By kellitempleton
Mark Seekins preached in W Pasco this Sunday, October 11th. Here are the sermon questions for small group discussion:
- Mark shared about significant moments of intersection in his life, moments that changed the trajectory of his life (e.g., the day he met his wife). Share a significant moment of intersection in your life. This mixer question ties into the sermon introduction and helps members share a bit more about their life.
2. Read Luke 5:17-26 and discuss the following:
- What barriers did the paralytic man overcome to meet Jesus? His paralysis, the crowd was in the way, the roof, etc.
- Contrast the reaction of the Pharisees, the paralytic man and his friends, and the crowd to Jesus. The Pharisees initially were curious so it seemed and then began to criticize Jesus for blasphemy; the paralytic man and his friends were persistent to meet Jesus no matter the cost and then they praised God when the man was healed; the crowd was curious and then amazed and gave praise to God.
- Why did Jesus forgive the man when the man was actually looking for healing? He was demonstrating that he was the Son of Man who had authority to forgive sins and his healing confirmed this authority.
3. Anyone can go around and state “your sins are forgiven”. How do we know that Jesus had the authority to forgive sin? (Luke 5:24, 1 Cor 15:16-17) He said he did and backed it up with miraculous healing which was prophesied as evidence of the Messiah (Is. 35:5-6). Additionally, his resurrection from the dead proved he was the Messiah, the only one who can forgive sins, the perfect sacrifice.
4. Maybe you weren’t a paraplegic who was healed but what miracles has God done in your life? Tell about the last time you shared your faith and told others of the miracles of God. How can sharing your faith help you experience what happened in Luke 5:26? Answers will vary here but we are hoping that it will grow the group closer, increase the group’s faith as they hear of God’s miracles, and prepare you to share with others. Also, we think that we can still experience awe of God and praise Him in a variety of ways BUT as we share our faith and see someone saved we certainly have reason to be in awe of God!
5. The more attractive Jesus is to you, the more you will want to share Him with others. What about Jesus was particularly attractive to you from this passage? The question writing team had a variety of answers such as Jesus’ ability to really see the needs around him, calling the man his friend, and his ability to teach and hit the heart of his hearers.
Break into gender groups to discuss the following: These questions are personal application and have not set “answers”. Our hope is that people will share and as a group you will help them grow. If someone is in a crisis of faith, this is a great time for the group to support them.
6.When you are in a crisis, do you tend to pursue Jesus or does your faith die? If you are in a current crisis, how can your friends help you pursue Jesus (e.g., carry your mat)?
7. Answer the following:
- We all have a “crowd”. Who is your crowd? might be co-workers, extended family, small group, etc.
- Who are the critics in your life? might be co-workers, a spouse, friend, family member, boss, etc.
- What about “the crowd and critics” stops you from talking about Jesus? fear of rejection, losing a job, losing a friend or family relationship, etc.
8. God is looking, will you join Him? What do you need to do to join Him?
By kellitempleton
Here are the sermon questions for small group discussion:
- Mixer: When you hear the word “bridge” what image comes to mind? The question writing team came up with suspension bridge, musical bridge, a dental issue, and the internet.
- How did God prepare Cornelius to receive the gospel in Acts 10:1-8? How did God prepare you? He provided him with a fear of God and actions like prayer and generosity; he gave him a vision, directions, Peter, etc. God may have prepared us by providing believing parents, a solid church, a crisis that brought us to Jesus, etc.
- In Acts 10:9-16 and elsewhere in the passage, what were the big lessons God taught Peter so he could share and serve Him more effectively? What lessons has God taught you? Some of the big lessons that Peter learned were that nothing that God declares clean is unclean, especially people that we are sent to witness to; that the Gentiles could receive Jesus and belong to God; and the Holy Spirit was poured upon the Gentiles as well. Some lessons God may have shown us include to show people Jesus first before addressing morality issues; ask questions and consider people when witnessing versus argue with them; and pray more, talk less.
- What bridges did God build between Peter and Cornelius in verses 17-33? What bridges is God asking you to step onto? God showed Peter that he should share Jesus with this previously “unclean” man and his household; Cornelius knew that he should listen to Peter as one speaking on God’s behalf. God may be asking us to associate with someone we need to forgive, we consider “unclean”, etc.
- Read Acts 10:34-43 and identify the main points of the good news (gospel). God shows no partiality and desires all of mankind to know Him. God sent Jesus as a man to bring about peace between man and God. Jesus lived a perfect life, doing miracles, and showing that he was the Son of God. He died for our sins and was raised from the dead as witnessed by many. Anyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of their sins through Jesus.
- What did the Holy Spirit do in Acts 10:44-48? Share about a spiritual conversation you have had when it was obvious that the Holy Spirit was working through you and/or in the receiver. The Holy Spirit fell on the gentiles as they believed in Jesus causing them to speak in tongues and extol God. Often when we share with others we experience the Holy Spirit’s power as se discern the person’s real needs or issues, we ask a wise question that was obviously not from us or we see the Holy Spirit working on the receiver as they show interest, awe, and ask more questions.
