Send us a Text Message.

DIVISIVE WORDS
Word Power – Part 2
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 16, 2024

#god #realspringcreekchurch #wordpower #divisivewords #gossiphttps://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Expanded Message Notes:
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/mt-...

At the office, suddenly no one is talking to you. There’s a distance between you and your fellow employees that’s unmistakable. What changed? You have been the victim of the office gossip. Someone has been talking to others behind your back, engaging in character assassination, and destroying your relationship network. But whether it happens at work, school, or church, the result is always the same, you feel betrayed and left unsure as to who you can trust. God has a lot to say about those who engage in divisive behaviors; why it grieves God’s heart, how to deal with the divider, and how God’s people are supposed to be different. Join us Sunday for a challenging message on Divisive Words.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The Bible tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death... (Proverbs 18.21).” Describe a time in your life when someone spoke words of life or words of death to you. How did it affect you? What staying power did those words have? How are you a different person today because those words were once spoken to you?

2. Describe the things you learned today from this verse…
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Proverbs 6.16-19

Have you any other insights from this passage? Why does God hate these things?

3. Gossip wouldn’t get very far if it were not for those who are more than willing to listen. Why is gossip so tempting? How have you seen it used to harm others? What can you do to prevent it from spreading?

4. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is a great example of what He came to do. One of things for which he prayed was unity. First, oneness with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And second, with one another. Why is it impossible to achieve oneness with one another without first having oneness with God? Why is division a sign of the enemy’s work? Why is oneness a sign of the work of God? In what ways has God stretched you to embrace those different from yourself? How have you witnessed the power of unity?

Send us a Text Message.

CRITICAL WORDS
Word Power – Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 9, 2024

#realspringcreekchurch #wordpower #criticalwords #sticksandstones #criticism
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Find Extended Message Notes Here:

https://www.springcreekchurch.org/mt-content/uploads/2024/06/240609-expanded-message-notes-wp-1.pdf

Critical words are powerful regardless of whether or not they are true. Many of us heard critical messages in childhood we never questioned. As a result, we've based our lives on an erroneous and hurtful message and we demonstrate the power of words. Let's find out what God has to say about this.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What hurtful words were spoken to you in your formative years? What effect did those words have on you? Now as an adult, what would you say to your younger self after hearing the sting of those words? What would you say now to the person who said that to you?

2. Who do you trust to give you honest critique when you need it? Why do you trust that person? Is there anyone in your life who tends to be critical all the time? What’s it like to be around them? Three of the big motivations behind criticism are that some people hate themselves, some people envy you, and some people criticize because they love you. Where does your critic fall?

3. When we’ve been criticized relentlessly by those we cared about and trusted, we develop a resistance to all criticism. It triggers us. It causes a stronger-than-normal emotional reaction. Yet not all criticism is bad for us. How do you develop a more open mind and heart toward criticism?

4. It’s easy to allow critics to cross a line and become our judge. But Paul makes clear that no one, not even yourself, is competent enough to be your judge. How have you allowed critical remarks to define you? How do you change your inner thinking to be more consistent with the way the Father sees you? It’s God's desire that you lead a condemnation-free lifestyle. Write this verse out: Romans 8.1. Read it every day. Remind yourself that this is the truth about you regardless of what others have said!

Send us a Text Message.

PRESCRIPTION FOR A DULL SPIRITUAL LIFE
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 2, 2024

#god #realspringcreekchurch #prescriptionforadullspirituallife #prescription #spirituallife #connect #grow #serve
https://www.springcreekchurch.org/

Is your spiritual life not what it used to be? Has the fire gone out? The hunger you once felt for the things of God, is it growing or has your appetite been diminished? Believe it or not, people experience dullness in their spiritual life for very predictable reasons. It doesn’t have to be that way. On Sunday (June 2), Pastor Keith will walk us through the root causes of spiritual dullness and explain God’s prescription for a growing, vital and life-giving connection to Christ. This may be the most important message you will hear this year.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Richard Swenson in his book Margin talks about many different kinds of overload. From the list below, which of these forms feel the most relevant to you right now?

• Activity overload

• Change overload

• Choice overload

• Commitment overload

• Debt overload

• Expectation overload

• Information overload

• Media overload

• Noise overload

• Fatigue overload

Guide the group through the following prayer exercise. Close your eyes and spend a minute or two in silence, calling to mind some kind of image that represents the limit that you are struggling to accept. Now, imagine Jesus walking up to you. Slowly imagine yourself handing Him that object, and with it, your finiteness in that area. How does He respond? Take some time in silence imagining His response.

2. What practices have you adopted, presently or in the past, to facilitate life with God? Which were “upstream” (challenging, but good for you) and which were “downstream” (easy for you and your personality)? What time of day and what space works best for you to spend time alone with God?

3. What current habits in your life are moving you toward the goals of being with, becoming like, and doing what Jesus does? What current habits and rhythms are getting in the way? What is one daily rhythm that you’re excited about adding? What is one weekly rhythm that you know you need to add?

4. The three spheres of spiritual growth or what Pastor Keith referred to as Christ’s sacred rhythm, are growing, connecting and serving. It’s time to do a spiritual check-up. Where are you strongest and where are you weakest? In what ways did today’s message challenge you to devote more time to the area where you have room for growth?

5. The spiritual disciplines are all various ways of creating space for God in your life. Which disciplines have you tried and what has been your experience? Which ones have you never tried? How has God met you during your engagement with the spiritual disciplines?

RESOURCES

BOOK - Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

For more information on developing a rule of life and use of the spiritual disciplines

(https://www.practicingtheway.org)

Two booklets – How to Unhurry and Rule of Life can be downloaded from Springcreek’s resource page (https://www.springcreekchurch.org/resources)

Pastor Keith’s prior teaching on spiritual growth can be heard here (https://www.youtube.com/@RealSpringcreekChurch) In particular, listen to the following series, The Way, Rooted, Discipleship, Prayer, Ghost.