Sermon Series Resources

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): March 29

Study Resource: Prayer for a Teachable Heart: Like Apollos - Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26).

Study Resource: What Is a Church? The What... - The biggest section of Scripture describing church as an assembly is 1 Corinthians 11:2-14:40. In these chapters, we find two verses that are particularly helpful in helping us to define a church and how it functions.

Study Resource: Become a Disciple Maker - Can ANY Christian Become a Disciple Maker? Yes—Regardless of Background or Personality.

Study Resource: 42 Day Prayer Guide - A journey of 21 days of prayer as we head toward Easter, followed by 21 days of prayer for the transition of leadership and the future of Mt. Gilead.

Study Resource: Growing Deeper in Prayer - Prayer is a personal journey, not a destination. Sydney Clayton shares how growing deeper in prayer begins with recognizing God’s Spirit already dwelling within us.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): March 22

Study Resource: Grace-Fueled Compassion: A Brief Study - The pervasive "me-ism" of our culture promotes what "I" want above all else. However, this view of self runs counter to the gospel. Afshin Ziafat, Lead Pastor of Providence Church in Frisco, TX, explains how a proper view of the gospel dethrones the myth of personal entitlement, unleashing us to share with others the grace we've been shown.

Study Resource: Love’s Persuasive Power - Loving people where they are: A person without love is like a tire without air or a car without fuel. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35, NIV). Love should be a distinguishing characteristic of Jesus’ followers.

Study Resource: Loving People Where They Are: Study Verses - This is a collection of 99 bible verses about loving people where they are, as mentioned by Justin in his sermon.

Study Resource: Strategies for Sharing the Gospel Truth - This is a 1-page document with practical strategies for sharing the love of Jesus with others.

Video Resource: Evangelism: A Crash Course - Sharing your faith with others can be a daunting endeavor. Having a plan can help you share Christ without stressing about saying the right thing or losing the relationship. In this course, Dr. Bobby Conway will guide you through what the Bible says about reaching non-believers, equip you with the starting blocks of sharing your faith, and offer you a strategy for getting started.

Study Resource: Growing Deeper in Prayer - Prayer is a personal journey, not a destination. Sydney Clayton shares how growing deeper in prayer begins with recognizing God’s Spirit already dwelling within us.

Study Resource: 42 Day Prayer Guide - A journey of 21 days of prayer as we head toward Easter, followed by 21 days of prayer for the transition of leadership and the future of Mt. Gilead.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): March 15

Video Resource: Mental Health: 6 Brief Discussions- Dr. Henry Cloud uses these short videos that are scripturally-based to address mental health issues by providing practical and helpful advice.

Study Resource: Built on the Rock: Wise vs. Foolish- “The wise man built his house upon the rock.” By “rock,” Jesus meant his teachings. Unfortunately, it is very possible to hear the teachings of Jesus but not to put them into practice. When we only hear—and don’t obey—Jesus’ teachings, we find ourselves cycling through the same bad decisions and experiencing spiritual stagnancy for years.

Study Resource: Mental Health and Following Jesus - What You’ll Learn from This Interview: 1. Mental health struggles don’t disqualify faith. 2. The Church can do better. 3. Hope in the Resurrection gives strength.

Study Resource: Growing Deeper in Prayer - Prayer is a personal journey, not a destination. Sydney Clayton shares how growing deeper in prayer begins with recognizing God’s Spirit already dwelling within us.

Study Resource: 42 Day Prayer Guide - A journey of 21 days of prayer as we head toward Easter, followed by 21 days of prayer for the transition of leadership and the future of Mt. Gilead.

Study Resource: Justin’s Outline for Prayer & Fasting - Justin shared an outline for prayer and fasting in his sermon, and this is a separate document you can use as a guide for prayer and fasting in your own life.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): March 8 

Video Resource: Prayer: A 13-Session Study by Michael DeFazio - In this series, Michael DeFazio (professor of New Testament theology at Ozark Christian College) will walk you through the sacred spiritual discipline of prayer. He will explore how to pray, what to pray, answer questions about prayer, and engage in many other topics surrounding prayer, in order to expand one’s knowledge of communicating with our Father.

Study Resource: Justin’s Outline for Prayer & Fasting - Justin shared an outline for prayer and fasting in his sermon, and this is a separate document you can use as a guide for prayer and fasting in your own life.

Study Resource: Earnest Prayer: A Brief Devotion - Our prayer is often dull because there is so little earnestness in it. We pray as if no one is listening. We pray as if nothing will happen. We pray as if nothing were at stake. We pray without vim or vigor, without passion, without purpose.

Study Resource: Prayer and Fasting: A Free Resource from RENEW - This is a free study that reintroduces the practice of prayer and fasting to find renewal.

Study Resource: Prayer and the Psalms Devotional - The Book of Psalms bursts with prayers that model how to approach God in joy or sadness, praise or weeping. In this ten-day devotional, author Mary DeMuth guides us through a variety of psalms, encouraging us to approach God honestly and boldly in every circumstance.

Study Resource: Hope in Silence: Hannah Models Obedience - The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel teaches us that even in grief and longing, God is near and working behind the scenes.

Study Resource: Bible Reading Plans

Study Resource: Authentic Church: 14-Week Reading Plan - This is a weekly reading plan through the book of Acts and other relevant scripture for this sermon series.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): March 1

Study Resource: The Gospel for All: A Topical Study - The concept of "The Gospel for All" is rooted in the Christian belief that the message of salvation through Jesus Christ is intended for every person, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or social status. This universal offer of the Gospel is a central theme throughout the New Testament and is foundational to the mission of the Church.

Study Resource: Jesus is Enough: A Topical Study - The phrase “Jesus is enough” expresses a conviction that everything needed for spiritual life, purpose, and everlasting hope hinges upon Him. It implies that neither external achievements, personal accomplishments, nor external religious observances can supply the completeness He offers. This belief rests heavily on Scriptures that portray Jesus as the Savior who fulfills humanity’s deepest need for reconciliation with God.

Video Resource: Is Jesus Enough: A 5-Session Study - There has never lived a more compelling person than Jesus of Nazareth. But is he enough? Enough for your salvation, your character, your purpose? Enough for your whole life? In this five-part series, Jo Ströhfeldt walks through Paul’s words in the book of Colossians to remind us that when we put Jesus at the center of everything, everything changes.

Study Resource: Jesus’ Teaching: The Primary Message - From all my study and training, I understood the Great Commission to essentially mean, go everywhere with the gospel and make disciples by teaching people to believe and obey what Jesus taught. Jesus wanted many to become His disciples, plant new faith communities, and reproduce His life in others. This message and multiplication process seems simple enough, but it wasn’t what I observed happening.

Study Resource: Discipleship: The Mission is Not Finished - Discipleship is the state of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. So, what then is a disciple? A disciple is simply a follower or a student of Jesus Christ. When we bring in the depth of New Testament teaching on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, we can expand the definition of a disciple of Jesus to be someone who is 1) following Jesus, 2) being changed by Jesus, and is 3) committed to the mission of Jesus (Matthew 4:19).

Study Resource: Bible Reading Plans

Study Resource: Authentic Church: 14-Week Reading Plan - This is a weekly reading plan through the book of Acts and other relevant scripture for this sermon series.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): February 22

Study Resource: Saul’s Encounter with Jesus - It is plain that what happened on the Damascus road was no isolated mystical experience, no mere “flash” of insight or intellectual conviction, but a personal encounter, the beginning of a personal relationship which became the dominating passion of his life.

Study Resource: Following Paul – Following Jesus - In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul told the Christians in Corinth, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (NIV). So, as people who want to be better disciples of Jesus, let’s look at the example Paul sets for us as he made it his goal to follow Christ. Along the way, we will find multiple marks of a disciple of Jesus.

Study Resource: Paul: A Brief Biography - Paul’s impact: His attacks on the church prompted the first missionary activities. His conversion and subsequent preaching transformed the Jewish messianic movement into a universal religion. His intellectual genius was embedded in his thirteen N.T. letters which became a cornerstone for church doctrine and polity. Next to Jesus, he stands as the greatest founder of Christianity.

Study Resource: Saul’s Conversion: A Poem - This is a poem Malcom Guite wrote about Paul’s conversion - the link also has him reading it aloud. (If you’ve never heard him read before, it’s a treat!)

Study Resource: Bible Reading Plans

Study Resource: A Lent Playlist: Spotify - This is a good mix of trusted, and sometimes unique, artists.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): February 15

Study Resource: Avoid Pride & Choose Humility: A Brief Article - What does it mean that “pride cometh before a fall”? Pride is inordinate self-exaltation. Because it forgets God and distorts reality, pride puffs us up only to eventually burst, as pride leads to destruction, lowliness, disgrace, and strife. Because pride is so destructive, we ought to oppose it in our lives. Here are three practical ways you can fight against personal pride.

Study Resource: Philip’s Ministry: A Topical Study - One significant figure in the dissemination of faith in Christ is Philip, one of the seven deacons chosen to serve the early Christian community in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5). His evangelistic efforts, particularly in Samaria and with the Ethiopian eunuch, highlight the transformative power of faith through the preaching of the Gospel.

