The King’s Arrival

By Phud Chambers

December 7, 2025

*NOTICE: The emphasis of our discussion is to see how the Written Word (Bible) and the Spoken Word (Preaching) work together to build up the believer, so when you see WORD in the questions, know it refers to the Scripture and the Sermon.

 

Recap: Look back for evidence of God’s word reshaping your heart and life.

  1. Does anyone have something from the list you made this past week that you would like to share with the group as a celebration of God’s faithfulness in your life?

Engage:  Look into the Word of God in light of Sunday’s preached sermon.

  1. Recap the narrative by reading 1 Samuel 17:4–11, 20–27, 31–40, 45–51 as a group and discuss your initial observations.

 

Reflect: Look deeper at the preached and written Word.

  1. How does viewing ourselves as the fearful Israelites rather than David change the way we understand our need for a Savior?

 

  1. David’s first recorded words in Scripture focus on defending God’s honor rather than personal gain. What does this reveal about what should motivate our actions as believers?

 

  1. In what areas of your life are you trusting in your own strength and armor like Saul’s, rather than approaching challenges with God-centered thinking like David did?

 

  1. Goliath represents sin that heaps shame on us for 40 days. What ‘Goliaths’ in your life have been causing prolonged shame, and how does King Jesus address them?

 

  1. How is Jesus a better king than David, the best of human kings?

 

Respond: Choose one or two of the following applications of Sunday’s message and commit to it/them this next week.

  • Remember God’s Faithfulness: Journal about 3-5 times God has been faithful to you in the past. Refer to this list when facing current challenges.
  • Theological Thinking: Before making decisions this week, pause and ask: “What does the living God have to say about this?”
  • Celebrate Advent: Choose one way to intentionally celebrate King Jesus this week (worship music, extra prayer time, serving others, sharing the gospel).

 

 

Recounting Wonderful Deeds

By Phud Chambers

November 30, 2025

*NOTICE: The emphasis of our discussion is to see how the Written Word (Bible) and the Spoken Word (Preaching) work together to build up the believer, so when you see WORD in the questions, know it refers to the Scripture and the Sermon.

 

Recap: Look back for evidence of God’s word reshaping your heart and life.

  1. Does anyone have a testimony to share with the group of how you applied last week’s “Respond” section?

Engage:  Look into the Word of God in light of Sunday’s preached sermon.

  1. Read the passage from Psalm 9:1-12 as a group and discuss your initial observations.

 

Reflect: Look deeper at the preached and written Word.

  1. How does the concept of giving God our ‘whole heart’ challenge the ways we might subtly claim credit for our own accomplishments or blessings?

 

  1. In what specific ways has God been a ‘stronghold’ or ‘refuge’ for you during times of oppression or trouble, and how does remembering these moments affect your current faith?

 

  1. How does a sense of entitlement in North American culture prevent us from developing hearts of genuine gratitude toward God?

 

  1. How does recognizing that God fights our greatest enemies of sin, Satan, and death through the cross parallel David’s experience of God fighting his physical enemies?

 

  1. Why is corporate gratitude—sharing testimonies of God’s faithfulness in community—essential rather than optional for spiritual growth?

 

Respond: Following the sermon’s instruction, take 30-60 minutes some time during this week to make a list that will help you recount the wonderful deeds of God in your life by following these steps:

  • Put away all distractions (especially your phone).
  • Get paper and pen.
  • Write down every instance you can remember when God has been your stronghold, refuge, or defender.
  • Start from your earliest memories to the present.
  • Use the list as a prompting to pray in gratitude and thanksgiving the rest of the week (and beyond).
  • Prepare to share something from that list with your group the following week.

A Doxology of God’s Comfort

By Phud Chambers

November 23, 2025

*NOTICE: The emphasis of our discussion is to see how the Written Word (Bible) and the Spoken Word (Preaching) work together to build up the believer, so when you see WORD in the questions, know it refers to the Scripture and the Sermon.

