• Read Matthew 4:12-17
• To see the background of 4:12, read Luke 3:19-20 (Matthew 14:3-12 – for a record of John the Baptist’s death)
• Read John 1:19-4:54 and make a list of all the ministry that took place between Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of his preaching ministry as mentioned in Matthew 4:12.
• Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee. Find a map of Israel in the back of your Bible and locate Nazareth in Galilee. How far from Jerusalem is it? Why would Jesus spend the majority of his ministry away from Jerusalem? Why would he begin his earthly ministry here?
• What did Jesus emphasize in his ministry? Why not healing or miraculously feeding thousands? Why this ministry?

Prayerfully Meditate

• Many different events took place between Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of his public ministry. Do you ever find yourself frustrated with God’s timing in when you will serve Him? Is God doing foundational preparation work in your life that you need to become more content in?
• Are you content with where God has you? Where you live? The job you have? The stage of life you are in? Not that you cannot improve or that God may intent for you to move, but are you satisfied with God’s providence in where you are right now?
• How central are the Scriptures to your serving Christ? How are your actions driven by the Bible? Do you ever find yourself assuming that your actions are more significant that what you believe? How does what we believe and what we say affect how we serve and what we do?

Intentionally Act

• How should you respond to the timing, the place, and the way God has you serving Him right now? What challenges your contentedness? How could you more purposefully embrace where God has you right now?
• Does any of this study bring any areas of sin to mind that you need to confess? Prayerfully respond.
• How could you encourage someone else who is struggling with God’s providential plan in his or her life?
• Pray for those who will be leading the service today: Dawson Bryant, music; Sam Karl, Scripture reading and prayer; Bret Capranica, teaching. Pray that they will edify and strengthen those who come.
• Pray for those who do not know Christ to see a biblical vision of the Savior and desire to follow Him.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will sing together. Download any of the songs you do not have and prepare yourself to sing in a joyful, thoughtful, edifying manner with the church on Sunday.

Songs for Sunday

Psalm 62

Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven

And Can It Be?

See, What a Morning

Let Your Kingdom Come

Lyrics

 
Morning Service – February 19, 2012

• Read Matthew 4:1-11
• Who led Jesus into the wilderness?
• Why was he led there?
• Who tempted him?
• Why do you think Jesus fasted while under such extreme temptation?
• Read Deuteronomy 8 in connection with 4:4. What was the problem in Israel being addressed in Deuteronomy 8? How does that situation affect the exchange between Jesus and the Devil in 4:3, 4?
• Why does the devil want Jesus to jump off of the temple (4:5-7)? What does Jesus indicate is wrong about the devil’s use of Scripture?
• What does the devil want from Jesus in the 3^rd temptation? What does Jesus say is most important?

Prayerfully Meditate

• Read verse 1 again. What does this suggest about God’s involvement/non-involvement in our temptations?
• Read through each of the temptations and Jesus’ responses again. What is the unique emphasis of each one? How could you be tempted in similar ways? What is the correct emphasis in countering each of these temptations.
• Who was with Jesus to see this temptation? Why do you think it was important for us to know what happened during this temptation?

Intentionally Act

• Make a list of areas of your life that you regularly find temptations to sin. At the core of the temptation, what is being challenged in your life?
• What Scriptures would encourage you in each of the temptations you listed? How could you use these passages when you face temptation?
• What do you learn about Jesus in this passage that gives you greater confidence in Him? Spend a moment in praise and thanksgiving for how sufficient Jesus is for you.
• Pray for all who will be present Sunday: that the saints will be uniquely edified, that those without Christ will see Jesus’ sufficiency for them and repent, and that God will be loved in our gathering.
• Pray for those leading the service: Dawson Bryant, music; Sam Karl, Scripture reading and prayer; Bret Capranica, teaching. Pray that each contribution will contribute to a unified expression from God’s people.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs for Sunday. Download and listen to any of them you do not have. Make yourself familiar with the tune and the lyrics so you can sing with clarity and focus.

