Grace South Bay

When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

1. What does Christmas "smell like" to you?
2. What prevents you from spreading Jesus?
3. What area of your life do you feel responsible to clean up and have in order?
4. Where have you met Jesus in chaos or suffering?
5. How can you begin to let people into your struggle or sacrifice?

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

1. What is one marker of a good/bad Christmas for you?
2. What laws do you often turn to to secure/keep approval, belonging, and/or comfort?
3. What was do you indulge to secure/keep approval, belonging, and/or comfort?
4. When do you feel Jesus is closest to you? Does it feel different this time of year?
5. Jesus isn't in the manger or on the cross - he's in you...how does that change celebrating? worship? struggling? sin?
6. What about Christmas awakens the new life in you the most?

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,    
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;    
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,    
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,    
and the day of vengeance of our God;    
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—    
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,    
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,    
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;    
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,    
the devastations of many generations.

1. What hardship, pain, fear, etc. in your life are you tempted to dismiss? - 'it's not a big deal' 
2. What hardship, pain, fear, etc. in your life are you confident you can handle ?- 'I can fix it myself'
3. How does it feel to say I really am that bad - my sin really is that bad? 
4. Jesus sets us free to live in the 'year of the Lord's favor' - what does that life look like?
4b. why don't you live that way? 
5. How can advent point signal to you that it really is that bad but Jesus' advent fixes it? 

Q&A from the September 4, 2022 sermon, "Is It Me?" with Matt Cabot and Bob Crossland

[Jesus said] “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

1.     What are the ties that keep you connected to your various communities?
2.     How is the community of God (the trinity) different from other communities?
3.     Would does it look like for Christian community to image the trinity?
4.     If someone asked you what made Christian community different from other communities, what would you say?
5.     What kind of glory is the church given and what kind of glory should it pursue?
6.     Does God’s love for you propel you to love others?  If not, why?

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word... 

1.     If you were to imagine Jesus praying for you, what do you hope he’d pray?
2.     How does it sound to you that you are a gift to Jesus from the Father?  What does that say about you and what does that say about God?
3.     Is it appealing to you that eternal life is being adored by God and adoring him in return?
4.     Do you see Jesus as a gift to you or a prize to win or a boss to appease?
5.     Do you regularly see joy as the end and purpose of the Christian’s life?  If not, how would seeing life that way impact you?
6.     Do you long for holiness?  Why or why not? Do you trust Jesus to sanctify you or he is he waiting for you to sanctify yourself?

Q&A from the August 28, 2022 sermon, "Promises, Promises" with Matt Cabot and Bob Crossland

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

1. Do you consider yourself a courageous person or not?  When do you find you have courage?
2. If you are a Christian, is there a place in your Christian walk you would like more courage?  Where?
3. In your own words, what convictions do you hold about who Jesus is to you?  What have you seen and heard from him?
4. Do you have confidence that the Christian faith and work in your life is of God?  Does that translate into conviction-courage for you in specific moments?
5. Is your hope that you have Jesus, or Jesus has you?

Q&A from the August 21, 2022 sermon, "Promises, Promises" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty

[Jesus said] “I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

1.     What does peace mean to you?  Is it something you look or strive for?
2.     Where do you look for peace?  What do you do or not do in response to not being able to find peace?
3.     What circumstances seem to have the most impact on your peace?
4.     If you are a Christian, do you find yourself having faith in your faith?  How does that impact you?
5.     Do you believe Jesus has overcome the trials and tribulations you face?  Does that make a difference as you face them?
6.     When do you experience being “in” Jesus?  Is your experience of peace different on those occasions?  If so, how?