SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:18-22 & 23:13, 1 Peter 5:6-7, Luke 22:42

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Can you think of a time when your need to be right or in control prevented you from receiving help or wisdom from others? How did that affect your ability to handle the situation?

2. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you.” What's the difference between abandoning our worries and leaving them with God?

3. What specific worry are you currently carrying that feels too heavy for you? How might your daily life change if you truly believed God could hold that worry for you?

4. When Jesus called his first disciples in Matthew 4:18-22, they immediately left their nets, boats, and even family to follow him. What do these things represent in our modern lives?

5. What 'nets' or safety blankets are you holding onto that might be preventing you from fully trusting God? How do you know the difference between being responsible and being overly controlling?

6. Where do you see a 'self-made' mentality showing up in your own life? How might acknowledging your dependence on others and on God actually make you stronger rather than weaker?

7. Think about a situation where what you want conflicts with what you sense God might want. How do you practically live out 'not my will, but yours be done' in that specific area of your life?

SCRIPTURE: Luke 4

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is your current relationship with the Bible? How has this relationship changed over the course of your spiritual journey?

2. Paul focuses on the story of Jesus’s time in the wilderness and the comfort his knowledge of Scripture provides. What can you learn from this story? What might it reveal about how Scripture can help you in your own life?

3. What do you think it takes to have the kind of relationship with Scripture that Jesus has?

4. What are some of your fears or anxieties about reading Scripture more consistently?

5. The main claim in the sermon (borrowed from C.S. Lewis!) is that “It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true Word of God.  The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers, will bring us to Him.” What can you learn from this idea?

6. A key idea in this series is that the “lifelines” we have as followers of Jesus aren’t just ways to help us “hang in there,” they are also paths to experiencing real change and transformation in our lives. How might a deeper relationship with the Bible accomplish this in your life?

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 42:1 & 51:10-12; Matthew 6:9-10 & 26:36-39; 1 Timothy 2:1-4

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS MESSAGE HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Are you struggling right now to “hang in there”? In what area(s) of your life is this question most urgent? Is there someone in your life you can talk with about this struggle this week?

2. The sermon describes two different models of prayer: charismatic (seeking an experience in God's presence) and prophetic (asking God to bring His Kingdom to earth). What are your experiences with each model? How might these two approaches to prayer sometimes feel like they're pulling us in different directions?

3. Kenny said that, when it comes to these two models, the “blind spot” can be our humility. How might humility transform the purpose and power of our prayer lives?

4. The theologian Henri Nouwen writes that “ the closer we come to God, the stronger will be God’s demand to let go of the many ‘safe’ structures we have built around ourselves.” How are you feeling challenged right now in your own prayer life? Do you sometimes avoid prayer… as a way to avoid feeling challenged?

5. What are some ways you might become more disciplined in your prayer life? How might a richer prayer life be a blessing to you? How might it be a blessing to others?

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 51

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS MESSAGE HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Kenny defines schadenfreude as “the joy we feel at someone else’s misfortune.” Have you ever felt this?  Why do you think this feeling comes so naturally to us?

2. How do you feel when you read that God “loves mercy”? 

3. In Psalm 51:6, David writes that God “desires truth in the inward being.” What do you think it means to look for this kind of truth? If you were to try this… what might you find in yourself? 

4. Kenny uses an analogy about gardening to explain God's approach to justice and mercy. How does viewing God as a gardener who wants plants to flourish change your understanding of why God delights in showing mercy instead of handing out quick punishment?

5. In what ways do you need God's patient “watering” right now in order to help you grow into who He created you to be?

6. David promises in Psalm 51:13 that, once restored, “I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.” What does this tell us about the purpose of receiving God's mercy?

7. How has experiencing God's mercy in your own life equipped you to show mercy to others or share hope with people who are struggling?

8. The sermon challenges us to “stop giving up on people”... even when wisdom requires keeping distance from harmful individuals. What is the difference between protecting yourself and giving up hope for someone's transformation?

SCRIPTURE: John 13:37-38 & 21:15-19, Matthew 26:69-75, Luke 24:1-12, 1 Peter 1:9

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS MESSAGE HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. The sermon describes how even Peter, who walked closely with Jesus for three years, still denied him three times when things got tough. What does this story teach us about the reality of human friendship and our need for something beyond just good intentions?

2. Think about a relationship in your life where you've disappointed someone or been disappointed. How might knowing that God offers unlimited time and grace change how you approach healing or forgiveness in that relationship?

3. After Peter's denial, Jesus gave him three opportunities to declare his love (John 21:15-19), matching the three denials. What does this careful, patient restoration process teach us about how God handles our failures?

4. When you've made mistakes, do you tend to rush to 'fix' things quickly, or do you allow proper time for healing? How can you practice more patience with yourself and others in the restoration process?

5. The sermon concludes by challenging us to live differently because 'there is nothing left to fear' after the resurrection. What practical changes might this fearless living look like in your daily relationships and service to others?

6. Name one specific person in your life (at home, work, neighborhood, etc.) that you could love more boldly if you truly believed you had unlimited time and nothing to fear. What would that bold love look like in practice?

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:34-40, Luke 10:38-42, & Mark 10:17-27

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. In Matthew 25:34-40, Jesus describes how caring for 'the least of these' is actually caring for Him. How does this passage challenge our understanding of what true hospitality looks like?

2. Think about a time when you showed hospitality to someone who was difficult to welcome. How did that experience change your perspective on what it means to see Christ in others?

3. How does the story of Mary and Martha demonstrate the difference between surface-level hospitality and deeper spiritual companionship?

4. In your friendships, do you tend to be more like Martha (focused on doing things) or Mary (focused on being present)? What might need to change in your approach?

5. Kenny talks about 'soul dialogue' versus 'worldly dialogue.' What's the key difference between building relationships for personal gain versus genuine spiritual growth?

6. When was the last time you had a conversation that went beyond small talk to truly meaningful spiritual dialogue? What made that possible?

7. How can we create an environment at Revolution where people feel safe enough to be their whole selves, including their imperfections and struggles?

8. Which relationships in your life could benefit from deeper spiritual conversations, and what's one step you could take this week to nurture that?

SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, Galatians 6:2, & Matthew 26:26-29

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Do church relationships/friendships seem strangely “brittle” at times? Why might this be? What needs to change in how we approach friendships in the church in order to make them more resilient?

2. Kenny shared two stories about church relationships: one lacking commitment but trying to force formation, and another with strong commitment but missing spiritual formation. Have you experienced either frustration before? How do we find the right balance between these two elements?

3. In your current church friendships, which aspect needs more attention: the commitment part or the spiritual formation part?

4. The sermon compares the covenant of marriage to the covenant of the Church. What are some key similarities between these two covenants? How does this comparison illuminate your role in Christian community?

5. Galatians 6:2 instructs us to “bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” How can we practically live this out in our church community beyond Sunday services? What is one specific way you could help bear someone's burden in our church community this week?

6. The sermon suggests that authentic Christian community is urgent in our current world of war, oppression, poverty, and fear. How can deeper church relationships help us be “tangible blessings” to our neighbors?

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 23

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Have you been reading through the Psalms with us so far? What have your experiences with these verses been like?

2. Read Psalm 23 again: what stands out to you here? What claims is the psalmist making about God and/or God’s character? What questions does the psalmist seem to be wrestling with? 

3. Have you ever felt like you’re in “the valley of the shadow of death”? What happened in that experience? What helped you to move through it?

4. Paul helpfully (and bluntly!) reminds us that believing God is really with us isn’t always easy to do. Do you sometimes struggle with this? What shape do those struggles take?

5. Paul also points out that God puts His reputation on the line for us in these verses! How does this idea shape/reshape what you think about this Psalm?

6. Once again, this sermon concludes with the invitation to look at Jesus when we are afraid and full of doubts. Is this something you have ever done before? Is it something that feels hard to do? What questions do you still have about God’s “nearness” in times of trouble? What hope might there be?

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:31-47

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What rules or commandments have felt challenging to you, and how might understanding their deeper purpose change your perspective on following them?

2. Where in your life might you be using 'extra guarantees' because your basic word hasn't been trustworthy?

3. How does Jesus's teaching about loving enemies and going the second mile (Matthew 5:40-42, 44-47) reveal God's ultimate purpose for humanity?

4. Think of someone who has opposed or hurt you. How might understanding their underlying fears or needs change your response to them?

5. Kenny suggested that we already know what it means to be 'real human beings' because it's 'hard-wired into us.' What evidence do you see of this in your own life and in others?

6. When have you felt most authentically 'human' in your interactions with others, and what made those moments different?

7. The sermon concludes that being human is not about following a thousand different rules but about one clear invitation: 'Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.' Why isn't this standard meant to be frightening? How might it be encouraging or inviting instead?

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:17-28, John 3:1-3

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How do you feel when you read what Jesus says it will take to “enter the Kingdom of Heaven”?

2. Kenny talks about how trying to be better or fixing our flaws is like trying to perfectly sand a wall: why isn't “trying harder” enough to meet God's standard of righteousness? 

3. In what areas of your life have you been trying to “sand down the rough edges” rather than allowing God to help you start fresh? 

4. In Matthew 5, how does Jesus reframe the commandments “You shall not murder” and “You shall not commit adultery”? Why is this distinction between merely not harming and truly honoring others so important? What does it reveal about us and what we’re made for?

5. How do you typically handle anger or conflicts with others? What would it look like to truly honor them as image-bearers of God?

6. The sermon compares trying to become righteous through our own efforts to “carving a tree from a block of wood”: What makes being “born again” (John 3:1-3) such an important concept for understanding Christian growth?

7. What areas of your life might need to be approached with a “growing from a seed” mindset rather than a “chiseling into shape” mindset?

8. Do you believe Jesus’s righteousness really can become your righteousness? What might change in your life if you could?