Why Flourish? Luke 9:1-17 Ryan Laughlin

                                                         Sermon Discussion Questions


Reflection Questions:

      1) What are some of the cultural challenges you are facing today? Any opposition? Any needs? Doe these challenges present opportunities to share the Gospel?

      2) In this passage, how does Jesus prepare His disciples for the challenge of sharing the Gospel? How does He use Covenant Church to prepare you in similar ways? Are there other exciting ways to have seen God use Covenant to shape and send disciples into the world?

      3) Where has Jesus sent you to represent Him? How does your ‘being sent’ change your perspective about the purpose of your life? About the purpose of our church?

      4) Sermon quote: “You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you there. Wherever you are, God has put you there. He has a purpose in your being there. Christ, who dwells in you, has something He wants to do through you, wherever you are. Believe this, and go in His grace, and love and power.” Dick Halverson (Reflect on this quote and discuss with the group)

Prayer focus: Lord, prepare me to serve You faithfully as I face daily challenges. Grant me compassion for people who need the Gospel and courage to share the Gospel with them in word and deed. By Your sovereign grace, continue to use Covenant to shape and send Christians into our city and around the world for the glory of Your Name. AMEN.


       

When the Gospel Broke Into Europe Acts 16:16-40, Rev Mark Meynell

                                                          Sermon Discussion Questions


   
            1) Read over the text one time. Who were the main characters in this narrative? What were they saying/doing throughout this narrative?

          2) In this narrative, we see different ways that power can be used/displayed. What are the wrong ways we see power displayed? What are the life-giving/godly ways we see power displayed in this text?


          3) How do Paul and Silas respond to the “cruel power of darkness” throughout the text. Who is his source in responding to this darkness? Paul had interest in a different power.

         4) In the sermon we heard about Bob Edens who had been blind for 51 years, then after a surgery was able to see for the first time. “I didn’t know yellow, could be so yellow!” (When describing seeing colors for the first time) This is somewhat like the feeling we have when we become believers, like we are “seeing” for the first time. How has the radical nature of the gospel changed your life and “opened your eyes” differently to the world around you? (Can reflect quietly if needed)

        5) Sermon quote: “God is a truer friend than we have ever known.” Discuss what this means to you with the group. Have you had experience with this in your own life? Do we think of God as being on our side/friend?

      6) How does the work of Christ and our union in Christ as believers shape the way we see God, ourselves, others and His world around us?

     

“The Good Life” Matthew 5:1-12, Rev Greg Meyer

The Beatitudes have a present reality, but future reality too. General idea of what a Christian should look like! This is what life in a covenant should look like) sermon quote


                                                        Sermon Discussion Questions

1) Actors go all out to prepare for a role. (Ie: gain weight, learn a language, etc) Imagine you have done things to prepare for a part in a movie and have been practicing and practicing for the role. But you show up to the set, only to find out that you had the wrong script.
We prep our whole lives towards a happy ending, bc that is what we think will lead us to something true/good. We are people who love and act out of that love. Reflect on this example from the sermon for a minute on your own. Ask yourself, “What role am in practicing for? What is my “script” I go on when I am pursuing the good life? (Leaders: Leave a few minutes for silent reflection) 

2) (Group discussion) When we think of the “good life” what does that entail? Financial security, married with 2 kids, our team winning the pennant? These are not “bad” in and of themselves. Jesus has a version of the good life too. Sometimes our version of the good life is in tension/opposition with what Jesus is wanting. Discuss with the group members. 


3) Read through Matthew 5: 1-12 again.
      Be curious with the vision of Jesus. He might be offering something better than the good life we have in mind. Do we believe Jesus’ message of this is what the good life looks like? Discuss with the group. 
     
4) There are 3 qualities the text talks about that believers should possess: What are they?
These 3 qualities are all driven by the core longing that we “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” What does that practically look like in our lives?

5) There are 4 activities commended in this text that Jesus talks about. Can you identify those with your group?

6) Reflect on what God has done in your life already. We are works in progress. Be thankful for that!


7) What are some of our rhythms and desires that are different than the beatitudes? (Ex:Over work, over sport, over consume, checkout in social media, under rest, under community.) Follow your gaze. What do you daydream about? Would you like to share with your group?

