Top Gun: Maverick

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
- Genesis 3:1

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The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”  
- Genesis 2:15-17

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But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied , “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was open, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered - “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against the stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
- Matthew 3:13-4:11

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Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
- Matthew 4:8-11

Mixer

How will you be celebrating Independence Day this July 4?

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Neighborly - Daily Devotional

To get the Daily Devotionals delivered to you every morning, text ‘dailydevotional’ to 97000.

1. In Director of Counseling and Groups, Som’s, 6/22/22 entry, He Is King, she states that we can be both heartbroken and hopeful. How can you apply what Psalm 45:6-7 says about your King to your circumstances? What promises do you see in this psalm that are for YOU and that give you hope that you will get to “the other side” of your current heartbreak?
2. In Pastor Sean’s, 6/24/22 entry, Clap Your Hands, he reminds us of the beauty the psalmist sees in clapping for the LORD. Pastor Sean encouraged each of us to try it - either in your heart or out loud. How can you approach your own worship to the LORD, or the way your family worships Him? Imagine what our Worship Center could look like on Sunday mornings if all hands were raised - or clapping?

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Sermon Questions

Scriptures: Genesis 3:1, Genesis 2:15-17; Matthew 3:13-4:11

1. What impacted or challenged you in today’s message?
2. Similar to film sequels like Maverick, the Bible shows us a repeating theme of what it is like to be human. What Old Testament stories does your life seem to parallel? In the movie, Maverick emerges as the hero; in reality, how does Jesus bring you hope that a hero is showing up for you?
3. Pastor Jared said sometimes the Spirit’s work is to lead us into the desolate places. What is God’s purpose for doing so? How do you tend to step into a wilderness moment? How might your approach change knowing Jesus has gone before you?
4. What do we need to understand about the accuser we face in our times of struggle? Like with Adam & Eve, and the temptation of Jesus, what are the strategies the accuser uses against you? Why do you think they seem to work so well on you?
5. From your own life, can you identify these same three temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness? How can you use the truth of your identity to resist the voice of the accuser as Jesus did?
   • Temptation to be Relevant - What does God have to say about your performance?
   • Temptation to be Spectacular - What does God say about your worth?
   • Temptation to be Powerful - What does God say about the power you already have?
6. As a group, define the identity that God wants you to live out of. What can living with the breath of God in you make you triumphant in the war between good and evil? Who stands to benefit?

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Serve

Check out our summer + ongoing Impact Serving Opportunities!

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Pray

Join us in praying God’s blessing over our nation this week as we celebrate Independence Day. True freedom and unity only come through Christ’s work on the cross. Let us praise Him! Amen.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,
and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14