Know Grow Show

20240107 EPIPHANY Jesus - A Threat or A Treasure?

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow The Passage: Matthew 2:1-12 (also Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7,10-14) The One Thing: Jesus: a Threat or a Treasure? Know K1 What did you hear God say to you through the message? Grow G1 Motivation of the Magi: In Matthew 2:1-2, the Magi are motivated to travel a great distance to find and worship the newborn King. What do you think drove them to undertake such a journey, and how does their commitment inspire us in our own spiritual journey today? G2 The Significance of the Star: The Magi followed a star that led them to Jesus. In what ways do you think the star served as a sign or symbol in this narrative? How might God use signs or symbols in our lives today to guide us in our faith? G3 Response of King Herod: King Herod's reaction to the news of a newborn king was one of fear and deceit. How does Herod's response contrast with the Magi's attitude? What can we learn from this about the different ways people react to the message of Jesus? G4 Gifts of the Magi: The Magi presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. Each of these gifts has symbolic significance. What do you think these gifts represent, and how might the Magi's choice of gifts reflect their understanding of who Jesus was? G5 Worship and Obedience: The Magi worshipped Jesus upon finding Him. How does their act of worship demonstrate their recognition of Jesus' divine nature? In what ways can we emulate the Magi's response in our own lives through acts of worship and obedience to Jesus? Show S1 Who is Jesus to you? A Threat? A Treasure? A Trinket? Talk to him about it. *Questions created by ChatGPT

20231231 NEW YEARS EVE - Acknowledge 2023. Anticipate 2024.

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow Meditative Music from William Augusto https://www.youtube.com/@SoakinginHisPresence The Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 The One Thing: Acknowledge 2023. Anticipate 2024. Know K1 Describe your experience of 2023 in 3 words. Describe your hopes for 2024 in 3 words.
Grow G1 Eccl. 3:1-8 | Would you describe the writer as fatalistic? What do you think the writer is trying to achieve through setting out this list? G2 Eccl. 3:1-8 | Is there anything in this list that you particularly wrestle with or struggle with? Are there any items here that you don’t understand? G3 Eccl. 3:1-8 | Go through and try to list which are positive and which are negative for each dual phrase (eg “a time to be born” is positive; “a time to die” is negative). G4 Eccl. 3:1-8 | Revisit your list and see if you can think of a positive way to look at the negatives or a negative way to look at the positives. For example, when might “keeping” be a negative action and when might “throwing away” be a positive action? How does this change how you read this familiar passage? G5 Eccl. 3:10-11 | The writer talks about the experience of life being both a burden and beautiful. How can this be? Can something be both a burden and beautiful at the same time? What might be an example? G6 Eccl. 3:13 | Eating and drinking – this is a gift from God. Satisfaction in toil – this is a gift from God. Which do you find harder to accept as a gift? How could you grow in this area? Show S1 How can you look for the eternal in the everyday as you go into 2024 (think of specific examples like your job, your home, your significant relationships)?

20231224 CHRISTMAS EVE - Jesus, the sum of all that is good

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow The Passage: Isaiah 9:2-7 The One Thing: Jesus, the Sum of All That Is Good

20231217 ADVENT Make Some Noise - Prayer + gratitude = joy.

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow The Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 The One Thing: Prayer + gratitude = joy.

20231210 - ADVENT Make Some Noise - Rewild Your Heart

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow The Passage: Mark 1:1-8 The One Thing: Rewild Your Heart Growgroup Discussion Starters Know K1 What did you sense the Holy Spirit saying to you through today’s message (or the gathering as a whole)? Grow G1 There was pent up frustration within the nation of Israel accompanied by hopeful longing for something better when John the Baptist burst onto the scene. For us, what modern event might compare with John the Baptist’s arrival in 1st century Judea?*G2 Why did God do so much work in Biblical people’s lives “in the wilderness”? What is the connection between the outdoors and meeting with God? What options are there for people with limited mobility? G3 In what way do you think our addiction to entertainment and pain-free existing is doing real damage to our souls? G4 How civilized / wild is your heart? What does it mean to rewild your heart? G5 What is ONE thing you can do to create some wild time for your soul this Advent / Christmas season? Hint: you will need to be intentional and set some boundaries. G6 What is repentance and how is it a precursor to the coming of Christ? As you prepare for Jesus’ arrival are there ways in which you need to turn your life around (take some time to reflect on this in silence)?* Show S1 If you’re a reader, check out the book Resilient by John Eldredge. If you’re less of a reader, check out the “30 Days to Resilient” journey on the (completely free) Pause app. https://www.pauseapp.com/

20231203 - ADVENT Make Some Noise - Now In A Minute

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow The Passage: Mark 13:24-37 The One Thing: Now In A Minute Growgroup Discussion Starters Know K1 “Now in a minute” is a typical Welsh phrase. Can you think of any Canadian phrases that might sound strange to outsiders? Grow G1 Mark 13:24-37 uses apocalyptic language that modern ears are unused to hearing. How does Jesus’ description of the cosmic catastrophes that will accompany his return strike you? Are these visions simply employed as dramatic descriptions of his arrival or should we expect a shaking of the heavens replete with falling stars and a veil of darkness? G2 Jesus calls his followers to keep their eyes open, to stay awake, and to be vigilant in their watch for him. In what ways do we do this? In what ways do we neglect this? G3 What are some Christian practices that we might employ to be prepared for Jesus’ return? G4 What role might intentional action play in keeping watch, i.e. how do we actively participate in seeing God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven? G5 Although the church has historically linked Advent with both the incarnation of God and the return of the Son of Man, many of us, in practice, celebrate it as a build up to the arrival of Christmas. G6 What might Advent look like for us if it became a watchful waiting for the return of Jesus? How might that reform our practices in Advent?* Show S1 When it is all said and done, does it really matter to our daily life that Jesus promised to return? With over two millennia of pacing back and forth, looking at the clock, and towards the heavens, has the church given up on his return? Should the church give up on his return? If it did, how might that impact its faith in the here-and-now? Why might it be crucial to our faith to expect Jesus to make good on his promise?* *https://thepastorsworkshop.com/yearb23-advent-1/

