Reformation Presbyterian Church – Sermons

What the Issue Is (and Isn’t) (vv. 8-10; Jeremiah 29:4-9)

The Wisdom of the Cross (vv. 11-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31)

The Life of Exiles (vv. 18-21)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Why do we need to learn about what life in exile was like for the Jews? Is America more like Israel or Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome?

Tuesday—Daniel was offered a Babylonian education, Babylonian food, and a job in the Babylonian government. Which is the only one he refused? Why? What does this teach you about living in exile?

Wednesday—What was the point of Daniel’s ten-day test of eating only vegetables and water?Should he have been fatter at the end of ten days? How was this an act of faith?

Thursday—Why did God bless Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah with wisdom and understanding? How did he want them to use it? Why? What gifts has God given you to serve the world around you?

Friday—What is “the wisdom of the cross”? How does the Lord’s Supper teach you what the life of an exile looks like?

Off to Shinar (Babylon) (vv. 1-2)

The Appeal of the World (vv. 3-7)

Remembering To Whom We Belong (Matthew 4:8-10; John 7:7; 17:14-16; 18:36; 1 Peter 1:1; 2:11)

Discussion Starters

Monday—What’s your experience with the book of Daniel? Do you have favorite parts? Which ones? Do any parts confuse you or make you uncomfortable? Which ones?

Tuesday—Why did God hand his people over to Nebuchadnezzar? Was it because God was

unable to protect them? What was his goal?

Wednesday—How did Nebuchadnezzar try to win the Israelites over to being loyal to Babylon? How does the world do that with us?

Thursday—What did Jesus mean that his kingdom is not of this world? (John 18:36) Where is his kingdom? Does that mean it has no bearing on life in this world?

Friday—What does it mean that you are an exile this world? What does it look like to be in the world, but not of it?

The Second is Like It (Matthew 22:34-40)

Christianity is a Team Sport (1 Corinthians 12:12-24)

The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:25-27; Ephesians 2:14-16)

Discussion Starters

Monday—What is fellowship? What does it mean to “have things in common”? What does it mean to invest in others?

Tuesday—How is the second great commandment (loving neighbors) like the first (loving God)? Can you love God without loving your neighbor? Why or why not?

Wednesday—What are some of the “one-anothers” of scripture that you can remember? Why are there so many in the Bible? What are they calling us to?

Thursday—What does it mean that we are baptized into one body? (1 Cor 12:13) Does the Bible ever present the image of a Christian living apart from being invested in and accountable to a local church? So why has it become common in our day?

Friday—Are you present when the church gathers? What keeps you from being there more often? Are there lies that you need to confront with God’s truth?

What Prayer Is

Why We Pray (Philippians 4:4-7; Hebrews 4:14-16)

For Whom We Pray (James 5:13-18)

Discussion Starters

Monday—What is prayer? (WSC 98) How do our common assumptions about prayer conflict with this definition?

Tuesday—What is anxiety? Why is prayer God’s answer to our anxiety?

Wednesday—For whom should you pray? What should you pray for?

Thursday—When praying for someone who is sick, one are the two things you should ask?

Which is easy to forget? Which is more important?

Friday—How does prayer nurture your soul? What are some opportunities for prayer that you can be taking advantage of?

Faith Comes by Hearing (Romans 10:13-17; James 3:1; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 2:2-3; Luke 6:40)

Faith Grows by Hearing (Galatians 3:1-3; Deuteronomy 8:1-3)

The Word of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2; Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39; 6:25-35; Acts 8:30-35; Matthew 7:15; 2 Peter 3:14-18; Acts 17:11)

Discussion Starters

Monday—How important is it to care for your soul? What happens if you don’t nurture your soul?

Tuesday—Why does the Bible draw an analogy between our bodies and souls and eating physical food and spiritual food? Where do you find spiritual food?

Wednesday—Why is preaching so important for bringing someone to faith? (Rom 10:13-17) Why does the Bible warn us that not many people should be teachers? (Jam 3:1)

Thursday—Is the way we grow in faith different from how we come to faith? (Gal 3:1-3) So what do you need if you are going to grow in your faith?

Friday—What are some different ways (and places) where you can learn to understand God’s word better? Are you taking advantage of those opportunities? curse? Does success in this life prove that God is pleased with your obedience and rewarding you?

Faith Comes by Hearing (Romans 10:13-17; James 3:1; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 2:2-3; Luke 6:40)

Faith Grows by Hearing (Galatians 3:1-3; Deuteronomy 8:1-3)

The Word of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2; Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39; 6:25-35; Acts 8:30-35; Matthew 7:15; 2 Peter 3:14-18; Acts 17:11)

Discussion Starters

Monday—How important is it to care for your soul? What happens if you don’t nurture your soul?

Tuesday—Why does the Bible draw an analogy between our bodies and souls and eating physical food and spiritual food? Where do you find spiritual food?

Wednesday—Why is preaching so important for bringing someone to faith? (Rom 10:13-17) Why does the Bible warn us that not many people should be teachers? (Jam 3:1)

Thursday—Is the way we grow in faith different from how we come to faith? (Gal 3:1-3) So what do you need if you are going to grow in your faith?

Friday—What are some different ways (and places) where you can learn to understand God’s word better? Are you taking advantage of those opportunities? curse? Does success in this life prove that God is pleased with your obedience and rewarding you?

Blessings, Curses, and the Confusion We Have (vv. 1-6)

Jesus—Cursed and Blessed

Fearing the Lord (vv. 1, 4-6)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Is fear powerful? What are some things that fear makes us do? Does this mean that fear is bad? How can fear be a good thing?

Tuesday—Why are the three blessings listed in this psalm (labor, children, and long life) important? How do they relate the curses pronounced in Genesis 3:16-19?

Wednesday—Was Jesus rewarded with earthly success, a family, and a long life? Does this mean that he wasn’t righteous? Where did he receive his rewards? How does this show us where to look for ours?

Thursday—What does it mean to fear the Lord? Why is it the beginning of knowledge? (Prov 1:7) How does godly fear lead to hope?

Friday—Do hardships in this life prove that God is angry with you and that you are under his curse? Does success in this life prove that God is pleased with your obedience and rewarding you?

Alienated (vv. 11-12)

Jesus, our Peace (vv. 13-16; 2 Samuel 7:1-17)

The New Temple (vv. 17-22)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Why is peace so important to us? Why kinds of peace do we seek? Which is the most important?

Tuesday—Why were the Gentiles alienated from the Jews? Why weren’t they allowed into the temple? What is the great impediment that keeps us from God’s presence?

Wednesday—How does Jesus deal with our sin? Why couldn’t the animal sacrifices of the temple truly deal with that sin?

Thursday—How did Jesus remove the hostility between Jews and Gentiles? If that’s no longer what divides people in this world, what is?

Friday—What does it mean that Jesus is our Solomon? What is he building? What does it look like? How is it being built?