Who Are You? John 1:19-28//January 7, 2018

Who Are You?
John 1:19-28
Discussion Questions
January 7, 2018

1. Ryan said that Jesus came not only to introduce us to God but to introduce us to ourselves. In what ways has your relationship with Jesus shaped your identity?

2. Look at 1:20. There, John the Baptist refuses to conform to the expectations of the Levites and priests (as Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet). Whose expectations are most influential in your life? How do you resist allowing these expectations to rule your life? What alternative does Jesus give us?

3. We live in a culture that insists that we are defined by our productivity, achievement, and legacy. In contrast, John is content to live as God's voice in the wilderness (1:23), preparing the way for Jesus. How does his example challenge you? Encourage you? Are there ways your life can point people to the Jesus and His Kingdom?

4. Ryan argued that John's attitude in verse 29 does not reflect his self-loathing or self-hatred. If that's true, how could John arrive at such a radically humble view of himself? Is his view healthy?

Knowing God (John 1:15-18)

The prologue to John's gospel (1:1-18), though familiar to many, expands our understanding of who Jesus is. One preacher says, "The serious student of John will find that each time he returns to the Gospel, Christ will be a little bigger--something like Lucy's experience with the lion Aslan (the Christ symbol in C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia) as she again, gazed into his large, wise face.

"Welcome, child," he said.

"Aslan," said Lucy, "you're bigger."

"That is because you are older, little one," answered he.

"Not because you are?"

"I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger."

John's prologue tells us right up front who Jesus is, which demonstrates to us that God is not hiding from us, but rather has revealed himself, made himself known in the clearest possible way. In verses 15-18

God has provided an abundant witness (1:15 & 1:17) through John the baptist and the law of Moses.

God has given us an experience of his overflowing grace (1:16)

God has shown himself to be a Self-Disclosing God. (1:18)

1. How does John the baptist provide an abundant witness to who Jesus is? Compare 1:15 with 1:1-2

2. How does the law of Moses provide an abundant witness to who Jesus is?

3. Verse 16 says that "we have all received grace upon grace", how have you experienced God's grace in your life and what has that shown you about who God is.

4. According to John 1:18 if we want to know what God is like, where should we look? As you see Jesus interacting with people in the gospels do you find your view of God challenged, expanded, corrected?

5. What do you find encouraging when you consider that Jesus has "made God known"?

6. It is often the case that when someone is interested in the Christian faith, we often point that person to the gospels as a good place to start. Given what John says in John 1:18 is that a good idea? Why?

7. For the believer it's a good idea to return to the gospels again and again. Why would John 1:18 suggest that's a good idea?

Soli Deo Gloria (Romans 11:33-36)

Summary: In recognition of the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, our Sola preaching series has considered the heart of the Gospel, as it was summarized by the Reformers: that we believe that Scripture alone announces the living God saves us by His grace alone, on the basis of Christ's finished work alone, which is received by faith alone, to the glory of God alone.

1> Ryan used the post-game interview as an example of de-mystifying and de-spiritualizing the idea of glorifying God in all of life. What is your reaction when you hear an athlete give glory to God after a game? Why do you respond that way?

2> Paul affirms that because all things are from, through, and to God, all things are potential doxological triggers. What are your doxological triggers (Ryan defined doxological triggers as those experiences in life that move us to give glory to another)? Share a story when some experience 'triggered' your worship of God.

3> The context of this passage suggests that nothing should trigger our worship of God like the wonders of our redemption through Christ Jesus. Do you find this to be true in your life? What are some practical steps you can take to meditate more deeply on your redemption by Jesus?

4> Fredrick Blechner defined vocation as the 'place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.' How does that definition help us understand our vocation as doxology? How might that shape your attitude toward your stations in life (in a family, in a neighborhood, in a profession)?

5> In your own words, what questions does Paul ask in verses 34 and 35? Why are these helpful questions to stoke our doxology? Has there been a time in your life when your questions -- or maybe even your disappointment -- fueled your worship? Share it with the group.

Christ Alone: Sermon Discussion Questions 11.12.17

Read Romans 8:1-4 (aka 'the best news you've ever heard!').