20231126 The Other Side - Powered Up But Grounded

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow The Passage: Ephesians 1:15-23 The One Thing: Powered Up But Grounded
Ephesians 1:15-23 Flowchart
Growgroup Discussion Starters
Know K1 What did God say to you through today’s teaching? Grow G1 1:15 Read the start of Paul’s letters and see how many of them start with this “grateful for you” and “praying for you” connection. Why do you think Paul uses this motif so often? G2 How has your view of Heaven / the Kingdom of Heaven changed throughout this series? G3 How helpful was the infographic in tracing God’s commitment to our spiritual growth? Was there anything that surprised you or stuck with you? G4 1:17 | The Trinity are committed to you knowing God better. How committed are you [From 1 (hardly at all) to 10 (extremely)?] What does this tell you? G5 1:18 How enlightened are the eyes of your heart to hope, inheritance and power (read the verse for full context)? Which is your biggest need right now? G6 1:19-20 / 2:6-7 | What does it mean to you that you are NOW seated in the heavenly realms with Christ Jesus? G7 1:22 | This verse seems to indicate that Jesus rules everything FOR the sake of the Church. How important is the Church, do you think, in matters of global history? Show S1 Prayerfully trace through the flowchart, and focus in on a word / phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights. Meditate on that verse until it becomes part of your being.

20231119 The Other Side - Be Alert. Your Country Needs Lerts.

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow The Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 The One Thing: Be alert. Your country needs lerts. Growgroup Discussion Starters Know K1 What did God say to you through today’s teaching? Grow G1 1 Thess 5:5-6 | What is the connection between our identity and how we behave? Which statement is more accurate: (1) we behave we belong (2) we belong because we behave? G2 Are you prepared for when the Day of the Lord comes, or is it going to surprise you? G3 1 Thess. 5:8 | Is the faith and love and hope (also 1 Cor 13: 13) we to wear as armour OUR faith and love and hope, or the faith and love and hope of JESUS? Explain your reasoning. G4 1 Thess 5:6-7 | The two alternatives to being awake or alert are sleep and intoxication. How are they different? G5 Are you fully awake? Are you living in the day? G6 1 Thess 5:11 | How important is community to being alert / staying awake? Show S1 Take some time and read Luke 12:37. What is awaiting those who are “alert”? Linger in this image that this verse paints?

20231106 The Other Side - Encourage Each Other With Truth

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow The Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 The One Thing: Encourage each other with truth Growgroup Discussion Starters Know K1 What did God say to you through today’s teaching? Grow G1 Revelation 11:15 talks about this world becoming the kingdom of Jesus. Do you think we take verses like this seriously enough? Why or why not? G2 Discuss the idea of the Kingdom of Heaven being wherever Jesus Christ reigns, rather than a place where we go to when we die. How does this impact your outlook on life? G3 Paul roots his encouragement of an anxious church in two things: the Cross (v14) and the Bible (v15). Why are these two so fundamental to staying encouraged? Why do we so often overlook them? G4 Dan explained that meeting Christ in the clouds (v17) does not mean “go away to heaven forever”, instead it means “meet Jesus there as his welcoming party, get transformed (1 Cor 15:52) and come back to the New Earth with Jesus forever”. Do you find this image compelling? G5 If the New Earth is our forever home, how should this impact how we live now? Do you think the New Earth will be recognizable? How might things have changed? G6 What does it mean to “encourage each other with these words” (v 17)? Show S1 For further reading: Surprise by Hope (NT Wright) or really anything by NT Wright (check out his podcast – “Ask NT Wright anything”). Heaven / Heaven for Kids (Randy Alcorn). The Heaven Promise (Scot McKnight). The Unseen Realm (Michael Heiser). Also check out his other book Supernatural which is a more popular version of The Unseen Realm. What If Jesus Was Serious About Heaven (Skye Jethani) – this is a great summary and introduction to this topic.

20231106 The Other Side - The Other Side of the Curtain

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow The Passage: Revelations 7:9-17 The One Thing: The other side of the curtain Growgroup Discussion Starters Know K1 What did God say to you through today’s teaching? Grow G1 7:9 | Think about how disunited our world is, or even our churches. How does the vision of a united international church strike you? G2 Someone asks you to explain what heaven is. What do you say? G3 Today is All Saints Day. How does the popular understanding of a saint differ from a Biblical saint? G4 7:11-12 | What grabs you most about the scene in Revelation 7: the saints before the throne? God on the throne? The angels around the throne? The Lamb in the centre of the throne? What does the throne being the focal point communicate to you as you live your life? G5 7:17 | Jesus is both shepherd and the Lamb. How are these both important aspects to Jesus’ character and calling? G6 Luke 17:20-21 | Dan talked about how the heavens and earth are dimensions that are closer than we think (even overlap) rather than two geographic locations far away from each other (also see https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/heaven-and-earth/). How does this understanding of “heaven and earth” affect how we live now and where we will live when we die? Show S1 7:11-12 | When you’re on your own, speak out the 7-fold blessing to God (“Amen! PRAISE and GLORY and WISDOM and THANKS and HONOUR and POWER and STRENGTH be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”). Say it 10 times over and see how it affects your emotional / mental state.