"Jesus in the Wide Life of Day" - Matthew 27:55-28:10 (March 27, 2016)

1. What are the dark places you've walked through over he past year?
2. How do Jesus' friends respond to the dark place of Jesus' death?
3. Why wasn't showing dignity in the midst of Jesus' death enough?
4. What had the Romans done to keep the tomb from being opened? Why does this contribute to the historicity of the resurrection?
5. Why is it important that Jesus' resurrection was not that of a spirit but was bodily?
6. What impact on your life does Jesus' bodily resurrection have for you today?

Sermon Outline:
1. Death is confronted
   a. Dignified
   b. Say Goodbye

2. Death is defeated
   a. Empty tomb
   b. Transformed body

"Getting the Pageantry Right But the Person Wrong" - Matthew 21:1-11 (March 20, 2016)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. What are the symbols in this passage that point to who Jesus is?
3. What were the events surrounding Christ's entry and why were they significant?
4. What were the expectations that the crowd had for Jesus?
5. What expectations do you have for him?
6. What are the areas of your life that you experience anxiety and fear?
7. How does Jesus, in this passage encourage us to be people of courage?

Sermon Outline:
1. Pageantry
   a. Symbol
   b. Song

2. Person
   a. Symbol
   b. Song

"The World Where You Live" - Genesis 45:16-46:27 (March 13, 2016)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. What are the things in your life or the world around you that are dulling the power of goodness to move?
3. How does Jacob's response to his sons reflect a need to be revived?
4. Ryan gave us two ways of looking at the world: 1) a world governed by God; 2) a world governed by chance. What are the implications of these two approaches? Which do we see playing out in our passage?
5. How are we to live as a result of believing everything is happening under God's rule?
6. Where in this passage does Jacob's observation convince him that Joseph is truly alive?
7. Where do you need to pay closer attention to see God at work (don't just think of the monumental things but also the ordinary)?
8. What is the assurance we have that God is governing all things?

Sermon Outline:
1. What sort of world do you live in?

2. How do you live in it?
   a. Making connections with people
   b. Paying attention
   c. Taking action

"The Proof is in the Pudding" - Genesis 44:1-45:15 (March 6, 2016)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. Why did Joseph test his brothers? Describe the similarities between this situation and the one they brothers found them in when they sold Joseph.
3. What were the ways that the brothers showed their true colors?
4. Knowing Judah's history, why is it surprising that he acts the way he does?
5. How does Joseph show his trust in God? How does he hold the brothers responsible but still trust God's work?
6. Where is a place in your life that you need to trust the Lord? Do you find yourself emphasizing man's responsibility over God's sovereign will? How can you grow in holding the two in tension?

Sermon Outline:

1. Tried

2. True
   a. Grief
   b. Confession
   c. Sacrifice

3. Trusting

"Being Changed" - Genesis 43 (February 28, 2016)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. What are the patterns that Jacob and Joseph have been in?
3. Where in this passage are there hints of Jacob being changed?
4. Like Jacob's grip on Benjamin, what are the things that you're holding tightly?
5. How does Joseph show his brother's mercy? Why would this have been so difficult?
6. What are the places in your life that you'd rather hold on to your anger or bitterness than show mercy and compassion?
7. Take some time and ask God to make your more merciful and more dependent upon him.

Sermon Outline:
1. Into Dependent People

2. Into Merciful People

"The Mission for Revival" - Acts 1:1-8 (February 21, 2016) *Guest Preacher Andres Garza

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. What are the two qualities of the message that the disciples were to proclaim?
3. What is repentance hard for us? What hinders our willingness to repent?
4. How do the disciples grow in their dependance upon God in this passage?
5. What is a situation in which you're waiting on the Lord? How do you see him using this to grow your dependence upon him?
6. What is the scope of God's mission?
7. What are some practical ways that you can participate in God's mission?

Sermon Outline:
1. The Mission's Instructions

2. The Mission's Power

3. The Mission's Scope

"Where you go, there you are" - Genesis 42 (February 14, 2016)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. Joseph responded to his brothers with both anger and sadness, what are these emotions reveal about him?
3. Why do we often ignore our emotions? How can our emotions speak to our spiritual lives?
4. How is God orchestrating a confrontation between Joseph and his brothers?
5. Why does Joseph test his brothers?
6. How is God using this situation to bring healing to Joseph and his brothers?
7. Where is a place in your life that you need God to bring reconciliation?
8. How does the map and the motivation of this passage direct us in seeking reconciliation?

Sermon Outline:
1. We Hide Our Wounds
   a. Anger
   b. Sadness

2. God Heals Our Wounds
   a. Orchestration
   b. Confrontation
   c. Reconciliation