the Philippians. 1. Shining as Lights in the World in _______________ ___________________ 2. Shining as Lights in the Word in _______________ _____________________

Wise men followed a star to find and worship the new born king. Matthew 2

John 1:14-18 Christmas Glory Summary: It is the last Sunday before Christmas! It is amazing that God has not stayed away from us. He has drawn near by sending His Son Jesus so you can know Him. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King. Outline: 1. God knows your struggles 2. God has come near to know you 3. God has shown you His glory 4. God has given you grace and truth Verse: John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory... Discussion Questions: 1. Why is it so important to believe that Jesus took flesh and dwelt among us? What are the implications of it? 2. How do these words in vv. 14-18 relate to the tent of meeting in the Old Testament, where God promised to dwell with His people? How does Jesus fulfill this? 3. Why do you think John compares the law of Moses and the grace and truth that came in Jesus? Are they opposed to each other? 4. How can these truths in this passage help you cherish Jesus this Christmas?

Ephesians 1:15-23 NIV

John 1:9-13 Christmas Rejection Summary: Have you ever felt left out or rejected by someone else? When that happens, it usually hurts us. Imagine for a moment how it was for Jesus, the Creator of all people, who came to earth and was rejected by the very people he made for His glory! But there is good news today: even though we naturally reject God, Jesus came to bring us back into His family. Outline: 1. The rejection of the light 2. How to find life in the light Verse: John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God... Discussion Questions: 1. How does John describe the reception Jesus received when He came into the world? 2. Even though we have all rejected Jesus, he still makes a way for us to be welcomed into His family. How does this happen, according to v.12? How does it NOT happen, according to v.13? 3. How can these verses help you cherish Jesus more this Christmas?

John 1:6-8 Christmas Reflection Summary: Jesus said He is the “Light of the World” (John 8:12). Part of what we celebrate at Christmas is that Jesus, the Light of the World, has come to this dark world of sin to save us. When Jesus first came, John the Baptist was called to tell people that the Light had come. Let’s think about John’s job, and what it means for us: Outline: 1. The sending of the witness 2. The role of the witness 3. The goal of the witness Verse: John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Discussion Questions: 1. Why do you think God chooses to use human messengers to testify to the Gospel of Jesus? 2. How did God use John the Baptist? What does that mean for you and me? How is our calling the same or different from John’s? 3. How can this passage in John 1 help you cherish Jesus more this Christmas?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 NIV

John 1:1-5

1 Corinthians 11:38-32 NIV

Text: Isaiah 52:1-12 Title: