Brookside Baptist Church | Sermons

November 5, 2023 Sermon by Greg MacRobbie 

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or watch on YouTube

Series Theme

Destined for Greatness: Truly Great Love

This week’s Big Idea

“Love your enemies” seems like an impossible and foolish way to live in our day today. Protect yourself from your enemies, yes, keep your distance from your enemies, yes, but love your enemies? Not so much! Most of us have enough trouble really loving the people closest to us. How can Jesus make such a demand? What was he really saying, and why would we ever really want to follow his direction? 

Scripture

Matthew 5:43-48; John 13:34-35.

Connect

Did you ever have someone you didn’t like surprise you by saying or doing something positive or helpful for you? How did you respond?

Explore

Read Matthew 5:43-44. How do we know Jesus isn’t talking primarily about how we feel toward our enemies here?

Think of someone you think of as an “enemy.” Without identifying them by name, what is one small practical thing you could do to show love to that person this month?

Read Matthew 5:45-47; John 13:34-35. Jesus gives us two main reasons for showing love to our enemies in these passages. What are they? Which one motivates you most?

Read Matthew 5:48.  Jesus said this in the context of loving our enemies. What standard does Jesus set for us? How do we respond to this high standard?

We talk a lot at Brookside about becoming “fully engaged followers of Jesus.” How does loving your enemies fit into that goal?

Stretch

What is God saying to you from His Word right now?  What are you going to do about it?

Pray

October 8, 2023 Sermon by Greg MacRobbie 

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or watch on YouTube

Big Idea

We live in a time when outrage culture, and its close cousin, cancel culture, are on the rise. Many are easily angered and often all too happy to share their outrage on any social platform they can. It is easy to see in others, and cancel them for it, but can it lurk in our own attitudes? Do others see it in us? What does Jesus have to say about anger and rage, and what does it mean for us?

NOTE: This is the second Life Group Conversation Guide of the season, but it may also be your first group study gathering. Welcome, or, welcome back!! Take some time today to talk about what you hope to experience in Life Group this season, and how you are going to function (The “Life Group Essentials” form is available to assist in this conversation)

Scripture

Matthew 5:21-26, Matthew 5:7-19

Connect

What types of things (either trivial or important) make you angry in everyday life? How do you usually express your anger? How do you get over it?

Explore

Read Mt 5:21-22. Anger is usually a response to an external provocation, hurt, or wrong, to us or those we care about. Why is it important how we respond? What are the consequences or results of different types of responses? To the person who wronged us? To ourselves?

Read Eph 4:26-27 (NASB). Is anger ever okay or even good? What causes for anger are justifiable? What kind of responses triggered by anger are acceptable to God?

What does letting go of anger look like? How do we do it? How will the resources Jesus provides help you change your thinking and responses the next time someone wrongs you?

Comfort of God’s Mercy – v.7

Confidence of God’s Adoption – v.9

Hope of God’s Reward – v.11-12

Anticipation of God’s Praise – v.16

Expectation of God’s Reviews – v.19

Read Mt 5:23-26. In this passage, you are the one who has done wrong to someone else. What’s your usual response when someone is angry with you? What is the result? Is there a better way to handle it? 

What if someone we’ve wronged refuses to forgive or be reconciled to us? What more do we need to do? A court settlement usually involves a payment or other kind of reparations to undo or compensate for a wrong that was done. Are reparations ever a valid expectation or demand, or should people be satisfied with an apology? When should we be willing to do more than just apologize to make up for a wrong we’ve done?

How can we help and encourage each other to respond well when someone wrongs us, or when we’ve wronged someone else?

Stretch

What is God saying to you from His Word right now?  What are you going to do about it?

Pray

Sermon by Greg MacRobbie – Sunday, June 25, 2023

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Sermon by Greg MacRobbie – Sunday, June 18, 2023

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Sermon by Greg MacRobbie – Sunday, June 11, 2023

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts