11/11/18 Sermon Questions

THE TABLE

Week 6: Revelation 19:6-9

Life Group Questions

1. Share the most memorable moment you have experienced at a wedding.
2. What did pastor Luke say is our job as the church, taken from Revelation 19:7?
3. How would you think and act differently if you thought of this time on earth as a time to prepare yourself as the Bride of Christ? (Share practical ways)
4. What does the clothing we are to put on look like? (Colossians 3:12-14)
5. Are we (as individuals & as a life group) allowing love to be our defining characteristic? How so?
6. How can our group pray for you this week?

Sermon Notes and Scripture

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.”– Revelation 19:6

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. – Revelation 7:9

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. – Revelation 19:7

Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) – Revelation 19:8

 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” – Colossians 3:12-14

1. WE FORGIVE OTHERS LIKE JESUS FORGIVES US.
2. WE ALLOW LOVE TO BE OUR DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC.
3. WE LET PEACE NOT FEAR RULE IN OUR HEARTS.
4. WE ARE THANKFUL.
5. WE LIVE ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD.
6. WE KNOW THAT JESUS IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE AS WE REPRESENT JESUS.

Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” – Revelation 19:9

CONCLUSION

TWO QUESTIONS

1. Have I accepted the invitation to the Lord’s table?
2. Am I allowing love to be my defining characteristic?

11/4/18 Sermon Questions

THE TABLE

Week 5:  John 21:1-14

Life Group Questions

• Who in your life has helped reorient you back to the faith? Share a time they pointed you back to Jesus.
• Read Matthew 28:16. Where had Jesus told the disciples to go? Where do you find them in John 21? Why do you think they went back to fishing?
• Read Luke 5:1-7. Imagine the connection the disciples made during their time in the boat in John 21 and how a very similar set of circumstances happened again. What did it lead Peter to do? (John 21:7-8)
• Think about all that Peter has been through since the last supper. Talk about some of those events. How is this fire different from the last one he stood around? (John 21:9-10)
• After the disciples stepped back into their old way of life (fishing), Jesus meets them on the beach and over a meal to reorient them to Himself. How has Jesus met you where you are recently?
• How can you seek rest in Jesus for yourself and family this week?
• What areas of your life are you trying to prove yourself before God?
• What fear or discouragement is preventing you from living on mission?

Sermon Notes and Scripture

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:  ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. ⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No,” they answered. ⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. ⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. – John ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. – John 21:1-14

 

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. – Matthew 28:16

 

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. ² He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” ⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. – Luke 5:1-7

1. JESUS REORIENTS US BACK TO THE TABLE IN THE MIDST OF FEAR AND DISCOURAGEMENT.
2. FIND REST IN JESUS, STOP TRYING TO PROVE YOURSELF BEFORE GOD.

10/28/18 Sermon Questions

THE TABLE                                                                

Week 4:  Matthew 14:13-21

Life Group Questions:

• How have you recently sensed Jesus inviting you into the work He is doing? How have you responded to that nudge?
• What kind of intimacy and relationship do you see as families and friends gather around a table during the holidays?
• During this series “The Table,” what level of relationship is Jesus inviting you to in these sermons about the tables in Scripture?
• Read Matthew 14:13-14. Jesus is mourning his cousin’s death, and yet, read His response to the crowd waiting for Him as He landed on the other side of the lake. Is your go-to response always compassion like Jesus?
• What about during difficult times in your life, do you still serve and have compassion on others? Share an example.
• Is there a circumstance in your life that distracting you from Jesus’ power right now?
• How can you turn that experience into a growing opportunity to learn and trust the magnitude of Jesus’ power more?
• Look closely at verses 17 and 18. How do those verses illustrate the second point of the sermon that we just need to bring what we have and we need to trust Jesus with the rest.
• Pastor Luke shared the connections found in the meta narrative of Scripture and how God always provides more than enough. (Exodus 16, Matthew 14, Matthew 26) Have you ever noticed these provisions and made the connection between them before?
• What do you need to give Jesus this week so He can use it for His kingdom?

Sermon Notes and Scripture:

¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. ¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” – Matthew 14:13-15

1. WE NEED TO BE MORE AWED AT THE MAGNITUDE OF JESUS’ POWER, THAN WE ARE THE MAGNITUDE OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCE.