Songs For Sunday

Morning Gathering
Creation Sings the Father’s SongIndescribableCome Now Almighty KingPraise The Father, Praise The SonLet the Peace of God Reign
Evening Gathering
Hallelujah, What a SaviorThe Power of The CrossLike a River GloriousJesus Lover Of My Soul

Lyrics

Morning and Evening Service – February 12, 2012

• Read Matthew 3:13-17
• Using a map of Israel in the back of your Bible, locate where Galilee is and then find where the town of Bethany is (south of Galilee, along the Jordan River). About how far did Jesus travel to be baptized by John?
• Why did John initially object to baptizing Jesus? What was he saying about Jesus through this objection?
• How would John baptizing Jesus “fulfill all righteousness?” Why is this necessary?
• How is the Trinity involved in Jesus’ baptism?

Prayerfully Meditate

• If John’s baptism was a baptism associated with repentance (Matthew 3:1-12), then what reasons can you think of as to why the sinless Jesus would find it necessary to associate himself with John’s baptism?
• What implications can you think of (write down) that come from Jesus fulfilling all righteousness? What does that suggest about our ability to be righteous?
• What affects should Jesus fulfilling all righteousness have on our hearts?

Intentionally Act

• Have you openly identified yourself with Jesus through baptism? If not, why not? What would keep you from doing what he commanded us to do in openly identifying ourselves with him?
• Are there any areas of your life where you are trying to rely on your own efforts to make your righteous? Confess these to God. How can you allow your efforts to be dependent on Christ’s own righteousness?
• Pray for our morning service this Sunday. Pray that God will convict those who have never followed Christ in baptism to do so. Pray that God will open up unbelievers to see the righteousness of Christ and their need of it. Pray that believers will trust more in what Christ has completed on their behalf than what their efforts can accomplish.
• Pray for those who will be leading the service: Dawson Bryant, music; Sam Karl, Scripture Reading, and prayer; Bret Capranica, teaching. Pray that all that is done will honor Christ and edify all who attend.
• Meditate on the lyrics to the songs we will sing (be sure to download any of them you do not have in your music library). Prepare your heart to sing with the church this Sunday.

Songs for Sunday

O, For A Thousand Tongues To SingPraise, My Soul, The King Of HeavenJesus, Thank YouNothing But The BloodJesus, I Am Resting

Lyrics

Morning Service – February 5, 2012

• Read Matthew 3:1-12.
• Make a list of everything you learn about John the Baptist.
• What was John’s relationship to Jesus?
• Why was he baptizing?
• What were the characteristics and main ideas of his preaching?
• What is the difference between John’s baptizing ministry and Jesus’ baptizing ministry?

Prayerfully Meditate

• From what you see from John’s preaching, what are the indicators of genuine repentance?
• In what ways do you see these indicators of genuine repentance in your own life?
• Why does Matthew emphasize this account regarding John the Baptist? Why is it important in knowing who Jesus is and what he came to do?
• What are the two results of the Holy Spirit’s work when the Messiah comes (vv11-12).
• What should we do with a passage about John the Baptist’s message? How should this passage impact us today?

Intentionally Act

• Of what is the Lord calling you to repent? What will this look like in your life in light of what you have seen? Spend time in prayerful reflection and commitment before the Lord?
• To what degree do you use the message of repentance in your conversation with those who need Christ? What keeps you from talking more about repentance with others? How can you discuss repentance in a way that expresses the spiritual urgency and also demonstrates a heart of love and compassion?
• Pray that this Sunday’s service will encourage, convict, and equip those who attend.
• Pray for those who will be leading the service: Dawson Bryant, music; Brett Harris, Scripture reading, and prayer; Bret Capranica, teaching. Pray also for the instrumentalists, ushers, sound and media persons, and greeters. Pray that their service to the body will be helpful for people engaging with God in a significant way without unnecessary distraction.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will sing, preparing your heart and mind to sing them together with the entire church. Download those you do not have so you can continue to build and listen to a library of songs we regularly sing at Summit Woods.

