The Kingdom IS Coming What role are we playing? 2 Samuel 3 A closer look at the characters: Abner: Abner: Joab: David: There is a HUGE difference between and . Never confuse God’s with us for His with us. The best way to connect with us is the Connection Card in the bulletin. For the Digital Bulletin, visit myncc.info. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Support Our Ministry If you found this message beneficial and you would like to help continue our ministries, we would be grateful for your support. Go to northcoastchurch.com/give ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Life Group Study Questions For the week of May 22, 2022 This is our final week of the Spring Quarter. Along with an abbreviated study, you’ll take some time to reflect on your group experience and then take Communion together. You will also fill out Feedback Forms about your group experience and your plans for the fall (if you haven’t already). Life Groups will take a summer break and resume the week of September 18. Thanks for being a part of your Life Group and have a great summer! SUMMER EVENTS & CLASSES: Check out the end of this week’s Life Group Study Questions for information about summer events and classes offered on our campuses to help you stay connected and grow this summer. MY STORY Throughout our study of David, we have seen that though brave, strong and a powerful leader, the hero of the story is not David. Rather, the hero is our God who has continually shown His grace, strength, mercy, love and an invitation to follow Him! As we close the Life Group quarter, we want you to take some time to reflect on who God, the hero of the story, has been to you as you answer these two questions: Back by popular demand to close the last meeting of the Life Group year, we’d like you to find something in your house that represents who God has been to you this past year. Bring it to your group (in-person or online) and be ready to talk about it. Feel free to have fun with this, while also sharing why it is meaningful. Looking back at this past quarter and year, how has your Life Group experience encouraged, challenged or helped you follow Jesus, see how God is the hero and connect with others? Summer is just around the corner! Do you have any special plans, activities or prayer requests for the next few months? THE HOPE WE HAVE Just as David experienced God’s grace, mercy and call to obedience in following Him, we too can have the same hope and confidence as we follow Jesus. This happens when we surrender our lives daily to God’s call and leading. As you read through Psalm 145, circle anything that gives you hope in who God is and how He wants to work in your life. Psalm 145 New International Version (NIV) 1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. 2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. 5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 6 They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds. 7 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. 10 All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. 14 The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. 20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever. Looking back at what you circled, can you think of any examples of how a perspective from one of these verses has helped you or could have helped you in the past? If so, explain. Which one would be most helpful in reminding you God is at work in your life and wants to use you to make a difference in the world around you this summer? REMEMBERING All too often we want to take our life back and do it our way, but Jesus wants us to remember what He has done for us and that He is here to walk through life with us. That’s why Jesus told the disciples at the Last Supper to repeatedly come together and take Communion. Taking Communion is about remembering all Christ accomplished through His death on the cross and resurrection. It is through this sacrifice that Jesus’ grace and mercy are made available to us. This week, your Life Group will conclude by doing as the disciples did, taking Communion together. To prepare for Communion, read the following verses and reflect on Jesus’ commitment and work in your life as you follow Him. Write down a few of your thoughts about the impact each of these verses has on you. Romans 5:7-11 New International Version (NIV) 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 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. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 New International Version (NIV) 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.” John 15:12-17 New International Version (NIV) 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. Take Communion with us this week! If you are not in a Life Group and would like to take Communion with us, see this link to follow along: northcoastchurch.com/communion/ PRAYER Prayers for your group this summer: Pray that North Coast will continue to be a light in our community and help others follow Jesus. Pray for the raising up of new Life Group leaders and hosts this fall as many people return to groups or join for the first time. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Summer Events & Classes We have a variety of events and classes offered on our campuses throughout the summer, covering a range of topics including marriage, parenting, spiritual growth, mental health, finance and more! These are great ways for you to grow and/or stay connected this summer! Visit northcoastchurch.com/summer to see what's being offered on our various campuses.