We continue our series about the Jewish foundations of the Christian faith. Your discussion questions this week are: Discussion Questions

1. What does the Hebrew word “Barukh” reveal about how God defines blessing?

2. In Genesis 12:1–3, what does it mean that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through” Abraham? How does Jesus fulfill that?

3. How does the way Jesus describes "blessed" people in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) challenge our cultural view of what it means to live the good life?

4. How has the church historically misunderstood or mistreated the Jewish people?

5. Were you aware of how deeply antisemitism has been rooted in Christian history? How does that affect your perspective today?

6. Why is it important to remember that Jesus was Jewish—and how might that change the way we read the Bible?

7. What does it look like to “bless" the Jewish people in practical, everyday terms?

8. How can we stand against antisemitism in our own communities—both subtle and overt forms?

9. Is it possible to support the Jewish people and still speak critically about the actions of modern political Israel? How do we walk that line faithfully and lovingly?

10. Who in your life could you reach out to, listen to, or serve this week as a way of living out God’s blessing?

We continue our series about the Jewish roots of Christianity. This week's discussion questions are below: Discussion Questions May 4

1. What were some things you were taught about the Old Testament growing

up? How did that shape your view of the Torah?

2. The Hebrew word *Torah* means "instruction" or "direction." How does this

definition affect how we should approach the first five books of the Bible?

3. Why do you think God gave Israel such specific and unusual laws (like not

mixing fabrics or seeds)?

4. How does viewing the Torah as both a religious and cultural-political

document help us better understand its purpose?

5. How does Genesis 15:6 challenge the idea that Old Testament believers were

saved by following laws?

6. What does it mean that “belief is busy”? How do we see this concept

illustrated in both the Old and New Testaments?

7. Why do you think it was so difficult for early Jewish Christians to accept

Gentiles into the church without requiring them to follow the Torah?

8. Read Galatians 2:11–16 again. What do you learn about how Paul viewed

justification (being made right with God)?

9. Have you ever seen modern parallels to the “circumcision group” mentality—

where people are expected to follow extra rules to be considered truly

“Christian”?

10. What are some ways we may still misread or misapply Scripture today by

ignoring its original context?

11. Dallas Willard said, “Grace is not against effort. It is against earning.” How

does this statement help us balance faith and works in our daily walk?

12. In what ways did Jesus “fulfill” the Torah rather than abolish it? (Matt. 5:17)

We kick off a new series about the Jewish people and how Israel affects our Bibles and the roots of Christinaity. Discussion Questions for this week are

1. Why is it important to understand the Jewishness of the Bible and of Jesus?

2. How does realizing that most of the Bible was written by and about Jewish

people shift the way we read it?

3. What challenges do modern Christians face when interpreting ancient

Jewish texts and customs?

4. Why did God choose the Jewish people to be his representatives on earth?

5. How do Genesis 12:1–3 and Isaiah 9:7 help us understand Israel’s original

calling?

6. What does it mean to say that Israel was “blessed to be a blessing”? How

does that principle apply to us today?

7. What are some of the dangers of the church forgetting its Jewish roots?

8. What tensions arise when discussing modern political Israel in light of

biblical Israel?

9. What does it mean to bear the name of Jesus in our lives today?

10. What does it look like when Christians misrepresent Jesus to the world?

11. What are some practical ways we can be agents of shalom in our daily lives?

12. Reflecting on Dallas Willard’s quote: “Discipleship is the process of

becoming who Jesus would be if he were you,” how would your life look

different if you fully lived that out?

13. Are there areas of your life where you feel you’ve carried Jesus’ name in vain

(i.e., misrepresented him)?

14. What are some concrete steps you can take this week to better reflect Jesus to those around you?

In our April 20 Easter Sunday gathering we wrap up our miniseries about why Jesus had to die. This week's discussion questions are below: April 20, 2025 Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever had to reboot a device to fix a problem? How does that experience connect with the idea of Jesus rebooting creation through the resurrection?

2. Colossians 1:18 says Jesus is the "firstborn from among the dead." What do you think that means? Why is it important that Jesus goes first in resurrection?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 15:22. How does comparing Jesus to Adam help us understand the significance of the resurrection?

