When we are afraid of the cross, Jesus shows us those who have crossed over. (Matt.17: 1-9; 2 Peter 1:16-19)

As you listen to the sermon, here are some questions you can reflect on to deepen your spiritual connection with God:

1) What part of following Jesus do you struggle with most?

2) Has God ever blessed you or someone you know with an encouraging vision of someone who has died and yet lives with Christ?

3) Who of previous generations inspires you to get up and not be afraid?

When we can't escapegrief, Jesus blesses it.(Matt. 5: 13-20; 1 Cor. 2: 1-12)

As you listen to the sermon, here are some questions you can reflect on to deepen your spiritual connection with God:

1) When have you kept the letter of the law, but not its spirit? When have you kept the spirit of the law by violating its letter?

2) What is your goal when you play a sport or a game? What is your goal when you live out Gods commandments?

3) How can you use the places Jesus puts you this week to shine Gods light on others?

When we can't escapegrief, Jesus blesses it. (Matt. 5:1-12; 1 Cor. 1:18-3)

As you listen to the sermon, here are some questions you can reflect on to deepen your spiritual connection with God:

1) Whether your grief is for personal reasons or societal reasons, in what ways do you try to avoid it?

2) When have you been blessed to cry?

3) What has your grief shown you to be sacred?

We pledge allegiance to a part, but Jesus pledges his life to make us whole.(1 Corinthians 1:10-18;Matthew 4:12-23)

As you listen to the sermon, here are some questions you can reflect on to deepen your spiritual connection with God:

1) In what ways do you withdraw from the national conflict? In what ways do you engage it?

2) To what or to whom do you pledge your allegiance? Why?

3) How does your heritagehelp you to care for those who do not share it?

When we don't know what we are looking for, Jesus shows us. (John 1:29-42)

As you listen to the sermon, here are some questions you can reflect on to deepen your spiritual connection with God:

1) What have you recently encouraged someone to check out?

2) What are you looking for in life?

3) What have you found in Jesus?

Distraction destroys us; fear of the Lord frees us from distraction.(Matthew 3:13-17; Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29)

As you listen to the sermon, here are some questions you can reflect on to deepen your spiritual connection with God:

1) What has been distracting you from what truly matters?

2) When has fear helped you focus on what truly matters?

3) When have you experienced God in something powerful?

4) When have you experienced God in something gentle?

We set someone else as the story of our story, but the star of Jesus shines for you. (Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12)

As you listen to the sermon, here are some questions you can reflect on to deepen your spiritual connection with God:

1) When have you judged yourself in light of someone else's opinion of you?

2) What is a change that you want to make for your own sake, not someone else's?

3) What gifts do you give to Jesus and what do those gifts say about who you are?

We are afraid of being replaced, so Jesus replaces the one of whom we are afraid.(Exodus. 1:8-16, Exodus 12:29-32, Jeremiah 31:15, Psalm 137:9, Matthew 2:16)

As you listen to the sermon, here are some questions you can reflect on to deepen your spiritual connection with God:

1) When have you been afraid of being replaced?

2) When have you done to someone what they first did to you?

3) When have you seen God break a cycle of violence?

We think interruptions get in the way of life, but interruptions are how God gets into our lives. . (Isaiah 7:10-16; Matthew 1:18-25

As you listen to the sermon, here are some questions you can reflect on to deepen your spiritual connection with God:

1) What interruptions have frustrated you recently?

2) When has insisting on your plan made you miss out on something unexpected?

3) When has God showed up in an interruption this week?

When we have no way home, Jesus, the Way becomes our home.(Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11)

As you listen to the sermon, here are some questions you can reflect on to deepen your spiritual connection with God:

1) When have you felt lost spiritually?

2) If home is where the heart is, where is home for you?

3) When have you seen joy in unexpected places this week?