Reclaim the Rainbow!

Returning home this past Saturday (6/27/15) from central Louisiana, I witnessed a beautiful rainbow over Baton Rouge. My first thought in seeing this wonderful event in nature was not “gay pride,” but pride and awe over our loving and faithful Creator. According to Genesis 9:12-17, the rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant, a covenant of great hope to save and preserve life, a covenant that we understand finds fulfillment in the New Testament in Jesus Christ. Jesus has come to bring us life and life to the full (Jn. 10:19). He brings lasting hope, light and love. The rainbow reminds us of God’s faithfulness and mighty power to save. I chose to “Reclaim the Rainbow” not to disparage any group of people, but because I’m not ready to concede the beauty of the rainbow as the primary symbol that it is, a symbol of lasting hope and life in Jesus Christ.

This Week's "MAP" Questions

 

Come join us this Wednesday, June 24th in the Chapel at 6:00 p.m. 

Following are this week's questions.

MAP: God’s Message Applied Leads to Personal Transformation.

Message Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (1:18-31)

Questions to reflect upon to help you apply the text. These questions are based on the text and sermon preached by Pastor Joe Alain on Sunday, June 21, 2015, “God’s Not Dead and Fatherhood Isn’t Either.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. Based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, why do you think the “message of the cross is foolishness” to those who are not believers (those who are “perishing,” (1:18)?

2. What does the preaching of the “message of the cross” have to do with God’s plan of salvation (1:21)?  

3. What is different about how the Jews and non-Jews (Greeks or Gentiles) responded to the Gospel (1:22-23)?

4. The Corinthians felt intellectually and spiritually superior to others. What had they forgotten about their past and the reason God chose them (1:26-29)?  

6. How do verses 1:30-31 sum up the teaching of chapter one?

7. Read 2:1-5. Greek philosophers were often polished orators whose eloquence and wisdom dazzled their audiences. How does this contrast with Paul’s preaching in Corinth?

8. What qualities stand out about Paul’s message and how he presented the Gospel (2:1-5)?

9. Following Paul’s example in 2:1-5, what could you personally do this week to live out the truths of this text and message?

This Week's "MAP" Questions

Come join us this Wednesday, June 17th in the Chapel at 6:00 p.m. 

Following are this week's questions. 

MAP: God’s Message Applied Leads to Personal Transformation.

Message Text: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Questions to reflect upon to help you apply the text. These questions are based on the text and sermon preached by Pastor Joe Alain on Sunday, June 14, 2015, “Cliques Aren’t Just for Kids.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. Based on 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, why do you think cliques formed around Paul, Apollos, and Cephas (1:12)?

2. What do you think the “Christ” party represents (assuming, as is likely, that it is not something positive)?

3. How did Paul conduct himself in Corinth to avoid, if possible, the problem of a personality cult (1:14-17)?

4. What evidence of “hero worship” do you observe in the church today? What are the dangers in focusing too much on personalities in the church?  

6. Why are cliques in the church detrimental to the church’s witness? In what way do cliques rob the Gospel of its power?

7. What is the main antidote to personality cults and the disunity that they create (1:13)?

8. What can Christian groups of friends do to avoid becoming too inwardly focused, too much like a clique? What does Paul recommend in the text that will help believers avoid cliques?

9. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-ff., Paul contrasts worldly wisdom with God’s wisdom. How would a proper understanding of spiritual wisdom aid the church in overcoming personality cults?

10. What will you personally do this week to live out the truths of this text and message?

MAP: God's Message Applied Leads to Personal Transformation

This past Sunday (June 7th) we began a new Sunday morning sermon series from the book of 1 Corinthians. Each Wednesday following the sermon we will have a sermon "follow up" discussion (what I'm calling "MAP") as a part of our Prayer and Bible study hour on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel. We just had our first "MAP" time and would like to invite you to join us. Below are this week's questions for reflection. 

For His Glory, By His Grace!

Pastor Joe

MAP: God’s Message Applied Leads to Personal Transformation.

Message Text: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Questions to reflect upon to help you apply the text. These questions are based on the text and sermon preached by Pastor Joe Alain on Sunday, June 7, 2015, “Beautiful Mess.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. Based on the introduction (1:1-9), what is Paul thankful for concerning the Corinthians?

2. What does Paul say about the Corinthian’s status before God? Why do you think Paul reminds the Corinthians of who they are in Christ? How will that serve to motivate the believers in Corinth towards a pursuit of holiness?

3. Knowing some of the pagan background of the city of Corinth, what were some of the particular issues that the church had to contend with in their culture? Are any of these issues hinted at in the introduction? If so, what were they? What problems do churches today have that are similar to those faced by the Corinthian church in the first century?

4. What is significant about Paul addressing the Corinthian believers as “the church of God” rather than the church of

Corinth (1:2)?

5. To be “sanctified in Christ Jesus” (1:2) is to be made holy, it is to be different because you are separated to God. How might a proper understanding of this help us realize our calling to be “saints” (1:2)? What is a saint? Are all believers called to be saints? In what ways can we see to pursue holiness in our lives? Why do you think some Christians settle for spiritual substitutes instead of pursuing our calling to be God’s holy people?

6. How have we been blessed as Christians individually and as a church (1:5, 7)? How could this realization impact the life and ministry of the church?

7. What was Paul confident of concerning the Corinthian’s future (1:7-9)? How is that an encouragement to live up to our position in Christ? In what ways do people use this truth as an excuse for apathy in pursuing holiness?

8. What will you personally do this week to live out the truths of this text and message?

New Sermon Series Begins June 7, 2015

"Beautiful Mess"

Life among Christians can be great. But let’s face it – it can also be exasperating! The joys of fellowship too often give way to division and debate. In 1 Corinthians, Paul calls the believers “saints” but they didn’t always act saintly. You might say that they were a “Beautiful Mess.” There were deep divisions in the church, sexual immorality, abuses of Christian freedom, and theological confusion. Fortunately, God doesn’t give up on messy people or messy churches. In 1 Corinthians we see Christianity not as it was meant to be but as it often is. Yet we also find practical advice for overcoming the challenges of life together. Join us on Sundays beginning June 7^th at Hebron Baptist Church as we discover from 1 Corinthians how God is making a beautiful portrait from our beautiful but messy lives. 

"For His Glory, By His Grace"

Pastor Joe