Grace South Bay

Joshua 1:1-11, 16-17

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’”

 And [the people] answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses!

Sermon Questions: 
1a. Who/What is your current Moses? The thing or person that acts as a stabilizing force in your life?
1b. When have you experienced the loss of such a person or thing?
2. How would you change if you could visibly see God's presence in your daily life?
3. What do you need the strength and courage of God's presence to do?
4. What promises of God (from Scripture) do you need remember?
5. With the cross as guarantee of God's presence and promise, what do you want Jesus to do in, for, and through you? As Paul says "through him utter your AMEN to God".

Romans 8:12 - 27

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

Luke 2:29 - 32

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
 according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
 and for glory to your people Israel.”

Luke 1: 46 - 55
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Sermon Questions:
1.     Where are the places in your life that you feel like a “loser”?  Where do you assume God doesn’t see you, or is displeased with you?
2.     Can you accept that if God saw Mary, he sees you too?
3.     Who are the people you choose not to “see”?
4.     Can you believe that God particularly meets you in your places of shame and lowliness?
5.     What great things can God do through you, with Jesus alive in you?

Luke 1: 68-79

Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,

who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, 
 born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets God promised of old 
 to save us from our enemies,
       from the hands of all that hate us,

To show mercy to our ancestors, 
 and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham: 
 to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, 
 holy and righteous in his sight
       all the days of our life.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
 for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation 
 by the forgiveness of all their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God 
 the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, 
 and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Sermon Questions :
1.     What stories are you telling about yourself when you wake up in the morning?  What are the controlling narratives?  Are they satisfying?
2.     Would you like to start your day in God’s story?  How does, or would, it impact you?
3.     Do you feel like you are wearing a number of different hats as you go through your day?
4.     Do think of every moment as an opportunity for worship?  How does God coming in the flesh make that possible?
5.     How can you prepare the way for Jesus in your different spheres of life?
6.     Do you go through your day conscious of the fact that you are an object of mercy that God will never leave nor forsake?  Could praying these verses, or other prayers help you be more conscious of that?

1 Peter 5:6 - 14

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.  She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love.

Sermon Questions: 
1.     Do you ever think of God as distant or stern?  How does that impact your relationship to him?
2.     Are there concerns of yours you never express to God?  What are those?
3.     Does it make sense in light of the incarnation and crucifixion that God does care about everything you care about?  Do you think/feel you are important to God?
4.     What have been some ways you have been able to cast your cares upon God?
5.     Do you believe that God will finish the good work he began in you?  Does that impact how you handle your cares and concerns?
6.     If you don't bring them to God, what do you do with your cares and anxieties?  How does that work for you?

This Q&A conversation is based off the sermon titled "Suffering Reframed" given on Nov. 19 2023 based on 1 Peter 4:12 - 19. 

1 Peter 5:1 - 5
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;  not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Sermon Questions:
1.     Do you think of humans as inherently created to wield power (Gen. 1:28; Rev. 22:5)?
2.     Do you agree that too many people try to get out of exercising legitimate power?  How do you try to get out of it?  
3.     Under which conditions do you reject having power, and under which do you embrace it?
4.     Do you agree that death-to-resurrection is the proper way of thinking about using power?  What’s appealing about that, and what isn’t?
5.     Do people under your authority see Jesus in how you handle power?
6.     In what power environments do you need to be clothed in Jesus this week?  Do you trust God will give you Jesus as you ask for him?

1Peter 4:12 - 19
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 

This Q&A conversation is based on the sermon titled "Future Secured" preached on Nov 12th 2023, from 1 Peter 4:1 - 12