The King Heals [Luke 5:12-32]

The King Heals [Luke 5:12-32]

Sermon Discussion Questions

• King Jesus has both a wide scope of healing and his healing has significance in our lives. How big is the scope of Jesus healing? Does Jesus meet more than just the physical needs of those he encounters? 
• Following Jesus is hardly a spectator sport. How did Jesus meet the needs of the three individuals he met, the Leper, the Paralytic, and Levi the Tax Collector? What were the responses of these three after the healing of Jesus?
• All the various needs that Jesus met are all broken needs we have today. Ryan listed off many different needs we share due to the first sin of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. If we still die, and sin, what is the significance of Jesus healing in our lives today?
• Ryan said that these stories of the works of Jesus are "brochures of the coming world." What is our role in Jesus healing ministry that points to the coming world and how did Ryan encourage us as a church to continue in this work?
• Some of the hardest realities of reading the miracles of Jesus, is experiencing similar suffering without immediate healing in our own lives and the lives of those we love. There is a temptation to despair; we fear we will never heal.  How do you hang onto the promise of Jesus to heal all things when you face this temptation?

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Following the King [Luke 5:1-11]

Following the King [Luke 5:1-11]

Sermon Discussion Notes

• Have you ever driven behind someone, back in the day before GPS? It is frustrating to follow someone driving. Ryan used this to illustrate how following Jesus is sometimes frustrating. We often say "follow Jesus", but this can be a bit vague. What does it mean to follow Jesus? 

• Ryan defined following Jesus as going where he is leading: the first place he leads us is into a deeper repentance. This repentance that Jesus leads us to leads to both a greater awareness of Sin, and a greater acceptance of Grace. How do we see this awareness of Sin and acceptance of Grace in this passage? Do you see these in your life?

• The second place Jesus leads us is into a bigger purpose: casting the net of the gospel. The gospel meets people's most dire needs. Do you see the people in your life as needy? 

• Sometimes the casting of the gospel net can feel like a burden. Is fishing for men a humble privilege, or an anxious responsibility?

• Finally, Jesus leads us into greater freedom. This isn't a change in vocation, rather a change in identity. Our identity is no longer in what we do, sound like, or look like. Our identity is found in the one we follow. What do we need to leave behind now that we are free to follow Jesus? 

• We don't always know where Jesus is leading. This is why following him is frustrating. Ryan finished by talking about how in orienteering only a slight drift can cause a massive shift in the destination. Are you aware of your own tendencies to drift? Are we more concerned with knowing Jesus, or knowing where he is leading? 

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The King's Agenda [Luke 4:31-44]

The King's Agenda [Luke 4:31-44]

Sermon Discussion Questions

• There were three responses to Jesus that Ryan talked about on Sunday. Some people studied Jesus, (Luke 4:32-36 for Studied reaction), some people sought to seize him (Luke 4:42-44 for Seize reaction), and another sought to serve him (Luke 4:38-39 for Serve reaction). What did these reactions look like in the text? 
• The people were astonished by Jesus teaching and by his deeds. Both his teaching and deeds revealed his authority. Are we in awe of Jesus? Many study the supernatural, but do we submit to Jesus? 
• Jesus didn't always use his authority the way the people wanted him to, sometimes he said no to healing and other requests the people around him had. Do we doubt Jesus' authority when he doesn't grant us something immediately, or even after many years of prayer?
• There was one person who responded to Jesus with service (Luke 4:38-39). She was made free from her sickness by Jesus, we have been set free in the gospel of Jesus. What does it look like to respond to Jesus be an open book before God and before one another? Are there places in our hearts that are little outposts of rebellion? 
• Jesus healed Peter's mother in law, but many were left not healed. Do we trust Jesus in his authority and in his timetable? 
• Ryan mentioned Mike Matheny and the letter he wrote now known as the "Matheny Manifesto". Matheny had an agenda, and he was asking the parents who had invited him to coach their sons to go "all in" and fully commit to his agenda. King Jesus has an agenda, what does it take for us to say to Jesus "I'm in, I'm all in"? 

