Sermon Discussion

Sermon: A Relationship of Unequals

Text: Micah 6:1-8

Introduction

The last thing anyone wants to be in, is to be in debt to someone else or own anyone else a favor. We try to repay people back for the nice things they’ve done for us by doing equally nice things. We just don’t want to be in a position of unequal within a relationship, any relationship. Yet, this is precisely the relationship God calls us to be in. It is a relationship based on grace and not on merit. Any attempt from our part to equalize our standing with God leads us to pride and sin.

Discussion Questions

1. Name 3 things you are thankful for this past 2 weeks. Was it difficult or easy to come up with these things? Is your tendency to focus more on the negative or the positive things in your life?
2. What does it mean to live within grace? How does that look like?
3. What are some things in your life that you know is preventing you from deepening your relationship with God? How do you deal with these things?
4. How can we as a community strive to do justice and to love mercy? What can we do differently from what is the routine in our lives?

Moving Forward

In Micah 6, God is not coming up with a new standard or adding new rules for us to live by. Instead He showing how difficult it is for us to maintain a relationship with Him if we don’t accept His grace. It starts with the recognition of our position before God. It’s not about doing more. Instead, its about being more dependent upon God. Its about opening our eyes to His love. Only through this, we are able to maintain the relationship with God that is beneficial for us.

Meditate

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

Sermon Discussion

Sermon: Disciples Are Repentant

Text: 1 John 1:5 – 2:6

Introduction

There’s a difference between religion and relationship. In a religion, you do a checklist of things to make sure you are considered “good.” In a relationship, we strive to live in such a way as to deepen your understanding and intimacy. Jesus came to die for us so that we can be in a relationship with Him, and not so we can be religious. The issue is not just trying to avoid sinning or sin, but rather it is about conforming one’s life into Christ-likeness. But to do this, we must admit defeat in order to gain victory. It is about admitting defeat of our own ability to do it all and seek forgiveness from God so that He can start the work of sanctification within us.

Discussion Questions

1. Read 1 John 1:5-2:6. What is the main issue that John wants to address in this passage?
2. What’s the difference between confession and repentance? What is the difference between unbiblical repentance and Gospel repentance?
3. What’s the difference between being real and being authentic?
4. The area of our lives where we are most sensitive to criticism generally point to a hidden idol. What are some areas that you are most sensitive when being criticized? What kind of perspective should you take in these areas?

Moving Forward

One of the deep underlying issues that all people face and is the root of all sin is idolatry. It is dangerous because it can be well hidden within “good” things. But its affect enslaves the individual rather than giving him or her true freedom. Thus it is important to dive in deep and expose these idols for what they are. We must confront them and bring them before God in order to be healed.

Meditate

“If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” – 1 John 1:6

Doubt & Faith

Greg Laurie wrote:

An Element of Faith

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. —2 Corinthians 1:8

A French proverb says, "He that knows nothing doubts nothing." Sometimes doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith. It means we are thinking something through. We are grappling with it. We are trying to process and understand it. And sometimes we have to go through the foyer of doubt to enter into the sanctuary of certainty.

Doubting is not necessarily sinful. Doubt is a matter of the mind, while unbelief is a matter of the will. Doubt says, "I don't get it. Help me understand this. Work with me through this." But unbelief says, "I get it. I don't like it. And I refuse to accept it."

G. Campbell Morgan put it this way: "Unbelief is an act of the will, while doubt is born out of a troubled mind and a broken heart." Even great men and women of God have their moments of despair. On one occasion Moses was ready to quit after listening to the Israelites complain for the umpteenth time. He basically said, "Lord, if it is going to keep on being this way, I would prefer that you would just kill me right now."

Elijah pretty much said the same thing after hearing that Queen Jezebel had put a contract out on his life. And even the great apostle Paul was discouraged. He wrote about it in 2 Corinthians 1:8: "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life."

So if you are struggling with doubts, you are not alone. And the important thing to remember during those times is to cry out to God.


Greg Laurie points out that the opposite of faith is not doubt but rather unbelief. Doubt happens to everyone, including the heroes of faith in the Scriptures. It does not mean that we have stopped believing in God. Yet it is a catalyst for us to turn more deeply towards Him and seek Him. It humbles us because we realize that we don't know as much as we thought we did. It moves us to re-examine our relationship with God and realign it according to His will.

