Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Rochester MN

I.                 Two Crucial Questions

A.               Who do people say the Son of Man is?

B.               Who do you say I am?

II.                Two Great Results

A.               The blessing

B.               The promise

III.              Two Important Actions

A.               How do we respond to Jesus’ question?

B.               How do we live in response to who Jesus says we are?

Discussion Questions:

What is the significance of who the people said that Jesus was – John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets?

Why do you suppose that all of the people gave responses from the prophet category?

Who do the people say the Son of Man is today? List a few examples of people you know and their opinion(s) of Jesus.

Why do you suppose people are so willing and able to give their opinions, even when they often have no idea about what the facts and truth are?

Would people you know want to learn the real Truth if they knew their beliefs were wrong? Or, would they not care, desiring to stay in their wrong beliefs?

In what ways does Matthew 16:13-20 refute the popular notion that Jesus was just a good teacher, prophet, or good example?

How does the truth of Peter’s confession influence our carrying out of the Great Commission?

How do Jesus’ comments about the church in 16:18 also influence our carrying out of the Great Commission?

What do you make of verse 19? What does Jesus mean by:

a) keys to the kingdom,

b) binding on earth, and

c) loosing on earth?

Jesus often instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ (16:20). Why? What excuses do we use as to why we do not tell people that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God?

Discussion Questions:

Summarize what you heard in the sermon, using ten words or fewer.

Has anyone ever prophesied over you specifically? What was that experience like? There are, of course, biblical examples of prophecy as well as abuses of that concept. Which do you think that experience was for you?

Talk about a time when you were so excited about news that you were just about bursting to share it. What was the news? And what was happening in your own heart as you waited to share it?

If you consider yourself a follower of Jesus, name someone who was an important witness to you as you were first discovering your relationship with God. Who is on you heart that, if you could, you could “bring him/her to Jesus” like Andrew did with Simon Peter?

In what ways is fishing a good training ground for ministry? In other words, what skills are transferrable from their previous profession, to this new vocation of being a full-time Jesus follower? In contrast, in what ways are those two jobs quite different?

Read Matthew 4:18-20

If Jesus called you to follow Him right now, what would be the hardest thing to walk away from in your life?

What is the “fishing pond” of your life? Who in your sphere of influence or sphere of proximity is in need of the life-saving message of Jesus? How will you take a step with that person this month?

As you consider your faith story, was your trust in Jesus immediate once you understood Him, or was it slower to develop? In what ways is your trust in Jesus still developing?

sermon_2020_1_12_The_Call_(Brian_Martin)

Discussion Questions:

1)     Why do you find yourself so curious about the story behind people in your neighborhood? Do you think your curiosity is mostly good or neutral, or mostly nosiness for nosiness’ sake?

2)     What are some mental pictures you have of what Simon Peter must have been like? What are some words you most readily associate with him?

3)     At the time of his writing of the letters we call I and II Peter, Simon Peter had been following Jesus for 30+ years. For how long have you been following Jesus (if you consider yourself a follower of Jesus)? Have there been any significant points where you saw your faithfulness or your resolve to follow Jesus change or grow? What led to that?

4)     Read I Peter 2:4-5.

a)      Why does Peter use the qualifier “living” to talk about the stones that followers of Jesus are to be? Why is that necessary?

b)     If Peter is the first “brick” stone laid in the spiritual house, how and why is that a significant connection to today’s “bricks,” meaning the people of God here and now?

c)      What is the significance of taking on the role of being a “holy priesthood?” In other words, what responsibilities do all people who follow Jesus have that somehow resemble the work of a biblical priest?

5)     Why is it significant to remember that Jesus was a real person, and not just a story, a legend, or a myth?

6)     In what ways does the relationship between Peter and Jesus help you better understand, a) how Jesus wants to engage with you, and b) how you can better approach/follow Jesus?

I DANCE

YOU DANCE

TO DANCE IS…to show _________ _________ in someone

THE FATHER DANCES OVER US

CONTEXT:

TEXT:  Zephaniah

TODAY’S BIG IDEA:  Everyone Needs to Be Danced Over

Even Jesus needed to be danced over…demonstrated in 3 Gospel incidents

THE FATHER DANCES OVER JESUS

CONTEXT:

THREE GOSPEL TEXTS:

First Dance: Matthew 3:16-17 -- but see Mark 1:11 & Luke 3:2

Second Dance: Matthew 17:5

          Last Dance:  John 12:27-28

GOSPEL:  There was one day God didn’t dance.

BTW… Jesus may have needed people to dance over him, too

DANCING OVER EACH OTHER:  Survival in a world with “two left feet”

About your dancing partners…

Kids, moms and dads, wives and husbands, employees & bosses

Impact of living in a world with two left feet…

Satan (and his world) can dance…

SO WHAT?

