Sermons from st James Chorley

If God is the perfect Father, why do I mess up so much?

Discussion Questions

• Where are you currently tempted to believe that God is holding out on you?
• If the root problem for every person is seeing God as a Meanie, what is everyone’s greatest need? What is your greatest need?
• What would trusting God's goodness look like in practice this week?

How can we get God to bless us?

Can we warm him up to us by good works? What does the Older Son find out?

Discussion Questions

• Are you more like the Older or Younger Son?
• Can you identify with any of the Older Sons ways? (do you ever say: it’s not fair…, I deserve better…, how dare he…)
• What would it look like for you to come home to the Father for 1st or 100th time? 

What does God think of me? What about the things I've done and places I've been?

Sermon discussion questions

• How might you try and take God’s gifts and enjoy them away from him?
• How could you apologise to God not only for breaking rules, but how it breaks relationship with God.
• What would resting in the Father’s embrace look like for you?

How clearly can you see Jesus? How can we see him better?

Sermon discussion questions

·     What do you most want from Jesus?

·     Is that what Jesus most wants for you?

·     When you sin what are you believing about God?

·     How could you grow in seeing yourself and Jesus more clearly?

How can we get Jesus' attention?

Response Questions:

• How would you feel if Jesus called you an unclean dog?
• Where do you feel like you deserve something from God / other people?
• How has God blessed you? 

What is the problem with Religion - listen To Jesus' analysis

Response Qs

·What things do you do hoping they are enough to please God?

·When you do something wrong, what excuses might you make as to why you did it?

·Next time you apologise, try not to make excuses:

“I’m sorry I was late I valued my time more than yours, I’m sorry.”

Who is Jesus> It's an important question especially when life gets hard. Look at what Mark 6 shows us

Response Questions:

Does this compassionate Jesus challenge your view of God? If he is compassionate, what would you like to go to him about? Why not do that now

What type of rescue do you want? Can you see how the cross is better than anything else?

What would it look like for you not to be afraid? How would that be possible?

When it comes to Jesus can you sit on the fence? Listen to Herod's experience in Mark.

Sermon Response Questions:

• Where might I be trying to have Jesus and something else?
• What do I need to repent of?
• What would a life of repentance look like for me?

Psalm 22 gives us an inside look at what it was like for Jesus to go to the cross. 

Response Q's

- how does this psalm help when life is hard?

Think about the following

-My saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes 

-experienced reproach that I might receive welcome

- expired that I might for ever live

Do you want to see the power of God in your life? Would you like to have intimacy with God like David does? listen to this psalm.

Discussion Qs

- Where have you seen God at work in your life?

- How can you grow in love for the Lord?