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?

Numbers 35, “Finding Refuge”, Ryan Laughlin

                                                   

                                                        Sermon Discussion Questions


   1) In Numbers 35, we see that God is instructing His people on how they should structure the Levites land in Canaan. Each tribe was to give a portion to the Levites. 6 cities out of 48 cities designated for the Levites were to used as a “city of refuge.” Why is that important?

2) What do we learn about the character of God in Numbers 35? Who are the cities of refuge meant to help?

3) Sermon quote: “Before we have the family rules, we have the family story...” of God being a refuge for the Israelites when they were outsiders. That family story of God’s grace, love and redemption is a theme throughout God’s Word. Reflect on that quote. (Look at 2 Timothy 1:8-14, Ephesians 2:8)

4) In this passage we see an “expression of God’s priorities.” What are those 2 priorities? (Hint: Listed on bulletin outline)
             A) How does God hold both of those priorities up together?
             B) Are there ways or areas in our own lives that we are numbing ourselves to value life? Or to value justice?

  5) What significance did the high priest’s death have in regard to the cities of refuge?
            A) How do we see the death of the high priest in this context as a clue of what was to come in                Christ?
             B) How do we as believers find refuge and redemption in Christ, our great High Priest?

Numbers 23 & 24, “Blessings & Curses”, Ryan Laughlin

Sermon Discussion Questions Numbers 23 & 24, Ryan Laughlin, “Blessings & Curses”

Context:

King of Moab, Balak is trying to use Balaam (the prophet for hire) to hurl curses on the nation of Israel. The King Balak is concerned about the population of Israel growing, which could threaten him.  3 different times they set up altars to pagan gods in hopes of bringing curses to God’s people. 3 times they try , 3 times they fail and God ends up blessing them instead, through Balaam’s words.

1) What does God to say to Balaam all three times. How is the 3rd interaction different? Look at the text to help below:
a) The first blessing: 23:7-10
b) The second blessing: 23:18-24
c) The third blessing 24:3-9

2) Numbers 23:19 is echoed in other parts of the Bible. After looking at 1 Samuel 15:29, Romans 11:29, Hebrews 6:18.
What was Israel reminded about God and His promises? What are we, as a community of believers reminded about God’s character and His relationship with His people?


3) How did Balak respond to Balaam’s words and God’s blessings? (Numbers 24:10-14)

4) How does Balaam then answer Balak’s anger? (Numbers 24: 15-24)

5) Sermon quote: “God’s love for His people is irrevocable.” How do we see that demonstrated to the nation of Israel in this passage?

6) We are reminded in this passage, God’s love for His people is good news! He loves us because He loves us. He keeps His promises. Our union with Christ is a reality that we can live in now until He comes again.
—Reflect on an area of your life (either silently or shared with the group) where you would ask God to help you believe this truth and live it out in a way that honors Him and His

“God is Your Protector” Numbers 22 Ryan Laughlin

                                                     Sermon Discussion Questions

Context: Numbers 22 takes place near the end of the Israelites journey to Canaan. This group would have been the 2nd generation of Israelites post exodus from Egypt. In chapter 22, the Israelites are in the plains of Moab.

Recap:
       1) After reading the Numbers 22, who are the characters throughout the chapter? Who is Balak and what is his role? Who is Balaam and what part does he play? Israel: How are they responding in this chapter? Other characters in this chapter?

      2) In the sermon, we heard that God protects His people physically and spiritually. How do see that being done in Numbers 22?

      3) God being their protector was not a “new” concept to Israel. Can you reflect on other times in Numbers God had protected them?

      4) God uses Balaam’s donkey and an angel to get his attention. What message was God reinforcing by speaking to him this way?

(From sermon outline)
     5)   A) There are times in our lives that God has protected us by speaking to us. How does He speak to us primarily?
            B) God protects us by blocking or standing in the way of adversaries (sometimes even when we are not aware of it)
             C) God protects us by frustrating our plans. (Ex: When our desires aren’t satisfied outside of God, that is a protection in a way.)
     Can you reflect on a specific time God has protected you in one of these ways? Do we see ourselves as in need of protection, a lot of times protection from ourselves even?

6) Christ stood in for us as our Protector on the cross bearing our sins and taking the blame and dying for us. How does that truth of Christ being our Protector change the way we see God? See others? See His world? See ourselves?