Grace South Bay

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

Q&A from the October 2, 2022 sermon, "Abide" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty

Q&A from the September 25, 2022 sermon, "The Best Friend" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty

[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.     Are you comfortable asking for things? When yes and when no?
2.     Do you feel dependent on God?  For what?  
3.     Is there a part of you that doesn’t want to depend on God?  Which areas?
4.     Which daily necessities do you receive as gifts and which do you take for granted?
5.     What ‘daily bread’ do you intend to start thanking and asking God for?  
6.     How can God work through you to meet others’ daily needs?

[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 comes to your mind when you hear the words God’s kingdom and God’s will?  
2. Do you find it a tendency to focus exclusively on your own needs and will in prayer?
3. Have there been times when things happened to you you thought would be bad but turned out to have really positive          consequences?
4. How much do you long for God’s Kingdom and Jesus’ return?
5. Are you ever frightened of God’s will?  How do you deal with that?
6. Are you able to trust God even when you don’t understand?  If so, how?

[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.     Is prayer something you often do?  Are you drawn to it?  Why or why not?

2.     Is it comforting that the Father sees you better than anyone else?  Why or why not?

3.     Do you feel a pressure to get your prayers right?  Does it help that the Father knows you and circumstances already, and he             knows what’s best?

4.     Can you trust that the Father hears your prayers and responds?  

5.     Do you find it a miracle that you can call God “Father”?

6.     Does having a Father in heaven change your day to day reality on earth?

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest,    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

1. How does the second coming of Jesus sound to you? real? immanent? distant? 
2. Does it feel foolish to long for or wait for Jesus' return? Why, why not? 
3. What do you look to to give your life meaning? 
4. What might waiting in weakness look like for you?
5. When you think about the Wedding Feast of the Lamb - what gets you excited? 

Q&A from the September 11, 2022 sermon, "The Only Way?" with Matt Cabot and Bob Crossland