Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

Luke 8:42b-48
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 

⁴³ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years…

…but no one could heal her.

⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak…

…and, immediately her bleeding stopped!

⁴⁵ “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
     When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
     ⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

The God of the universe believes you are !

⁴⁷ Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 

“…

“…your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Small Group Questions

1. Have you ever had an unfriendly encounter with an animal? What happened?
2. Read the story from Matthew 9, Mark 5 and Luke 8. What details stand out to you in the different accounts? Why do they matter?
3. What do you need to stop doing in order to authentically encounter Jesus?
4. Jesus named her “daughter.” What name has God spoken over you?
5. What did you see in the mural? What was God saying to you through that detail?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?

 

Brian Behrends, Creative Pastor

Mark 2:1-12
¹ A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ² They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
     ⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
     ⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, ¹¹ “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ¹² He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Be careful what you think because your thoughts become your words.
Be careful what you say because your words become your actions.
Be careful what you do because what you do becomes your habits.
Be careful what you make a habit because what you make a habit defines your character, and your character determines your destiny.
OLD PROVERB

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Jesus’ instructions:

Small Group Questions

1. Have you ever had someone bring you closer to Jesus? What did they do, and how did it impact you?
2. How can we be more intentional about “carrying others” to Jesus in our daily lives? What does this story teach us about how to be good friends?
3. Why do you think Jesus addressed the man’s sins before healing his body?
4. What “mats” in your life are you still carrying with you, and how do they remind you of God’s grace?
5. What practical steps can you take this week to help someone encounter Jesus?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?

 

BRIAN BEHRENDS, CREATIVE PASTOR

Luke 18:18–22
¹⁸ A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
      ¹⁹ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”
      ²¹ “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
      ²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Your notes…

Luke 18:23–27
²³ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. ²⁴ Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
      ²⁶ Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
     ²⁷  Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Your notes…

Luke 19:1–10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
      ⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly
.      ⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
      ⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
      ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Your notes…

Small Group Questions

1. What do you think it means to “encounter” Jesus? How is this different from learning about or knowing him?
2. Both the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus had wealth. Why do you think one walked away sad while the other joyfully gave away his riches?
3. What do you think is the one thing that keeps most people from fully surrendering to Jesus today? Why?
4. What can we learn from Zacchaeus about responding immediately and joyfully to Jesus’ invitation?
5. In what areas of your life are you most longing to encounter Jesus right now? What steps can you take to invite him into those spaces this week?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?

 

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

NEXT STEP FOR THIS SERIES
Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don’t Deserve

Wednesday, January 8
6:30–8:00 PM in Room 215 • FREE
Register by Tuesday, January 7 at ctk.link/forgive

Your notes…

Small Group Questions

1. What are your New Year’s resolutions? If you don’t have any, why?
2. Where is your focus right now, today, in this moment?
3. What is one step you can make today to start a new journey with Jesus in 2025?
4. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?

 

Emily Jamieson, Guest Speaker

reconcile (verb)
…from Old French reconcilier (12c.) and directly from Latin reconciliare “to bring together again; regain; win over again, conciliate,” from re- “again” + conciliare “make friendly”

Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity
     between you and the woman,
     and between your offspring and hers
he will crush your head,
     and you will strike his heel.”

Isaiah 7:14 NEW KING JAMES VERSION
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6 NEW KING JAMES VERSION
For unto us a Child is born,
unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 40:3-5 NEW KING JAMES VERSION
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Malachi 3:1 NEW KING JAMES VERSION
“Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Colossians 1:21-23
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.

2 Corinthians 5:18
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

 

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15

Jesus brought with him…

The Gift of

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:9–13

The Gift of

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. ⁹ He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; ¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; ¹² as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8–12

The Gift of

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

The Gifts of the Wise Men

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1–2

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:11–12

Gold – a gift fit for a

Frankincense – a gift fit for a

Myrrh – a gift fit for a

The Gift of Jesus

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

The gift of Jesus: his and his for you

Communion Gifts

¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. ²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation… Colossians 1:19–22

¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:10–11

Small Group Questions

1. What’s the best or worst gift you have ever received?
2. How would you describe the “indescribable” gift of Jesus?
3. Reflect on the gifts offered by the characters of the Christmas story. Which one is the most meaningful to you?
4. What do the body and blood of Jesus mean to you in the context of Christmas?
5. What gift of reconciliation can you offer to Jesus this year?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?

