Gospel According to Philemon

1) Read the letter to Philemon. Yes, the whole thing! 

2) What does Paul ask Philemon to consider regarding Onesimus? How does he do this? 

3) In what ways is Paul asking Philemon to be a credible witness?

4) In what ways is Paul asking Philemon to be a consistent witness? 

5) How is Paul instructing Philemon to be a compelling witness? 

6) How might Paul’s direction to Philemon appear counter-cultural? 

7) Drawing from Paul’s directions to Philemon, are there areas of your witness that need sharpening? Share some with your group.

Gospel According to Habakkuk...October 30, 2016

1) Read Habakkuk 3. As a reminder, Habakkuk has complained that God is ignoring the social sins he witnesses among God's people -- sins like violence, injustice, and immoral behavior. God replied that He will send the Babylonians to execute judgment on the people of God. In chapter 3, Habakkuk prays for God's strengthening as he waits for God to fulfill His promise.

2) Skimming chapters 1 and 2 (and from the summary above), what does our cultural moment have in common with Habakkuk's cultural moment? How might we relate to his frustration with God?

3) Notice that the first and last verse of this chapter indicate that this prayer was written to be sung. What is the significance of Habakkuk using poetry to re-narrate God's work of salvation? What does poetry require of us, as readers, that prose does not (at least, not as much)?

4) What did Ryan mean by the question, "Is salvation poetry to you?" How would you answer that question?

5) Ryan pointed out two words that help frame our thinking about suffering, as Christians: what were they? Why are those words important?

6) Have there been times in your life when the 'though' of life has been interrupted by the 'yet' of the Gospel? Share with the group. 

Gospel According to Amos: Sermon Questions

Read Amos 7:7-9 and 9:11-15.

1. In what ways do you struggle with complacency in your life? What's the difference between contentment and complacency? How is complacency dangerous?

2. What plumb lines do we tend to use in assessing ourselves? How do these produce a false sense of assurance and feed our complacency?

3. What do you observe about Amos 9:11-15, specifically regarding the promise God makes to rebuild David's booth? Why a booth? How is that a significant prophecy about Jesus as David's greater son?

4. Name some ways that Amos 9:11-15 shapes your view of the Gospel, ie. what God 'built' for you through the work of Jesus? How might that combat our complacency with our sin? Our sanctification? Our stumbling blocks?

"The Day of Atonement and the Day Atonement Came" (The Gospel According to Leviticus) 10/9/16

The Gospel According To Leviticus (Leviticus 16:1-10, 29-34)

Dr. Jay Sklar

10/9/16

1) What were your general impressions and observations about the sermon on Sunday? 


2) Did the sermon affect your view of the book of Leviticus? If so, in what way? 

3) Dr. Sklar emphasized that the Day of Atonement was one of the ways “God, in His love, made a way to deal with our wrongs that we might be made right with Him.” In your words, how did this ceremony achieve that goal? [Hint: Dr. Sklar divided the ceremony into cleansing, removal, and one-more-time-for-good-measure]


4) Read Hebrews 10:11-25 and discuss how Leviticus 16 illuminates this passage. How does the Day of Atonement, as Dr. Sklar explained it, bring to life the benefits we have in Jesus? What fears does Jesus put to rest? What action does He invite us to take? 


5) What is one take-away from this sermon you would like to apply to your life this week? 

"Pursue(d)" - 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (May 15, 2016)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. What are some of the different messages that we're told in our world?
3. What is the message the Paul puts before the Thessalonians in this passage?
4. Why is easy for Christians to deviate from God's pursuit after become Christians and why is it important that we continue to hold to the Gospel?
5. With what manner are we to present the Gospel?
6. Who are the people and what are the circumstances in our lives that need us to live in a manner of compassion and commitment?

Sermon Outline:
1. The Message of Pursuit
   a. New life
   b. Continued life

2. The Manner of Pursuit
   a. Compassion
   b. Commitment

"Look and Rejoice" 1 Peter 1:3-12 (May 8, 2016)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. Think about the different instances of Peter's life, what do we know about him from those?
3. How does knowing Peter's life help us to see the amazing grace of God?
4. What does this passage tell us about the inheritance to come? What are other passages that help us to know about the eternity that awaits us?
5. How does knowing about this inheritance affect our lives today?
6. What are the various trials that Peter's audience, and he, faced? What are the one's you're experiencing?
7. How does this passage help you in the midst of those trials?

Sermon Outline:
1. Looking back to grace

2. Looking forward to inheritance

3. Looking through trials

4. Looking into God's salvation

"Life in the Best Worst Place" - Genesis 50:15-26 (May 1, 2016)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. Think about the evils that have been done against you. What makes it so hard for us to say, "what others did for evil, God meant it for good?"
3. How have Christians, at times, used this verse in inappropriate ways?
4. How does this passage cause us to resist ignoring evil? How does Joseph acknowledge it?
5. Where have you seen God's goodness and his sovereignty at work in your life?
6. Ryan said, "Joseph isn't saying the spiritual people can figure out all the ways God is working, Joseph is saying we are to trust." Where are the places in your life that you need trust God?

Sermon Outline:
1. Realistic View of Evil

2. Resilient Trust in God
   A. The goodness of God
   B. The sovereignty of God

3. Radical Grace Toward Enemies