Veritas Columbus Sermons

A sermon based on Matthew 5:13-16, preached on June 11, 2017 at Veritas West as part of the sermon series in Matthew.

A sermon based on Matthew 5:13-16 by Aaron Lockhart, preached on June 11, 2017 at Veritas East as part of the "Blessed" series.

A sermon based on Matthew 5:13-16 by Joe Byler, preached on June 11, 2017 at Veritas Short North as part of the "Blessed" series.

----

Discussion Questions:

In what ways is our identity as Christians unique and distinct from the world around us? Explore this on two levels: first, corporately as The Body of Christ; and second, individually as people in specific situations.

With our unique identity of salt and light, what is our distinct purpose in the world?

What is Jesus instructing us to do? How can you apply this instruction to your life?

Do you feel a resistance in yourself to Jesus' call to be distinct in the world? Why?

In what ways do you find yourself being tempted to blend into society?

How can you be more obedient to Jesus' call to be salt and light.

How does God enable us to live in line with this call to new identity?

A sermon based on Matthew 5:10-12 by Wes Thompson, preached on June 4, 2017 at Veritas West as part of the "Blessed" series.

Discussion Questions:

(1) In what ways are Christians persecuted nowadays?

(2) Have you ever faced persecution for your faith in Jesus?

(3) If you’re a Christian, and you’ve never experienced persecution, what do you think that says about your faith?

A sermon based on Matthew 5:10-12 by Brad Snyder, preached on June 4, 2017 at Veritas Tri-Village as part of the "Blessed" series.

Discussion Questions:

RECAP: Before this study, how did you think of the Beatitudes? Brad talked about how the beatitudes are not a sort of menu to choose from, but rather they all hang together and are interconnected. Leaders it might be helpful to give a recap by reading this quote from John Stott (below) and asking

"The beatitudes paint a comprehensive portrait of a Christian disciple. We see him first alone on his knees before God, acknowledging his spiritual poverty and mourning over it. This makes him meek or gentle in all his relationships, since honesty compels him to allow others to think of him what before God he confesses himself to be. Yet he is far from acquiescing in his sinfulness, for he hungers and thirsts after righteousness, longing to grow in grace and in goodness. We see him next with others, out in the human community. His relationship with God does not cause him to withdraw from society, nor is he insulated from the world's pain. On the contrary, he is in the thick of it showing mercy to those battered by adversity and sin. He is transparently sincere in all his dealings and seeks to play a constructive role as a peacemaker. Yet he is not thanked for his efforts, but rather opposed, slandered, insulted, and persecuted on account of the righteousness for which he stands and the Christ with whom he is identified.” -John Stott

Re-Read Matthew 5:1-12. Now that we’ve come to the conclusion of the Beatitudes, what would you say the blessed life looks like? Who are those who are “blessed” in the eyes of Jesus? (Leaders: recap the upside-down kingdom of Christ from previous weeks).

On Sunday morning we got into the final beatitude which is repeated for us in verses 10-12. What is the righteousness that leads to persecution? (Leaders: Brad said that “the type of righteousness that leads to persecution is the life that flows from a relationship with Jesus; a life that is lived by his grace as a citizen of His Kingdom! A life that looks like everything he’s said so far in the Beatitudes!”)

Read 1 Peter 2:9-12. Why would leading a life flowing from a relationship with Jesus lead to persecution? (Leaders: The values of the kingdom of God are diametrically opposed to the values and aim of the kingdom of heaven. The more people pursue these aims, the more they put themselves at odds with the aims of the world and what the world considers “blessing”…this will lead to persecution. In fact, leaders, a good follow up to this would be that if you don’t experience any kind of persecution, what is missing in your walk with Christ?).

Have you ever experienced a time when the values of the kingdom and your relationship with Christ have led to persecution, suffering or trials? What was your reaction and how was your walk with Christ affected during that time?

How did Brad describe the way we ought to respond to the sin and brokenness of the world? How does the world respond to sin? (Leaders: We need to respond with tears of compassion and with the truth of the Gospel. We need to mourn over sin. The world not only excuses sin, but celebrates it and boasts in it - as a follow up question, you might ask “what are we to boast in?").

Read 2 Corinthians 2:14-17. How will our responses to the brokenness and sin of the world lead to persecution? (Leaders, the quote below might help clarify discussion once some discussion has taken place. Note again, that our desires, when they are godly, are on a collision course with those aims of the world).

