Mark 10:13-16, "Jesus and Children" Rev. Ryan Laughlin

 

 

 

                                         Sermon Discussion Questions

 

    1) What do we learn about Jesus in this passage?

 

   2) How did Jesus receive the children? What was the response of the disciples?

 

   3) What was happening before and after this occasion? Who was Jesus addressing in the audience?

  

   4)  How do we put into practice caring for the children in our church? in our lives?  

  

   5) What does receiving a child in humility look like? How can receiving children be beneficial to us as a church family?

The Gospel of Judas John 13:13-35, Rev. Ryan Laughlin

 

 

 

                                                              Sermon Discussion Questions

 

  1) How do we see Jesus responding to the betrayal of Judas?

 

  2) Do we tend to reduce our own sin to just behavior? Do we really think about how personal it is to Jesus?

 

  3) How have we felt when we have been betrayed in our lives? How does Jesus sympathize with us in this?

 

  4) How has Jesus dealt with us in our struggles and sins? Can you share times you have experienced His love and forgiveness?

 

"How Much the Lord Can Do for You" Mark 5:1-20, Rev. Greg Meyer

 

 

 

                                                                Sermon Discussion 

 

 

   1) The reality for this man in the passage is that he was oppressed and possessed. But we also see the town's people were also enslaved by sin. What do we learn from the text about the man and the town?

 

   2) We live in a secular context where the supernatural is no longer a category in our every day life. In this text, we see how scary/evil Satan and demons can be to this man. But, what do we see Jesus doing? How does He respond to them directly? 

 

    3) If Jesus can find this man, who is lost and unclean...then He can find you. Do you believe that about yourself? How can that change your daily life as a believer?

 

   4) What binds/enslaves us from wanting to be known/seen by Jesus?  He has come to unbind us and free us from our sin and being sinned against. 

   5) How much can the Lord do for us? What does vs 18 & 19 tell us? God saved the man then sent him out. He does the same for us too. Where is the mission of God in our daily lives?

  

 

 

 

"Baptize For What?" Matthew 3 by: Pablo Rosales

 

 

 

                                                        Sermon Discussion Question 

 

   1) After reading over the passage again what are we reminded about Jesus and His ministry? How was the baptism of Jesus different than other baptisms by John the Baptist?

  2) Why does Jesus identify with us?

  3) Do we find ourselves coming to Jesus as a regular rhythm in our lives? If not, what stops you?  

   4) "Jesus identifies with us so that we may be righteous." (Sermon quote) What does that look like in our daily lives? What does that look like as we interact with our neighbors?

  5) Another reason Jesus identifies with us is so that we be like children that belong to Him.Can you name some specific obstacles to this in our lives? Obstacles from within our culture? Obstacles from within our own hearts and stories?

 

   5)  

      

  

     

"Sought & Saved" Luke 19:1-10 Dr. Ligon Duncan

 

 

 

                                              Sermon Discussion Questions

 

     1) Based on what the text says about Zacchaeus, why does he seem like an unlikely candidate to receive God's grace?

 

    2) How does Zacchaeus respond to Jesus?

 

   3) How did the crowd respond to the interaction between Jesus and Zacchaeus? Have there been times in your own life where you have a sad reaction to others encountering Jesus?

  

   4)  How do you see Jesus being the seeking Savior in this passage? How has Jesus pursued you in your life?

 

  5) "He is a true son of Abraham because Jesus came and brought him home." (sermon quote) Has this been your experience in your life? or others that you know?

 

 

John 3:1-7, John 4:7-19 "Enounters with Jesus: The Outcast and the Insider Rev. Greg Meyer

 

 

 

                                                            Sermon Discussion Questions

 

    1) After reading over the Samaritan's woman encounter with Jesus, what stands out? How do you see her respond after her interacting with Jesus? How does Jesus approach her?

    2)  Compare that interaction with Nicodemus in John 3. How does Jesus approach Nicodemus? What truth does Jesus remind both the Samaritan woman and Nicodemus?

  3) How has the Jesus corrected and challenged you in your own life,  in times of feeling like an outsider?

 

  4)  Bulletin quote: "Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace." ( Jack Miller ) This is the heart of the good news of Christ. Has this truth been encouraging you? What barriers may stop you from believing it at times?

 

  5) What truth about Jesus were you reminded about after reading over these passages?

 

I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 "To Be Continued: Return" Rev. Ryan Laughlin

 

 

                                                       

 

                                      Sermon Discussion Questions

 

1) After reading the passage in 1 Thessalonians, what are we reminded about Jesus and His return?

 

2) What do we (as His Church) as we wait for the return of Jesus?

 

3) As we process the grief of this past year, what does grieving with hope look like?

 

4) When Jesus returns we have not just resurrection, not just reunion but also restoration to look forward to. Is this truth helpful in your daily lives now?

 

5) What are ways we can be spiritually "sober" and alert as the text says?

 

6) Sermon quote: "The judge who comes is the One who has been judged for you. That's why Jesus returning is good news." Does this challenge the way you see yourself and others?