Study Resource: Serving the Lord: A Must Read - Serving God is what we were made to do as his creatures, but our service has been corrupted by our sin and rebellion which has rendered us unable to please him. An important part of the gospel is that in Jesus Christ we can begin to serve God again. Serving the Lord should be our privilege and delight.

Video Resource: Service in the Local Church: A Brief Video - This video outlines three primary reasons why Christians should be active in serving their local church: Obedience to God, Use of Spiritual Gifts, and Building Community.

Study Resource: Serve in Children’s Ministry: A Must Read - Want the gates of hell to tremble? Here’s an idea: serve in your church’s children’s ministry. Some of the benefits of serving in children’s ministry are obvious. The Lord uses it to help kids hear and respond to the gospel. When you serve in children’s ministry, you’re not just serving children; you’re serving the people who bring those children.

Study Resource: Authentic Church: 14-Week Reading Plan - This is a weekly reading plan through the book of Acts and other relevant scripture for this sermon series.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): February 8

Video Resource: Why Should Christians Serve? A 5-min Video - Take time to view this compelling 5-minute video about serving one another.

Video Resource: Service in the Local Church: A Brief Video - This video outlines three primary reasons why Christians should be active in serving their local church: Obedience to God, Use of Spiritual Gifts, and Building Community.

Study Resource: Serve in Children’s Ministry: A Must Read - Want the gates of hell to tremble? Here’s an idea: serve in your church’s children’s ministry. Some of the benefits of serving in children’s ministry are obvious. The Lord uses it to help kids hear and respond to the gospel. When you serve in children’s ministry, you’re not just serving children; you’re serving the people who bring those children.

Study Resource: “Seek First the Kingdom of God” – An Article - When Jesus starts preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom, he envisions the fulfillment of God’s long-standing promise to eradicate corruption and death—to completely renew creation and forever establish a world where you love everyone and you know that everyone loves you.

Video Resource: Stephen's Spirit-Filled Witness: Acts 6:8-15 - This video provides a direct commentary on Acts 6:8-15 and specifically breaks down the "ugly tactics" and strategies used by the enemy to try and stop the gospel message.

Study Resource: Authentic Church: 14-Week Reading Plan - This is a weekly reading plan through the book of Acts and other relevant scripture for this sermon series.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): February 1

Study Resource: Definition of Grace: An Article - This is a thought-provoking article about God’s grace and ways grace interacts with us.

Video Resource: Grace is Greater: A Study by Kyle Idleman - We've all experienced failures, bitterness, or setbacks. We carry unseen burdens that rob us of joy, keep us from praying, and even cause us to doubt God. Even when it doesn't make sense. Even when it doesn't feel fair. God's grace covers everything we've done. And the best way (perhaps the only real way) to understand it, is to experience it.

Study Resource: Abused Grace: A Study - This is an enlightening word-phrase study by Bible Hub concerning what it means to pervert grace in context, modern ways grace gets twisted, why it matters, establishing guardrails, and living out true grace.

Study Resource: Abiding in Grace: Scripture & Commentary - As believers, we are called to abide in grace and remain in Jesus. This is a review of John 15:1-27 where we hear Jesus' words calling us to surrender. The verses are followed by commentary for deeper study and understanding.

Study Resource: Authentic Church: 14-Week Reading Plan - This is a weekly reading plan through the book of Acts and other relevant scripture for this sermon series.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): January 25

Video Resource: Jesus’ Compassion: Healing a Leper - Check out this brief video from The Chosen, which presents a beautiful view of Jesus's compassion.

Study Resource: Jesus-Centered Gospel: 3-Part Study - Do you love good theology? No matter how theologically meticulous we may be, nothing compares to actually knowing and experiencing the love of God in Christ. This 3-part course from J.D. Greear, Greg Gilbert, and Trevin Wax explores what happens when Christians become so focused on “the gospel” that they forget about Jesus.

Study Resource: Opposition? God Does Not Give Us a Spirit of Fear - God does not give us a spirit of fear: Paul told Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God.”

Study Resource:Internal Opposition? Endurance in Jesus - We have two Mighty Sources of strength for courage: The Holy Spirit and the Word.

Study Resource: Holy Boldness: A Brief Study - Holy boldness refers to the courage and confidence in faith that believers are called to exhibit, rooted in a deep trust in God and His promises. Jesus Christ, throughout His earthly ministry, exemplified this boldness.

Study Resource: Boldness: 100 Bible Study Verses - Check out these 100 bible verses about boldness to enhance your study this week.