"The Kingdom of the World says you’re blessed when you are self sufficient, when you’re able to fulfill all your desires. Not when you hunger and thirst after righteousness, but when you realize that there is no such thing! When make your own standard and you do whatever works for you. And when you come hungering and thirsting for righteousness… valuing and desiring something totally different... to see it in every aspect of your life, to see it bring justices and rightness to everything and everybody… That hunger and thirst for righteousness to grow personally in your life and to reign socially in everyone’s lives… that will lead you to be attacked by both the self-righteous religious people… and the rebellious irreligious people!” - Brad, from the sermon

Read 1 Peter 4:12-16, James 1:2-4 and Romans 5:1-5. What should our reaction be to suffering and persecution in this life? Put another way, what is the Biblical reaction to what we face in this world? OR - are we spending our lives working to avoid trials? Where does the power and the strength come from to react in a godly way? What is the ultimate results of these trials? (Leaders, stress that we shouldn’t be surprised by the suffering and the persecution, but that we ought to expect it and rejoice in it, knowing that it signifies our adoption into the family of God. Remind your group of John 15:11, and that joy and happiness are major themes in the Bible because Jesus knows that sin never delivers on its promises. Jesus is promising a kingdom that will bring the joy we deeply desire - true fulfillment - he is saying these things for our joy).

What kind of joy is Jesus specifically talking about? Knowing that in the Bible joy is almost always mentioned alongside of suffering and pain, what does joy look like in the midst of suffering? Have you ever experienced this kind of joy? Can you tell off a time that you’ve experienced joy through a season of trial?

"Almost all of the conflict in your life comes from the fact that you are trying to build a Kingdom in the World that is all about you! And the more you live in the illusion of that Kingdom, the more uncomfortable you will be, the more anxious you will be, the more empty you will feel, the more bitter you will be toward others, the more you will be disappointed and alone. But Jesus is promising you a kingdom of comfort, security, satisfaction, mercy, where you will see his face and be called his son!” - Brad, from the sermon

Takeaway: Brad gave several examples of martyrs who had suffered and died for being a Christian. He said, "If you're wondering if your faith is strong enough to face the persecution they faced… it isn’t! Because God doesn’t give grace for you to overcome trials and sufferings that you aren’t facing” We are called to look forward to joy through the persecution in our lives. So this week, meditate on Hebrews 12:1-2, and ask ourselves these questions: Where is God calling you to trust him? Where is he calling you to mourn? Where are you needing to be meek? Or merciful? Where is he calling you to purity? Or to make peace? Will you lean on God's grace and trust him in you office? In you class? In your Neighborhood?

A sermon based on Matthew 5:10-12 by Jason Fisher, preached on June 4, 2017 at Veritas East as part of the "Blessed" series.

A sermon based on Matthew 5:10-12 by Chris Lawson, preached on June 4, 2017 at Veritas Short North as part of the "Blessed" series.

Discussion Questions

1. Chris began his sermon with a recap of the beatitudes. Are there any specific things from the past few months in Matthew that you feel like God has been impressing upon you? … What has been your overall takeaway or sentiments towards the beatitudes?

2. The first of two main points of the sermon was, “Why Jesus followers should expect persecution.” How does the beatitude of persecution connect to the beatitude of peacemaking which comes before it? What other things were mentioned as reasons that Christians might experience persecution?

3. Sometimes we may think of Christian persecution as only the “severe” cases that occur in other countries that have animosity towards the faith. While this is very, very real and we should pray for our Christian brothers and sisters experiencing this around the world, what are some ways that we may face persecution here in the US as we boldly live out our faith? .....​​ How does this idea make you feel? What fears do we have? What aspect of the gospel do we fail to believe when we when we run away from persecution at all costs

4. What are some specific ways that you have experienced persecution in some form for being a Christian? When we feel the nudge of the holy spirit to step out in some way to share the gospel, or live out our faith, why are we so quick to subdue that feeling and take an easier route? What is the cost of continuing to do this?

5. Chris mentioned that part of the purpose of the beatitudes is to show us how we can never live up to the standard of God. Even in regards to this idea of persecution, that is true. Jesus was the only one who was perfectly obedient and bold in his faith… How do you wrestle with the tension of these truths?

6. The 2nd point of the sermon was, “How Jesus followers can endure persecution.” Spend time discussing this. What reasons did Chris mention from scripture? How do these ideas fuel your desire to boldly and confidently live out your faith, by the Spirit’s power?

A sermon based on Matthew 5:9 by Brad Snyder, preached on May 28, 2017 at Veritas Tri-Village as part of the "Blessed" series.

A sermon preached on May 28, 2017 at Veritas West as part of the sermon series in Matthew.

A sermon based on Matthew 5:9 by Aaron Lockhart, preached on May 28, 2017 at Veritas East as part of the "Blessed" series.