This week Joe preached on the Great Commission. Matthew 28:16-20 will serve as the primary text.

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passage?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these/this passage(s) of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Compare the listed passage with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
4. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out (if any)? What? Why? Share.
5. Read through at least 2 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)
6. Have you recently been living with the Great Commission in mind? Why or why not? Explain
7. How can you better live out the Great Commission in you daily life? Explain.
8. Spend some time in prayer for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who daily suffer for the sake of the gospel throughout the world.
9. Have you ever considered doing any missionary work? Share.

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Russell Schmidt
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This week Joe briefly discussed the fourth epic of redemptive history. Acts 1:1-11 will serve as the primary text.

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passage?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these/this passage(s) of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Compare the listed passage with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
4. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out (if any)? What? Why? Share.
5. Read through at least 2 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)
gths to avoid it?
6. Review the 5 epics of redemptive history. What is the common denominator between each one? Explain.
7. What was Pentecost and what role did it play in redemptive history? (Do some background study on Pentacost)
8. Review Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:14-41. How can his sermon be helpful to you in witnessing to non beleivers? Explain.

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Russell Schmidt
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This week Russell discussed the role of community is the context of biblical counseling. Eph 4:11-16 will serve as the primary text.

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passages?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these/this passage(s) of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Compare the listed passage with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
4. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out (if any)? What? Why? Share.
5. Read through at least 2 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)
6. Have you recently been viewing your Christian faith through the lens of community? Or do you tend to see your faith as individualistic? Why or why not?
7. Why do you think community is such a foreign concept for westerners? If it is so good for us (both science and scripture confirm this) then why do we go to such great lengths to avoid it?
8. Have you been living out the truthing in love commandment? Why or why not. Share.

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This week Joe explained how we can know that Christ was the messiah; by His words and by His works. See Emmauscf.org/sermons for a complete list of scriptures used.

1. What did Jesus mean in Matt 5:17 when he stated “I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law?
2. What was Jesus’ relationship to the law?
3. What did Jesus mean when he said “The Kingdom of God has come upon you” in Matthew 12:28-29? What is the kingdom of God? (don’t just say ‘the church’)
4. What acts in Jesus’ life were direct fulfillments of scripture (e.g. His birth, baptism, death) What scriptures were fulfilled?
5. How can the information from this sermon help in evangelizing to a non-believer? Explain. Share?
6. Have you recently reflected on the fact that Jesus was the savior of the world and God incarnate?
7. Do you live each day in light of the fact that Jesus is physically reigning from heaven with all power and authority. Why or why not. Share.

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This week Joe discussed Christ’s view of John the Baptist. Matt 11:7-15 will serve as the main text for this weeks questions.

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passages?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these/this passage(s) of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Compare the listed passage with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
4. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out (if any)? What? Why? Share.
5. Read through at least 2 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)
6. What was John’s Relationship to Jesus? Physically and spiritually.
7. Why was John seen as “The Greatest Prophet”?
8. How was John also Elijah? Why is this important?

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Russell Schmidt
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This week Joe discussed the significance of Jesus’ meeting with Moses and Elijah. Luke 9:28-36 will serve as the main text for this weeks questions.

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passages?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these/this passage(s) of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Compare the listed passage with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
4. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out (if any)? What? Why? Share.
5. Read through at least 2 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)
6. Discuss the significance of Jesus’ meeting with Elijah. Why was it important? Support with scripture.
7. How and why are the Law and Prophets the pre-runners and pre-requisites for Christ? Explain.
8. How is knowledge of the Law and Prophets helpful in sharing the Gospel with a non-believer? Explain. Share.

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Russell Schmidt
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This week Joe discussed the significance of Jesus’ meeting with Moses and Elijah. Luke 9:28-36 will serve as the main text for this weeks questions.

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passages?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these/this passage(s) of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Compare the listed passage with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
4. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out (if any)? What? Why? Share.
5. Read through at least 2 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)
6. Discuss the significance of Jesus’ meeting with Elijah. Why was it important? Support with scripture.
7. How and why are the Law and Prophets the pre-runners and pre-requisites for Christ? Explain.
8. How is knowledge of the Law and Prophets helpful in sharing the Gospel with a non-believer? Explain. Share.

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Due to the Holiday, most groups will not be meeting this week. But if your group is meeting, here are some questions for discussion.

1. What is the significance of Jesus as the Son of David? Support with scripture.
2. List other names of Christ in scripture and discuss the implications of each. (Ex. King, Redeemer, Messiah, etc.)
3. Spend time in prayer for the renewal and awaking of the people living in the USA.

-Happy Birthday America!

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