The Upper Room Fellowship

Do the Next Thing // Karen Hawkins

Values In The Kingdom #2 - The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come Near // Chris H.

Values In The Kingdom #1 - Jesus Our Rabbi // Chris H.

Mental Health Awareness with Maureen Waybright - Poor audio at beginning

Questions -

* What is something that stood out to you or something that spoke to you during the sermon?

* Read and review Jesus' prayer in the garden - John 17:1-20.

* What is Jesus' "...so that"? What does the world gain when the church walks in unity?

* Have we seen the church walk in unity at certain points in history? Where was that and what was the result?

* What does unity really look like, practically? Or if you're really dreaming, what does BIG church unity look like to you?

* Pray for the unity of the big-C church!

The Sex Talk - Question & Answer Sunday

Sermon Questions -

* What stood out to you/spoke the most to you in the sermon?

* Have you asked hard questions of your faith by inviting people for discussion, reading, and praying to check if and how you've 'unbundled' your religion in some ways?

* Living in a culture that is post-Christian, how do you feel or respond to Chris's comments about the idea of living in exile?

* Review Jeremiah's requests to the people in exile -thrive, work hard, share, take part, grow families, pray, watch for false teachers/prophets, etc. In what part of the list are you thriving, helping others to thrive, or working towards?

* Continue to check yourself - Chris mentioned that, naturally, people will move towards tribalism or towards the culture in times of pressure. Have you found yourself moving towards tribalism (circling the wagons) or just giving into culture's pull? Where are you and what do you need to move out of fear or apathy?

Sermon Questions -

* What stood out to you or spoke to you about this week's sermon?

* When Jesus says to come and drink from him, what does that really mean?

* Review John 4:10-14 where Jesus is at the well with the Samaritan woman.  What is Jesus doing as he moves the conversation from 'come to me and drink' towards 'you have had 5 husbands'? What's the point of that for us?

* The sexual revolution has left us thirsty for real love. Share an experience where you've experienced that drinking from the world doesn't work or where you've experienced transformation through the Holy Spirit.

* How does your life change when you realize you have a responsibility because you represent Jesus (and a responsibility to do it the way he did it?)

Sermon Questions -

* What stood out to you or spoke to you most in the sermon?

* Genesis serves as a reminder to us that Christian spirituality is not about individualism.  Whether you'd married of not, do you purposefully do life in a relational way? If you tend to lean more into individualism, how do you purposefully invite others into your life?

* Chris discussed that we try to lower the high value and view of gender and sex in the bible. How does that actually connect to individualism?  What do we do about this?

* 1 Cor. 6:12 Paul responds to the "Everything is permissible" with "not everything is beneficial" and finally saying, "I will not be mastered". Is it possible that 'not being mastered' has something to do with not being individualistic?

* What are practical plans you have to be relational, anti-individualistic, and unmastered?

Sermon Questions for Discussion -

* Read and review Matt 22:36-38. Have you taken these verses really seriously? Have you viewed these commandments as true commandments (not optional) or as advice?

* Review the word agape (a love that is active and self-sacrificial). As Weslie spoke about the word used for love, agape, what went through your mind about the way you currently live? Do you actually live more like hindus and buddhists, who avoids doing people harm and tries to respect others or are you living to embrace God's call to active, self-sacrificial love?

* What stood out to you or spoke to you during Weslie's sermon?

* Are you aware if there are areas in you the devalues people/souls? Have you searched yourself and asked God if there are things in you that judge and condemn?