Grace South Bay

This conversation is based on the sermon titled, "Stay Salty," from Matt. 5:13-16.

This conversation is based on the sermon titled, "The Blessed," from Matt. 5:1-12.

Matthew 5:17-26

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teachers others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgement.’ 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ Will be liable to the hell of fire. 23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 

Sermon Questions:

1. What are some areas in your life where you've established 'little laws' to help you know you're 'doing good?'
2. How does God's requirement of holiness - perfect obedience to a perfect law - strike your heart?
3. What are your tactics to 'deal' with your anger?
4. Where is Jesus' righteousness striking tension with sin in your heart? Bring it to Jesus - repent, believe!
5. Who has 'something against you?' Go, be reconciled to them. 

This conversation is based on a sermon titled, "The Beast and His Mark," from Rev. 13:1 through 14:3.

This conversation is based on a sermon titled, "Resisting the Dragon," from Revelation 12.

Matthew 5:13 - 16

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 

Sermon Questions:

1. Have you ever thought about the 'why' of following Jesus? What would your answer be (as to 'why')?
2. What prevents you from feeling or believing that Jesus has already changed you?
3. Who has Jesus put in your life to be a blessing to? To be salt and light to?
4. Do you feel like you need to hear the charge or the comfort of Jesus? (charge = engage with your people, comfort = I've got you where I want you)
5. What is one change in your life, if you were asked about, you would say 'it was Jesus who changed me'?

This conversation is based on a sermon titled, "The Fruitful Witness," from Rev. 11:1-19.

Matthew 5:1 - 12
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Sermon Questions: 
1. What is your initial reaction to hearing Jesus talk about blessings? Do you know where that comes from?
2. What are some ways you've avoided being (or looking) poor in spirit, joy, power, righteousness?
3. When have you experieinced mercy, purity, and peace impacting others? (on the giving end or the receiving end)
4. Is there tension between the blessing of God in your life and the world around you or sinfulness in you?
5. Does Jesus captivate you? Has he ever? - another way to ask this is do you sense Jesus himself as the blessing you heart longs for?

This conversation is based on the sermon, "Finally, the Scroll," from Rev. 10:1-11:3.

Revelation 13:1-14:3
[And the dragon stood on the sand of the sea.] And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

10 If anyone is to be taken captive,
     to captivity he goes;
 if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
     with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

14 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders.

Sermon Questions
1.     Had you heard about the Beast and 666 before? What had you heard/what were your feelings about it?
2.     Is it comforting at all that ch. 13 has already happened?
3.     Where do you see ch. 13 happening today in our culture?
4.     How do you feel about being told that if you are slated for captivity or the sword, to captivity or the sword you will go? Is it freeing at all?
5.     What are the ways you can endure in faith, even through death? What does God’s vindication and victory look like for you if the Beast has power to conquer in this age?