2020 – let’s start dancing lessons over Jesus and his kids

Discussion Questions:

Tim suggested that although he is Scandinavian, and Minnesota tame, nevertheless at times with his kids he simply could not help but swoop them up and dance with them around the house. Tell your group about a time you were overcome with unbridled delight in a child or grandchild.

Tim challenged us from the Zephaniah text that despite how incorrigible God’s kids are, God the Father expresses unbridled delight in them (us). Is this your view of God the Father – swooping us up in His arms and dancing around with us?  Is this view consistent with other parts of Scripture?

The BIG IDEA of the message was “EVERYONE needs to be danced over.” It is a fundamental need we all have to feel the object of delight for others.  Do you agree, or is this just part of the spirit of our age that people have become fragile and needy and they should just get a grip and man up?

We looked at three incidents in the Gospels where God the Father audibly speaks words of affirmation and delight over Jesus the Son. Tim suggested that Jesus, as a fully human person, needed    Do you agree, and if not, why do you think God the Father spoke to or about Jesus those three times?

Just how hard is it to be a kid, a parent, a spouse, a worker or boss, a church attendee or leader in this world? Do you think we are encouraged and built up enough, or is the world we live in really one with “left feet”?

We’ve often heard about how important it is to expect great things from people (kids, teammates, employees, church ministry leaders) and push them to achieve it. Is this a biblical concept?

Tim suggested that Satan knows how to dance, and may be doing a better job of it than God’s people are doing. Where have you found people who seem to delight in you the way you are – among the people of the world, or the people of the Church?

How excited do you get about ‘dancing over Jesus’? Most people, whether expressive or non-expressive, would admit dialing their delight WAY DOWN when it comes to expression of affection for Jesus, even in private.  What is driving this?

What will eternity with God and each other be like? Do the peeks we get from Scripture suggest “unbridled delight” in God and each other as His kids describe it?  Does “learning how to dance” here have an impact on the hereafter?

What is one take-away from the message that I WILL act on and report back to the group?

God's purpose in Christmas is to:

Demonstrate to you

Dwell with you

Deliver you

Now you need to Decide.

The wait is almost over…Christmas is almost here. Are you ready?

In this Advent season, we rejoice in God’s faithfulness to His promises to send a Savior. God kept those promises when Jesus came to earth over 2,000 years ago. Jesus has promised to come again, and we need to be waiting and preparing for his return.

I.  Past - God brought light to a dark world when Jesus was born. (Isaiah 9:1-3)

II.  Future – God will bring peace to a war-torn world when Jesus returns to establish his kingdom. (Isaiah 9:4-5, 7)

III. Present – God has given His son to us and for us. (Isaiah 9:6)

a. Wonderful Counselor

b. Mighty God

c. Everlasting Father

d. Prince of Peace

IV. Our response to God’s gift

a. Wait expectantly.

b. Believe confidently.

c. Share freely.

Keep the hope alive!

Discussion Questions:

What is the darkness in v.2? (See Isaiah 8:16-22.)

How does Jesus fulfill the prophecy to bring light to Israel? (Matthew 4:15,16)

What images come to mind as you read vs.4-5?

Have these verses been fulfilled? If so, when? If not, when will they be fulfilled?

Which of the names in v.6 do you find most meaningful?

If v.6 applies to Jesus, how can he be called the Everlasting Father?

What does Isaiah mean by ‘the zeal of the LORD’ in v.7?

What confidence does that phrase give you?

The Wait Is Almost Over (David Henry)

What do you hope for?

Praise

Who?

For?

When?

How should knowing this change me?

Joy

Love

Hope

What does living it out look like?

Believe

Trust

Endure

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the first toy you remember hoping for as a kid? Where is that toy now?

2. What are some other earthly things that you have put your hope in the past? Do you find your focus still going to those kinds of things first?

3. What are some ways you maintain balance with hoping and focusing first and foremost in Jesus, but also working to steward the things that He has given you to do here and now?

4. What are some refining trials that you have endured? (Share if you feel comfortable!)

5. Have those trials strengthened your faith? Do you struggle to maintain faith during trials? Hope? What are some ways that you work to keep hope/faith alive during those times?

sermon_2019_12_15_Living_For_A_Living_Hope_(Josh_Laack)

Discussion questions

Tidings of Comfort and Joy December 7 & 8, 2019 - program

Discussion Questions:

We encourage you to use (along with your Bibles) copies of the printed worship bulletin and read the song lyrics as you discuss the following questions.