 

Brian Behrends, Creative Pastor

2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation… 

Reconciled to

2 Corinthians 5:19-20
…that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 

Reconciled to

Reconciled to

Matthew 8:1–4
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Luke 2:10–11

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Small Group Questions

1. One week into December, how are you feeling about Christmas music?
   a. Bring it on, turn it up! b. It’s fine… I can tune it out. c. Enough already… make it stop!
2. What are some legitimate reasons people avoid reconciliation?
3. What risks did Jesus take on to reconcile humanity?
4. Have you ever had to take a personal risk to restore a relationship? How did it turn out?
5. What’s one step you can take toward reconciliation this week?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?

 

GRANT FISHBOOK, LEAD TEACHING PASTOR

The heart behind God’s creation:
“You are …” Genesis 2:16

The Fall of Mankind Genesis 3:6–10

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
      Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
      He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Since the time man chose sin,
God has been his relationship with humanity.

God’s Compassion

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21

The Foreshadowing of God’s Plan (protoevangelium)

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15

The Promise of a Reconciler

For to us a child is born,
     to us a son is given,
     and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
     Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace 
     there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
     and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
     with justice and righteousness
     from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
     will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6–7

The Plan to Reconcile

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Galatians 4:4–7

The Invitation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17–21

Be reconciled to For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10

Be reconciled to “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23–24

The Coming Fulfillment of His Promise

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

Small Group Questions

1. What was the most memorable moment of your Thanksgiving?
2. In what ways are you free because of your relationship with Jesus?
3. How did you reconcile with God? What did your salvation moment look like?
4. Why do you believe God would want us to live a life of reconciliation?
5. What does a sincere attempt at reconciliation look like in your mind and heart?
6. Who does God want you to reconcile with this Christmas?
7. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?

 

Grant Fihsbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

I don’t believe God is , ever.

For 400 years, God was .

730 years before Jesus: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2

700 years before Jesus: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

500 years before Jesus: Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

433 years before Jesus: “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:1

Human Responses When God is Quiet

– O God, do not keep silent, be not quiet, O God, be not still… Psalm 83:1

– My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Psalm 6:3

– My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Psalm 22:1

– Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Psalm 51:14

– Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Ps. 42:5a

The same king wrote Psalm 23:
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…

…your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

When you are waiting and it’s quiet, remember….

Perceived silence is not .

Quiet is an .

When you are struggling to hear what God is saying, go back to what he has .

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-18

Sometimes the longest waits are ushering in the .

There is time coming when “not yet” will be replaced with “.”

Galatians 4:4-7
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Small Group Questions

1. What are your plans for Thanksgiving?
2. How do you handle waiting?
3. How do you respond when God is quiet? Read the “Human Response” section above and all of the scriptures out loud. Is there one that resonates with you? Why?
4. Read Psalm 23. What does the God of “not yet” say to you about your journey?
5. What miracle are you waiting for? As you wait for the “right now,” what do you need to say to God about his timing?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?

 

“Wait on the Lord is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not His way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time.”

J.I. PACKER

What do we do while we wait?

We keep .

Genesis 6:13-14 (Good News Translation)
God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all people. I will destroy them completely, because the world is full of their violent deeds. Build a boat for yourself out of good timber; make rooms in it and cover it with tar inside and out.”

We keep .

Genesis 37:6-8
[Joseph] said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”
      His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

We keep .

Mark 10:46-52
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
       Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
       Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
       So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
       “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
       The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
       “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Small Group Questions

1. Have you struggled with trusting God during a waiting season? How did you get through it?
2. Why do you think God asks us to wait? Has waiting ever strengthened your faith?
3. How do you think waiting can shape our relationship with God?
4. There’s an inevitable tension between waiting patiently and waiting actively. What ways have you found to strike the right balance of trust and taking initiative?
5. What reminders of God’s faithfulness have helped you as you wait for his promises?
6. What role does community play in your ability to wait well?
7. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?