Category: A Cloud of Witnesses

Am I in the Place of God?

Downtown Church sermon from June 27, 2010 by David Mathews. This sermon is part of our series, A Cloud of Witnesses–Pointing Us to Jesus!

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Small Group Questions

Pendulum Swings
As you begin your Small Group this week choose your top 3 …
  • places to order french fries (or my favorite – onion rings).
  • qualities you like about your family.
  • personality traits.
  • questions that you would ask Joseph?
1.  Read: Genesis 37:3-4,12-36; 39:2-9, 20b-23; 41:41-49; 42:6-22;45:1-15
2.  Joseph had quite a family tree – Abraham his great-grandfather; Isaac his grandfather; Jacob his father. He was obviously his father’s favorite.  In what ways do you think being so loved by his father helped his life?  What are some of his father’s traits that possibly influenced him?  Genesis 37:4 states that Joseph’s brothers “hated him”.  In what ways did the ‘favorite son’ role hinder Joseph.  If possible, share in what ways your earthly father has influenced your life for good.  Joseph shows us that God can give us hope in the midst of a bad situation.
3.  Read: Genesis 45:4-8.  Discuss why, and how, Joseph remained hopeful in the midst of his trials.
4.  Re-read: Genesis 39:2-9.  How did Joseph resist the obvious temptation that was in front of his eyes?  Discuss what we can learn from Joseph as we face temptations?
5.  Read: Genesis 45:4-8 and 50:15-21.  Joseph forgave his brothers for their sins against him.  From his forgiving them, discover insights as to how he forgave them and how we
can forgive others.

Noah

Downtown Church sermon from May 30, 2010 by Ken Neller. This sermon is part of our new series, A Cloud of Witnesses–Pointing Us to Jesus!

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Small Group Questions
READ (each week as you begin): Hebrews 12:1-3 (Hint: each week read these verses from a different version in order to see “how it reads”.
1. Read: Genesis 6-9
• Again this week, we see one of God’s “characters” of faith in the Old Testament, who through his faith points us to a loving God.
• After re-reading the story of Noah, in what ways do you see God’s love for mankind? … more specifically, for you?
2. Read: Genesis 7:21-23
• With the exception of those on the Ark, why would a loving God destroy all humans and animals?
• What lesson(s) can we learn from this?
• What can we learn about God? … about Noah and his family?
3. Read: Genesis 9:11
• Why would God choose to save Noah and his immediate family?
• God promised (by covenant) to no more destroy the earth by flood.
• But, if there were a flood again, do you believe God would save you and your family? What would make your family “savable” or not “savable”?
4. An amazing God with amazing “characters” that receive his judgment and justice … His love and forgiveness:
• What amazes you about the story of Noah and the flood?
• … about God and His “characters” as being a cloud of witnesses?
• Does this story of faith make you want to get in the boat or out of the boat with your faith?

Adam and Eve and the Death of Christ

Downtown Church sermon from May 23, 2010 by Ken Neller.  This sermon is part of our new series, A Cloud of Witnesses–Pointing Us to Jesus!

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Small Group Questions
Pendulum Swings:
What if you could choose from only three (3) books to read?”
What if you could do anything that you wanted for one (1) day?”
What if you could be any person from the OLD Testament?”
What if you could ask God three (3) questions?”

READ (each week as you begin): Hebrews 12:1-3 (Hint: each week read these verses from a different version in order to see “how it reads”.

1. Read: Genesis 1:26-27. What does it means to be created in “the image of God”? How, in what ways, are all human beings like God? If there is, in what way is there a difference between being in God’s “image” and being in His “likeness” (v. 26)?

2. Read: Genesis 2:15-16. Since God knew that the human race would choose to rebel against Him, why would He give/allow the ability to choose / of choice? In what way(s) does love have anything to do with giving/allowing the freedom to choose? What “entices” you to “eat from the tree” when you have been warned?

3. Read: Genesis 3:1-7. In what ways has your “eye” (v. 6) deceived you? In what way did Satan try to get Adam and Eve to doubt God’s word (v. 1-4)? In what ways do we doubt God’s word today? In what way did Satan try to get Adam and Eve to doubt God’s motives (v. 5)? In what ways do we doubt God’s motives today?

4. Give examples how we often, by our actions and words, try to be “God” over our own lives? In what ways are these, or may these be, sin? Instead of trying to be “God”, what does God want – and expect – of us?