 

Recap: Look back for evidence of God’s word reshaping your heart and life.

  1. Does anyone have a testimony to share with the group of how you applied last week’s “Respond” section?

Engage:  Look into the Word of God in light of Sunday’s preached sermon.

  1. Read the passage from 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 as a group and discuss your initial observations.

 

Reflect: Look deeper at the preached and written Word.

  1. How does understanding that God’s comfort is meant to be a worship experience rather than simply relief change the way you approach difficult circumstances?

 

  1. Paul says we go through affliction so we can comfort others who face similar trials. Can you identify a past hardship that has equipped you to minister to someone else?

 

 

  1. Why do you think God allows us to experience suffering that brings us to the point of despair, as Paul describes in verses 8-9?

 

  1. How does the truth that God ‘raises the dead’ give you confidence that He can deliver you through whatever trial you’re currently facing?

 

Respond: Choose one or two of the following applications of Sunday’s message and commit to it/them this next week.

  • Daily Prayer: Set a daily reminder to pray specifically for Hope Point Church, its leadership, staff, and congregation
  • Comfort Someone: Reach out to one person you know who is suffering and offer specific comfort and prayer
  • Memorize: Commit 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 to memory
  • Journal: Write about a past trial and how God comforted you through it
  • Go Deeper: Study other “comfort passages” in Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 23, John 14:1-6, Romans 8:31-39.

 

Effective Bold Evangelistic Fervor

By Phud Chambers

November 16, 2025

*NOTICE: The emphasis of our discussion is to see how the Written Word (Bible) and the Spoken Word (Preaching) work together to build up the believer, so when you see WORD in the questions, know it refers to the Scripture and the Sermon.

 

Recap: Look back for evidence of God’s word reshaping your heart and life.

  1. Does anyone have a testimony to share with the group of how you applied last week’s “Respond” section?

Engage:  Look into the Word of God in light of Sunday’s preached sermon.

  1. Read the passage from Acts 5:12-42 as a group and discuss your initial observations.

 

Reflect: Look deeper at the preached and written Word.

  1. In what ways can meeting people’s physical needs open doors for gospel conversations, and how can we ensure mercy ministry doesn’t become an end in itself without spiritual proclamation?

 

  1. How does the statement ‘it is not great talent God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus’ challenge our cultural emphasis on giftedness and skill in ministry?

 

  1. Peter’s gospel presentation included direct accusation of sin (‘whom you killed’)—how do we balance speaking truth boldly with speaking it in love in our evangelistic conversations?

 

  1. The apostles rejoiced after being beaten and immediately returned to preaching—what would it take for you to have that same response to persecution or suffering for Christ’s name?

 

  1. If Christians are characterized by obedience, as the sermon states, what does your current pattern of obedience or disobedience reveal about the authenticity of your faith?

 

Respond: Choose one or two of the following applications of Sunday’s message and commit to it/them this next week.

  • Identify one person in your life with a physical need you could meet this week, and pray for an opportunity to share the gospel with them.
  • Examine your life for areas of compromise that might hinder your witness. Confess and repent, asking God to make you more like Christ.
  • Memorize Acts 5:29 – “We must obey God rather than men.”
  • Practice sharing the gospel using Peter’s outline in verses 30-31 with a Christian friend this week.
  • Pray specifically for boldness to share the gospel despite fear of rejection or persecution.

 

The Church That Won’t be Ignored

By Phud Chambers

November 9, 2025

*NOTICE: Use these questions—and the input of your group members—to understand and apply both the Written Word (Scripture) and the Preached Word (Sermon) in your own life this coming week.

 

Recap: Look back for evidence of God’s word reshaping your heart and life.

  1. Does anyone have a testimony to share with the group of how you applied last week’s “Respond” section?

Engage:  Look into the Word of God in light of Sunday’s preached sermon.

  1. Read the passage from Acts 4:32-5:11 as a group and discuss your initial observations.

 

Reflect: Look deeper at the preached and written Word.