Songs for Sunday

We Want To See Jesus Lifted HighYour Name Is HolyJesus MessiahThe Lord IsHave Mercy on Me

Lyrics

Morning Service – January 29, 2012

• Read Psalm 51:1-19
• Read 2 Samuel 11-12 for the background to this psalm.
• List out each of David’s requests in Psalm 51.
• What are the various words David uses to describe sin? What is unique about each of these words from the others that describe sin?
• List the various emotions involved in David’s confession.
• What actions will David do once he finds God’s restoration?
• What sort of sacrifices is God looking for from us?

Prayerfully Meditate

• When was the last time that your emotions matched those of David’s in regard to your sin?
• What sin do you see most prevalent in your heart and in your actions? How could this psalm help you in seeing your sin, confessing your sin, and finding restoration?
• What keeps you from seeing your sin the way David see’s his sin?
• What role does the cross of Jesus Christ play in our confession of sin? How do you see your sin in light of what Jesus has done?

Intentionally Act

• Spend time confessing your sin to God.
• Prepare your mind to think about Jesus, His death on the cross, how God has awakened you to see your need for Christ, what your responses to Him have looked like lately, and how you should be affected by the finished work of Christ on the Cross.
• If you have young children who have not yet openly professed faith in Christ and aligned themselves through baptism with the body of Christ, take some time to explain to them what will be happening in the Lord’s supper and who should be partaking of the elements and why.
• Meditate on the lyrics to Sunday’s songs in preparation for singing them. Particularly focus on the song, “Have Mercy on Me.” Download any of them you do not yet have in your library.
• Pray for all who will be participating in the service today: Dawson Bryant, music; Brett Harris, Scripture Reading and prayer; Bret Capranica, teaching; those men who will be distributing the Lord’s Supper elements, ushers, greeters, instrumentalists, sound and media technicians. Pray that all who are involved will help the congregation to be edified.
• Pray for those who do not know Christ, that they will be impacted by the gospel.

Sunday’s Songs

A Mighty Fortress Is Our GodRevelation SongHave Mercy on MeBe Thou My VisionO Great GodWhen I Survey The Wondrous CrossYour Grace Is EnoughBefore the Throne of God AboveJesus Paid It AllIt Is Well With My Soul

Lyrics

Morning Service – January 22, 2012

Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp

Instructing a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp

The Faithful Parent, Martha Peace & Stuart Scott

Word Filled Families Walk in the Truth, John Barnett

• Read Ephesians 6:1-4
• List the commands that are given to children in this passage.
• List the commands that are given to parents in this passage.
• What does the passage suggest about the spiritual condition of the children? Are they believers or unbelievers? What does this suggest about their maturity level?
• What is the difference between “obey” and “honor?”
• What “commandment” is being referred to in v 2?
• What is the difference between “discipline” and “instruction?”

Prayerfully Meditate

• What can parents do in their parenting to create an environment most suitable for the commands of vv 1-3 to be lived out?
• What are practical ways fathers live and parent that would provoke their children to anger?
• What are practical examples of “discipline and instruction” for parents to apply in their parenting?
• If you do not have children, or your children are grown, in what ways could you pray for, support, encourage, and strengthen those who are active parents?
• How could biblical parenting be a help in creating a God-glorifying culture that values human life?

Intentionally Act

• If you have children at home, how should you change your approach to parenting in light of what you read in these verses?
• If you do not have children but desire to be a parent, what thought have you given to foster care and/or adoption?
• In what ways could you support ministries within or outside the church that strengthen parents, or help women who are considering abortion to choose life?
• Pray for our service on Sunday as we seek to promote God-centered parenting. Pray for those in our congregation who are new parents, that they will practically apply Ephesians 6:1-4. Pray for our church to be a people who affirm life and promote biblical parenting. Pray that people will be convicted in specific ways to respond to the message this Sunday.
• Pray for those who will be leading the worship service: Dawson Bryant, music; Brett Harris, Scripture reading and prayer; Bret Capranica, teaching. Pray that they, and all who will contribute to the service, will serve in the most edifying way.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs in preparing yourself to sing together as one body. Download any of them you do not have.

Songs for Sunday

Majestic
Glorious and Mighty
Wonderful Maker
Great is Thy Faithfulness

Lyrics

Morning Service – January 15, 2012