We Wait With Humility [Luke 1:26-38]

We Wait With Humility [Luke 1:26-38]

Sermon Discussion Questions

*Ryan said Mary is a model for us. What is she a model or example of?

*"The human heart has this amazing capacity to grasp for that which we do not have". How does entitlement have a way of sneaking into your own life?

*Mary's response to the angel is that she is the servant of the Lord. Ryan challenged us to think of when we have been disappointed and hurt, is our response one of faith like Mary's?

*Christ gave up what he rightly deserve in order to give us what we do not deserve. In a moment Jesus gave up heaven, for earth, royal riches for earthly squalor. What example does Jesus set for us in his advent? 

*Mary didn't win a contest. God himself showed her grace, and that grace made her uncomfortable. How does grace make us uncomfortable? Why does grace make us uncomfortable?

*Living a life of entitlement is the worst thing we can do for ourselves. Do you really think you don't deserve to be treated as the most important person in the room?

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Waiting with Faith [Luke 1:5-25]

Waiting with Faith [Luke 1:5-25]

Sermon Discussion Question

• As we heard of Zechariah and Elizabeth we met a couple who had given up on hope. They had waited for a very long time for a child. As we approach Christmas what is it that we wait for and through? 

• What is the significance of the place that Zechariah met Gabriel? 

• We are all participants in this great story. In all the things that happen to us, around us, through us, there is a larger story and purpose. For Zechariah he got to see how all the little coincidences connected. How was God active in this moment of Zechariah's life?

•  In a moment the tapestry of our life looks jumbled, in the midst of life we can't always see the purpose, but one we will see the other side of the tapestry. What are ways that you have had glimpses at the other side of the tapestry? 

• We were challenged to wait with faith and wait through faith. Who is it that we now wait for? How is it a challenge to wait?

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Doubting the King [Luke 7:18-35]

Doubting the King [Luke 7:18-35]

Sermon Discussion Questions

*At some point in our life, we all have doubts about Jesus. Even Mother Theresa struggled with doubt throughout her life. Ryan then challenged us to be open about some of our doubts. What are some doubts or questions we have about Jesus or the gospel?

*In this passage Ryan pointed out that John the Baptist doubts were provoked by the immediate circumstances around him. What are some of the difficult times that have provoked your doubt? 

*Francis Schaeffer struggled with doubts of God. He took a period of months taking seriously the challenges of agnosticism before reaffirming his faith in Jesus Christ.  Do you believe that faith is strengthened through trials of doubt? 

How did Jesus encourage John's faith?

*There is a big difference between never being satisfied as a perpetual skeptic, and asking honest questions seeking honest answers.  How can we foster a community that is open to honest questions?

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Dinner With the King [Luke 7:36-50]

Dinner With the King [Luke 7:36-50]

Sermon Discussion Questions

Eric began the sermon by talking about just how incredibly helpful and necessary bugs are. Bee's pollination alone is worth roughly $14.6 Billion. Sometimes we think we lump something or someone into a category without actually knowing who or what they are, we do this with bugs, how do we do the same thing with Jesus? 

When the woman came to Jesus, washed his feet, and wiped them with her tears, was this an act to earn forgiveness or thankfulness? 

The woman was quite bold in her response to Jesus, her actions were definitely beyond the social norm, does this passage make us uncomfortable? 

What are some expressions of thankfulness that make you uncomfortable? What are expressions of thankfulness that are acceptable and are not acceptable in your own social circle? 

Eric gave us all a challenge, asking if we have a tendency to minimize or temper our thankful responses to Jesus. Since we have been captured by Jesus grace, how do we use our gifts to express thankfulness to him?

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The Compassionate Christ [Luke 7:11-17]

Sermon Discussion Question

The Compassionate Christ [Luke 7:11-17]

Penny emphasized that Jesus saw the need of the woman. Penny challenged us to think about what the needs of our neighbors and our community. What do the needs of our immediate community look like? 

The Bishop in Les Miserables responded to Jean Valjean with grace not justice. What ways does grace shape our interactions with those in need?

When we gather together (Sunday worship, small groups, school activities, family outings) do we see the needs of those around us? Are we honest about our needs with our closest friends? Are we honest with anyone at all? 

What do you find easier? To enter the need of someone, sit, listen, be a faithful presence? Or to fulfill the need of someone, give, or provide?

When the Bishop found Jean Valjean in the custody of the armed guards for stealing, the Bishop actually removed the charge against him and gave more items! How did Penny challenge us to be radically grace oriented seeing and meeting the needs of others?

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How To Impress A King [Luke 7:1-10]

How To Impress A King [Luke 7:1-10]

Sermon Discussion Questions

*What are some ways we try to impress one another? Ryan told a story about how he tried to impress some of his peers when he was in high school at a talent show. We all live with a secret desire of impressing others, as though every conversation we have with others leaves someone impressed. 

*This portion of scripture is incredible because the person who ends up astonished in this story is Jesus. What is Jesus not impressed with about this centurion and what about the centurion impresses Jesus?

*The Centurion had competence, compassion, charisma, and character. These are good things that we should commend, yet none of these things caused Jesus to be impressed. 

*The Centurion didn't see Jesus miracles, nor did he see him teaching with authority. The Centurion is only acting out of the things he has heard from others. On the basis of the reports from others, this Centurion has belief. Rather than be proud of his faith, this man is incredibly humble. 

*The Centurion didn't put boundaries on what Jesus could do. How did he trust Jesus without limits?

*Ryan asserted that we all are seeking someone or something we can trust in, whether we are religious or not, whether we are a Christian or not. We place authority and hope in things in our lives that we think can fulfill us. Maybe as parents we place trust in our children to make up for our failures, maybe as married couples we trust for our spouse to make up for all the insecurity in our hearts, maybe as citizens we place trust in the right political candidate. Only Jesus can actually deliver the goods, because Jesus is the only one who can speak a word and make things happen. Is our trust like the Centurions? Can we be encouraged in a faith that even Jesus would be marveled at? 

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The King Restores [Luke 5:33-6:11]

Sermon Discussion Questions

The King Restores [Luke 5:33-6:11]

• "The Honeymoon is over" Ryan said as he began talking about Jesus. In the sermon passage this week there was much confrontation against Jesus concerning religious rules. Do we get lost sometimes in the details of the rules? Do we sometimes forget the purpose of a rule as we think about the technicalities of the rule? 
• Our calenders are often full (They may even be overflowing!). Living at a relentless pace we feel the need for rest. Jesus points us to the Sabbath, to embrace the rest God has provided weekly. Is the Sabbath a day that you keep moving at the same pace? Are you missing out on the deepest longing for rest by rushing through the Sabbath rather than resting on it? 
• The Pharisees had 39 rules how to not break the Sabbath. Legalism doesn't free us to be more human, it actually enslaves us to be less human. Jesus is the leader who defends his people from legalism and leads his people into becoming more human. What experiences have you had with legalism in your own life? How has Jesus lead you from a place enslavement to a place of freedom in him?
• We are constantly pursuing life, sometimes in the wrong places, whether it is in passing pleasures, a relentless pace, or in religious rules. At the end of the day and all our pursuits of life have left us only hungry for more, what do we have? Do we turn to the life of Jesus to find life in him? 

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