Sunday May 26, 2024

  1. If Nehemiah and the wall-builders built 2.5 miles of wall in 52 days without today’s construction tools…how many feet of day had to be built? How does that relate to us here at BE Free through our transition?

2. How is Nehemiah a type or illustration of Christ? How do we see the Gospel at work illustrated in Nehemiah?

3. Read Nehemiah 7:4 About what should the wall builders be commended? Read Haggai 1:2-10 What does this passage say about previous teams in Jerusalem decades earlier? Has comfort become a god in culture? In church culture? Why or why not?

4. Why did Jerusalem need to prosper commercially for God “to bless the nations”?

5. What are the 3 legs to biblical discipleship in the local church? Does BE Free have 3 legs of discipleship? Why or why not?

6. Read Heb 12:1-2 How important is it for us to pass on faithfulness and godliness? Could that be a reason we have a cloud of observers? What is the danger of just soaking up truth but not passing it on to the lost or to the next generation?

Sunday May 19, 2024

  • After learning the financial connection Sanballet had and the advantage he had if Jerusalem stayed unbuilt…was his hatred of Nehemiah personal or other? Why or why not? Is opposition against us always about us? What does that tell us?
  • Read Neh 6:1-3 Why was Sanballat trying to distract Nehemiah? Does Satan try to distract us? How? Why?
  • How can obeying God have eternal ramifications? Other Bible
  • Why was focusing on rebuilding Jerusalem way back then important to the Gospel story?  What does that teach us today?
  • As we rebuild who we are as a church and re-do our vision as part of transition what should our attitude be about what God is rebuilding in us?
  • Who we are as BE Free: PVV: purpose values and vision….Read them
  • Our Purpose is to present Christ as Savior and pursue Him as Lord
     
  • Vision
    As intentional Christ Followers, we are transformed as we grow in our love for God, His Word, and people so that we are equipped and eager to share God’s story of His love in the Shoreline community and beyond.
     
  • Values
    We love God & people.
     We are Word-driven
    We are Holy Spirit-dependant
     We seek courage to innovate
    We strive for intentional discipleship
    Pray over these important guides to our future

Sunday May 5, 2024

  1. Have you ever had a hard job that the longer you did it the harder it was to have a good attitude? How did that turn out?
    2.     Read Nehemiah 2:19-20  How did the local Welcome Wagon treat Nehemiah and his group?  Read Nehemiah 4:1-3 Have you ever been treated poorly or worse by people who really did not even know you? How did you handle it?
    3.     Read Nehimiah 4:1  Is it true that if you do the right thing and treat people right that it will go well then? Why or why not?
    4.     Why do people….many times church people hate change or just avoid change? Is that spiritually healthy to do? Why or why not?
    5.     Can you rebuild broken walls without experiencing change? Can you grow in the Lord without experiencing change? Read Ephesians 6:12-13 and 2 Cor 10:3-5  Can you grow in the Lord and avoid spiritual struggles at the same time? Why or why not?
  2. 6. Read Matthew 5:43-46  As we are misunderstood, judged and criticized  how does Jesus want us to handle it? Read Nehemiah 4:10-11, 14
    How did they handle opposition….alone or shoulder to shoulder?

Sunday April 14, 2024

  • Nehemiah 2:2 tells us that Nehemiah was afraid.
  • What are the types of situations in life that tend to personally cause you anxiety and fear?
  • Outside of prayer, what is your typical reaction when things are not “good” in life, when something difficult occurs?
  • In Nehemiah 2:1-4, how would you describe Nehemiah’s communication to the king?
  • Do you find it difficult to communicate and articulate what you’re feeling or what you would like?
  • What makes it difficult for you to communicate?
  • In Nehemiah 1:4 and Nehemiah 2:4 it indicates that Nehemiah prayed. Are you in a regular habit of praying? What makes it difficult or challenging for you to pray?
  • In Nehemiah 2:11-13, why do you think Nehemiah acted at night? What does this speak to us about our decision making?