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The King's Agenda [Luke 4:16-30]

 The King's Agenda

Sermon Discussion Questions

• We tend to attach ourselves to political agendas. Jesus himself has an agenda. Yesterday Ryan talked about how a bridegroom had an agenda, he wanted Ryan to quote the movie "Princess Bride" during his wedding homily. Ryan ultimately said no to the bridegroom's request because it wasn't keeping with the agenda of the wedding. When you think about Jesus' agenda what is your response?
• Ryan said that that the people hearing Jesus in the synagogue responses were "tepid at best", are you tepid or apathetic to the Kingdom agenda? What ways do you find yourself opposing Jesus' Kingdom agenda? 
• The agenda Jesus has is radically inclusive. For the people listening to Jesus, Jesus agenda was offensive because it included gentiles. Are there people who would feel uncomfortable at CPC? Who would you not invite to Covenant Church because they would feel uncomfortable? Why is that? 
• When we think of exclusivity we tend to blame others, and that is easy to do. Don't just think about other people in the church and how others may make CPC exclusive. What are some ways that you are exclusive when it comes to Jesus Kingdom agenda? 
• There are two pitfalls that are on either side of our following of Jesus' radical inclusion agenda, one is to sacrifice doctrinal truth for the sake of being welcoming to outsiders, the other is to exclude outsiders for the sake of doctrinal truth. How can we find a balance, between right inclusion and right doctrine? 
• Jesus wasn't afraid to be called a friend of sinners for sake of his doctrine. Are we afraid to be called friends of sinners? 

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The King in Battle [Luke 4:1-13]

Monday, September 24 2012

The King in Battle [Luke 4:1-13]

Sermon Discussion Questions

• The battle of temptation that we are involved in is very close to home. Ryan was illustrating how involved with the battle of temptation we are through the story of Tom the World War Two pilot. We actually have connection to the most important battle of all time. Do you feel like you are involved in the intense battle of temptation like Jesus was? 
• There was a C.S. Lewis quote given in the reflection "We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it". What does suffering against temptation look like? What does it feel like? What are some of the hardships that come with fighting against temptation? 
• We are more vulnerable to temptation at some times more than at others. Jesus was most brutally attacked when he was most physically weak. What times are you most vulnerable to attack? Can you detect patterns of when you come under attack of temptation?
• Ryan told the story of the Civil War General who got the information about the enemy army but the general didn't think he could trust the information. We know the timing and tactis of Satan's attacks. How can we use this good information against Satan's attacks?
• The sermon wasn't just about "Be like Jesus". Jesus is certainly a good example of what it looks like to actually fight viciously with temptation, how does Jesus inspire you to fight temptation and does Jesus does more than just inspire? 

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The King Arrives [Luke 3:1-22]

Monday, September 17 2012

The King Arrives [Luke 3:1-22]

Sermon Discussion Questions

• Ryan began by pointing out the dilemma of humility. What are some of the ways in which it is hard to recognize humility in our own lives? Is it easier to recognize humility in others than in ourselves? 
• What are some things we say to ourselves when we try to humble ourselves? Do we think of ourselves as "miserable" or "less than others" or "scum of the earth"? 
• John's mission was to promote Jesus, he wasn't thinking less of himself or others, he was simply thinking more of Jesus. This humility of living the ways things are actually frees us. Ryan mentioned two things humility frees us from, what does humility in Christ free us from? What are some areas of life in which those two burdens weigh heaviest? 
• No one will ever mistake any of us for being Jesus or calling us "Big M Messiah", but plenty of people in our lives think of us as "small m messiah". What are some harmful side effects of trying to be small m messiah for other people? 
• Since none of us are Jesus, we will end of disappointing one another at one point or another. Is this true in the church as well? How can humility help us as we disappoint others and ourselves and are disappointed by others and ourselves?

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Monday. September 10, 2012

Too Good to Be True [Luke 1:1-4]

Sermon Discussion Questions

• Ryan mentioned that both the presidential conventions took place recently. Often we Americans are sceptical and even cynical about news and reports. We can be sceptical of anything that claims to have authority out of a fear of propagating an agenda or simple disbelief. How does this impact us as we come to the Bible and what does Luke 1:1-4 say about itself as a reliable history?
• C.S. Lewis certainly knew the difference between a myth and history. What are some key differences between myth and the history of the Bible?
• Have you ever read, or hear someone challenge the trustworthiness of the Bible? What are some doubtful passages have you heard others call silly, crazy, or myth? What is challenging in believing and sharing the story of the bible in a cynical environment? 
• Do you know someone who loves to eat pizza? Or someone who has really bad breath? These are little details that get included in stories we tell about the people in our lives, do the details of Luke's gospel matter? How so? Do the details affirm spiritual truths or historical realities? 
• What is the difference between good news and good advice? Do other religions give good news or good advice? 
• Ryan finished by asking if we were ready to go on this adventure together hearing the good news of Luke's gospel. Do you want in your daily life more good advice coupled with the good news? How do you struggle between living in a Christian way while still remembering the good news of Jesus?

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