Study Resource: Authentic Church: 14-Week Reading Plan - This is a weekly reading plan through the book of Acts and other relevant scripture for this sermon series.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): January 18

Video Resource: Devoted Worshiper: A Brief Video by Francis Chan

Study Resource: Simple Ways to Share the Gospel - This is a clear and brief article with helpful insights and tips that we can all benefit from.

Study Resource: Four Disciple Making Essentials: An Article - Disciple making is to help a person place his or her faith in Jesus Christ (evangelism, conversion) and then to help him or her form their life around Jesus—becoming more and more like him (sanctification, maturation). Disciple making includes both parts.

Study Resource: Family Worship at Home: A 6-Session Series - A six-episode series of ready-made Family Worship Moments from Dave and Jess Ray, creators of Doorpost Songs. Each episode includes a theme verse, song videos, hand motions, and short, interactive teaching moments. Download the included Family Worship Guide PDF, the companion resource for parents, which includes memory verses, devotions, follow up questions, and prayer ideas.

Study Resource: Authentic Church: 14-Week Reading Plan - This is a weekly reading plan through the book of Acts and other relevant scripture for this sermon series.

Study Resource: Strategies for Memorizing Scripture - If you are interested in learning how to practically memorize scripture, please take a few minutes to review my strategies. By Rob Thompson

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): January 11

Video Resource: Who is the Holy Spirit: A Francis Chan Teaching - This is a reverent 16-minute video by author and pastor Francis Chan concerning the essence of the Holy Spirit.

Video Resource: The Coming of the Holy Spirit: A Brief Video - This is a descriptive 12-minute video by author and pastor Francis Chan regarding the gift of the Holy Spirit as promised in the Book of Acts.

Study Resource: Precious Promise: The Outpouring of God’s Spirit - A sermon transcript on what the outpouring of the Holy Spirit means for us by John Piper.

Video Resource: Outpouring of the Holy Spirit: A 5-Session Study - What happens when the power of the One who created the universe gets placed inside a group of people? What transpires when the power of the One who raised the dead to life fills a church? This is what we see in Acts, chapter 2. As you go through this 5-session group study, you will be transported to the first days of the Church of Jesus Christ and witness their ignition and unleashing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Study Resource: The Good Way: Led by the Spirit - Practicing spiritual habits (i.e., disciplines) is an important way we develop our relationship with the Lord. We proactively come under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit through earnest and daily times of prayer, bible study, and communion with Jesus.

Study Resource: Authentic Church: 14-Week Reading Plan - This is a weekly reading plan through the book of Acts and other relevant scripture for this sermon series.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): January 4

Study Resource:   Authentic Church: 14-Week Reading Plan

Study Resource: Jesus-Centered: His Primary Message - “I understood the Great Commission to essentially mean, go everywhere with the gospel and make disciples by teaching people to believe and obey what Jesus taught. Apparently, Jesus wanted many to become His disciples, plant new faith communities, and reproduce His life in others. This message and multiplication process seems simple enough, but it wasn’t what I observed happening” (G. W. Steel).

Study Resource: Jesus’ Church: A Study Guide- This is a short answer study guide produced by Rob Thompson to accompany this sermon series.

Study Resource: Evidence for the Truth: A 7-Session Study- Some people seem to choose their beliefs about God, reality, and religion based on popular soundbites or what’s most convenient. But is there more to it than that? Why do Christians believe that Christianity is actually true? In this 7-part series, Dave Mann considers the evidence and invites the audience to come ‘behind the veil’, to hear why hundreds of millions believe this faith to be objectively true.

Study Resource: Led by the Spirit: 5 Ways to Listen  - Many people assume that the only “real” world is the one that they can observe with their five senses. Yet the Bible teaches that there is another reality just as real. Although invisible, this reality is where the Holy Spirit, Satan, and demons operate and exercise their influence on people. The spiritual world is the invisible world, called the heavenly realm in Scripture (Ephesians 6:12), where there is conflict, as spiritual forces influence our human lives.

Study Resource: Led by the Spirit: 5 More Ways to Listen- We are told throughout the New Testament that the alternative to walking in sinful ways and in the same old errors of the world is to be led by the Holy Spirit. But amid all the noise of everyday life, how do we listen to the Spirit’s guidance? In a previous article, I described five ways to listen to the Holy Spirit (click here). Continuing our list, here are five more ways.

Study Resource: God’s Global Family: A Bible Project Podcast - Jesus unites his followers across cultural and ethnic lines as members of his global family. But that doesn’t mean cultural differences disappear. In fact, Jesus resurrects and glorifies what is unique and beautiful about every culture. In this episode, listen in as Tim and Jon discuss what it means to be part of the family of God.