4. In Luke 24:1–12, why do you think the women believed the resurrection message first, while the disciples doubted? What does this say about belief and expectation?

5. The sermon says Jesus didn’t just die to defeat sin, but to “reboot all of creation”. How does this expand your understanding of the gospel?

6. How is the resurrection both a personal and a cosmic event?

7. What does it mean that the resurrection is “here, but not yet fully here”? How does that tension show up in your everyday life?

8. Is there an area of your life that feels like it’s still under the weight of death, loss, or brokenness? How might the hope of resurrection speak into that?

9. The sermon says: “The worst moments of our lives become tombs waiting for a resurrection.” Can you think of a time when something painful or dead in your life was brought back to life in some way?

10. If Jesus truly rebooted the story of the world, what kind of story are you living in now? How would your daily decisions or mindset shift if you lived more fully into that new story?

11. Share one way you could live this week as a citizen of the resurrected kingdom. What small act of renewal or resurrection could you practice—personally or for someone else?

12. If someone asked you “What does Easter mean to you?”, how would you explain it using the image of a reboot?

We continue our micro series about why Jesus had to die. This week's discussion questions are below: April 13 Discussion Questions

What do you feel when you think about death—fear, peace, confusion, something else? Why?

2. How has your perspective on death changed over time, if at all?

3. The sermon argues that Jesus died in order to defeat death. How does that paradox strike you—does it feel confusing, hopeful, beautiful, or something else?

4. Revelation 1:18 says Jesus holds “the keys of death and the grave.” What does that image suggest to you? What might it mean for your own life?

5. Why do you think we still fear death even when we believe Jesus defeated it?

6. What does it look like to live without the fear of death? Have you known someone who lived like that?

7. Dallas Willard said, “You want to stop now... of thinking of your life as coming to an end.” What would change in your life if you truly believed that?

8. What do you imagine the life to come will be like, based on what was shared in this sermon?

9. What does the promise of resurrection and eternal life stir in you? Joy, doubt, curiosity, longing?

10. How can you live today in light of the truth that death has been defeated and that your life will continue beyond the grave?

11. What might it look like to “pray for the kingdom to come” in your everyday routines?

We kick off a new series about why Jesus had to die. This week's discussion questions are below: April 6 Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think the question “If God can do anything, why did Jesus have

to die?” is such a powerful or challenging one?

2. Dallas Willard suggests that God’s goal is to create a community of free,

loving beings. How does that help explain why God allows our current world

with its suffering and sin?

3. How does redefining omnipotence as “limitless power to live out God’s

unchanging character and promises” help us understand why God couldn’t

simply “snap his fingers” and remove sin?

4. Can you think of something that sounds logical in theory (like the “rock God

can’t lift” question), but breaks down when applied to a personal God? Why do

abstract puzzles fall short in describing God?

5. Why does sin require death as a consequence? How does the “electricity”

analogy help explain what sin does to our relationship with God?

6. What role did animal sacrifice play in the Old Testament? How was it a

foreshadowing of Jesus’ death?

7. How is Jesus described as the ultimate “Paschal lamb”? Why is the timing of

his death (at Passover) important?

8. How would you define sin in your own words after hearing this sermon? Has

your definition shifted?

9. Why do you think some people ask, “If Jesus forgave me, why can’t I just sin

as much as I want?” How would you respond to that?

10. In what ways does sin still carry consequences, even if it’s forgiven?

11. The sermon describes God’s commands not as arbitrary rules but as paths

to joy. Do you find that view helpful? Why or why not?

12. What might it look like for you to grow into being a “person of peace and an

agent of love like Jesus”?

We conclude our series on trials, by talking about the fires Satan throws into our lives. This weeks discussion questions are below: March 30, 2025 Discussion Questions

What does Peter mean when he tells believers to "cast all your anxiety on Jesus"? How does this relate to spiritual battles?

Have you ever experienced a time when you felt like you were under spiritual attack? How did you respond?

In what ways do you personally struggle with either ignoring spiritual warfare or seeing it in everything?

The sermon mentions that suffering can refine us. Can you think of a time when a difficult season in your life ultimately made you stronger or deepened your faith?

What are some ways we can "stand firm" in faith when faced with trials or spiritual attacks?