Sunday April 28, 2024

  • Have you ever wanted to be a part of something bigger than yourself? What did that look like?
  • 2. We all have walls that are in disrepair. What are some walls that can be in disrepair in someone’s life?
  • 3. Read Nehemiah 2:12-13 Did Nehemiah charge through Jerusalem at a full gallop to inspect the broken walls? Can inspecting our disrepair be done at the speed of life? Why or why not?
  • 4. Read Nehemiah 2:16-17 Why do people tend to to work harder at hiding the holes in their walls than repairing them?
  • 5. Read Nehemiah 2:18 Why must change begin with resolve to do so? Read James 4:17 Is resolve alone enough? Why or why not?
  • 6. Read James 4:5-10 Is life change in a person or in a church easy work? Why or why not? What jumps out at you in verses 5-10 as essential to changing and growing into Christ?

Sunday April 7, 2024

  • 1.     Have you ever heard the statement- The only thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history. What does that mean? Examples in history?  How would this apply to Israel in the OT ?  Would this apply to your life anywhere?
  • 2.     Read Neh 1:1-4   How did Nehemiah react to the news of brokenness in Jerusalem? Why did he react that way?  What does that say to us today with brokenness all around us?
  • 3.     6 generations of Jerusalem inhabitants lived amidst dirty rubble, broken down walls, and charred wood. Why were people living among filth and rubble with broken down walls in disrepair? 
  • 4.     What are ways people become accustomed to broken walls disrepair and rubble in their life?  Why does this happen?
  • 5.     As Followers of Christ are we quicker to condemn and write off someone’s failures than we are to pray and hurt for someone who lives with brokenness and rubble in their life?
  • 6.     Read Neh 1:4  Why did Nehemiah pray and do nothing?  Why is that important?  What does our nature want to do when problems come?
  • 7.     Read Neh 1:6-8   How was this passage different from the “non-apology apology”?   What is the take away from this passage for us as a church and individually right now?

Sunday March 31, 2024

What are your family Easter traditions? How have they changed through the years?

Read Matthew 28:1-8 How is the resurrection possible? Was it just His spirit that revived…or bodily? Is that important? Why? Read Eph 1:19

Do you think physical pain was the great agony of the cross, or was there another agony even greater?

Read Rom 8:11 How was Jesus raised from the dead and what does that mean for followers of Jesus?

Did you ever have an etch a sketch when you were a kid? How does it illustrate the power of Jesus to cancel our sin-debt?

Read Phil 3:13 How does the resurrection allow us to move forward in life? Read John 19:30 It is finished….what was finished on the cross and empowered by the resurrection?

Sunday March 24, 2024

1.   Read Matthew 21:1-11   Why did Jesus consent to ride into town on a donkey and let people cheer Him when He had been so private about healing?  Why not ride a stallion instead of a donkey?
2.   Who did the disciples and followers think the Messiah was going to defeat?  Did Jesus have higher plans? 
3.   Read Matthew 21:7-11 Why was Jesus not a politician?  Are we still trying to turn Him into one today?  Is that good or bad?
4.   In what ways do we find ourself uber attached to this little k kingdom of the temporary? In what ways are we attached to His Kingdom? Which has more priority?
5.   Read John 18:11, John 12:49, Mark 14:35-36  What role did submission by Jesus play in Jesus’ last week leading to His crucifixion?  Jesus submitted to death even the death of the cross! What does this say to us in our daily life?

  1.   Read Mark 14:27-31   Why did the disciples think they would not  flee away, and deny Jesus?  What does that say about Believers? How do we flee from Him in these days?

Sunday, March 17, 2024

1. In your Christian experience, were you ever taught the doctrine of the Trinity? Why
do you think Trinitarian teaching is lacking in churches?
2. How do you respond to the denial or attacks on Trinity?
3. Recount three illustrations or metaphors of the Trinity. How does each one contribute to understanding the Trinity? How does each detract?
4. How would you explain the Trinity to someone?
5. How do you work through the Tension of God is One and Three Persons, and the mystery of it?
6. What other insights did you get from the message or when you consider the Trinity?

Sunday, March 10, 2024

  1. Who or what does our world worship today?
  2. Read Ex 20:3-5 Is God sinning when He says He is a jealous God? Why is it sin when we get jealous?
  3. Read Rev 4:8, 11. Why is it right to give worship to God? Can you worship w/o loving?
  4. Read Eph 5: 17-19 How is worship a mark of identity for a Believer?
  5. Read Rom 12:1 How can choosing to be kind or deleting the porn invite on the computer be an act of worship? Why?
  6. Read Matthew 15:8-9. What must our worship avoid? Have you ever been guilty of this? Will the Father accept it?

