Complementary Old Testament Passage:
Hosea 2
Sermon Outline:
- Steady yourself for lethal opposition to the Kingdom of God from all directions
- Commit disciples to the Lord’s hand to carry them through tribulations
- Gather to Rejoice in the door of faith provided by the Lord
Family Discussion Questions:
- The people of Lystra tried to worship Paul and Barnabas. What happened after they refused to be worshipped?
- What two groups teamed up to try to kill the disciples?
- Does God promise a life without pain for people who trust in Jesus?
- If someone stops trusting in Jesus, did they ever really trust in Jesus?
- What are some things that make it hard for people to keep trusting in Jesus?
- What are we supposed to do to strengthen our faith in Jesus so that it lasts through hard times?
- What are elders for and how do we choose them?
- What various tribulations did these men encounter on their first missionary journey, and which might we anticipate in our own lives?
- How does the word “hope” help us to better understand what true faith looks like?
- Two extremes exist: passivity and self-dependance. How does “committing souls to the Lord” reject both of those extremes?
- What does “a door of faith” mean and why is it needed?
- How does this passage beautifully and soberly teach the reformed doctrine of “perseverance of the saints”?
- When God established the Old Covenant, the division between Jew and Gentile functioned as a clear object lesson. How does Christ make people who were once called “Not my people” to now be called, “You are My People”?