How can Christian community help protect us from "the roaring lion" that seeks to isolate and devour believers?

The sermon discusses breath prayers as a way to "cast our anxieties" on Jesus. Have you ever practiced breath prayers or similar spiritual disciplines? How do you think they can help in times of stress or fear?

How does the hope of Christ’s return shape how we endure suffering today?

How can we encourage others who are going through difficult times to remember who they are becoming through their struggles?

We continue our series in 1 Peter with a look at why trials often surprise us. This week's discussion questions are: March 23 Discussion Questions

Peter tells believers not to be surprised by suffering (1 Peter 4:12). Why do we often feel surprised when we face hardships?

2. How does the idea of suffering as a "refiner’s fire" change the way we view trials? Can you think of a time when a difficult experience refined you?

3. In John 16:33, Jesus promises both trouble and victory. How does holding these two truths together shape our faith?

4. What are some common misconceptions about why people suffer? How does Jesus’ response in John 9:2-3 challenge these misconceptions?

5. The sermon discusses different views on God's providence and sovereignty. Which view resonates most with you, and why?

6. How can we trust in God’s goodness when He doesn’t intervene in the way we hope?

7. The sermon suggests that “God does not always remove hardship, but His involvement always transforms it.” How have you seen this play out in your own life?

8. Why do we often miss the subtle ways God is working? What are some practices that could help us recognize His presence more clearly?

9. What does it mean to shift from asking, “Why isn’t God acting?” to “How is God moving in ways I do not yet see?”

10. How does this understanding of suffering impact the way we pray? Should we pray differently when we face trials?

11. How can we encourage others who are struggling to see God’s hand in their pain?

12. The sermon concludes with the hope that God will one day bring an end to all suffering. How does this hope shape how we endure difficulties now?

We continue our series about trials and overcoming them from 1 Peter. This week's discussion questions are below: Discussion Questions March 16

1. Peter compares trials to a refiner’s fire. Can you think of a time in your life when a difficult situation made you stronger? How did it refine you rather than destroy you?

2. What are some common ways people react to stress and hardship? How do you personally tend to respond when life feels overwhelming?

3. Do you see yourself becoming better or bitter when facing trials? What factors influence the direction you take?

4. Peter tells us not to repay evil with evil but instead to bless those who hurt us. Why do you think this is so difficult? How does this mindset help us grow rather than become hardened?

5. How does having hope in Jesus change the way we endure suffering? What does it mean to "be prepared to give an answer for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15)?

6. Romans 12:18 says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." What does it look like to live at peace in a world that often feels hostile?

7. When going through trials, Peter encourages us to be like-minded, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble. Which of these is the hardest for you to live out in times of stress?

8. What are some practical ways we can reframe our hardships as challenges instead of threats? How does this shift in perspective change the way we endure them?

9. Who in your life has modeled resilience and faith in the face of trials? What can you learn from their example?

10. How can we cultivate gratitude even in the midst of suffering? What are some small practices that help shift our focus toward thankfulness?

We continue our series about trials and stress, by looking at 1 Peter 2. The discussion questions for this week are:

1. Have you ever experienced a trial or season of suffering that ultimately shaped you for the better? How did it change you?

2. Peter compares suffering to a refining fire that reshapes us. How does this metaphor help us understand the role of trials in our lives?

3. Why do you think suffering can open us to change in ways that comfort and ease do not?

4. Paul says that if we share in Christ’s suffering, we will also share in His glory (Romans 8:17-18). What do you think that means practically in our lives today?

5. Jesus taught a radical response to injustice—creative, nonviolent resistance. How does this differ from passivity? How does it challenge our natural instincts?

6. Martin Luther King Jr. described nonviolence as “a courageous confrontation of evil by the power of love.” What are some examples of this kind of response today?

7. How can we honor those in authority (as Peter instructs) while still standing against oppression and injustice?

8. Peter calls believers “foreigners and exiles” in this world. How does seeing ourselves this way change how we engage with suffering, power, and culture?

9. What does it look like to live as a citizen of God’s kingdom in a world that often operates on violence, power, and manipulation?

10. Tolkien’s quote speaks of hope beyond the reach of darkness. How can we hold onto that hope in difficult times?