a Bible teaching Church in Brisbane's west
Only God Gives True Meaning & Purpose
Ecclesiastes 1-3 & 12 (Reading: 1:1-2:3)
1. The frustrating and futile search for ‘meaning’ in a
life without God
The conclusion at the beginning
“everything is meaningless”
The conclusion after various tests
“everything is meaningless”
2. It is God who gives true meaning and significance to all we do
The burden …
The conclusion at the end
“Fear God and keep His commands”
3. Some implications:
1 Peter Studies for Growth Group 2023
THE ‘PROBLEM’ OF SUFFERING
Job 1-42 (Reading: Chapter 1)
1. The pain of suffering – Job’s suffering (Job chapters 1-3)
2. ‘Foolish’ attempts to answer the unanswerable question – why me? (Job chapters 4-37)
Life is a mystery to us – so if we try too hard to know why things happen we’ll end up getting it wrong. And getting it wrong only hurts more.
3. The ‘wise’ response to pain and suffering! (Job chapters 38-42)
The wise person can’t necessarily explain why everything happens, but the wise person will want to know God and to trust Him, because God knows why things happen, and He can be trusted.
4. If only Job had a friend who could understand (Hebrews 4:14-16)
(Preacher: Steve Blencowe)
THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 54-58
What if dead men don't rise?
How do we know Jesus was raised?
The glorious resurrection of believers?
(preacher: Rayk Platzek)
The Foolishness of the Cross
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 & Luke 23:35-43
Why preach an unpopular message?
Because it’s the most crucial event in human history
The cross highlights:
– The seriousness and severity of our rejection of God
– Our inability find God on our own terms
– Jesus’ death in our place, as the only answer
(Preacher: Steve Young)
Like the thief, you can be forgiven and saved through Jesus’ sacrifice in your place…
…will you accept this unpopular message?
Tremble at His Word
Isaiah 66
The conclusion of the vision of transformation (1:1)
What God wants is people who are humble, contrite and tremble at His word… (66:2)
…and that is what God will ultimately have
We’re either in or we’re out…
…are you in?
(Preacher: Steve Blencowe)
