9.13.15 | Surrender

Dr. Jeff Holmes | Acts 3:17-21

There are a lot of words in our culture that don't mean what we think they mean. Society merges words like "love" and "tolerance" as if the meaning is the same. "Repentance" is one of those words in our Christian faith. Some of us might think it's a spiritual word for saying sorry to God. While many of us have developed our own meanings of this word, it actually means something greater with much more significant implications for our lives. 

Download or listen to Surrender to hear more.

9.6.15 | Psalms of the Soul: In The Middle of It

Dr. Jeff Holmes | Psalm 42

Life consists of a lot of decision making. Big and small. From our favorite sports teams to making decisions about our family and even our faith. This Psalm addresses the person who has a heavy heart looking for answers and reminds them to look to God.

Download or listen to In The Middle of It to hear more.

These questions are provided for your further study and application of this message. It is helpful to discuss your answers with others such as your Community Group, family, friends or an accountability partner.

1. What stood out to you from the message? How did God speak to you?
2. When was a time you were really thirsty for God? What were the circumstances surrounding that time? (v.1)
3. When was a time you felt the presence of God? What was that like for you? What was the result? (v.2)
4. In verse 4, the Psalmist is remembering his time leading the procession to God. Do you think this memory helps or is a further source of sadness?
5. What is the basis of the hope the Psalmist is talking about? (v.5,11) Have you ever been in a position to choose hope? Did you?
6. What is the response to deep sadness in verse 6? Why would remembering the promised land and past provision of God make a difference in our ability to choose hope?
7. Read Jonah 2:1-2. How does remembering what happened to Jonah help the singer choose hope?
8. What are some areas of your life where you have chosen something other than hope?
9. Application of Scripture is vital to our spiritual growth. How might you practice what the Psalmist practices in this song and choose hope?

8.30.15 | Psalms of the Soul: Lifting Our Eyes Up

Dr. Jeff Holmes | Psalm 121

Think of something you've read, seen or done that has made you release a deep sigh of relief. Like a breath-taking view of the ocean or the mountains. Maybe a short teaching video about God's love. This Psalm is one of those passages that gives you breath and hope. But we still feel like God is asleep at the wheel... all we hear is silence. What's the deal?

Download or listen to Lifting Our Eyes Up to hear more.

These questions are provided for your further study and application of this message. It is helpful to discuss your answers with others such as your Community Group, family, friends or an accountability partner.

1. What is your "take away" from this message?
2. When was a time your "foot slipped"? Where did your eyes look?
3. In our culture, where do people tend to look for help?
4. What are some places yo have looked for help over the course of your life?
5. Reading the whole Psalm, when was a time you felt completely cared for by God?
6. As you reflect on the Psalm, when was a time you felt you were burned or evil came against you?
7. Why do you think there is an emphasis on God "keeping" us in this passage?
8. Read John 14:1-4. What does this say about God's "keeping"?
9. Write out a prayer in response to what the Lord has taught you through this study and what steps in response He might want you to take.

8.23.15 | Psalms of the Soul: Addressing My Doubts

Dr. David Whitaker | Psalm 73

The Psalms are interesting because they deal with our human heart. They dig deep into the recesses of heart and discover and deal with our feelings... but in a very different way than we might deal with them. Some of us take the religious approach: we stuff  and deny our feelings because it might not win favor with God. Others take the pop culture approach: this holds to the sovereignty of our feelings.

Download or listen to Addressing My Doubts to hear more.

These questions are provided for your further study and application of this message. It is helpful to discuss your answers with others such as your Community Group, family, friends or an accountability partner.

1. What is your "take away" from this message?
2. What is the Psalmist's nagging doubt in this psalm (vv.2-3)?
3. What has he seen (vv.4-12)? What attitudes may be undermining his faith?
4. Do you think the Psalmist is objective in what he sees? Why or why not? What does he find both attractive and negative in the lifestyle, world-view and agnosticism of the rich?
5. What was he hoping his "clean heart" would get him (vv.13-14)? What caused him to change his mind (vv.15-17)?
6. To what might the "sanctuary of God" refer? What new insight does he gain? Why does he feel like God sleeps (v.20; see 35:23; 44:23)?
7. What glory does the Psalmist have in mind (vv.24-25; see 16:9-11)? What path will he take towards it (vv.23-28)?
8. What hope literally surrounds the Psalmist's envy and despair (vv.1,28)?
9. Do you ever share his envy? Does his insight satisfy you? Why or why not?
10. When you have stumbled in this area, how have you recovered your balance? How can we help you?
11. Have you had a "sanctuary" experience? When/where? What happened? What are you doing to keep that faith perspective alive?
12. What is one key thing that the Lord has taught you and/or one response that He is asking you to take? Write out a prayer of response?

