Bless Your Neighbour

Sermon: The Sacred Practice of Sharing a Meal

Matthew 9:9-13

Sermon Summary

The Big Idea of this study is that sharing a meal with our neighbours is a great way to bless them. Sharing a meal is more than just eating together, it is a sacred practice. Jesus modelled this for us.

Question of the Day:

Bless Your Neighbour

Sermon: Listen

Luke 18:35-42 

Sermon Summary

The Big Idea of this study is to understand that we have been blessed to be a blessing. Through this series we are talking about 5 ways that we can love our neighbors and change the world. Today we talk about what it would look like to really listen to those around us.

Question of the Day:

Think of a time when you felt heard by someone else. What did that other person do to make you feel like that? How can you do that for others?

Bless Your Neighbour

Sermon: Begin with Prayer

Genesis 12:1-3; Luke 6:12-16

Sermon Summary

The Big Idea of this study is that we should begin every new adventure with prayer. We pray for our neighbours so that our hearts are ready to bless them.

Question of the Day:

“Will you consider fasting and prayer as a way to prepare your heart for what the Lord wants to do in your neighbourhood?”

Get Ready: A Season of Preparation

Sermon: Get Ready to Tell

Luke 2:16-20; Matt. 10:26-27

Sermon Summary

The Big Idea of this study is that God expects us to share the Good News. He whispers to us in the dark and we are to proclaim his praise in the light.

Question of the Day:

“While we should be careful not to be obnoxious about sharing our faith, there is a time to speak up and let our voice be heard. Do you err on the side of caution?”

Get Ready: A Season of Preparation

Sermon: Get Ready for Jesus

Matthew 1:18 - 21

Sermon Summary

The Big Idea of this study is that Jesus not only came as our Saviour but also our King. Saviours get you out of trouble and Good Kings keep you out of trouble.

Question of the Day:

What is it in all of us that has trouble taking direction from someone else? What have you been avoiding thinking about because you think that Jesus will lead you somewhere you don’t want to be?

Get Ready: A Season of Preparation

Sermon: Get Ready for God to Be Involved

Luke 1:1-4, 26-38, 46-56

Sermon Summary

The Big Idea of this study is that even when we feel like we have random events happening around us, God is with us and involved in our lives.

Question of the Day:

Do you believe that God can work everything for His purpose in your life?

Get Ready: A Season of Preparation

Sermon: Get Ready for a Test

Matthew 2:13-18 

Sermon Summary 

The Big Idea of this study is that our faith will be tested. God already knows us so this kind of testing is not for God to understand us, but for us to understand ourselves so that our faith will grow.

Question of the Day:

“When in the midst of a test of your faith would it help to remember that the Lord is allowing you to test His faithfulness? What is really on trial here: your faith or God’s faithfulness?”

Get Ready: A Season of Preparation

Sermon: Get Ready for a Miracle

Luke 1:11-17

Sermon Summary 

The Big Idea of this study is that God still works miracles. We are all in need of his supernatural intervention in our lives.

Question of the Day:

When was the last time God did a miracle in your life? Where do you need His supernatural presence right now? Talk to Him about that.

Made for Mondays: Work and the Glory of God

Sermon: Creating With Your Co-Workers

Romans 12:9-11

Sermon Summary

The Big Idea of this study is that while we are made for Monday, we do not always find Mondays easy.

Work was interwoven into the story of creation and right from the very first chapter of Genesis we see God working. Right from the beginning we see God separating the waters from the heavens from the waters from the earth. Right from the beginning God created and invited us to come alongside of him and create together. God asks humans to come along and do a part, we were to name the animals. Naming the animals was not above God’s skill set, but God asks us to partner with him in the creation process.

God wants us to partner with Him in all the areas of our lives and continue this process of creation.

Today we talked how God continues to ask us to create in our work spaces, by naming the gifts that God has already placed in many of the lives of those we work with. There is an idea of common grace. Common grace says that God gives amazing gifts to people who don’t know him. What would it look like for us to take a close look at what those gifts are in other’s lives? What would it look like to encourage our coworkers with the great gifts that Jesus has already placed in their lives?

Questions for Discussion:

1. What is the best job you ever had? Why did you like it so much?

2. Have you ever had someone “pretend” to love you? Have you ever worked in a place where you felt genuinely loved? What things do you think that you can do to show people you work with that you love them?

3. What do you think the best way is to show your co-workers that they are more than just an employee? More than a co-worker?

4. What do you see in some of your co-workers that you admire? What would it look like to tell them this week what you appreciate about them?

5. What is one idea that you are going to take away from this series and try and implement into your work world?

Made for Mondays: Work and the Glory of God

Sermon: Work and Sabbath

Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12, 15

Sermon Summary

The Big Idea of this study is that Sabbath rest is a reminder or our identity as image bearers and our freedom from slavery. Yes, work is God’s good idea for us. It is to bring him glory. But every six days we are supposed to stop work and rest. There are two texts which help us understand why work combined with rest is so important. Each gives us different but complementary reasons to observe Sabbath.

The Exodus text tells us it is because God rested on the 7th day of creation. As his image bearers we are to be like him and take time to enjoy and reflect upon his creation. In the Deuteronomy passage we are to observe the Sabbath because it is a reminder of our emancipation from slavery.

Here we have two really important Biblical themes. The first reminds us of who we are. We are to follow the Lord’s pattern at creation and rest after six days because we are like Him. This truth that we are image bearers is probably the most important idea in human history. Our identity is settled. We are made to be like him and enjoy a special, loving and eternal relationship with him. While some may think that our identity is something to be discovered or that we are the product of our own belief system, the Scripture is clear. Our identity is found in our relationship with God as his image bearers.

The second reason for Sabbath reminds us that we are free from the tyranny of work or the many motives that drive people to work incessantly. Work, or even the quality of our work, does not make God love us; it does not increase our value as human beings. We are not slaves, we are free. The world won’t stop spinning if we take a day off. We trust the Lord and rest in him.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Did you ever wonder why Sabbath is so important in Scripture? While Jesus disagreed with the many laws that were added regarding Sabbath during the intertestmental period (Matt. 12:1-14; Mk. 2:23-28; Lk. 6:1-11) he was still Lord of the Sabbath, Mark 2:28.

2. Have you found it hard to observe the rhythm of Sabbath rest? Why or why not?

3. Why is it so important to pause and reflect on our work and enjoy our rest from it?

4. Can this help us to be reminded of our connection to God as his special creations?

5. Why is it important to define what it means to be human by starting with our identity rather than starting with our behavior?

6. By keeping Sabbath can we be freed from the slavery of depending on work for our self-esteem, financial security and fulfillment?

7. Discuss how you might make Sabbath more meaningful than just a day off work?