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” – Matthew 14:16

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. – John 6:5-6

2. BRING WHAT YOU HAVE AND TRUST GOD WITH THE REST.

¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. ¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. – Matthew 14:17-19

 

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”²⁷ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” – Matthew 26:26-29

 

²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. – Matthew 14:20-21

3. OUR NEEDS ARE SATISFIED IN JESUS CHRIST.

10/21/18 Sermon Questions

The Table

Part 3

Matthew 22:1-14 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: ² “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. ³ He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

⁴ “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

⁵ “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. ⁶ The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. ⁷ The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

⁸ “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. ⁹ So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ ¹⁰ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

¹¹ “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ¹² He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

¹³ “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

¹⁴ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Life Group Questions 

• How does a graduation ceremony help explain that you both meet the requirements and are chosen at the same time?
• What is the main idea we draw from the two main interpretations of the wedding attire requirements? (That either way the man was given enough time to prepare or the resources were provided to meet the requirements. This was a cognitive choice he made not to come in appropriate attire.)
• Which of the characters do you most relate to in your current season of life and why? (The resistant guests, the late comers, the man who was thrown out, etc.)
• What invitation do you think the Lord has for you right now? What would it look for you to press into that? What would you need from people in your life to press into the invitation?
• What invitations are you extending right now to people in your life about God’s kingdom? (Relationships with co-workers, family members, neighbors, etc.)
• Who are the people in your life that think or live way differently than you? How do you feel like you relate to them? Are you able to sit, ask questions, and try to understand or do you feel the need to be the one telling others how they should understand? What would it look like for you to grow in this area? What do you think might be gleaned if you did grow in this area?
• When you think about how God (the king) invites you to a banquet that is fully covered at his expense and that you get to live in his kingdom, what does that do for your heart, soul, and mind? Does the way you think change? Do you feel freedom, pressure, exhilaration, unworthy, etc. Does it lead you to desire change in any particular part of your life?

10/14/18 Sermon Questions

The Table

Part 2: Matthew 26: 17-30

Life Group Questions 

• What did you learn about the Passover this week? What did you learn about the disciples and Jesus celebrating Passover together?
• Share a time in your life where the statement that Pastor Luke shared, “When it comes to following Jesus we don’t have to understand fully to obey immediately,” came to fruition in your life? What happened? How did your obedience grow your faith?
• Imagine if you were one of the disciples and Jesus asked you to do what He did for the original disciples. Read Matthew 26:18-19 and share what you think your response would have been.
• Read in Matthew 26: 21-25 and note the different names the disciples and Judas called Jesus. Why do you suppose these terms are so crucial?
• How do you prepare your heart before the table of the Lord?
• In what ways are you not allowing Jesus to be the Lord of your life? And, how can our group pray specifically for you in that?

 Sermon Notes and Scripture

¹⁷ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” ¹⁸ He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” ¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

²⁰ When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” ²² They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” ²³ Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” ²⁵ Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” – Matthew 26:17-25

HOW WE HAVE FREEDOM AT THE TABLE

1. JESUS BREAKS OUR CHAINS OF SIN AND WE ARE SET FREE.

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” – Matthew 26:26

2. JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD SO WE CAN HAVE A SEAT AT THE LORD’S TABLE.

²⁷ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” ³⁰ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. – Matthew 26:27-30

10/7/18 Sermon Questions

The Table

Part 1:  John 2:1-11

Life Group Questions:

1. What invitations this fall can you use as an opportunity to point people to Jesus?
2. Read the passage of Scripture together as a group. What did you notice in the passage? What stood out to you? What did you learn?
3. How do you see the humanness of Jesus and also His deity in this passage?
4. How does Mary’s response and reaction in this passage tell you about her belief and obedience?
5. Look at verse 9. Who did Jesus invite into the miracle?
6. Are there any areas in your life where you are sacrificing the ultimate for the immediate?
7. How do you celebrate the joy you have in Jesus?
8. Pastor Luke challenged us to invite people who don’t know Jesus into your home for a meal at some point during this series. Who can our group be praying for you to invite?

Sermon Notes and Scripture:

PARTICIPATING IN MINISTRY LIKE JESUS

1. USE INVITATIONS AS OPPORTUNITIES TO POINT PEOPLE TO JESUS.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” ⁴ “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” – John 2:1-4

2. TRAIN YOUR HEART AND MIND TO REACT IN OBEDIENCE.

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” ⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.⁸  Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” – John 2:5-8

3. THE FULLNESS OF JOY IN LIFE IS FOUND IN JESUS.

They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”  ¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. – John 2:9-11

4. DON’T SACRIFICE THE ULTIMATE FOR THE IMMEDIATE.

9/30/18 Sermon Questions

WAIT, WHAT?

Week 5:  Luke 12:49-53

Life Group Questions

1. Throughout this series, “Wait, What?” We’ve spent time looking at the sayings of Jesus. How important is the context of the Scripture we have looked at? What have you learned about that during this series?
2. How have you seen division among family because of different responses to Christ? (Luke 12:51-53) How are we as Christians to handle that?
3. In what relationships do you need to “own” Jesus more?
4. How can you obey Jesus with what has been put in front of you right now?
5. Did you have any conditions when you first surrendered your life to Christ? Do you have any now?
6. Are you causing division like Jesus did? Or are you divisive, unlike Christ?
7. Are you forcing Jesus on anyone?
8. Are you defending yourself in anger?
9. Are you judgmental of others?
10. How can our life group pray for you this week?

