Veritas Columbus Sermons

A sermon based on John 20-21 by Brad Snyder, preached on April 16, 2017 at Veritas Tri-Village on Easter Sunday.

Discussion Questions:

1. Describe what you think must have been going through the mind of Peter when he jumped out of that boat! What about Mary at the tomb? How would you react if a close friend was resurrected from the grave?!

2. Brad read from John 20:17 where Jesus speaks to Mary about his coming ascension. Jesus' statement strongly indicates a truth later expounded by Paul, namely that we are adopted into the family of God. Read romans 8:14-16 and discuss. Have you ever thought about your relationship to God in adoptive terms? Many of us have grown up without either a mom or a dad. Talk about what it means to you to have God bring you into His family.

3. In the sermon, Brad gave the example of the “fallen fisherman” Peter before the resurrection (Luke 5) and after the resurrection (John 20/21) and how his reactions to Jesus differed. The question posed by Brad is worth pondering again: where do you go, and what do you do when you sin? Do you run from Jesus in shame, or do you run to Jesus for restoration and forgiveness? Another way of approaching this might be to ask your spouse or a close friend in the church if there is a pattern that they see in your life one way or another.

4. In a part of our text from Sunday (John 20:24-31) Jesus encounters Thomas, the disciple who had verbally doubted his resurrection. On paper it seems out of place because of all we had read preceding the account about Jesus appearing alive to Mary, and the angels at the tomb etc. But if you were in his place, could you blame him? Even those of us who have been Christians for a long time have moments of doubt about our faith, and Thomas’ story serves as a great reminder of God meeting us where we are. How did Jesus react to Thomas when they met? What was Thomas’ response - namely, how did Thomas regard the post-resurrection Christ? Have you ever had doubts in your walk? What brought you comfort and restoration?

5. At one point or another, we all think about death. What it will be like, how it might happen, and what comes after. How does Jesus’ resurrection change your outlook on your own death? Have you had family members or friends die who did not know the Lord? In light of Christ’s conquering death (Colossians 1), how does this reality change our discussions with doubting friends? How about friends who we have been hesitant to share the gospel with?

6. Takeaway: This week praise the Lord for bringing hope out of death, and for sealing our redemption with ultimate victory of death. Remember that we are united to Him in his death, and therefore also in His resurrection (Romans 6)! If people you’re close to - friends, neighbors, family - who don’t know Jesus came to your mind over the Easter weekend, think about how you can share your Easter with them. Perhaps tell them about the message, and what brought you renewed hope and refreshed joy.

A sermon based on Hebrews 2:14-15 by Aaron Lockhart, preached on April 16, 2017 at Veritas East on Easter Sunday.

A sermon based on John 20:1-18 by Joe Byler, preached on April 16, 2017 at Veritas Short North on Easter.

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

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Do you identify with the feeling that life is pretty hectic, and that finding times for the Bible is difficult? Do you feel like you're able to slow down and listen to Jesus and his word? Brad mentioned that Matthew 5:1-2 is written in such a way that Matthew is slowing down his narrative, so that we will stop, and really pay attention to what comes after. As a group, discuss how to insert some intentionality into your life in order to slow down and listen to Jesus’ word. Are there things you’ve done in your day/schedule to make time for others, and especially for Jesus, more likely to happen? If you have a routine to prepare your heart for Sunday morning, it may encourage the group to hear that as well!

2. The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most familiar passages in the Bible - even to unbelievers know many of the passages well. On Sunday, Brad spoke about how to rightly approach these chapters. How have you thought about the Sermon in the past? Are these guidelines to aim at, a set of impossible/unrealistic tasks, or something else? (Leaders: Brad said that here Jesus is preaching a sermon telling us what we need to repent of and turn from, what we need to turn to, and what the Kingdom is like).

3. Read Matthew 5:21-48 together. It certainly seems that Jesus is demanding far more from his disciples than even the Old Testament Law demands. He even ends this section saying “You must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” But what kind of perfection is Jesus aiming at? In other words, is he aiming at a perfect outward conformity to the law, or something even deeper? (Leaders: Brad mentioned that Jesus is essentially saying "In my Kingdom, I’m not going to settle for only obedient actions, I want your heart conformed to mine. You must reflect the image your heavenly Father!")

4. How can Jesus demand so much of his disciples? Could Moses have ever preached that adultry went beyond outward actions, or that murder is first manifested in an angry heart? Discuss some of the differences between the expectations of the Mosaic Law and what Jesus is saying here (Leaders: the key differences between the law of Moses and the Sermon on the Mount are that the law could never save us but only drove us to a need for God/Christ’s grace, and that in His new covenant Jesus has given us a heart of flesh and his own Spirit. He never asks us to do something He won't help us do. He is aiming at changing our hearts, knowing that actions will follow).

