Read: Philippians 1:3-11; 1 Kings 19:1-9; Matthew 4:1-12

Paul is writing to a group of believers that has seen persecution and transitions, but his prayer is not that their burdens would be taken away or that they would get through another day. No, he prays that they will keep growing. It’s easy to stop doing that when our lives are consumed with the stress of today and the worry of tomorrow, and yet we see that having a long-term perspective actually helps us to navigate the hard situations we find ourselves in. When we keep growing, we realize that God is not just in the business of helping us but empowering us to accomplish great things for Him

In scripture we see God show up to people who are in distress. They come to Him broken, and He restores them. But there is always a purpose behind these encounters. God loves his children, and He wants to bless them, but the strength and hope they get is not just meant to make them feel better. It’s to empower them to keep growing and accomplish His plan in the world.

So what do we grow in?

1. UNDERSTANDING: There is always more to learn. There is more to myself, to God and to the world than I currently understand, so God invites us to keep growing in our knowledge
2. LOVE: If we don’t have love, nothing we do matters. It’s God’s love that transforms us, heals us and empowers us to live on mission. Experiencing God’s love once is not enough. We need to grow in it, letting it overflow more and more in our lives

When we are full of God’s love, our life with Jesus becomes an adventure. The struggles and hard times we walk through become testimonies that encourage others. Our love for others shows the lost world around us that Jesus really is God and that He really has got this. May we be people who are ever growing in God’s love!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Where is most of your attention these days? (problems, the future, social media, etc.) Has focusing on that been helpful or harmful?
2. Do you feel like you’re growing? If so, in what areas? If not, why not?
3. When was the last time you experienced the love of God? How did it change you?
4. Who is someone you could show God’s love to this week?

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God’s Got This! Even when we don’t.

Philippians 1:6 NLT

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

God is the one who is continuing the work. He is the one who is carrying it forward until it is finished. This work is not sustained by me or my capabilities. My strength will come and go, my motivation will ebb and flow, and there will be plot twists that will take my breath away, and through it all, God is carrying his people and his work forward until the day Jesus returns.

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:5-10

Paul, somewhat sarcastically, points out how ridiculous it is to boast in our strength. We would be better off (and more accurate) if we boasted in our weaknesses instead. In fact, our weakness is an opportunity for God to show up and show off in powerful ways.

God is not surprised by our weakness..

God is not impressed by our strength.

The story has always been about him making a way when there didn’t seem to be a way.

In a world that tells us it all depends on us, what does Jesus say?

Read: Matthew 11:28-30

God’s got this! And I can trust that he is a good and loving LORD who holds it all together.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think we try to carry everything on our own shoulders?
2. What are the areas in your life that you are relying on your own strength instead of God’s?
3. What would it look like for you to live a life of true surrender and deep trust in God?
4. Jesus invites us to come to him and he will show us how to take a real rest, to teach us how to live freely and lightly. How would you like to respond to Jesus’ invitation this week?
5. How can we respond to Jesus’ invitation as a community?

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🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
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When we step up and step in, God shows up and shows off!

Philippians 1:6 NLT

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

God is not finished yet. What God starts, He continues, and He will finish. Seasons may change, leaders may change, but God’s work does not stop. Pain, loss, and waiting often become the places where God refines us and prepares us for great purposes.

Read: Joshua 3:1-5

Standing at the edge of the Jordan River, the People of God faced an impossible situation - behind them the wilderness, ahead of them the promise, and between them a flooded river. Before God performed the miracle, Joshua gave a surprising command: “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

Consecration means setting yourself apart for God.

Consecration is positioning ourselves for what God is about to do.

Who wants to do amazing things for God? We all do, right?! But it’s kind of a trick question.

It’s not our job to do amazing things… that’s God’s job. Our job is to consecrate ourselves. And consecration always ends in the amazing.

As we step up and step in, we believe God will continue the good work He started… He’s not finished yet.

God’s Got This!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What does “consecration” look like in real life? Are there areas of your life that are hard to fully surrender to God?
2. The Israelites had to step toward the river before it parted. What’s a “Jordan River” you’re facing right now that requires faith before clarity?
3. Why do you think God often asks for preparation before providing the miracle? What might He be shaping in us during the waiting?
4. Philippians 1:6 says God is not finished yet. Where do you struggle to believe that God is still working in you?
5. How can we trust God - and step up - when leadership or circumstances change?

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Philippians 1:6 NLT

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Read: Joshua 1:1-9

Even when we can’t see it, God is always at work. God is the one who starts, continues, and finishes the good work in our lives. The “hidden seasons” are not wasted; they are where God prepares us for what’s next.

Joshua’s leadership didn’t begin when he crossed the Jordan - it began years earlier in the Tent of Meeting, staying close to God when no one was watching. In the same way, strength in public is formed in private. When God calls Joshua to lead, He doesn’t give him all the details or promise an easy road. Instead, He gives him one powerful promise: “I will be with you wherever you go.”

