One Single Story

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: The Bible: God's Word as the Ultimate Authority

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Jay Rivenbark, and Alyssa Bream discuss the following questions:

Why is this little story in the Bible?

Did you notice anything about this passage when you read it this time that you had not noticed before?

Christians often say things like, "God's Word will come to pass." Do you thing we think about the curses coming to pass as much as the blessings coming to pass?

Share some promises of God that you have personally witnessed coming to pass in your own life or the life of someone else?

The reading for the day is:

Leviticus 27:14—Numbers 1:54

Mark 11:1-25

Psalm 46:1-11

Proverbs 10:23

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Commitment

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Sheryl Daughety, and Wendy Korbusieski discuss the following questions:

You know, there are some Scriptures that just don't need a lot of commentary. And this is one of them. Why do we have so much trouble talking too much?

These ideas are not to be confused with a lack of communication, or with the silent treatment that we sometimes talk about among couples. What's the difference between wise silence and poor communication?

Is it harder for you to stay quiet than to talk? Why?

The reading for the day is:

Leviticus 22:17–23:44

Mark 9:30–10:12

Psalm 44:1-8

Proverbs 10:19

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Commitment

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Sheryl Daughety, and Wendy Korbusieski discuss the following questions:

Earlier this week, we looked at a woman who came to Jesus, asking for her daughter to be healed. In this text a father is bringing his son to Jesus to be healed. The two situations are sort of similar.

Do you think it is sometimes easier to accept that God might not have the ability to do something rather than believing that God will not do something?

Let's ask a hard question. What do we do when God does not answer a prayer?

Is it fair to judge God's character (i.e. Does He love me? Does He care?) based on how He responds to our prayers?

The reading for the day is:

Leviticus 20:22–22:16

Mark 9:1-29

Psalm 43:1-5

Proverbs 10:18

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Commitment

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Sheryl Daughety, and Wendy Korbusieski discuss the following questions:

This passage is very familiar to Christians. But it has never been comfortable. Do you sometimes wish Jesus had never said, "Take up your cross and follow me"?

But aren't there Christians who have a shallow relationship with God?

How do you know if you have a shallow relationship with Jesus?

Do you agree with the idea that it is impossible to have a shallow relationship with Jesus? If not, why?

The reading for the day is:

Leviticus 19:1–20:21

Mark 8:11-38

Psalm 42:1-11

Proverbs 10:17

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Commitment

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Sheryl Daughety, and Wendy Korbusieski discuss the following questions:

Every time I read the story of this particular woman coming to Jesus and asking for help for her daughter, I'm always bothered by the way Jesus responded to her. Can we explain away the fact that Jesus referred to her with a derogatory term? He called her a "dog."

What in the world kept this woman from storming off from Jesus after being insulted? T

ell us about a time when you have witnessed the incredible love of a mother as she endures difficulty for the sake of her children.

What does this passage teach us about commitment in family relationships?

What can this passage teach us about endurance and prayer?

The reading for the day is:

Leviticus 16:29–18:30

Mark 7:24–8:10

Psalm 41:1-13

Proverbs 10:15-16

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Commitment

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Sheryl Daughety, and Wendy Korbusieski discuss the following questions:

I love reading passionate prayers in Scripture. This is one of those places where David cries out to God for deliverance. What stands out to you about this particular passage?

Where do you get the idea of commitment from this verse?

The way that God loves us challenges the way that we love others. What do you think about defining commitment as "a refusal to leave" someone even when they fail?

It is easy to think of God refusing to leave us after we fail and sin. But how does it change our perspective when we think about staying in a relationship after a great failure? How does it change our perspective if we are the one that greatly failed?

The reading for the day is:

Leviticus 15:1–16:28

Mark 7:1-23

Psalm 40:11-17

Proverbs 10:13-14

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Trust and Forgiveness

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Jay Rivenbark, and Alyssa Bream discuss the following questions:

When I read this passage, my first question was whether David was actually experiencing physical sickness as a result of some sin he had committed? Does God sometimes make people sick in order to bring them under conviction?

So you think that David was being drawn toward repentance through his suffering?

Why do you think people have so much trouble with the idea that God might discipline someone who has committed a sin?

Does God's discipline demonstrate grace as much as it does anger?

All sickness is not a result of personal sin. But how can sickness motivate us to search our heart and examine our relationship with God?

The reading for the day is:

Leviticus 11:1–12:8

Mark 5:21-43

Psalm 38:1-22

Proverbs 10:8-9

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Trust and Forgiveness

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Jay Rivenbark, and Alyssa Bream discuss the following questions:

This is a dramatic passage. I am curious as to what stood out to you when you read it.

Do you think that people who manifest spiritual and emotional torture, usually in the form of actions that we associate with mental health disorders (e.g. isolation, self harm, antisocial, etc.), are typically viewed more as problems than people?

Can we expect Jesus to radically transform mental health disorders today?

We talk a lot about Jesus forgiving people of sin. Does Jesus also restore radically broken people back into society? And is that merely a theory, or are we actually okay with emotionally and mentally disturbed people returning to our community?

The reading for the day is:

Leviticus 9:7–10:20

Mark 4:26–5:20

Psalm 37:30-40

Proverbs 10:6-7

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Trust and Forgiveness

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Jay Rivenbark, and Alyssa Bream discuss the following questions:

I see that there is a part two to Jesus' family conflict we were discussing yesterday. What exactly is going on in these verses?

Yesterday we talked about how the way Jesus was responding in the midst of a lot of tension was through demonstrating a lot of grace and forgiveness toward others. But it sounds to me like Jesus is thumbing his nose at His family. Am I wrong to think of this as an insult?

If a person has family members who do not follow Christ, it is practically impossible not to create conflict at some point when we put Jesus first over everything else. Have you experienced that in your own family?

Jesus navigates this conflict beautifully. What are some practical tips on handling family conflict that you picked up from this text?

Why do you think some people confuse setting healthy boundaries with being disrespectful?

The reading for the day is:

Leviticus 7:28–9:6

Mark 3:31–4:25

Psalm 37:12-29

Proverbs 10:5

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Trust and Forgiveness

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Jay Rivenbark, and Alyssa Bream discuss the following questions:

This is one of those passages that raise my eyebrows. It's hard for me to imagine that Jesus' own family thought He was out of His mind.

What are some practical things we can do during moments of tension to help us maintain the right attitude toward others?

When our sense of calling and purpose seemed to conflict with family expectations, how can we navigate that?

Do you find it easier to think of Jesus' statement about "a family splintered" as a reference to Satan rather than a reference to His own family? If so, why?

The reading for the day is:

Leviticus 6:1–7:27

Mark 3:7-30

Psalm 37:1-11

Proverbs 10:3-4