Advent means “Coming.” Why did Jesus come? We often say that He came “to save us from our sins,” which is true. But what did He say about why He came? Read the prophecy in Isaiah 42:1-7, as well as Jesus’ words in Luke 4:16-21 (where He quotes Isaiah 61) and Matthew 9:9-13. How does this go beyond “personal salvation”?

Consider again the promises in Isaiah 61:1-3a, and Jesus’ claim that, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” If the prophecy was fulfilled, why are there still poor in the world, brokenhearted, captives and prisoners?

From “The Table”:

Hark! The herald angels sing;

Hear the sound and enter in.

There’s a place reserved, just come,

‘Cause Jesus eats with ev’ryone.

Are you willing to “eat with everyone”? Are there people you find too irritating, too obnoxious, or too offensive? What about the kid who is bullying your child? The person who won’t stop talking about himself? The one with horrible manners? The one who lies or cheats? How can we have the mind of Jesus toward people who rub us the wrong way?

What about people who are very different from us – ethnically, politically, culturally? What “work” does God give us regarding these, whether they are near or far?

How do you feel when Christmas is over? Are you exhausted? Relieved? Disappointed? Read through the words of, “When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled,” which is a poem by Howard Thurman. Have you ever thought about “the work of Christmas” that really begins when the angels, the shepherds and the kings have gone? What is this work, and how do we go about doing it?

Which song or section of the service ministered to you or challenged you the most? How so?

Who do you know who is in need of comfort and joy right now? What are some ways you can bring that to them in Jesus’ name?

Wedding preparations and celebrations in biblical times were even more ______________ and involved than those of today and they also _________  __________.  Biblical weddings consisted of three stages:

The first stage was the _____________________ .

- It was a marriage contract signed by both ________________________.

- It was legally ______________ and could only be broken through _______________.

- The parents of the bridegroom or the bridegroom himself would pay a ________________ to the bride or her parents.

- Example in scripture (Matthew 1:18; Luke 2:5)

The second stage of the a wedding was the _____________________ .

- A time of ___________________ just before the actual ceremony

- Groom and his attendants would ________________ the bride and her attendants to his father’s house

- This custom is the basis of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–13.

The presentation led up to the third stage which was the _______________  _________________ .

- Which might go on for days, as illustrated by the wedding at Cana in John 2:1–2.

- Vows were exchanged and after the ceremony would come a final meal.

- Followed by the consummation of the marriage

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

The church’s betrothal was signed in __________  ________ when the Father promised the Son a redeemed people and wrote their names in the Book of Life.  Ephesians 1:3-5, II Corinthians 11:2

The dowry paid to God the Father for the bride was the _______ of Christ _______ on the Bride’s behalf.  (Ephesians 1:7)

The presentation symbolizes the ____________ of the Church, when Christ comes to claim His bride and take her to the Father’s house.  (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

The marriage supper then follows as the third and final step. (Revelation 19:6-10)

Parting thought

True love does not exist in the __________ of _________ ; true love only exists in the ___________ of it.

Step of obedience:

I.   What is the Great Commission? (Matthew 28:16-20)

II.  What is a disciple? (John 8:31-32; 14:21; Romans 12:1-2; II Peter 1:2-3)

Student-follower of the ____________ , from the same root word as a daily whole burnt offering.

Discipleship research says we need to learn to be self- ____________ .

III. How can we make disciples? (Genesis 12:1-3)

A disciple is a follower of Jesus who is taking the next step of _________________ .

Big idea: To help people take the next step, keep it small, simple, and _____________ -led.

My takeaways/next step of obedience: ______________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Resources: Follow Me www.revealforchurch.com; Christian Life Profile (Zondervan 2005); RightNow Media; Grace 101; Dave Ferguson, 5 Ways to Bless Your Neighbors

Discussion Questions:

Define the great commission in two or three sentences.

How does knowing that Jesus is with us and His Spirit is in us influence your disciple making?

How would your life be different if you approached each day with this mindset: “I give myself to You, Jesus, as a love offering to be completely used by You no matter what”?

Where are you on the Reveal Discipleship Continuum: Exploring Christ, Growing in Christ, Close to Christ, Christ-Centered? Where do you want to be?  Please explain.

On a 1-5 scale, how would you rate yourself as a disciple (follower of the Example)? What are one or two areas where you need to take some initiative to grow?  What do you find most difficult about being a disciple?  Is there anyone you have been blaming for your spiritual life from whom you need to seek forgiveness?

On a 1-5 scale, how are you doing at making disciples? What areas need help?  What is one thing you can do to improve these?  Pray with a partner about this vital matter.

If you haven’t already done so, take five minutes to complete your BLESS list. Share with a partner a sentence or two about each of your five and pray for each other for the “next step” with each.

Are you surprised that 75% of your non-Christian friends want to hear more about your faith? Explain why or why not and how this fact could impact your witness.