1. How are you doing with your struggle with pride? Be open and honest.

2. How are you doing with your struggle with envy? Are you being “content in all circumstances”? Be open and honest.

3. Have you ever had to rebuke another believer? What was the outcome? Share.

4. Are there people in your life in which confrontation is needed? Are you being held back by fear? What are you (would you) be afraid of? Why?

5. How can your group pray for you this week? Share.

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Russell Schmidt
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1. How can you tell if you are living by the flesh or by the Spirit? What evidences will confirm which is prevalent in your life? Share.

2. What would you say to a professing Christian who was openly living in particular sin, yet claimed that he was saved by the grace of God? Share.

3. Are you currently depending on the Spirit? Or have you reverted back to depending on your flesh? Share.

4. Why is it always so tempting to return to the ways of the law under Moses, rather than resting and living under the grace of the new covenant? Explain and share.

5. Don’t forget to pray for your group throughout the next week.

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Russell Schmidt
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Brothers and Sisters,

I recently came across this episode from the “Office Hours” podcast of Westminster Seminary California, which I though did an excellent job at communicating the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification.

It’s 28 minutes long, and I guarantee that you will enjoy listing to Dr. Hywel R. Jones (you’ll see what I mean).

Blessings,

Joe

Office Hours Website

Office Hours Podcast

Posted in Good Thoughts from Others Sanctification Joe Anady
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1. What does it practically mean to “walk in the spirit”? How are you currently doing in walking in the spirit on a daily basis? Explain and share.

2. How would you respond if a new believer asked you “What is sanctification”? Answer in 1 sentence.

3. How has the Holy Spirit been renewing you over the last several months? In other words, what deep spiritual lessons has God been teaching you over the last several months. Explain and share with your group.

4. Have you been bold is sharing your faith or have you been more timid when evangelizing? Why? Share.

5. How would you respond if a new believer asked you “What is Regeneration”? Answer in 1 sentence.

See Sermon notes at emmauscf.org/sermons for more information.

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Russell Schmidt
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I always appreciate the insights gained from Michael Horton and the rest of the contributors on The White Horse Inn, but I found this episode to be particularly insightful.

I would imagine that most Christians have, at some time in their lives, puzzled over the texts in Joshua where God commands the people of Israel to utterly destroy all of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. How are we to interpret these passages? Should they be in the Bible? If so, how do these texts jive with the emphasis upon love and mercy that we see in Christ? And beyond that, what do these texts say to us today about war in general, or holy war in particular?

Certainly these are challenging questions. In fact, these are the texts that critics of the Bible will often go to first. Critics will claim that the God of the Old Testament is different than the God of the New, or that the God of the Bible is, in fact, morally repulsive. In my opinion, Horton and the crew deal beautifully with this difficulty.

As you listen I would encourage you to take special note of the way that these men go about interpreting scripture. Among other things, they pay special attention to the context of the book of Joshua. Not only do they pay attention the cultural and literary context, but also the redemptive historical context.

I notice that there are also other episodes pertaining to this topic both before and after this one in the White Horse Inn archives. Though I have not listened to them, I’m confident in these men to recommend them to you as well.

Please have a listen!

Pastor Joe

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/holy-war/id356920632?i=234013247&mt=2

Web: http://www.whitehorseinn.org/blog/2014/01/19/whi-1189-holy-war/

Posted in Good Thoughts from Others Biblical Studies Joe Anady
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1. Take a moment to asses your current relationships. Are they filled with unity? Do you have a particular relationship that needs attending to? Why? Share with your group.

2. What is a godly and biblical way to deal with an individual who claims to be a Christian, yet has strong beliefs that are contrary to scripture? What theological issues should divide and what issues should be dismissed for the sake of unity? List and share.

3. How is your faith? Are you strong or struggling? Why? Explain and share.

4. Are you clearly and consistently “loving one another” in your GCG group? How so/ how can you tell? Discuss.

5. What is “love” according to Paul in Galatians 5? Define, explain, and share. See sermon notes at www.emmauscf.org/sermons for more information.

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Russell Schmidt
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1. What role do works have in the process of Salvation? ( We know the ultimate answer is none, but is there any role we play?) Explain.

2. Are you currently fully trusting in the accomplishments of Christ for your salvation or have you been struggling with guilt and/or doubt? Share with your group.

3. Why is Galatians 5:3-4 NOT a verse that supports the teaching that one’s salvation can be lost? See sermon notes at emmauscf.org/sermons for more information.

4. Why is just believing in Jesus really not completely sufficient for proper salvation? In other word, why does theology matter in salvation? Explain.

5. Remember to pray for your group throughout the week, that you may fully trust in Christ and from that produce good works for His Kingdom.

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Russell Schmidt
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1. What are you most grateful/thankful for during this holiday season? Share.

2. How are you sharing the gospel with others during this holiday season? (At work, home, community, etc.)

3. Has your attention and focus been on Christ’s birth this holiday season? Or has the ways of the world distracted you in some way? Explain and share.

4. Have you ever reverted back to worshiping the “elementary principles” of the world? Why? What happened? Share.

5. How has the “Law” helped you grow in your faith? Explain. Share.

Sermon audio and manuscript can be found at emmauscf.org/sermons/

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Russell Schmidt
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