What Do You Long For?

19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope

21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  
- Romans 8:19-22

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
- Genesis 1:31

The woman you put here with me - she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.
- Genesis 3:12

“Learning to live as a Christian is learning to live as a renewed human being, anticipating the eventual new creation in and with a world which is still longing and groaning for that final redemption.”
- N.T. Wright

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Mixer

Do you give something up for Lent? Have you had a Lent tradition?

‘Neighborly’ - Daily Devotional

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

1. In Pastor Harry’s 2/16/21 entry,​ Confidence,​ he says: ”​I heard someone say once that when you're in the will of God everything will be good, and there will never be any storms. Baloney!!!!”​ What are your thoughts about what the will of God is - and is not? Especially in light of your storms?
2. In Middle School Director, Christina Schmitter’s, 2/18/21 entry, ​Who’s In Your​ ​Circles?​, she gave us a model of what our three main relationship circles are: close friends, friends, acquaintances. Pastor Jared taught last weekend that more than conquerors figure out how to go far ​together​. As Cristina directed us, take a look at Proverbs 18:24: Where is it that you want to go and who would/should be in each circle to point you there?

Sermon Questions

Scripture: Romans 8:19-22; Genesis 1:31, 3:12

1. Pastor Ken asked this question: What do you long for? How would you answer that and why? (practical, philosophical, personal, global, etc.)
2. Read Roman 8:19-22. The Apostle Paul tells us that the creation longs for what once was. Do you? What happened in the Garden of Eden, and why does this matter to all of creation?
3. Pastor Ken challenged us with this thought: God asks ​us​ to help ​Him.​ How does that sit with you - how does it shake up (or affirm) what you think about God? Help Him to do what? Why doesn’t He just do it? How would a ‘more than conqueror’ respond?
4. As part of God’s solution to bring heaven to earth now, what is the next hill you need to take? What would be the effect on the world if that next hill is at home - with the people in your life? How would restoring peace, beauty and love in your small circle benefit the community?

Go Deeper - with Goodbook

Dr. Mark Strauss and Pastor Ken Ingold
Week 6: The Kings of Israel & Judah (1–2 Kings)

1. Southern kingdoms? What did Solomon do wrong? What did his son Rehoboam do wrong?
2. What were the measures of a bad king in Israel? What were the measures of a good king? Are there parallels to these things in our lives?
3. What role did the prophets play in relation to the king? Do you have people in your life who help to hold you accountable? Why is it important to cultivate such relationships?

*Are you joining the Goodbook Q & A Zoom on Tuesday evenings? Email ken@thechurchrb.org

Serve

Get your Table Group together and connect with each other on a service project at ​our next Good Neighbor Day, Saturday, March 20!​ Registration to open soon!

Pray

LORD, your prophet Isaiah heard your voice asking “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” LORD, I want to be part of Your solution to bring heaven to earth now and I want my answer to You to be as his: “Here am I. Send me!” That’s hard for me to say and do in my humanness. But I know that You will be faithful to equip me through Your Spirit to do what You need me to do: in my home, in my neighborhood, in my job, in my friendships, and in my world! Thank You for asking me! I submit this to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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