Sermon Notes and Scripture:

⁴⁹ “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!  “⁵¹ Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. ⁵² From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” – Luke 12:49-53

FOUR PRACTICAL QUESTIONS OF DIVISION IN MY LIFE?

1. HAVE I “OWNED” JESUS IN ALL OF MY RELATIONSHIPS?
2. AM I OBEYING HIM WITH WHAT’S IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW?
3. DO I HAVE ANY CONDITIONS FOR FOLLOWING JESUS?
4. WHERE AM I CAUSING DIVISION, AM I DOING IT LIKE HIM?

²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. – 1 Peter 2:23

HERE ARE 3 WAYS CHRISTIANS ARE DIVISIVE UNLIKE CHRIST.

1. When They Force It: Jesus never did that. He would speak, want, pray, but not force.
2. When We Defend Ourselves in Anger: Jesus didn’t do that, he took our insults.
3. Judging the Person: We studied this last week. Not only did we study this, but we learned that we need to continue to look at the plank in our own eyes before we look at the speck in others.

9/23/18 Sermon Questions

WAIT, WHAT?

Week 4:  Matthew 7:1-6

Life Group Questions

1. Many believe that religion is private and morality is relative. Where have you seen this?
2. How have you seen healthy confrontation in your life that has led to restoration? (Matthew 7: 1-6)
3. Pastor Luke shared two ways in which we are guilty when we judge others. Is there anything you would add or take away from those ways?
4. Look at the passage of Matthew 7. Do you find that it is easy to see a speck of sin in someone else’s eye when you have a plank in your own eye?
5. Pastor Luke talked about how much easier to extend grace to another when they struggle with a sin you yourself have struggled with. Could you relate with that illustration?
6. Read and talk through the four pearls for relational evangelism.
7. Was there anything else that stood out or that God showed you in this sermon?
8. How can our life group pray for you this week?

Sermon Notes and Scripture 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. – Matthew 7:1

AM I GUILTY OF JUDGMENT?

1. I AM GUILTY NOT WHEN I ASSESS THE SITUATION OF OTHERS, BUT WHEN I DISMISS THEM AS A PERSON.

¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. – John 3:17

² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  ³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. – Matthew 7:3-5

2. I AM GUILTY WHEN I JUDGE SOMEONE FOR THEIR SIN AND AM IGNORANT TO MY OWN.

⁶ “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. – Matthew 7:6

PEARLS OF WISDOM FOR RELATIONAL EVANGELISM

1. MAKE PRAYER YOUR MAIN WEAPON.

 “We shouldn’t try to talk to a person about God without also talking to God about that person.” – E.M. Bounds

2. SEEK CONVERSION TO JESUS BEFORE YOUR POINT-OF-VIEW.
3. BE WILLING TO LISTEN MORE THAN YOU SPEAK.
4. BE PATIENT WITH THE PACE OF GOD IN SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE.

9/16/18 Sermon Questions

WAIT, WHAT?  

Week 3:  Mark 13:32-37

Life Group Questions:           

1. Pastor Luke gave us some history on the temple. What would that building have meant to the disciples?
2. In verse 4, we see the disciples asking questions about the end times. What are those questions and have you yourself asked them? What is Jesus’ response to those questions?
3. Read Luke 2:52 and Mark 4:32. Jesus showed us what it means to be fully human and fully God at the same time. Have you ever tried to wrap your mind around the fact that Jesus was fully God and fully human? How would you explain this mystery to another?
4. Pastor Luke share the practical ways in which Jesus was fully God and fully human. How did that list bolster your faith? (listed on back)
5. As we as believers live in the in-between before Jesus returns, (verse 35-37) how can we prepare? What can you do this week?
6. How would you live differently today if you knew Jesus were coming back tonight?
7. How can you continue to invest your time, energy and resources into the kingdom of God?

Sermon Notes and Scripture:

 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” ² “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.” ³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”   Mark 13:1-4

³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.   Mark 13:32

• Because he was the son of man, he could become hungry; but because he was the Son of God he fed the 5,000.
• Because he was the son of man, he would get thirsty; but because he was the Son of God, he could turn water into wine.
• Because he was the son of man, he grew weary; but because he was the Son of God, he raised the dead.
• As the son of man he would have celebrated his birthdays; but as the Son of God he could say, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.”
• Because he was the son of man, he did not know the day or the hour of his return; but because he was the Son of God he promised he would return on the clouds with power and great glory.

³³ Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. ³⁴ It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.  ³⁵ “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.  ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.³⁷ What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”   Mark 13:33-37

SPIRITUAL READINESS FOR CHRIST’S RETURN

1. SPIRITUAL READINESS
2. MISSIONAL URGENCY
3. POWER TO FORGIVE