  1. In what ways can we cultivate ‘gospel unity’ in our own church communities without falling into the trap of uniformity or compromising essential truths?

 

  1. What does it mean practically to say ‘no one claimed that any of their possessions was their own’ in our modern consumer-driven culture?

 

  1. What prevents us from having the same ‘bold evangelistic fervor’ that characterized the first-century church, despite having the same Holy Spirit and far fewer obstacles?

 

  1. How does the contrast between Barnabas’s genuine generosity and Ananias and Sapphira’s deception reveal the importance of heart motivation over outward actions?

 

Respond: Choose ONE of the FOUR points from Sunday’s message and commit to it this next week.

Gospel Unity:

  • Reach out to a believer you’ve had tension with and pursue reconciliation
  • Pray daily for unity in our church and the broader body of Christ
  • Have a conversation with a Christian who differs from you to learn how the gospel unites you

Bold Evangelistic Fervor:

  • Pray for 5 minutes each day specifically for boldness to share the gospel
  • Share your testimony with one person this week
  • Invite a non-believing friend to church or to coffee to discuss spiritual things

Radical Generosity:

  • Identify one specific need in the church or community and meet it sacrificially
  • Evaluate your budget—what percentage goes to kingdom purposes vs. personal comfort?
  • Practice hospitality by inviting someone into your home this week

Personal Holiness:

  • Confess a sin you’ve been hiding to a trusted friend or accountability partner
  • Spend time meditating on God’s holiness (read Isaiah 6 or Revelation 4)
  • Identify one area where you’ve been “faking faith” and commit to honesty

 

The Sovereignty of God and the Boldness of the Church

By Dan Yacoviello

November 3, 2025

*NOTICE: The emphasis of our discussion is to see how the Written Word (Bible) and the Spoken Word (Preaching) work together to build up the believer, so when you see WORD in the questions, know it refers to the Scripture and the Sermon.

 

Recap: Look back for evidence of God’s word reshaping your heart and life.

  1. Does anyone have a testimony to share with the group of how you applied last week’s “Respond” section?

Engage:  Look into the Word of God in light of Sunday’s preached sermon.

  1. Read the passage from Acts 4:23-31 as a group and discuss your initial observations.

 

Reflect: Look deeper at the preached and written Word.

  1. Break down verse 24 that says, ‘When they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God’ and reflect on how it should prompt you as a believer to respond to hardships. What does this reveal about their priorities, and how does it challenge our modern approach to persecution?

 

  1. Why do you think the prayer in Acts 4 focuses so heavily on God’s sovereignty before making any requests, and how might this shape the way we pray today?

 

  1. The sermon describes believers as either with Christ or raging against Him. How does this stark reality challenge the cultural notion of spiritual neutrality or ‘good people’ who simply don’t believe?

 

  1. The sermon suggests that lack of unity in the American church may result from not fighting toward the common goal of preaching salvation in Jesus’ name. Do you agree, and what distractions have pulled the church away from this central mission?

Respond: Choose one or two of the following applications of Sunday’s message and commit to it/them this next week.

  1. Each morning this week, begin your prayer time with “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth…” and ask God for boldness to speak the name of Jesus that day.
  2. When someone shares a struggle, fear, or need with you this week, don’t just say “I’ll pray for you.” Stop and pray with them right then and there.
  3. Write down the specific situations or people you’re most afraid to speak to about Jesus (work, school, family, friends). Pray specifically for boldness in those situations.
  4. Like Peter and John who went immediately to their community, identify 2-3 believers you can text or call when you face spiritual battles or need prayer for boldness.
  5. Commit to one specific conversation this week where you will speak about Jesus. Pray for boldness beforehand, and ask God to “stretch out His hand” in that conversation.
  6. Read Psalm 2 and Psalm 121 this week. Meditate on how God’s creative power and sovereignty should affect your confidence in prayer.