8) What are ways that we can mature/exercise our kingdom palette? (Ex: worshipping on Sundays)

9) Beatitudes are in the context of grace. Jesus embodied them and He bringing them to us. He is the bridge we need to have the good life He is teaching about. We cannot live them out on our own.
The beatitudes are His call to receive this grace! We can move into it with boldness, because He is going with us. How does this reality of this truth make you feel? Is it encouraging?

But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace... (Galatians 5:16, 19-23; Romans 9:1-5) Rev. Ron Lutjens

                                                         Sermon Questions & Reflections


     1) This side of heaven, as believers, we live with a divided self. Discuss that statement. What does this look like in our lives?

     2) Sermon quote from outline: “Godly sorrow and anguish are fruits of the Holy Spirit as much as joy and peace are.”
      Read over Romans 9:1-5 again. Why should we think of godly anguish and sorrow as fruit of the Holy Spirit? Have there been times in your life when you have experienced that truth?

     3) What was the root of Paul’s deep anguish? Who was this sorrow expressed over?

     4) Often times God uses our own past sins/struggles to give us love/compassion for others who struggle with the same sins. (Personal reflection) What area is God redeeming from your “old self”? How does being rooted in the love of Christ and His righteousness change our sorrow for the lost?

    5) What propels our love & joy in God? What are ways that we are cultivating that relationship in our lives?

     6) Are there lost family members or friends in our lives that we can pray for as a group?

When It is Your Problem: James 5:19-20 Ryan Laughlin

                                                     Sermon Discussion Questions:




  1) “We are living in a cultural moment where you hear this phrase often, ‘Not my problem.” (Sermon quote)
      Yet, there are times when a Christ is obligated to care. What are those times when believers are called to cared?

  2) In caring for “wanderers” and “searchers” what should our motivation to act be? What does it look like to do that with healthy, loving and truthful boundaries?

  3) What is our motivation for coming along side others and pursuing them when we see they may be headed on the wrong path?

   4) Where is the Bible narrative do we see this pursuit of love displayed well? (List all different references that come to mind)

   5) “Our Heavenly Father chased after us, so we pursue people to show them Jesus.” Sermon quote. (Personal reflection) Think on this truth. Ask God to make this truth of the gospel take root in your heart. Where can we grow in this area?

 

“Thoughts on Prayers” James 5:13-18, Ryan Laughlin

                                                           Sermon Discussion Questions


1) Read over the text: What does James so about prayer?

2) Do we believe that our prayers are powerful, as the text says?

3) Prayer

        A) Is for every situation: We usually are quicker to go to prayer in times of suffering. What does the text say about cheerfulness? How do we practically incorporate praying in every situation in our lives?

       B) Is for every weakness: “People can dress the wound, but God heals us.” (Sermon quote) When we think of praying for weakness, do we think holistically? Praying for spiritual, physical and emotional weakness. Is this difficult sometimes? Discuss.

      C) With every confidence
               What does the text say about confessing to each other?
True healing takes place when our sins/struggles are brought to the light. As believers we can boldly approach the throne because we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Is this truth comforting? Does this truth change the way we approach prayer and confession?

4) We are given the example of Elijah in the text. How is this encouraging?

“Keep It Real” James 1:26-27 Ryan Laughlin

                                                         Sermon Discussion Questions


1) Read back over James 1:22-26. As believers our deepest convictions should rest on the work, grace and love of Christ.  Do our daily choices align with our deepest convictions? (Take time to quietly reflect on this)


2) When God looks at His people, what does He want to see us doing/behaving?


3) From the sermon outline: There were 3 ways that describe what it looks like to “live out the reality” of the gospel, to be doers of God’s Word and not just hearers. Discuss those three descriptions and what that can practically look like in our lives. Give some concrete examples of how you have seen that modeled in your life?
                  A) Living out reality with self-control
                  B) Living out reality with compassion
                  C) Living out reality with compromise

4) All of us have been stained by the world/sin. What do we do as believers when this is the case? Are we quick to run to our loving Father for forgiveness/repentance. What is our posture toward God and others when we aren’t living out reality well?

5) We only will live our reality well if we love Jesus and realize what He has done for us as His Church. Practicing truth and love or holiness and love must be held up together. Do you tend to favor one more than the other? What can you ask God to help you with this week in regards to that balance?