Creekside Community Church
Good Works & Good News: The Significance of Loving Our City
April 28, 2024 Gabe Garcia, New City Church
Locations & Times
Creekside Community Church
951 MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577, USA
Sunday 7:00 AM
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.--Ephesians 2:10
Good Works Start with God
Good Works are a Way Humanity Reflects God
Good Works Make the Good News Believable
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.--Matthew 5:16
So What?
Good Works Start with God
Good Works are a Way Humanity Reflects God
Good Works Make the Good News Believable
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.--Matthew 5:16
So What?
For Further Thought and Discussion
Getting Started
1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
Read Ephesians 2:1-10
Read the passage aloud a few times. Read a few different translations if available. Pray!!
2. What are your initial observations or questions about the text? Take some time to rejoice in the good news!
3. What makes a work, or really anything, good? In the creation story, God declares His creation is good. What does this teach us about what is good?
4. Read verses 9 and 10 again. What’s the difference between working for salvation and doing good works because we are saved? Looking at verses 1-3, what are we capable of outside of relationship with God?
5. God had a purpose for Adam, and with that, all of humanity (Genesis 2:15 - The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.) What are God’s purposes that are meant for all Christians?
6. Can we discern what the works are that are prepared beforehand for us? How so? Is there anything that comes to mind for you specifically? How can we be accountable that we are stepping into these things? How might we need to be held accountable? (following through, trusting in God, humility, etc.)
7. Jesus talks about how our good works will naturally affect others. (Matthew 5:14-16 - 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.) How can this encourage us as we seek to do good works?
Getting Started
1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
Read Ephesians 2:1-10
Read the passage aloud a few times. Read a few different translations if available. Pray!!
2. What are your initial observations or questions about the text? Take some time to rejoice in the good news!
3. What makes a work, or really anything, good? In the creation story, God declares His creation is good. What does this teach us about what is good?
4. Read verses 9 and 10 again. What’s the difference between working for salvation and doing good works because we are saved? Looking at verses 1-3, what are we capable of outside of relationship with God?
5. God had a purpose for Adam, and with that, all of humanity (Genesis 2:15 - The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.) What are God’s purposes that are meant for all Christians?
6. Can we discern what the works are that are prepared beforehand for us? How so? Is there anything that comes to mind for you specifically? How can we be accountable that we are stepping into these things? How might we need to be held accountable? (following through, trusting in God, humility, etc.)
7. Jesus talks about how our good works will naturally affect others. (Matthew 5:14-16 - 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.) How can this encourage us as we seek to do good works?