Veritas Columbus Sermons

A sermon by Aaron Lockhart preached on July 16, 2017 at Veritas East as part of a sermon series on fear.

A sermon by Geoff Davis preached on July 16, 2017 at Veritas Tri-Village as part of a sermon series on fear.

Discussion Questions:

Laying the Foundation: Read Genesis 3:1-11. One of the key points that Geoff wanted to make had to do with the nature of “misplaced fear.”

– How did our misplaced fear and anxiety begin historically?

Leaders: it began with a broken relationship with our creator and a misunderstanding/distrusting of what God’s intentions were in moving toward us in love – Geoff gave the example of how Adam and Even hid from God in shame in the garden. In their sin, they did not trust Him or His intentions toward them.

In Matthew 10, Jesus gives two types of people we can fear – man or God.

– What are some ways that the fear of man is manifested in our lives? What is the end results of fearing man?

Leaders: Geoff mentioned a few ways in which a wrong kind of fear can manifest itself in our lives: Fear prevents us from sharing and treasuring the true gospel; fear tells us that if we open ourselves to love of others, they will reject us; Fear tells us not to trust others; fear obsesses about the future, not trusting God’s providence for our lives.

– On the flip-side of that earlier question is this one: What does a proper fear of God look entail? How is it different than a fear of man? How does Jesus describe His role in the eternal judgment?

Leaders: There is a fear that is reverential, deferential and recognizing of the splendor and majesty of the Creator. Geoff read Psalm 139 which says in verse 14 that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. David realized that God was a holy God, a majestic God, and that ultimately judgment and salvation belonged to Him. Lastly, it is a testament to the divinity of Christ that He claims a divine role in the judgment of all mankind in verses 32 and 33 of Matthew 10. Let us remember that while Christ was fully human, He is also fully God of the universe, reigning in power, and will come back to judge the living and the dead.

In the sermon, the gospel was shown to be the key remedy for an improper fear of man.

– How does the gospel correct our thinking about who to fear? What does the gospel remedy our alienation from God?

Leaders: If alienation from God is the cornerstone to our fears and anxieties, then the gospel is that agent by which we are reconciled to God. Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 for more on the reconciliation we have with God. Remember leaders to emphasize that this came at a cost – it wasn’t free. Christ so loved the world that He died – shedding His own blood. Beaten beyond recognition; enduring excruciating pain on our behalf. This was a man who was truly God! This was someone whose heart beat with the mission of reconciliation! Does our heart match that theme? Do we face our fears with those blood bought truths? Remind your group of how far Christ went to ensure that no fear could separate you from Him! (Reading Romans 8: 31-39 could be helpful as well).

Pastor Geoff pointed out that one of the manifestations of a fear of man is a lack of love and a lack of trust.

– Why would that be the case – why is it that fear of man manifests itself in a lack of love?

Leaders: We believe that if we open ourselves up to love others, they will get to know parts of us that are unlovable, leading them to NOT love us! Similarly, when we fear man, it affects our relationships because we can’t really trust people. Jesus repairs this by loving us even when we didn’t engender or deserve His love. Read Romans 5:6-11 and discuss these questions in light of those glorious gospel truths.

Geoff made the point that misplaced fear is a symptom of a more core question: can I trust God?

– What are some of the things God has done in order to enable us to trust him?

– What does trust look like in our lives – and how is that contrasted with some of the ways we fear man?

Leaders: Read 1 John 4:18, and perhaps the Lewis quote below to set the stage. God has set His perfect love upon us. Even though we were sinners, He sought us out, He loved us, and He made us His own. Geoff pointed out that this love coming in the midst of our being made known – fully known – by God is one of the key things we need to take away from the sermon. We can trust Him because He knows all our sins, and yet still sent His son to die for our sins. This is an incredible acceptance, and an incredible grace we have from the Creator!

“Perfect love, we know, casteth out fear. But so do several other things — ignorance, alcohol, passion, presumption, and stupidity. It is very desirable that we should all advance to that perfection of love in which we shall fear no longer; but it is very undesirable, until we have reached that stage, that we should allow any inferior agent to cast out our fear.” – C.S. Lewis

Takeaway: Are there ways in which I am fearing man? How is this manifesting itself in my life (ask a spouse, or close Christian friend to help identify blind spots!)? Am I cultivating a healthy reverence for Christ? Does my heart and mind have a perspective that flows from a fear of the Lord? How does this perspective destroy my craven/sinful fear of man? What scripture am I going to memorize to remind myself of the Lord’s reign and gospel? Who can I speak to and pray with about my fear of man?

A sermon by Wes Thompson preached on July 16, 2017 at Veritas West as part of a sermon series on fear.

A sermon by Chris Lawson preached on July 16, 2017 at Veritas Short North as part of a sermon series on fear.

Discussion Questions:

1. In a world filled with daily reminders of tragedy and sin in our lives and in our world, Chris began by reminding us that, on some level, we are all victims of fear.  He challenged us to consider what those fears are.  What do you fear?  What are those "what if?" questions in your life?  (think on multiple levels - global, local, personal, etc.)
 
2. Chris stated that our fears always affect our thoughts and actions, and often, this can happen in ways that we don't even see.  Take a moment to consider how these fears that you shared may be affecting your thoughts and actions.  Consider how you may have been numb to those affects.  Please share.
 
3. In John 14:1, Jesus suggests that our fear is born out of a lack of true belief in God and Christ.  How/when do you see that lack of faith in your life?  What does it mean to truly believe in those moments?  (If you have time, read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 where we see a poignant example of Israel depending upon the Lord during a time in need, and the Lord protected them).
 