8.16.15 | God's Plan

Dr. David Whitaker | Proverbs 16:1,7

Often in life, we have plans that we think we know will play out exactly as we expect. This summer for example: did your summer go exactly as you thought it would? Most likely, not. Plans very often do not go exactly as we expect. Circumstances get in the way. Choices get in the way. Our plans get messed up. There is someone who already knows the future, someone who already knows how these plans are going to pan out regardless of how we think they will. That someone is God. We know God has a plan for Morgan Hill Bible Church... it's just not what we thought it was.

Download or listen to God's Plan to hear more.

8.9.15 | Psalms of the Soul: Gaining Clarity

Dr. David Whitaker | Psalm 19

Life is a lot like building a model. It's normal for us to try to put life, marriage, relationships and issues that are broken back together. We're so anxious to put it together; we don't know what pieces go where. But there is something more. There's something we have to do before we can do any of this...

Download or listen to Gaining Clarity to hear more.

These questions are provided for your further study and application of this message. It is helpful to discuss your answers with others such as your Community Group, family, friends or an accountability partner.

1. What is your "take away" from this message?
2. Read Psalm 19. Who speaks in verses 1-4? What do they say? Is it obvious to everyone? Why don’t some people hear?
3. As you consider creation, describe how it reflects God and his glory? His character? His love? His wisdom? His power? His…(other attributes where creation reflects God)?
4. What in creation fills you most with a sense of God’s glory? Describe it.
5. What six names does David give the Scriptures (vv.7-10)? What eight words describe the Scriptures? What phrases describe Scripture’s effect on our lives?
6. What does the revelation through Scripture do for us that the revelation in creation does not (v.11)?
7. Which of David’s “one-liners” about God’s law best matches your experience with Scripture? Why? How else would you describe it? How does Scripture’s sense of value translate into the time you spend reading it?
8. Why are the Scriptures and prayer important for proper self-evaluation (vv. 7-14)? Apart from them, how would we naturally handle our sins and our faults? What “hidden faults” or “willful sins” do you sense God’s Spirit pointing out. (see also 1 John 1)
9. Read v.14. Could you pray that same prayer? What would you need to change to cooperate with the Lord in this prayer?
10. When v.14 says that the Lord is your “Rock” and “Redeemer,” what does that mean? How does it make a difference in your approach to this prayer?
11. Applying the Scripture to our lives is important. What is the “next step” that God, through this Psalm and the Spirit, is leading you to take?
12. Write out a prayer in response to what the Lord has taught you through this study. 

8.2.15 | Psalms of the Soul: Faithful Love

Dr. David Whitaker | Psalm 107

We live in a time in which there is a lot of spiritual seeking. Almost everybody seems to disagree about who God is. There's a lot of searching, probing and conversation about religion and spirituality - but there is tremendous consensus about one aspect of God...

Download or listen to Faithful Love to hear more.

These questions are provided for your further study and application of this message. It is helpful to discuss your answers with others such as your Community Group, family, friends or an accountability partner.

1. What is your take away from this message?

2. Read Psalm 107 aloud. Who is invited to thank God (vv.1-3)? What four groups of redeemed people are mentioned? 

3. How should each group respond to God’s unfailing love (vv.8, 15, 21, 31)? 

4. What is the basic problem of the “wanderers” (vv.4-9)? 

5. What is the plight of the “prisoners” (vv.10-16)? Why are they subjected to this plight? (see also Job 36:8-9)

6. How are the “sick” viewed (vv.17-18)? What are their symptoms? How does the Lord answer their cry (vv.19-20)? 

7. What is the greatest need of the “fearful” (as seen in the sailor) (vv.23-30)? Describe their plight and how the Lord answers.

8. With which of these four groups of people do you most identify? From what condition or state of trouble has God redeemed you? 

9. What attitude is being encouraged in this Psalm? Why is it a prerequisite for deliverance?         For change and growth? 

10. What does this Psalm say about God? About the needy? How can you become more God-like in your dealings with the needy around you? Who are they?

11. Applying the Scripture to our lives is important. What is the “next step” that God, through
    this Psalm and the Spirit, is leading you to take?

12. Write out a prayer in response to what the Lord has taught you through this study.