Sunday, March 3, 2024

  1.  What is your favorite scripture? Why?
  2.   Let’s list some reasons why we believe the Bible is God’s Word?
  3. Read Hebrews 11:1-3,6  Can you see, touch, feel, or taste faith? What makes it faith?
  4.  Read Rom 1:18-19  God has chosen to reveal Himself two ways. What are they?
  5.  Read 2 Tim 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21. What makes the Bible to be alive and vibrant after all these years?
  6.  Jesus fulfilled perfectly prophecies concerning Himself. As in 1 in 10 to the 157th power.  Power Ball odds are 1in 392 million. What does this say about Bible accuracy?
  7.  Read Heb 4:12, Ps 119:105  As Believers should we worship the Bible, or honor it by reading and obeying it?  Why or why not?

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Eph 2:1-10
2 Cor 5:17-21

  • How does recognizing our spiritual deadness before God’s intervention shape our identity in Christ?
  • How do worldly behaviors and attitudes affect our identity as believers? How can we maintain an identity rooted in Christ in today’s culture?
  • How does looking at Identity in God give us our potential, purpose, and opportunity to shape our self-view?
  • How does understanding God’s mercy shape our identity as recipients of His grace?
  • How can we live out our identity as God’s workmanship created for good works? If we are created to do good work, what holds us back from doing good work?
  • What other insight did you get from the sermon?

Sunday, February 18, 2024

  1. In a recent poll 4 out of 10 Christians do not believe the devil is real. 2 out of 10 said they agree somewhat and 8% do not know for sure. What does that poll say to you. Do you agree or disagree with it? Why?

2. Read Matthew 4:1-11 Does Jesus believe satan is real? How did Jesus defeat him?

3. Read Ezekiel 28:12-17  What was Lucifer’s role before he fell into sin? Now read Is 14:12-15 What did sin cost Lucifer? What can we learn from this?

4. Is Satan all-powerful, all seeing and all knowing like God? (hint-satan is a created being)

5. What are 3 ways Satan tries to tempt us or trick us? How does satan appeal to our physical needs?

6. What role does reading and knowing scripture play in us overcoming our temptations? How does prayer help too? 

7. How can we be a hard target and not a soft target for satan? Where will God put satan and his demons one day?

Sunday, February 11, 2024

  1. What are songs and hymns we sing about heaven?
  1. Read John 14:1-3 How does this scripture describe heaven? Is it a mansion we receive?
  2. Read Rev 21:1-4 Describe heaven with God there…is He active? How so?
  3. Is hell real? Why do people joke about hell?
    5 read Luke 16: 19-31 How does Jesus describe hell?
  4. What makes hell so horrible?
    Hint- its about God
  5. How has God provided a rescue from hell?

Sunday, February 11, 2024

  1. Who are pastors/elders who have impacted your life as a Believer?
  2. Read Titus 1:5-9. Read 1 Tim 3:1-7 what requirements stand out to you as you compare passages?
  3. What stands out as not being a biblical requirement of elders?
  4. Why has cancel culture, doubt & mistrust come into the church culture in America? Do we see it outside the church? Where? What can be done about it?
  5. Read John 10:11-14. How is a shepherd different from a hireling? How does that apply in the church today?
  6. Will you set aside time pray for your pastors and elders each week? We appreciate it!

Sunday, January 21, 2024

  • What is the Church? How do you answer this?
  • In a poll 88% of non-attending Believers did not see church attendance as vital. Why would they feel that way? How would you answer?
  • Read Matthew 16:13-18 Is the Church important to Jesus? Why or why not?
  • Read Ephesians 2:19-22  What is the foundation of the church?Why is this vital to know?
  • Who should BE Free Church be dangerous to? How?
  • Read Ephesians 6:10-12,18  Are we in a battle with sin and evil personally only or as the Body of Christ also? Why?  According to this scripture are we at war? With whom?

Sunday January 7, 2024

Read: 1 Cor 3:1-17

  • Paul emphasizes that the only foundation is Jesus Christ. How can we ensure that we are building on this firm foundation of the person of Jesus?
  • What are some common distractions or substitutes that people or churches may unknowingly use as foundations instead of Christ?
  • The church is not a popularity contest; it’s a community centered on Christ. How have you seen churches create popularity contests instead of being focused on Christ? How are we tempted to do the same? 1 Cor 3:1-9
  • What does the unity of a Christ-centered foundation teach us instead of preference and popularity?
  • What other insights did you get from the sermon?