Sermons

Sermon Description

During the current COVID-19 world event, we are spending more time than ever on Zoom, Facetime, Facebook Live, and the like. And while this technology can be helpful, it serves as a reminder of how important physicality and embodiment truly are. In Genesis 2, we see that God makes the man from “the dust of the earth,” which means that having a body is part of what makes us truly human. God cares about the spiritual and the physical.

Discussion Questions

1. As a group, everybody share a favorite Bible verse that has something to do with the body (e.g. Romans 12). As you read these verses, what stands out to you?

2. Why is it so hard to live in the tension between the physical and the spiritual? Why do you think that we are so prone to separate the two, or emphasize one and not the other?

3. What are the implications of the incarnation of Jesus? How is the embodiment of God our only hope? What does it mean that right now, Jesus exists in heaven in his resurrection body?

4. Read through 1 Corinthians 15:35-58. How does the idea of our “spiritual bodies” help us to always be “abounding in the work of the Lord”? How does the idea of embodiment fuel mission.

Prayer Points

• Pray that you would always take your body seriously as a part of your spiritual life.

• Pray for passion to share the gospel with people in your life who don’t yet know Jesus and the hope of eternal, embodied, perfected life.

More Resources

• A Body of Work article by Christian psychiatrist, Curt Thompson

• Another Pandemic Woe: Zoom Fatigue article from Axios

• “You Don’t Have a Soul”: C.S. Lewis Never Said It article from Mere Orthodoxy

• What is the “Spiritual Body” Paul Talks About in 1 Cor. 15? Podcast episode from Dr. Michael Heiser on The Naked Bible Podcast

Sermon Description

When faced with difficulties in life, people respond in a variety of ways, like denial, escapism, or despair. In the Bible, we see that lament  is God’s gift to those who are troubled and hurting. Christ’s immanence means that we can experience his comfort, and his transcendence means that we can be lifted above the troubles of this life.

Discussion Questions

1. Does the Biblical language of lament sound strange to your ears? For example, read Jeremiah 7:29, Psalm 44:23-24, or Lamentations 5:20. Do some of the verses even sound disrespectful toward God? Why or why not?

2. Where do you need to truly lament right now? How can we encourage each other to lament well?

3. Jesus is the “man of sorrows” but he is also the “king of kings.” How does his immanence (closeness) help us to experience his comfort? How does his transcendence (above-ness) help us rise above life’s troubles?

4. In what ways might our witness be more effective if we truly knew how to lament well? How could true lament help show the gospel to those in our lives who don’t know Jesus?

Prayer Points

• Pray that we would experience the comfort and closeness of Jesus as we lament well.

• Pray that our eyes would be fixed on Jesus, who is above all things.

• Pray that our lamenting would be a witness to the gospel in a world that doesn’t lament well.

More Resources

• Gallup survey on American’s well-being.

• We’re Not Ready for This Kind of Grief article from the Atlantic.

• 20 Prayers to Pray During This Pandemic article from Christianity Today.

• The God Who Hears Our Laments article by Derek Rishmawy.

• Psalms 42 and 43—The Gift of Lament article from the Biblical Counseling Coalition.

Death is an ever-present reality that all people must face. We must reshape our view of mortality so that it is in proper alignment with what the Scripture teaches us. When we recognize that Christ has defeated the totality of death through his resurrection, we can live knowing that our work is not in vain and that to die is to be with Christ.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some unhealthy reactions to the reality of death that you witness in the world around you? What unhealthy reactions are you most prone to committing?

2. How does the sovereignty and goodness of God help to provide comfort in the face of a world of suffering and death?

3. How has Christ’s resurrection changed our view of death? How does it change our view of life?

4. How can you take the message and hope of the eternal life found in the gospel to a dying world? How can you be a comfort to those who are suffering the death of a loved one or are suffering in a profound way?

Prayer Points

• Pray for opportunities to comfort others with the message of eternal life during this current time of pandemic.

• Pray that whether in life or in death you may seek to labor unto glory and find your delight in the sovereignty of God.

Good Friday service, 2020

Sermon Description

The Sunday before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus entered into Jerusalem to much praise and fanfare, because the crowds saw him as the long-awaited king who brings salvation. As we consider our lives and the challenges that we face, we are confronted with a question from Jesus: who or what do we trust for our ultimate salvation?

Discussion Questions

1. Where is your heart prone to seek salvation apart from Jesus? Why does this specific person or thing hold such sway in your heart and mind?

2. How can we help each other remember that our ultimate salvation is found in Jesus? How can we keep that thought connected to the fact that Jesus does care about our lives in the here-and-now?

3. Read through Psalm 118 and identify all the places where the Messiah is pointed to. How does reading the Scriptures with a Christ-focus help you understand the Bible better?

4. Why is it important to remember our ultimate salvation from Jesus as we  work and serve the poor, the mistreated, and the downtrodden? Why must we never separate spiritual and physical “salvation”?

Prayer Points

• Pray that Jesus would be your foundation, and your ultimate hope for salvation.

• Pray for opportunities to serve the poor, administer justice, and care for the fearful—all from the motivation of being given ultimate salvation from Jesus.

More Resources

• Download the “Love Your Neighbor” card