Sermons

Sermon Description

Jesus told many parables, simple stories that are used to illustrate profound truths about himself and the nature of his kingdom. In what has been called The Parable of the Growing Seed, Jesus teaches that even though there are so many things in our lives that are beyond our understanding or control, we can trust him with our ultimate salvation.

Discussion Questions

1. Discussion Questions Why do you think it is so easy for us to buy into the illusion that we have ultimate control over our lives, even when the Bible so often teaches us otherwise? 

2. Even if it doesn’t feel like it, it’s an act of God’s grace and mercy to remove the heavy burden of “sovereignty” from us. Why do we so often push back on this? 

3. How is this parable ultimately about Jesus and not about us? Why is it so important to always remember this truth? 

4. Of the things that we can do (e.g. pray, love, serve), which one(s) is God prompting you to focus on as an area of growth?  

Prayer Points

1. Pray against the illusion of complete control in our hearts. Pray that God would help us to live in the tension of trusting him and taking action where we can. 

2. Pray that we would be used by God to bring the love of Jesus and the message of the gospel to those in our lives who are struggling with feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness.

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he acknowledges a season in his life where he was “troubled in every way, with conflicts on the outside and fears within.” When we are honest about the difficulties of life and the fear in our hearts, we can truly experience God’s comfort—a comfort that he often delivers through connection with his people.

Discussion Questions

1. Of the four ways listed (avoid, escape, trivialize, deny), how are you prone to avoid being honest about the troubles of life and the fears in your heart? Why?

2. How does Jesus’ life, suffering, death, and resurrection bring us comfort in the here-and-now? Why is it so important to focus on him in this season?

3. How does God use the community of faith to bring comfort and encouragement in our lives? How can we practice committed connection, even in these difficult days?

4. How can we be agents of God’s comfort to the outside world?

Prayer Points

• Pray for God to bring health and well-being to our world in light of all the sickness and hardship.

• Pray that we would be honest about our hardships, but experience God’s comfort.

• Pray that we would be able to share the hope of Jesus with a world that needs to know his love, forgiveness, and comfort in troubling times.

Sermon Description

In the final section of Colossians, Paul instructs his hearers to make the best use of the time that we have. In particular, he urges his hearers to be diligent in prayer, and to be wise in our interactions with those who are outside of the community of faith. Finally, he lists a long list of people within the community of faith, showing us the beauty of deep relationships that are founded on the gospel of Jesus. When you put it all together, we learn that God wants our interactions with others—both Christian and non—to be an overflow of our interaction with him.

Discussion Questions

1. Is your prayer life marked by devotion, alertness, and gratitude? Why or why not? How is God stirring you to grow in your prayer life?

2. Are your interactions with non-Christians marked by wisdom and graciousness? Is your speech “seasoned with salt” and desirable to such people? How does trusting in God’s sovereignty help us in this endeavor?

3. How do the riches of the Christian community personally bring blessing to your life? How does Jesus invitation into his family shape the way that we interact with other Christians?

4. Participation in the Christian community will inevitably lead to some heartache because all are sinners. Where have you experienced God’s grace even in the middle of heartache with other Christians?

Prayer Points

1. Pray that God’s people will live their lives according to Gospel priorities and purposes.

2. Pray for opportunities and courage for our church family to boldly share the Gospel of Jesus!

3. Pray for God’s continued guidance in the forming of the partnership between SCBC and MLBC through the merger.

Sermon Description

Colossians 3 brings up slavery, which is a particularly troublesome and controversial subject in our cultural context. By looking at the letter of Philemon—the short companion letter to Colossians—we see that Jesus radically transforms human relationships, particularly where dynamics of power exist.

Discussion Questions

1. Where do you have power? Where are you under someone else’s power? How does the gospel inform and transform your relationship to both?

2. Where does God currently want you to use your authority, influence, and power to lift up those who lack power and influence?

3. If the Bible is both divine and human, how does that affect our reading? What are the dangers of emphasizing one over the other? Which “side” comes more naturally to you?

4. Do you personally know any non-Christians who discount Jesus because of passages like Colossians 3:22-4:1? How might a better understanding of the Bible and its cultural context help you share the gospel with such people?

Prayer Points

• Pray that we would live as slaves to righteousness, not slaves to sin.

• Pray for wisdom in sharing the gospel with people who largely discount the Bible because of passages like this.

For Further Study

• ESV Study Bible Footnote on translation of the Greek word “Doulos”