Acts 20:28-38 "The Deeply Rooted Church" Rev. Greg Meyer

 

 

                                                                Sermon Discussion Questions

 

 1) "Our stories are woven together like forests and trees. That is the way God intended it." (sermon quote) Yet being connected to each other isn't always easy. How we can we be better rooted here at Covenant? Where can we set our attention to help us grow?

 

 2) All good things we have, God has given us. How can we care for those things better? How can we care for ourselves better in light of taking care of what God has given us?

 

3) In response to what God has given us, how does that gratitude translate into serving others/good works?

 

4)  What gifts, time, resources, knowledge, presence can you be using here at Covenant with our church family?

 

5) Love is inherently personal. God is the source of our love. His grace (unmerited favor) has been lavished on us. How does that truth of the gospel change the way you interact with our church family?

 

Luke 1:39-56 "Joyfully Waiting" Rev. Ryan Laughlin

 

 

                                              Sermon Discussion 

 

1)  What does Mary say about the Lord in this passage? What is she joyful about?

 

 2) Do we associate joy and waiting together? What does joyfully waiting for the Lord look like in our lives?

 

 3) We see Mary magnifying the Lord and sharing her joy in community. Is that a challenge in your life? How can we share joy in community?

 

4) In the midst of the sadness how can we hold both joy and sorrow together? Is it possible?

 

5) Why is it good news that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us?

                                                      

Luke 1:26-38 "Humbly Waiting" Rev. Ryan Laughlin

 

 

 

                                                    Sermon Discussion Questions

 

  1) "Jesus came leaving behind what He deserved to give us what we don't deserve." (sermon quote) How do we see that being explained in this passage?

 

 2) "Even before going to the cross, Jesus had given up a lot to be one of us." (sermon quote) How does this change your life? Does it foster an attitude of Thanksgiving?

 

 3)  What was Mary's response to Gabriel in this passage? 

 

  4) What would it look like to live under the reign of Jesus? Would it change our posture towards obedience and our love of others?

 

 5) What does this section teach us about Jesus?

 

 6) What does the world/our hearts tell us we need in order to be happy? What actually will be cause us to flourish? 

 

Romans 6:15-23 "Choose Your Chains" Rev. Ryan Laughlin

 

 

 

                                                               Sermon Discussion Questions

 

     1)  After reading this passage, what are we reminded about sin? How does it destroy our freedom?

 

    2) How does the good news of the gospel and the work of Christ free us? 

 

    3) What does our freedom in Christ look like in our daily lives? What does it look like in our relationships, worship, inner-lives, etc?

 

   4) Even though we have been delivered from the power of sin, it doesn't mean that sin is still not a struggle. How do you see Jesus working/redeeming/growing you in this way? What does Romans 7 say about this reality of being free in Christ?

 

  5)  What stops us from really believing that Jesus died for our sins and we are no longer condemned because of it? How does the truth that sin does not own you...help in your daily relationship with Jesus, others, yourself, the world?

Romans 6:1-14 "Bike with No Brakes" Rev. Ryan Laughlin

 

 

 

                                                    Sermon Discussion Questions

 

1) After reading over this passage, what does Paul tell us about grace?

 

2) What does it mean for a believer to have be in Christ? (union with Christ) What are the benefits?

 

3) How can we make time to reflect on our being baptized with Christ, being crucified and being raised? How does this truth change our current daily lives?

 

4)  "Just because we are positionally dead to sin does not mean we are practically immune to it." (sermon quote) What does this mean for a believer? How is the work of Christ good news in this endeavor?

 

5) How can we use our bodies as an "instrument of righteousness?" 

Romans 5:12-21 "Were Not the Right Man on Our Side" Rev. Ryan Laughlin

 

 

                                                Sermon Discussion Questions

 

1) How does this passage compare Adam and Christ as our representatives? 

 

2) What do we gain with Jesus being our representative? Why does He alone qualify to represent us for salvation, redemption?

3) How does the abounding grace of God influence our daily lives? How does it influence how our relationships with others? Are we quick to be gracious to others?

4) How can we draw from the well of grace in Christ in our lives?

5) "So when we are convinced that “grace reigns,” we will remember that God’s throne is a “throne of grace,” and will come to it boldly for mercy and to find grace for every need." (John Stott) How does this stir your heart? Do we need convincing that grace reigns?

 

 

Romans 5:1-11 "Always Reforming" Rev. Ryan Laughlin

 

 

 

                                                           Sermon Discussion Questions

 

  1) In this passage, we see the work of the Trinity. What are the readers told about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the passage? 

 

 2) What does Romans 5 teach us about the doctrine of justification?

 

 3) In your daily life...do you have confidence that you belong to the Lord? What/whom do you base that confidence on?

 

 4) What does the work of Jesus mean for our standing in grace now and our future glory?

 

 5) Sermon quote: "When God says He will do something, He will do it." Does this truth encourage you?