Fletcher Church

Prioritize a Clear, Helpful Ministry of the Word to Build Up the Church and People . . . I. Gotta Be Understandable to Be Helpful to Believers! (6-19) II. Gotta Be Understandable for the Lost to be Saved! (20-24) Practical Implications o What would it look like to build your life on knowing and doing the word? o How can you grow in ministering the word to lost/saved? o Prepare for the Supper: Search and Stare

Love is Supreme in Gospel Formation (not Gifts), b/c . . . I. Gifts are Temporary and Incomplete Servants of Love, which is Eternal! (8-10) II. It is Leading us to Maturity and Sight! (11-13)Practical Implications o What are 1-2 childish areas God may want to focus on? o What are you beholding most? How can grow in beholding Jesus? o Read Traits and Verses, Star Impactful Ones, and Meditate on One Daily: Love’s Realities He is Love and Loved First (1 Jn 4:7-19) God’s love fights fear and rejoices over us (Zeph 3:14-17) His Love is Unwavering (Rom 8:35-39) God’s love is Cross Shaped! (Rom 5:5-8) God’s love takes the unlovable and makes them lovely! (Eph 5:25-27; Rom 5:8) God’s love is His impulse for saving. (Eph 2:4) Vertical Love for God is Primary (Mt 22:37-38) Love for God leads to Love for Others (Mt 22:37-40) Love motivates obedience to Jesus (Jn 14:23) The gospel’s aim in our life is love (1 Tim 1:5) Love is a gospel apologetic (Jn 13:34-35; 17:21) Love absorbs and covers some offenses (1 Pet 4:8) Love binds virtues and communities together (Col 3:13-14)

Love: the Essential Ingredient for Gospel Community . . . I. Gifts – Love = Nothing! (1-3) Love Defined: Value others so much that you joyfully sacrifice for their highest good without needing to be repaid. II. Love Works! (4-7) Practical Implications o Where might you be substituting activity for love to God or Others? o What areas of love is God pressing on you to grow in? o What about God’s saving love do you need to press down into your heart?

Gospel Churches & People Prioritize Oneness . . . I. We are Truly One! (12-14) II. In the Midst of God Ordained Diversity! (15-27) III. So Desire Maximum Benefit to Others from your Life and Gifts! (28-31) Practical Implications o What hinders your oneness w/ other believers? o Where are you tempted to competition, dejection or gifts out of balance? o How can your life benefit people/church more?

Spiritual Gifts Make Ministry Effectual… I. They Elevate God’s Glory & the Bible’s Authority (1-3) II. They Vary in Function for Building Up the Whole (4-7) III. They are Sovereignly Distributed According to the Spirit’s Will (8-11) Practical Application: 1. How do you need to celebrate the gifts of others? 2. Do you worship more in Spirit or Truth? How does God want to stretch you here? 3. What opportunity for ministry is around you? How can you discern & express your spiritual gifts?

The Lord’s Supper Expresses our Oneness in Christ . . . I. Gospel Problem: Partiality! (17-22) II. Gospel Remedy: The Supper’s Realities! (23-26) III. Gospel Correction: Search Yourself! (27-34) Practical Implications o What attitudes or practices get in the way of Oneness? o What reality of the Supper spurs reflection/adoration? o Prepare for the Supper: Search, Stare!

Embrace and Express God’s Good Design for Gender . . . I. Universal Design: God-Given Order rooted in the Trinity and Creation! (2-3, 7-10)II. Cultural Application: Distinctly Gendered, Differing Roles and Display Propriety! (4-6; 11-16)Practical Implications o What are some questions, challenges and encouragements from God’s design?o How can you cultivate or grow masculine/feminine impulses?o Which principle might God want to grow in you? Why/how?

Navigate Liberty issues in a God Honoring Way . . . I. Governing Principles: God’s Glory and the Good of Others! (23-24, 31-33) II. Practical Applications: Navigate with Wisdom in Relationship! (25-30) A. The Thankfulness Test 1. Can I give thanks in the middle of this? 2. Does this increase my gratitude? 3. Do I actually regularly give thanks for this? Practical Implications o How do the Principles of God’s Glory and Others Good reshape your views practically? o Select at least one liberty area and define the commands, principles, and people/situations. o Apply the thankfulness test to a few areas of your life.

Flee from Idolatry to Singular Devotion, Because . . . I. We have Feasted on Jesus! (14-17) II. Idolatry has a Dark Spiritual Reality! (18-21) III. God is Rightfully Jealous over Us! (22) Practical Implications o What gospel stories/realities feed your soul? o What most competes with God for your affections? o Prepare for the Supper: Warning, Welcome, Worship:

The Gospel Encourages us to See and Kill Sin . . . I. Beware of Trusting Christian Experiences to Justify yourself! (1-5) II. Flee Sinful Desires and Deeds w/ Renewed Spiritual Appetites! (6-10) III. Wage a Humbly Confident War against Sin! (11-13) A. A Healthy Suspicion of Self B. A Healthy Hope for Gospel Change 1. Temptations are Certain and Common 2. God is Faithful 3. God Controls the Time and Temperature 4. God Supplies all we need to Escape/Endure Practical Implications o Where can you see a temptation to hide behind public religious activity or experiences? o How are you cultivating earthbound appetites? Spiritual ones? o What is your battle plan?