Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church (Toowoomba)

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the sermon from Good Friday 2021. Bible Reading: Luke 23. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder.

Download the Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Sermon & Small Group Resources

These are the three reflections from Maundy Thursday 2021. Preacher: The Rev’d Dr Daniel Rouhead.

Download the Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the ninth sermon in our series on God’s Kingdom. This sermon is ‘Entering King’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: Luke 19:28-44

Download the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: Luke 19:28-44

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: How can you maximise your gifts in service of the returning King?

WARM-UP

1. What comes to mind when you think of a grand entrance?

2. What does Jesus’ entrance indicate about the type of King he is?

READ Luke 19:28-40

1. What was the significance of the Mount of Olives?

2. Why did Jesus choose to enter into Jerusalem on a donkey? How would this have been different to the entrance of other Kings into their cities?

3. What did the disciples do with their cloaks and clothes? What does this show about their relationship to Jesus?

4. In V37, why do the disciples praise God and lift their voices? What do the miracles tell us about the significance of Jesus?

5. Read Psalm 118:25-29. How does Jesus fulfil this Psalm? What does it mean for Jesus to come ‘in the name of the Lord’?

6. Read Luke 2:13-14 and compare to V38. What type of peace does Jesus bring? How do we experience this peace even in the midst of this broken world?

7. What should the experience of this peace ultimately lead to in our lives?

8. Why were the Pharisees not happy with the cries of the crowd? How did they react?

9. What could you do to remind yourself both of the kingship of Jesus and the peace that he brings? What could you do to help you rest in this knowledge?

READ Luke 19:41-44

1. What do Jesus’ tears show us about his character and his heart for the lost?

2. What would have brought Jerusalem ultimate peace? What ultimately happened to Jerusalem around 40 years later?

3. What happens when people reject the offer of peace that God has won for us? How is your heart for those who haven’t turned to Christ?

APPLY:  How can you both demonstrate and tell others about the peace that Jesus brings on your frontlines this week?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus who demonstrated, declared, and won the ultimate peace of being reconciled with you. Help us to continually recognise him as king in our lives. Give us the same mind of Christ Jesus that we may have compassion for the lost and share your good news with them. Amen.

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: As you share about your Easter long-weekend plans, can you also share about how the news of Easter shapes your life?

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• AUDIO: “The Human Face of God” by Alistair Begg

• AUDIO: “The Triumphal Entry” by William Taylor

• VIDEO: “Jesus' Resolve to Head Toward Jerusalem” by Don Carson

• AUDIO: “Luke 19-20” by Gary Millar
  

Series Resources:

Some helpful resources for our Series:

• OUTLINE: for Series with key verses, big ideas, and reflection questions:
  https://bit.ly/39w5Ggk

• FOR FAMILIES: Download the St Bart’s Kids Lego Devotional Guide: https://bit.ly/2YrP3Mf

• WEBSITE: “Gospel of the Kingdom of God” by the Bible Project: https://bit.ly/2NFP2SJ

• BOOK: “Goldsworthy Trilogy: Gospel & Kingdom, Gospel & Wisdom, the Gospel in Revelation” by Graeme Goldsworthy

• BOOK: “Luke for Everyone” by Tom Wright

• Course: “The Bible Overview” as part of the Ridley Certificate (6-week online course).
  https://bit.ly/3pGDVH7 (We’ll also be offering this in Term 3 of 2021 at St Bart’s.)

WITH CHILDREN

Grow as Families

Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.

Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray

High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions

Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids Talk

eBook: Bible eBook

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the eighth sermon in our series on God’s Kingdom. This sermon is ‘Returning King’. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: Luke 19:11-27

Download the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: Luke 19:11-27

While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

“ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

“ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

“He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ ”

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: How can you invite the lost in to hear more of the Good News of Jesus?

WARM-UP

1. How often do you think about Jesus returning? Does it change your priorities when you do?

2. What is the recent regional history that Jesus is likely alluding to in this parable? If Jesus is not saying that he is like Archelaus in character, what is the parallel that he is drawing?

READ Luke 19:11-15

1. What were people expecting of Jesus as he arrived in Jerusalem? What was actually going to happen?

2. How is it evident in the parable that the gifts ultimately belong to the master?

3. What gifts do you think God has entrusted to you? What does it mean to you to recognise those gifts as ultimately belonging to God?

4. What is the ultimately purpose to which we are to put our gifts to work? What do you think that looks like on one of your frontlines? (You might even be able to offer suggestions to one another.)

5. How was the third servant’s failure to act really an act of disobedience and rebellion?

6. How do you think God could be leading you to grow or focus your gifts more intently for his Kingdom purposes? Are there any gifts, time, or resources that you resist using for God’s purposes?

7. If Jesus is returning, how do you think it should shape your approach on one of your frontlines?

8. Which do you think you’re ever most in danger of: (a) underestimating the value of God’s gifts entrusted to you; (b) failing to recognise that those gifts belong to God; or (c) being risk-averse with what God has entrusted to you? What could help you avoid whichever you are most susceptible to?

READ Luke 19:16-27

1. What most surprises or confuses you about this part of the parable? What were the lasting effects?

2. How could we read this part of the parable incorrectly as pointing to a Gospel of works?

3. To what extent are the rewards disproportionate to the acts of obedience? How is this God’s grace?

4. How do you think God multiplies out his gifts through our obedience? How do have you witnessed God’s gracious multiplication (for his glory) at St Bart’s? What could that look like in the future?

5. How does accepting Jesus as Lord mean that we are recipients of his grace? How does rejecting Jesus mean that we face judgment on our own?

APPLY:  How can you maximise your gifts in service of the returning King?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you so much that Jesus went to the cross for us, rose from the dead, and is coming back again. Please help us to be aware of the gifts that you have entrusted to us, motivated to use those gifts for your Kingdom purposes, and mindful of the account we will give when you return. Amen.

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: What is distinctive about how you see others serving Jesus on their frontlines? Make time to encourage them?

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• AUDIO: “The Promised Delay” by William Taylor

• AUDIO: “Work and Money in the Book of Luke’ by Rico Rice

• AUDIO: “Luke 19-20” by Gary Millar
  

Series Resources:

Some helpful resources for our Series:

• OUTLINE: for Series with key verses, big ideas, and reflection questions:
  https://bit.ly/39w5Ggk

• FOR FAMILIES: Download the St Bart’s Kids Lego Devotional Guide: https://bit.ly/2YrP3Mf

• WEBSITE: “Gospel of the Kingdom of God” by the Bible Project: https://bit.ly/2NFP2SJ

• BOOK: “Goldsworthy Trilogy: Gospel & Kingdom, Gospel & Wisdom, the Gospel in Revelation” by Graeme Goldsworthy

• BOOK: “Luke for Everyone” by Tom Wright

• Course: “The Bible Overview” as part of the Ridley Certificate (6-week online course).
  https://bit.ly/3pGDVH7 (We’ll also be offering this in Term 3 of 2021 at St Bart’s.)

WITH CHILDREN

Grow as Families

Each week St Bart’s Kids and