MESSAGE NOTES & SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

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MRCC Church Online || 3-24-24 || In His Grip 3.0 "Food"

SERMON NOTES

240324 - “In His Grip” 3.0 … Food


“Man does not live by bread alone, but on every

word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4)


“I am the vine, and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I

in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone

does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such

branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:4-6)


“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation – the

old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17)


“One you were alienated from God and

were enemies in your minds [ … interesting … ] because of your evil

behavior. But now he has reconciled you [past tense] by Christ’s physical

body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and

free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm,

not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.” (Col 1:21-23)


“Like newborn babies, crave pure

spiritual milk, so that you may grow up in your salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2)


“Brothers, I could not

address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ. I gave you

milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. You are still

worldly, for since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not

worldly?” (1 Cor 3:1-3)


“Though by this time you ought to be teachers (i.e.,

informed, filled, healthy, able to feed others) you need someone to teach

you the elementary truths of God’s Word all over again. You need milk,

not solid food. [that’s what you feed starvelings … ] Anyone who lives on

milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about

righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have

trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Heb 5:12-14)


“Man does not live by bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4)


For too long we’ve called people to “invite Jesus into your life”. Jesus

doesn’t want to be in your life – your life’s a wreck. He calls you into His life,

and His life isn’t boring or static or purposeless. It’s full.” (Russell Moore)


“I have come that they may have life, (i.e., zoe) and have it

to the full.” (John 10:10) “If you hold to my teaching, then you are really my

disciples – then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John

8:31-32)


EAT WELL … “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that

comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4)


CHEW YOUR FOOD … “He who seeks, finds.” (Matt 7:8)

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PICK OUT THE BONES … “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but

test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have

gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)


EXERCISE … “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive

yourselves, but do what it says.” (James 1:22)


DIGEST … “Love the Lord your God … with all your mind.” (Matt 22:37)

SMALL GROUP REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In His Grip 3.0 = “Food”


(John 15:1-4; 1 Pet 2:2; Heb 5:11-14; 1 Cor 3:1-2; Matt 4:4; Deut 8:1-5; et al)

1. Q: Do you like to eat? What’s your favorite food? If you could design a menu for your best

dinner ever, what would it be? What food would you like to try, but you’ve never had the

chance? Have you ever fasted? What was it like? What did you learn? Why do you think God

created us to eat?


2. see Matt 4:4 … Q: Why do you think Jesus used the word-picture of food to describe His

teaching? What was His point? Is food optional? Why, or why not? How do you think God

feels about food? Do you think you could live on biblical teaching w/out regular food? Do you

think that’s what God intends? If not, what kind of life is Jesus talking about here?


3. see John 15:4-6 … Q: What does it mean to “remain” in Christ? What happens when we

don’t? In the word picture Jesus uses, are the branches being punished? is he “mad” at the

branches? Would you be? Why, or why not? If we subtract “mad”, then what is His point?


4. see Col 1:21-23 … Q: What does it mean to “continue” in your faith? What is the implicit

warning here? How does this dovetail with the idea of salvation as an ongoing reality?


5. see James 1 Pet 2:2 and 1 Cor 3:1-3 and Heb 5:12-14 … Q: Do Christians grow up in their

faith automatically? If not, what makes the difference? Should we grow up? Why, or why not?

What must be done to grow up?


6. see John 10:10 and John 8:31-32 … Q: When Jesus says He has come to bring us life “to the

full”, what does He mean? Do you experience it? Why, or why not? How is it different from

live that is “un-full”? What does it remain to “hold to” His teaching? How do you do that?

What does this imply?


7. see James 1:22 … Q: What is the key to learning well? What gets in the way?


8. GOING DEEP - see Matt 22:37 … Q: How do we love God with all our minds?


9. COOL DOWN … Q: Ask God to help you establish a daily habit of at least 10 minutes in His

Word.



Next Week's Small Group Questions


SMALL GROUP REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In His Grip 2.0 = “Visible”


(James 2:14-24; Jer 31:31-33; John 3:16; Eph 2:8; Rom 4:3-5; Phil 2:4-5; Gal 6:2; et al)

1. Q: Do you have any little quirks that make you different? What are they? Maybe you like

Doritos and cottage cheese or your hobby is hummingbirds or you’re a secret fan of pro

bowling – what makes you unique? What would your spouse or friends say?


2. see James 2:14 … Q: What does James mean when he asks what “good” is a man with no

deeds? What sort of “good” s he thinking of? For whom? What does this tell you about the

way God wants us to see other people? What good are you to others? What good would you

like to be?


3. see James 2:15-17 … Q: How does this passage increase your understanding of the “good”

that James is talking about? Should our faith matter more to us, or those around us? Why?


4. see Dan 3:17-18 … Q: Were the young men in this story expecting God to answer their

prayers the way they wanted? Were they prepared if He answered differently? Are you? Why,

or why not?


5. see James 2:18-19 … Q: Is faith visible or invisible? How? Why? What is the difference

between the “faith” of demons and the faith of Christians?


6. see James 2:20-24 … Q: How was Abraham’s faith “working together” with his deeds? If he

hadn’t responded to God’s word, could he be said to have faith? Why, or why not? Why do

you think God called Abraham His friend? How did Abe’s faith inspire this? What causes you to

call someone else your friend?


7. see Jer 31:31-33 … Q: What specific difference does God point out in His new covenant?

How is it different from the old one? How does God move His commands from outside of us to

inside of us?


8. GOING DEEP - see Mark 14:3-9 … Q: Why do you think Jesus was so thrilled with this

woman’s gift? Was she commanded to give it? If not, why did she give it? What do you think

she was thinking and feeling as she chose this gift?


9. COOL DOWN … Q: What uniquely personal gift would you really love to give God? How can

you live in such a way that your life is a personal gift to Him?