1. What is the difference between good advice and good news? Why do we need good news more than good advice when it comes to our guilt and our shame?

2. Why does Paul refer to God's moral Law as the 'law of sin and death' in verse 2? What does it mean that we have been 'set free' from the 'law of sin and death?' How have we been set free, according to verse 2?

3. Martin Luther claimed that the 'whole Gospel is outside of us!' What does that mean and why is that good news? How might Luther's quote help us understand verse 3?

4. What is the significance of Paul's explanation that God sent His own Son 'in the likeness of sinful flesh?' (Hint: What misunderstandings about Jesus might we believe if Paul had said 'in sinful flesh' or 'in the likeness of flesh'?)

5. God condemned sin in Jesus' flesh (v. 3) so that we might live without condemnation (v. 4). What are some practical ways this encourages our Christian walk?

6. If there is nothing we can do to make God love us any more or any less, why motivation do we have to obey God? Use verse 4 to answer this question. 

11.5.17 Sermon discussion: Faith Alone

"Faith Alone" (Romans 3:21-28)
Dr. Ligon Duncan
11.5.17

1) What does Paul mean by 'the righteousness of God' in verse 21? Why is this good news?

2) Why is it easier for us to rely on our works-righteousness rather than Christ's righteousness received by faith? Share the specific 'works' you tend to rest on for your righteousness before God (maybe overtly spiritual works, like reading your Bible, or less so, like raising good kids or avoiding certain sins). Note: This can be a hard question for people to answer without much reflection, so here are some diagnostic questions that might help (from David Fairchild, "Gospel Diagnostics"):

• What do I rely on to comfort myself when things go bad or get difficult? 
• I have hope because I'm _______.
• I feel worthy because I'm _________. 
• (In light of Romans 3:27): When I'm feeling insignificant in the eyes of others (or my own eyes), I boast about ______________. 

3) One Puritan pastor confessed that he needs to 'repent of his repentance.' In light of this passage, what do you think he means by that? 

4) Explain how God both the 'just and the justifier' for those who have faith in Jesus? (Romans 3:26). Why is that encouraging for you to ponder today? 

Sermon Discussion: Oct 29, 2017 SOLA SCRIPTURA

Sola Scriptura
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Oct. 29, 2017

Intro: The five 'solas' summarized the theological convictions that informed the Protestant Reformation. Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) claims that the Bible is the final, decisive authority on truth.

1) Ryan suggested that we might be Sola Scriptura in theory but Shallow Scriptura in practice. Do you agree? Why or why not? What are some symptoms of living as a Shallow Scriptura Christian?


2) Why is the Catholic Church opposed to Sola Scriptura, in principle? [Hint: in addition to Scripture, what else does the Catholic Church believe is authoritative?] Why is this problematic for Protestants?

3) One of the reasons Catholics give for opposing Sola Scriptura is the fact that there is sometimes interpretive anarchy within the Protestant ranks. In other words, Protestants come to very different conclusions from the same biblical passages. Is this a legitimate concern? Why or why not?

4) In what ways has your interpretation of the Bible been positively shaped by Christian community as well as Christian tradition? [Hint: define Christian tradition as historic creeds and confessions]

5) Brainstorm on some practical ways you can feast on the Word through public proclamation (preaching) and private meditation (devotions). What is your one take-away from this brainstorming session to help you maintain a healthy diet of the Bible in your life? 

Sermon Discussion: Matthew 20:1-16 (Sept. 29, 2017)

Matthew 20:1-16
Sept. 29, 2017
"The Kingdom of Heaven is Bad Business"

1. Re-read Matthew 20:1-16. What details stand out to you?

2. Why do you think the vineyard owner makes five separate trips to the market to hire workers? What evidence from this story supports your answer?

3. Do you sympathize with the 12-hour workers' complaint in verse 12? Why?

4. What difference would it make to think of yourself as a 5:00 pm person, rather than a 6:00 am person? Why is this difficult to accomplish?

5. Ryan claimed that the Kingdom of heaven is only good news when we realize that it is bad business. What do you think he meant by that? Do you agree?