 

A Prayer for Every Generation

By Dillon Medlin

October 26, 2025

*NOTICE: The emphasis of our discussion is to see how the Written Word (Bible) and the Spoken Word (Preaching) work together to build up the believer, so when you see WORD in the questions, know it refers to the Scripture and the Sermon.

 

Recap: Look back for evidence of God’s word reshaping your heart and life.

  1. Does anyone have a testimony to share with the group of how you applied last week’s “Respond” section?

Engage:  Look into the Word of God in light of Sunday’s preached sermon.

  1. Read Psalm 90 as a group and discuss your initial observations of Moses’ prayer in response to a time of loss and guilt.

 

Reflect: Look deeper at the preached and written Word.

  1. Moses calls God his ‘dwelling place’ despite wandering without a physical home for 40 years. What does it mean for God to be your dwelling place when life feels unstable or uncertain?

 

  1. Point out the ways the text contrasts God’s eternal nature with humanity’s brief existence. How does recognizing the brevity of life change your priorities and the way you spend your time?

 

  1. The sermon warns against collecting ‘shells’—achievements, possessions, or approvals that don’t matter eternally. What are the ‘shells’ you’ve been collecting, and how can you redirect your focus toward what truly matters?

 

  1. Martin Luther stated that if you see yourself as a little sinner, you inevitably see Jesus as a little savior. How does minimizing your sin diminish your appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice?

 

  1. Moses asks God to ‘teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.’ What practical steps can you take to live with greater intentionality, knowing your time on earth is limited?

 

Respond: Choose one or two of the following applications of Sunday’s message and commit to it/them this next week.

  1. Morning Satisfaction: Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier and spend that time reading God’s Word and praying before checking your phone or starting your day.
  2. Share the Gospel: Identify one person in your life who needs to hear about Jesus. Pray for them daily and look for an opportunity to share this week.
  3. Evaluate Your Time: Write down how you spent your time last week. How much was invested in things that will matter in eternity versus temporary pursuits?
  4. Teach the Next Generation: If you have children, nieces/nephews, or younger people in your life, intentionally share something about God’s character with them this week.

 

Harvest Sunday – Fall 2025

By Caleb Crittendon

October 19, 2025

*NOTICE: The emphasis of our discussion is to see how the Written Word (Bible) and the Spoken Word (Preaching) work together to build up the believer, so when you see WORD in the questions, know it refers to the Scripture and the Sermon.

 

Recap: Look back for evidence of God’s word reshaping your heart and life.

  1. Does anyone have a testimony to share with the group of how you applied last week’s “Respond” section?

Engage:  Look into the Word of God in light of Sunday’s preached sermon.

  1. Read the verses from Acts 1:6-8 and John 17:18, 25-26 as a group and discuss your initial observations.

 

Reflect: Look deeper at the preached and written Word.

  1. What does it mean to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and the gospel message itself, rather than our own abilities, when sharing our faith?

 

  1. What are some practical ways we can cultivate a sense of urgency in our faith and witness, knowing that Christ’s return is imminent but unknown?

 

  1. In what ways can we balance the call to be witnesses ‘in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ in our own contexts and communities?

 

  1. Evaluate your current priorities and schedule as a witness of what you have seen and heard Christ do and discuss if anything needs to change.

 

Respond: Choose one or two of the following applications of Sunday’s message and commit to it/them this next week.

  1. Identify areas in your “Jerusalem” (immediate surroundings), “Judea and Samaria” (nearby areas), and “ends of the earth” (global impact) where you can be involved. Use the GO 2026 list as a guide for opportunities to plug in to.
  2. Share a personal testimony of how you’ve seen the power of the gospel in your own life. Practice sharing this with someone other than your spouse in the group.
  3. Recommit to regularly connecting with and praying for the mission partner your group selected. Or pick one if you haven’t done that yet.
  4. Discuss practical ways your group can support local and global mission partners through your church.
  5. Challenge each member to have at least one gospel conversation with someone this week and report back to the group.
  6. Reflect on areas where you might be “ashamed” of the gospel and pray for boldness and confidence in those situations.