4. Chris reminded us that the reason we can believe God and trust in Him is because He is totally sovereign and perfectly good.  Do you believe this?  Which of these two attributes (sovereignty and goodness), do you tend to forget?
 
5. Facing this call to believe in the face of fear, how are we to do it?  Chris called us to pursue prayer, Scripture, and community with fellow believers.  How can we grow in these areas as individuals and as a Community Group?  How can we encourage each other to believe in the midst of our fears?

A sermon by Brad Snyder preached on July 9, 2017 at Veritas Tri-Village as part of a sermon series on Matthew.\

Reflection:
In Genesis 2:18 we read that before sin even entered the world, God says that for man to be alone is “not good.”

* How does God’s character demonstrate the importance and characteristics of marriage?
* When men rebelled in the garden, what were some of the consequences? What did Adam say when God confronted him?

Leaders: Our God is a triune God. He is three in one. God’s design for marriage is to reflect/display his nature. When Adam was confronted in the garden, he blamed the woman - he essentially disowned her in a display of blame shifting and selfishness.

Brad said that by default we approach marriage thinking that love is when another person joyfully fulfills all of "my needs.”

* How does this mindset differ from God’s purpose in marriage?
* And, importantly, how does the truth of the gospel change our conception of the marriage relationship?
* How does it motivate us toward love and self-sacrifice for one another in our relationships?
Your wife’s weakness, or husband’s failings, are a gospel opportunity for your marriage to display a glimpse of the love and grace it was created to display! - Brad, from the sermon

Read 1 John 4:7-12. God has created marriage in order to model His character - especially his love - and His gospel. This means marriage was meant to demonstrate forgiveness, mercy and grace in the midst of difficult or seemingly impossible situations.
* How did Christ demonstrate His love for us? What was our spiritual situation before His initiating this loving relationship?
* In what ways have you seen your spouse, or maybe some godly parents, or role models demonstrate Christ's gospel?

It's not your love that sustains your marriage…it's your marriage that sustains your love!” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
For those of you who are married, think about your marriage and even some of the low and high points you’ve experienced and maybe even some you’ve seen in your friends and parents.

* Knowing that God is sovereign over every circumstance in your life, how do these times remind us of God’s purposes for marriage?
Leaders: Marriage can be a very refining instrument in our Redeemer’s hands; He has given us each other to both encourage and to speaking loving truth to each other at times. How has this occurred in your experience? etc.

Re-read Matthew 5:31-32 and James 4:8. Jesus talks about the tragedy of divorce and gives grounds for divorce. Divorce is never entered into with joy, and no Christian ought to desire to initiate divorce.

* What is the promise for those of us going through or dealing with the tragedy of divorce?
Leaders: The great promise of Christ is that He is with us in every trial and tragedy, and actually comes alongside us and adopts us into a marriage relationship with him, our great Bridegroom. Jesus knows our sins, He understands our weaknesses and has seen our mistakes. We must call out to Him and ask for help. If we draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us.

* As a follow up: If you are going through separation or contemplating divorce, who are the people in your life that you need to ask for prayer, accountability, and wisdom?

One of the great blessings of being a Christian is having the body of Christ to surround and comfort us, as well as spur us on toward holiness and selflessness.
* How does the church community protect us from sin in our marriage?
* Where does community breakdown sometimes - i.e. how could we fail even while experiencing good church community?

Leaders: the church body provides us with encouragement, loving - if sometimes hard - gospel truths, and a reminder that we’re not alone in the struggle. But when we forsake honesty, truth telling, and dependence on Christ, we can easily forsake the purpose and blessings of church community.
Your greatest hope for joy and fulfillment in marriage, is to look on the grace of the gospel and to see your sin as more fundamental and more problematic than your spouse’s. Because until you take your own sin seriously I don’t think you will be in a place to lovingly but firmly help your spouse through theirs. Jesus said it like this: first take the plank out of your own eye, then you will be able to see to take the speck out of your brothers! Then together you both can fight for your marriage! - Brad, from the sermon

Takeaway Question: Marriage is meant to display the gospel, and how you relate to someone when you sin and they sin reveals your true grasp of the gospel.

* How do you respond when your wife sins and fails…how do you respond when you husband blows it!?
* What do you do when you sin and fail?

A sermon by Geoff Davis preached on July 9, 2017 at Veritas Short North as part of a sermon series on fear.

Discussion Questions:

Where does fear originate from? How does fear enter the world in Genesis and where do your fears come from? What worries and doubts sit at the foundation of your fears?

After eating the fruit, God appeared and Adam and Eve were afraid and ashamed. When God moves toward you (through His Spirit, His Word, and His Church), do you tend to respond with fear and shame or with hope and joy?

How are heavenly fear and earthly fear, as Pastor Geoff described them, different? How do each of these fears impact the way we live our daily lives? How do you see each impacting your thoughts and actions

One of the fears Pastor Geoff mentioned was the fear of being "found out" – that if we were to be truly known, no one would want to stand by us. What comfort does Scripture give to this fear? Do you think that this is a community that you can trust to truly know you?

What things do you often use to ease your fears? Food? Alcohol? Gossip? Ignorance? Something else? What promises of God speak to your fears? How do they speak a better word to you than the other things you run to for comfort?

A sermon by Wes Thompson preached on July 9, 2017 at Veritas West as part of a sermon series on fear.

A sermon preached by Aaron Lockhart on July 9, 2017 at Veritas East as part of a sermon series on fear.

A sermon based on Matthew 5:27-32 by Rob Meyers, preached on July 2, 2017 at Veritas West as part of the sermon series in Matthew.

A sermon based on Matthew 5:27-30 by Brad Snyder, preached on July 2, 2017 at Veritas Tri-Village as part of the sermon series in Matthew.