Moving from hiding to showing means learning to trust God step by step. We are called to:

1. Get Ready - God doesn’t wait for us to feel ready; obedience comes before confidence.

2. Don’t Wait for the Details - Faith means taking the first step even when the full plan isn’t clear.

3. Watch Out! - Stepping out in faith will include challenges, pain, and resistance.

4. Closeness is the Key - Courage flows from communion with God, not self-confidence.

5. Truth the Promise of His Presence - God’s presence, not our ability, is what sustains us.

In every season - hidden or visible - God’s promise remains the same: He is with you, and He’s not finished yet.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What does a “hidden season” look like in your life right now? How do you usually respond when it feels like nothing is happening?
2. Joshua learned closeness with God before stepping into leadership. What practices help you stay close to God when life feels uncertain or quiet?
3. “You are called not because you are ready; you are called because God is ready.” Where might God be asking you to say “yes” even though you don’t feel ready?
4. What’s one area where you’re waiting for more details before obeying God? What could it look like to take the first step of faith?
5. How does the promise “I will be with you wherever you go” change the way you face fear, transition, or the future? What would trusting that promise look like this week?

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READ: Matthew 1:18-24; Matthew 2:13-15; Matthew 2: 19-23

Joseph was a righteous man who was specifically chosen by God to fulfill a very important role in the redemptive story of the world. He did everything right, and still he found himself in the middle of hard situations. From his story we can see that:

God’s will for our lives will come with

• Sacrifice
• Problems
• Things that don’t make sense

Pursuing the will of God does not mean our life will be easy or pain free. In fact, we are promised the opposite. But that’s because God’s primary will is not about what we do, but about who we are. His primary will for our lives is that we spend time with Him and become more and more like Him. Sometimes God will intentionally walk us through hard times so we can better learn to love and depend on Him. When we do that, we will learn how to pray, find our joy in God and be grateful for what we have. According to 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 those are the things that are God’s will for our lives.

When we look again at Joseph’s story, we’ll realize that God’s will for us doesn’t only come with hardships..

God’s will for our lives also comes with

• Direction
• Provision
• Purpose

No matter what road God takes us on we can trust that He’s always working out a bigger plan than what we could ever come up with. He sees beyond what we can see so we can trust Him. He’s got this!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In what ways has God grown you through the hard seasons in your life?
2. Do you feel like you know God better now than you did before? Why or why not?
3. How are your daily activities helping you know God and become like Him? If they are not, what can you change so they do?
4. Think about your life right now: where can you see God’s provision? Direction? Purpose?
5. What is one thing you can do this week to more intentionally pursue God’s will for your life?

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READ: Joshua 1:1-9

We often want Joshua’s “Promised Land” success without walking through Joshua’s hidden years. But before Joshua became a conquering leader, he first became a man of God’s presence.

The key verse is Philippians 1:6 - God is the One who starts, continues, and finishes the good work within us. Our spiritual journey is not an accident; God is always the starter.

Two experiences that shaped Joshua’s life:

1. THE HIDDEN YEARS

In Exodus 33:11, Joshua stayed in the Tent of Meeting even after Moses left. While others returned to daily life, Joshua stayed longer in God’s presence. Before Joshua ever stood before cities, he knelt before God.

The hidden years are the seasons when nothing feels big, when ministry is limited, when life feels slow - but these are the seasons when God is shaping us the most. Just like running a marathon begins with 1KM runs, big calling begin with small, faithful steps.

2. THE EYES OF FAITH

In Numbers 14, twelve spies saw the same land. Ten saw giants and fear. Two - Joshua and Caleb - saw God’s promises.

Same situation. Different perspective.

Joshua could see with eyes of faith because he had learned to stay in God’s presence. Faith grows in hidden places. That is how we move from fear to trust, from grasshopper thinking to God-sized vision.

What has God begun in you? Let Him start His work - and trust Him to finish it.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.Where in your life do you feel like you are in a “hidden season” right now? How does that make you feel - frustrated, confused, hopeful?
2.Joshua stayed in the Tent after everyone else left. What would it look like for you this week to “stay a little longer” in the presence of God?
3.Like the twelve spies, we often face the same problems but see them differently. What is one situation in your life where you are tempted to focus on the “giants” instead of God’s promises?
4.What is one small step God may be asking you to take right now - even if it feels insignificant?
5.Philippians 1:6 says God will finish what He started in you. Which area of your life do you most need to trust God with instead of trying to control it yourself?

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📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

Support the show

📍 English Worship Jogja | A place to encounter God, grow in community, and walk in purpose.

🔗 Website: ewjogja.com
📸 Instagram: @ewjogja

Luke 2:22-35 NLT

It was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (23) The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” (24) So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord - “either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him (26) and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. (27) That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, (28) Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

(29) “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. (30) I have seen your salvation, (31) which you have prepared for all people. (32) He is a light to reveal to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

(33) Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. (34) Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. (35) As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

AFTER CHRISTMAS, ARE OUR LIVES SUPPOSE TO RETURN BACK TO HOW THEY WERE?

1. AFTER CHRISTMAS, WE EXPERIENCE OUTWARD CONFLICT

THE SAME FAITH THAT BRINGS COMFORT & CELEBRATION ALSO BRINGS CONFLICT AND CONVICTION

John 3:19-21 NLT

IF YOU LIVE LIKE JESUS, THERE WON’T BE ROOM FOR YOU IN MANY INNS

John 15:18-19 NLT

2. AFTER CHRISTMAS, WE EXPERIENCE INNER CONFLICT

JESUS DOESN’T JUST REVEAL THE DARKNESS OUT THERE, HE REVEALS THE DARKNESS HERE

WE CONSTANTLY STRUGGLE WITH THE PERSON WE WERE AND THE PERSON CHRIST IS MAKING IN US

Hebrews 4:12 NLT - For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Isaiah 56:2 NLT - Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong.

Isaiah 56:6 NLT - I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO FIND JESUS

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV - You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

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