5. In chapter seven, Jesus describes those working to get into the kingdom of heaven as thorny bushes trying to produce fruit, as those following a wide path when a narrow one is required, and as those building their house on a foundation which would never meet Upper Arlington's building codes! After three chapters of learning about what people in this kingdom look like, we realize that Jesus also has an odd way of bringing people into his kingdom: how does he do it? How did He make a way into this kingdom, and how does one enter it? (Leaders: These questions lead us back to the cross, the only place Jesus went on Earth where his disciples could not follow. The cross is central to understanding our entrance into the kingdom of God, and must be brought to the fore again and again as we gratefully contemplate and discuss life in the kingdom).

6. Closing: let's read through the beatitudes together, and praise God that Jesus surrendered the blessedness of heaven, becoming a curse, so that we may inherent the blessedness of salvation, the joy of a kingdom, and hope eternal life.

7. Takeaway: How concerned are you with outward conformity to self-created (or even biblical) standards, rather than first surrendering the main object of Christ's attention, your heart? This week spend some time with the Lord. Slow down, and perhaps slowly read through the Sermon on the Mount; drawing near to the Lord in prayer, examining your heart, and confessing ways you might have tried to earn a righteousness that Christ has already paid for.

A sermon based on Matthew 5:1-3 by Aaron Lockhart, preached on April 9, 2017 at Veritas East as part of the "Blessed" series.

A sermon preached by Nick Nye on Matthew 5, preached on April 9th, 2017 as part of the "Blessed" series.

Discussion Questions:

1. For whom was the Sermon on the Mount intended? What is its purpose and relevance?

2. Discuss the 2 questions presented in the sermon- Is Jesus’ teaching authentic? Is Jesus’ teaching attainable?

3. What are the Beatitudes? How does our culture define “blessed”? As Christians, how do we define it? What is the upside down kingdom?

4. What does it mean to be “poor in Spirit”? How do we attain it? What is given to us when we confess our spiritual bankruptcy?

Consider memorizing Matthew 5:1-12 as a group this week.

A sermon based on Matthew 4:18-25 by Wes Thompson, preached on April 2, 2017 at Veritas West as part of the "Follow Jesus" series.

A sermon based on Matthew 4:18-25 by Chris Lawson, preached on April 2, 2017 at Veritas Tri-Village as part of the "Follow Jesus" series.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Beginning in verse 19, Jesus told two sets of brothers to “follow” Him. What did that look like for those guys? Things are a little different today, but what remains the same? (i.e. how do we follow Jesus? Leaders: Chris talked about how Jesus was calling us not only to listen to His words, but to emulate Him - He was calling people to be conformed to His image - 2 Cor. 3:18 might be a good reference for discussion).

2. What was the difference between the way that Rabbis in Jesus’ day gained disciples, and the way that Jesus added disciples/followers? Why is it all the more remarkable that Jesus, the Son of God calls his followers in this way? (Leaders: Chris mentioned that rabbis would never seek after followers, but would have them come based on their reputation as a scholar etc. Whereas Jesus tracks down His sheep, calling them all by name).

3. In verses 20 and 22 Matthew records that the two sets of brothers “immediately” left their fishing in order to follow Jesus’ call. What characteristics of Jesus does this showcase? What kind of power do we see his words having in Scripture over everything (Consider Heb. 1:3, and the power of his words in the immediate context: 4:10; 4:23-24)? Something to meditate on: Do you believe His words are sovereign over the hearts of mankind? (Leaders: Chris referenced Romans 8:28-30, and it might be good to read those verses together again).

4. When Jesus preached about the kingdom (verse 23) of heaven. Let’s talk about from a few different angles…first, what kind of kingdom was He referring to? What did it look like to these people? What were they expecting the kingdom to look like? What should it look like today in our church and lives? What will it eventually look like when He returns?

5. During Jesus’ ministry, he healed so many people that his fame spread throughout the entire region (vs. 24). What motivated Christ to heal and preach to people in these far off people in small villages? If someone were to ask you “why” He would do this, how would you describe His driving ambition? How do we see this heart ultimately shown on the cross?

6. How did Jesus conduct Himself during His ministry - put another way, what characterized His attitude toward people He interacted with (even people He didn’t know, complete strangers)? How should Christ’s example stir us to good work and love of our neighbors? What can we do to love and serve others as Christ did, both in word and in deed?

7. Takeaway: When Christ called his disciples, they left behind and sacrificed a great deal, to follow him and be fishers of men with him. Something to consider in the week ahead is this: What have I left behind to follow Christ? Am I still clinging to an old life and old priorities that no longer fit with a life devoted to the King of kings? Am I fishing for others to follow Jesus?

A sermon based on Matthew 4:18-25 by Aaron Lockhart, preached on April 2, 2017 at Veritas East as part of the "Follow Jesus" series.