Grace South Bay

Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

1.     Do you have a ‘working truth’, an ethos you find yourself often habitually following without thought? What is it?
2.     How does the True truth that Jesus testifies to in his life and death disrupt or challenge your ‘working truth’?
3.     Are there places in your life where you usually have to resort to brute power and position?  How does it feel to do that?
4.     How seriously do you take the picture of God’s kingdom, where “love is the defining character of God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom is where he gives himself to us, and we give ourselves back to him and each other. No one’s taking anything, no one’s forcing anything.  Everything is lovingly donated.”?  
5.     In what ways do you hope in or fear government and politics?
6.     Are you willing to lose power if it means being a better ambassador-missionary of Heaven?

Q&A from the October 23, 2022 sermon, "Resurrection Reality" with Matt Cabot and Bob Crossland

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

1. How do you feel connected to God's plan for redemption for his creation?
2. When have you sensed God's invitation to proclaim his words and works to others?
3. When have you felt exposed for not being who you proclaimed to be?
3b. What was the 'rooster crowing'?
4. How do you handle those moments of shame and guilt?
5. When have you experience God's renewal?
6. How can Jesus show up in your weakness and brokenness and use it for good?

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

1. What do you feel when things start to go awry and you are not in control?
2. How do you respond? What's your go to method to regain control?
3. What do you do when you DO have control in a situation?
4 Where have you felt Jesus shielding you from evil?
5. How can you follow jesus' lead into sacrifice?
6. What could lessen the feelings of discomfort or uncertainty that come from the invitation to selflessness?

[Jesus said] “Pray then like this:Our Father, who is in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done,    on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts,    as we forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation,    but deliver us from evil.”For yours is the kingdom and the power    and the glory forever.     Amen.

1. What reminds you that this world is not your 'home'?
2. Think about all the petitions in the Lord's prayer, which seems to be the easiest for you to 'control' or take care of on your own power?
2b. Which of them seems the most intimidating; impossible to handle?
3. When do you feel most alone?
4. Why does being in God's kingdom/being under his power/being used for his glory encourage and comfort you?
5. Do you identify more with the David response (proud, independent) or the Solomon response (self-pity, hopelessness) as Steven presented it?

[Jesus said] “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:“Our Father, who is in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done,    on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts,    as we forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation,    but deliver us from evil.For yours is the kingdom and the power    and the glory forever.     Amen.

1. Do you/how do you usually think about the presence of evil?
2. How do you feel about the notion of having evil/wickedness in you?
3. Are you helpless? Where do you experience helplessness the most?
4. How can you lean into dependence today?
5. What lego brick have you been stepping on recently?
6. Share this prayer with someone else - Lord, let me not be led into (insert temptation here) but deliver me from (insert evil here).

[Jesus said]  “Pray then like this:“Our Father, who is in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done,    on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts,    as we forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation,    but deliver us from evil.For yours is the kingdom and the power    and the glory forever.     Amen.14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

1.     As you go through your day, how do you grade the severity of your sins against God vs the severity of others’ sins against  you?  
2.     Again, as you go through your day, does it feel to you that your sins are so great that Jesus had to die for them, or does it feel like you can work them off, or at least compare favorably against others?  
3.     Do you ask for forgiveness of your sins, or for the strength to work off your sins?
4.     When have you experienced sheer grace from God?  
5.     Does it seem right to you that forgiveness serves relationship?  Does that change at all how you approach forgiveness?
6.     What keeps God’s grace toward you bottled up in your life?  Do you want to be a channel of God’s grace and mercy?

Q&A from the October 16, 2022 sermon, "Third Person" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty

Q&A from the October 9, 2022 sermon, "It's Not You, It's Me" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty