SCRIPTURE: Acts 20-21

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

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. In Acts 20:22-24, Paul says he is “captive to the Spirit” and knows persecution awaits him in Jerusalem… yet he continues anyway. What might this teach us?

2. The sermon contends that Christianity isn't about “outside-in” behavior modification but rather “inside-out” transformation. What's the difference between these two approaches to following Jesus? 

3. In what areas of your life might you be focusing too much on external behaviors rather than internal transformation?

4. How does Paul's journey (particularly the way he handles the disagreements about what the Spirit is or is not calling him to do) demonstrate the difference between unity and uniformity in the Christian community?

5. How do you typically handle disagreements with other Christians about important spiritual matters?

6. The sermon identifies three key elements in Paul's life which contribute to his Christlikeness: radical humility, compassionate community, and being enraptured by the Gospel. Which of these do you find most challenging? Why?

7. How might a shift from asking “What Would Jesus Do?” to “Who Does Jesus Say I Am?” change our approach to Christian living?

8. What aspects of your identity in Christ do you struggle to fully believe or embrace?

SCRIPTURE: Acts 16

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

SCRIPTURE: Acts 13-15:1-31

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. In Acts 15:19, James says 'we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.' What are some ways churches today might unintentionally make it difficult for people to turn to God?

2. What specific practices or attitudes in your own life might create barriers for others seeking to know God?

3. Matt shares that “belonging is not a reward for behavior; it is the ground on which transformation happens.” What do you think this means? How might this perspective change the way we welcome people into church community?

4. Think of a time when you felt truly welcomed despite your imperfections. How did that experience impact your spiritual growth?

5. What practical steps could you take to build bridges with people who have different beliefs or backgrounds than you?

6. How can you practice “staying at the table,” as Matt describes it? When is this difficult for you? How can you challenge yourself this week?

7. What does it mean to “trade assumptions for stories”?  Why is this important for building unity in the church?

8. Do you sometimes struggle to “choose love over comfort”? What might growth look like for you in this area?

SCRIPTURE: John 13:1-15

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

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. In John 13:2-15, Jesus washes his disciples' feet despite Peter's initial resistance. Why was this act so significant, and what might it teach us about true humility in leadership?

2. When have you struggled to accept help or service from someone in authority, and what did that experience teach you about humility?

3. Can you think of a time when a friend was genuinely vulnerable with you? How did that impact your relationship with them?

4. What makes it hard for you personally to receive acts of kindness from others without trying to minimize them?

5. How does the concept of “costly love” differ from casual acts of kindness, and why is this distinction important for us to remember?

6. The ultimate goal of any act of love is to deepen trust in the relationship. What relationships in your life might benefit from deeper trust? How can you “push through the awkwardness” this week and show someone you really depend on them? How can you make yourself more receptive to someone you love’s sincerity this week? 

7. How might getting better at both sharing and receiving acts of love or kindness help you grow as a Christian?

8. How can this help you grow as a neighbor, a coworker, a volunteer, or a citizen?

SCRIPTURE: Mathew 5:14-16; Isaiah 39:5-6, 40:3-5, 42:1-9 & 49:4-6

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

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Kenny discussed how the Puritans once saw themselves as a “city on a hill” for others to admire from afar. How does this view compare/contrast to the story of Exile we have been studying? 

2. In what ways might you be trying to create a perfect “Christian bubble”... rather than engaging with the community around you?

3. Read Isaiah 42:1-9 again. How does the description of the “suffering servant” challenge our typical ideas of what power and justice look like? Where in your life might God be calling you to exercise power through gentleness rather than force?

4. How might the description of “exile” in this series impact our understanding of what it means to be God's people in our current cultural moment?

5. What would change in your daily life if you viewed your current situation not as an accident… but as God's purposeful placement? 

6. What can our study of the Exile teach us about how to be a healthy church here at Revolution? What part can you play in creating this kind of community?

SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 29 & 31:31-33, Daniel 1-6

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

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. This sermon discusses how Daniel brought his Temple faith into enemy territory. What might it mean to bring your own faith into 'enemy territory' in today's world?

2. According to Jeremiah 31:31-33, God promises to write His law on people's hearts. How does this prophecy relate to Daniel's story, and what does it mean for Christians today who may feel displaced or uncertain in their current cultural environment?

3. The first that distinguishes Daniel from some of the heroes of Israel’s past is his commitment to seeking the betterment of the Babylonians. This can be an uncomfortable idea! This week, spend some time discussing it with others: how might this connect to the worship of our God? What might it look like for you, in your own life?

4. The sermon notes that Daniel's private prayers weren't meant to parade his disobedience but were simply a continuation of his faithful practices. How does this approach to faith differ from more confrontational forms of religious expression we might see today? How do you balance being faithful to your beliefs while maintaining respectful relationships with those who hold different views?

5. Daniel's story isn't about deliverance but about endurance and witness. How might this perspective shape us, too?

6. Kenny contrasts the world's fear of societal collapse with Christians’ citizenship in God's eternal kingdom. How can this eternal perspective shape our response to current cultural and political anxieties?

BETWEEN A ROCK, A HARD PLACE, AND HOPE

SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 29

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

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Kenny discussed how the Israelites believed nothing bad could really happen to them because they were God's chosen people. How can this mindset be dangerous for Christians today?

2. This opening sermon in our new series invites us to seek out a “third way” that is not violent anger or surrender/assimilation. What might this look like in practical terms for believers facing difficult circumstances?

3. What situation in your life needs a “third way” approach rather than fighting or surrendering?

4. How have times of defeat or humbling in your life ultimately strengthened your testimony of God's faithfulness?

5. In Jeremiah 29:5-14, God instructs the exiles to build houses, plant gardens, and seek the welfare of their captors' city. Why would God ask His people to thrive in a place of defeat rather than fight against it? What area of your life feels like a “Babylon” right now, and how might God be calling you to thrive there rather than to give in to anger or hopelessness?

6. How does the concept of holy endurance differ from simply “putting up” with difficult circumstances? What would it look like to practice holy endurance in your current challenges, while still maintaining your witness for Christ?

SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:9-21 & 15:20-21, John 1:14 & 17:22-23

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

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Let’s talk about “incarnation”: what does this word mean? How does it summarize or describe the way God loved Israel, in the Old Testament? How does it summarize or describe the way God loved the world through Jesus?

2. Looking at Romans 12:9-21, what specific instructions does Paul give about how Christians should care for others? How do these particular instructions relate to the idea of “incarnation”? 

3. Think back on your own experiences with evangelism. What kinds of “evangelistic” approaches seem most effective? What kind of “evangelism” once reached you?

4. Kenny argues that “caring is love incarnate.” What do you think this means? What are some practical ways we can make God's love tangible and touchable for others in our daily lives?

5. Who in your life has made God's love real to you through their actions, and what specific things did they do?

6. What motivates your own faith journey: fear or love? How does that motivation affect the way you interact with others?

7. At the end of the sermon, Kenny reminded us that the patient, intimate, and generous love of God really is the most powerful and transformative thing in our world. Is this hard to believe sometimes? Might it be true?