Questions for Thought:

1) What are some things about God that makes you doubt your faith?

2) Where do you turn to in times of doubt? Where do you seek for the answers?

Sermon Discussion

Sermon: Ambassadors For Christ

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; John 17:13-19; Acts 8:34-35

Introduction

Many Christians have the misconception that we are saved by Jesus Christ only so that we can have salvation and be with Him forever. Yet, this is contrary to what Scripture teaches us. Instead, once we are saved, we are charged with the duty of an ambassador for Christ to bring the message of reconciliation to the world.

Discussion Questions

1. Being a Christian, we are called to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21). What does this mean? What are some of the challenges in being ambassadors for Christ?
2. Jesus calls us to be in the world but not a part of the world (John 17:13-19). What does this mean? How can you still be in the world and yet not be part of it? Where do we draw the line (behaviors, actions, etc.)?
3. Why is it important that we pray for non-believers before engaging with them? What should we pray for?
4. Non-believers don’t care about what you know until they know that you care. What are some ways we, as a community, show care and love towards the non-believers in our lives?

Moving Forward

The easy thing to do is to hole-up in the comforts our church and small groups with our Christian brothers and sisters. This is where we feel most comfortable and safe. Yet Christ did not save us in order for us to be “comfortable” and “safe.” We challenged to go out there and love those who seem to have nothing in common with us. We are to bring the Good News of Christ through our actions. We do this not on our own but with God and the community of believers around us.

Meditate

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. – 2 Corinthians 5: 20a

His Compassions Never Fail

Lamentations 3:19-24 (NIV)

 ¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,
   the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
   and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind
   and therefore I have hope:
 ²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
   therefore I will wait for him.”

I've decided to start the new year by reflecting on a less-than-joyful book, Lamentations. Why? Because amidst the pain, suffering, and cries for help, there is much hope. A hope that is not dependent upon one's own strength or ability. But rather upon the consistent and everlasting goodness of God. He restores and heals because of His great love despite the situation and in spite of our actions or inaction.

In these six verses of Lamentations 3, we see a common human attribute, complaining, and the divine response, love. It seems that for many people, doesn't matter how well things are, there are always something to complain about. From the rich to the poor. From the healthy to the sick. From people in first world countries to those living in the Third World. We all can help something to be dissatisfied with, either in the present, past, or future.

Yet, God's response to our complaints and ungratefulness is to continue pouring blessings and love into our lives. It says in verse 22 and 23 that  "his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness." Despite how unfaithful we are to God. Despite how ungrateful we are to His love. He remains faithful and loving towards us.

In this coming new year, there is much hope for the new and improved. There is much hope of change for the better. But there will be times of trouble and pain. What is our response in light of God's everlasting love? I hope we can truly say that "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." (vs. 24) Why? Because of His great love, we will not be consumed by our failures, our pain, and our sins. He has won victory over these things through His death on the cross. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Something To Think About:

1. What has been burdening on your heart lately? What are something problems or pain that does not seem to work themselves out?
2. What are some ways to "wait on the Lord"? What does this entail?

Sermon Discussion

Sermon: New Year 2011

Text: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Introduction

It seems that each new year brings so much hope for change and renewal. But disappointment quickly settles in as we see no significant changes in our lives. Things seem to go back to the way they were. However, Christ calls us to be in a process of change, a change from a sinful life to a holy one. Yet at times the task seems so daunting. We seem to stumble and fall every step we take. So Pastor Charlton reminds us of the objective we must take our spiritual walk, to increase in our love of Jesus. Having this objective, we are called to pursue diligently while leaning upon God for strength.

Discussion Questions

1. Did you learn to play a musical instrument/sport when you were younger? Do you still play it now? Why or why not?
2. How do you determine what is right and what is wrong in your life? What are the standards that you have in making decisions?
3. How do you determine what kinds of decisions you should surrender to God and what kinds of actions you are responsible for? Where do we draw the line?
4. What is one thing you can do this week that may alter your life routine but allows you to genuinely pursue Christ? Ask a brother or sister to keep you accountable in this.

Moving Forward

Many decisions in life is not between bad or good, evil or moral, but between good and good. At times, the answers may not be clear because our objective in life is not clear or is not about pursuing God. Therefore, we must be resolute in our objective, which is to pursue Christ, and base our decisions upon this objective. With this, our lives will have meaning and purpose.

Meditate

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. – 2 Timothy 2:22