- The more attractive God is to you, the more you will want to share Him with others. What about God was particularly attractive to you from the passage? Pray as a group that the Holy Spirit will fill you as you join Him in seeking to save the lost. The question writing team loves that God shows no partiality, his creativity in bringing Peter and Cornelius together, the way God acknowledges Cornelius’ faith in Him, etc.
- Challenge Question: Can people who have never heard the gospel be saved? If yes, why did God then send Peter to preach? If no, how do you explain verses 34-35? (Support all opinions with scripture.) This is a difficult question to answer and our sermon writing team varied in our responses. Here are some articles to read as you prepare to answer this question John Piper’s Answer to a 12-Year Old Girl and What If Someone Never Hears About Jesus?
By kellitempleton
Dave Dawson is launching the Lost and Found series at the W. Pasco campus. Here are the sermon questions for small group discussion:
- In one word or short phrase, describe your life before you met Jesus (lost). What one word or phrase describes your life after Jesus (found)? (e.g., depressed to hopeful; alcoholic to sober; anxious to trusting; legalistic to gracious)
We are hoping this question will help your group connect relationally and spiritually. We added the last two examples for those that may have grown up in the church.
Read Luke 7:36-50 and review the sermon outline.
2. Contrast the ways Simon and the woman treated Jesus. Jesus says to the woman “Your sins are forgiven.” Why doesn’t he say that to Simon?
Simon controlled everything: his home, his guests, his menu, his servants. Simon was trying to impress Jesus and his guests. The focus was on Simon (the heart of entertaining). He did not show Jesus proper hospitality. The woman was completely humble and all about Jesus: she is close to Jesus, she washes Jesus feet with her tears, wipes Jesus feet with her hair, kisses Jesus feet and then puts valuable perfume on Jesus’ feet. She lavishes hospitality and love on Jesus. She worships Jesus.
Jesus does not state forgiveness for Simon’s sin because Simon has not seen his sin. He believes Jesus is not the Messiah because he would not allow this woman to do this given her reputation. In fact, Simon does not see a need for a Savior. He believes he is righteous.
3. If someone said “God could never forgive the things I’ve done,” what would you say? (Ps 103:11-12, Rom 5:8, 8:1, Eph 1:7-8)
We can show them this very story - Simon, who seemed to be all cleaned up was not forgiven but the woman was forgiven for her many sins, most likely the sin of prostitution. The verses listed also show the power of forgiveness is in God’s control, His power NOT the magnitude of our sin. We could also affirm the fact that they see their sin, unlike Simon did.
4. Eph 2:8-9 says we’re saved by grace. What do you think that means? How should the grace you receive motivate you to care about others?
From the ESV Study Bible: “By grace refers to God’s favor upon those who have transgressed his law and sinned against him. But grace may also be understood as a “power” in theses verses. God’s grace not only offers salvation but also secures it. Saved refers to deliverance from God’s wrath at the final judgement. Salvation is a gift of God and not something that we can accomplish ourselves. We are dead in our sins, unable to do anything. God alone is the one who saves us by his grace.
This amazing grace helps us lavish grace on others - forgive quicker, bear with easier, delight in others, be more patient, etc. We stop addressing immoral behavior in our unbelieving friends and family and start lavishing God’s grace on them. We care about the lost and seek to join God in finding them.
5. How did Jesus see the woman differently than Simon saw her? What do you think Jesus would say to you about the way you “see” people? Who is Jesus asking you to “see?” (Use the “Relational Circles” tool.)
Jesus saw the woman as someone who expressed her love from a heart that was grateful for having her debts cancelled. Her deep emotion was from a heart of gratitude. Jesus saw a person who needed a Savior, wanted a Savior, worshipped Him. Simon did not see a person but a nuisance, an interruption, something that defiled his party and guests. He saw a sinner who he was better than.
We all need to see the unbelievers in our midst more clearly and lavish grace on them. Use the relational circles tool to identify the unbelievers in your relational circles. Use this tool to pray for those unbelievers. Ask each other weekly if you have had a casual conversation with one of these people. Has the conversation gone from casual to significant to spiritual?
6. The more attractive Jesus is to you, the more you will want to share Him with others. What about Jesus in this passage was particularly attractive to you?
We will use this question each of the 6 weeks of the series. Answers will vary. Here are my answers as an example: Jesus’ wisdom and storytelling was attractive to me. His tenderness with the woman was attractive. His patience and pursuit of Simon is attractive.
7. Hospitality is a potential tool for engaging the lost and encouraging the found. What’s the difference between biblical hospitality and entertaining? Who could you show biblical hospitality to this week? See answers to question #2 to describe the difference between entertaining and hospitality. Is there anyone from the relational circles tool that we could invite over for dinner? a football game? dessert?
8. This sermon series is all about “Lost and Found.” What does God want you to do because someone you “see” is “Lost” and needs to be “Found?”
personal answers will vary but could be pray, engage them in conversation, invite them over, etc.