 

The Undeniable Power in the Name of Jesus

By Dan Yacoviello

October 12, 2025

*NOTICE: The emphasis of our discussion is to see how the Written Word (Bible) and the Spoken Word (Preaching) work together to build up the believer, so when you see WORD in the questions, know it refers to the Scripture and the Sermon.

 

Recap: Look back for evidence of God’s word reshaping your heart and life.

  1. Does anyone have a testimony to share with the group of how you applied last week’s “Respond” section?

Engage:  Look into the Word of God in light of Sunday’s preached sermon.

  1. Read the passage from Acts 4:1-22 as a group and discuss your initial observations.

 

Reflect: Look deeper at the preached and written Word.

  1. How does the concept of ‘gospel math’ (two apostles locked up, 5,000 believed) challenge our perspective on persecution and the spread of Christianity?

 

  1. Peter and John were recognized as having ‘been with Jesus.’ What would it take for people to recognize that quality in us today?

 

  1. In what areas of our lives might we be prioritizing self-preservation over boldly proclaiming the gospel?

 

  1. How might our approach to evangelism change if we truly believed, like Peter, that salvation is found in no other name but Jesus?

 

  1. How can we balance doing ‘good deeds’ in Jesus’ name with the equally important task of preaching the exclusive claims of the gospel?

 

Respond: Choose one or two of the following applications of Sunday’s message and commit to it/them this next week.

  1. Spend time this week meditating on the power in the name of Jesus. Journal about ways you’ve seen this power at work in your own life.
  2. Practice sharing your testimony with a fellow group member. Focus on clearly articulating how Jesus has changed your life.
  3. Identify one area where fear of persecution or discomfort might be holding you back from speaking about Jesus. Pray for Holy Spirit boldness in that situation.
  4. Look for opportunities to do good deeds in Jesus’ name this week, but also be prepared to explain the reason for your actions if asked.
  5. Memorize Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
  6. Reflect on how much time you spend “with Jesus” in prayer and Bible study. Make a plan to increase this if needed, so others might recognize His influence in your life.

 

Peter’s Powerful Second Sermon

By Phud Chambers

October 5, 2025

*NOTICE: The emphasis of our discussion is to see how the Written Word (Bible) and the Spoken Word (Preaching) work together to build up the believer, so when you see WORD in the questions, know it refers to the Scripture and the Sermon.

 

Recap: Look back for evidence of God’s word reshaping your heart and life.

  1. Does anyone have a testimony to share with the group of how you applied last week’s “Respond” section?

Engage:  Look into the Word of God in light of Sunday’s preached sermon.

  1. Read the passage from Acts 3:11-26 as a group and discuss your initial observations.

 

Reflect: Look deeper at the preached and written Word.

  1. In what ways might we be tempted to misplace our worship, like the healed man clinging to Peter, rather than directing it to Jesus?

 

  1. What does it mean for us personally that Jesus is described as ‘the author of life’, and how should this shape our daily existence?

 

  1. Peter calls for both faith and repentance. How would you explain the relationship between these two concepts to someone unfamiliar with Christianity?

 

  1. In what ways can we experience ‘times of refreshing’ in God’s presence now, even as we await the ultimate fulfillment in eternity?

 

  1. In light of Peter’s sermon, how can we better balance bold, direct preaching of repentance with the loving offer of God’s grace?

 

Respond: Choose one or two of the following applications of Sunday’s message and commit to it/them this next week.

  1. This week, spend time each day meditating on one of the titles Peter uses for Jesus. Reflect on how that aspect of Christ’s identity impacts your life.
  2. Identify an area in your life where you need to experience God’s “refreshing.” Make a plan to intentionally seek God’s presence in that area.
  3. Think of someone you know who needs to hear about God’s forgiveness. Pray for an opportunity to share the gospel with them this week.
  4. As a group, discuss ways you can be more “radically Christ-centered” in your daily lives. Hold each other accountable to implement one new practice this week.