Veritas Columbus Sermons

A sermon based on Matthew 4:1-7 by Brad Snyder, preached on March 12, 2017 at Veritas Tri-Village as part of the "It Is Written" series.

Discussion Questions:

1. As Jesus enters the wilderness in Matthew 4, one of the questions that might come to our minds is this: why did he have to endure this season of testing in the first place? (Leaders - Brad talked about Jesus identifying with us in our weaknesses to 1. sympathize and 2. deliver us - he succeeds where we fail and where Israel failed - Hebrews 4:14-16 is a great reference)

2. In Matthew 4:1 it says Jesus was tempted by “the Devil.” On Sunday Pastor Brad quoted C.S. Lewis who said “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” Who is Satan and how should we as Christians think correctly about him? (Leaders, you can reference 1 Peter 5:8 & John 4:4)

3. Look at Matthew 4:3 and notice what Satan is taking aim at - Jesus’ hunger. What does Satan normally take aim at in our lives? How/What does he tempt us with? (Leaders: Brad spoke about how he takes aims at our good desires and inclinations and twists them, as well as things naturally appealing to us)

4. In verses 4 and 7, Christ overcomes Satan’s temptations and twisting of Scripture with a correct application of Scripture. His example teaches us how important right application of scripture can be in the midst of trial and temptation. How can we be sure we’re rightly applying scripture to our present situation? (Leaders: Brad gave us three steps to aid us: 1. Interpret each passage by what the rest of the Bible says, knowing the Bible doesn’t contradict itself. This rule is “scripture interprets scripture”, 2. Ask yourself if you’re being Christ-centered by applying the question "Did Jesus have to die and rise again for my understanding of this passage to be true?” 3. When in doubt, just keep reading in order to get the full context of each verse - ask yourself how this fits into the surrounding verses/chapter/book.You can remember this rule as “context is king!”).

5. The desires of Jesus are on full display in his trial in the wilderness. Ironically, Jesus uses desire to overcome these temptations - how does He do it? (Leaders: Brad said in the sermon that Jesus didn't overcome temptation by simply denying his desires, but by cultivating desires deeper and truer/godly desires that pervade our hearts - we need to do the same by asking God to change our desires as we pour His word into our minds)

6. As a takeaway, consider these questions in the week to come: How has testing revealed your heart in the past? And…what kinds of scripture are you memorizing to combat future temptations when they come?

A sermon based on Matthew 4:5-11 byJoe Byler, preached on March 12, 2017 at Veritas Short North as part of the "It Is Written" series.

A sermon based on Matthew 4:1-4 by Wes Thompson, preached on March 5, 2017 at Veritas West as part of the "It Is Written" series.

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Community Group Reflection:

(1) Spend a few minutes reflecting on temptation. How do you combat temptation in your life?

(2) How does the truth of the Bible help in times of temptation and/or struggle?

A sermon based on Matthew 4:1-4 by Aaron Lockhart, preached on March 5, 2017 at Veritas East as part of the sermon series "It Is Written."

A sermon based on Matthew 4:1-4 by Nick Nye, preached on March 5, 2017 at Veritas Short North as part of the sermon series "It Is Written."

Discussion Questions:

1 . We see in Scripture that testing and blessing go hand-in-hand, but often we believe them to be enemies of each other. Have you ever experienced blessing through the Spirit's testing? How so? Do you think that that blessing would have been as sweet had it not come through the trial of testing?

2. The wilderness in Scripture, both for Jesus and for Israel in the exodus, was a place for testing their confidence and reliance upon God. For Jesus and some in Israel, that time brought the strength that comes with a deep, intimate knowledge of God. For others, their shallow confidence was broken and, as it says in 1 Corinthians 10, "they were overthrown in the wilderness." In your experiences of testing and temptation, have you come out on the other side stronger, having tasted the real food and real drink of His presence or were you left a little wrecked without your other supports outside God?

3. The devil asked Jesus, "If you are the Son of God…". Sometimes the temptation we face, similarly, asks, "If you were really a Christian, you would do … or you wouldn’t do …". What has the devil used against you like that? Is it true? What does God’s Word say about it?

4. Pastor Nick talked about how we can either see the devil excessively, tying everything wrong in our world to his machinations or we can live as if he doesn’t exist or work at all. Nick said that temptation can be anything that vies to distract us from hearing God's voice. How do both errors in thinking about the devil (either too much or too little) distract us from hearing God?

5. When Adam & Eve were tempted they ate the fruit. When Israel was tested, they made a golden calf. When Jesus was tempted, though, His unwavering trust in God in the face of it gave us the blessing that God has always intended in the testing of His people. How does that give us hope when we face tests and temptations?

A sermon based on Matthew 28:16-20 by Brad Snyder, preached on March 5, 2017 at Veritas Tri-Village on the fifth anniversary of Tri-Village.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Share the story of how you came to Veritas, and a joyful memory that bless God and your group.

2. In the sermon, Brad touched on “doubts” that we sometimes get as Christians. How do you (practically) deal with doubts in your life? What does that look like?

3. When Jesus tells His disciples that “all authority” has been given to Him, how far does that extend? After listening to Brad’s sermon, were there any areas of life that maybe you had NOT previously considered as practically under his control?

4. In Matthew 28, Jesus says He will be with us until the end of the age. Is that something you think about on a daily basis? Has there every been a time when this truth especially comforted you? (Leaders maybe reference Zeph. 3:17)

5. What does the 'great commission' look like for your community group this coming year? What practical steps can you take to obey Jesus’ instructions, specifically as a community group (as opposed to simply as individuals)? (Leaders: good opportunity to solicit folks’ ideas and thoughts).

A sermon based on Matthew 3:13-17 by Wes Thompson, preached on February 26, 2017 at Veritas West as part of the sermon series "Unfit."

Discussion Questions:

(1) How is the humility of Jesus an encouragement?

(2) In what ways can we live as commissioned people?

(3) Why do we struggle with community and accountability? How can we grow in these areas?

A sermon by Aaron Lockhart, preached on February 26, 2017 at Veritas East.

1. When Jesus gives the reason for his baptism, He says its was “to fulfill all righteousness”. In the sermon, what explanation was given for the meaning of this statement? And, why was it important for Jesus to be baptized? (Leaders: Note that Jesus came as the representative King of Israel. He would succeed where Israel had failed - we’ll see more of this in chapter 4).

2. From what the text (and scholars) indicates, Jesus was fully immersed in the Jordan River before rising up out of the water. Today we still conduct “full immersion” baptisms at Veritas. What is the significance of being fully immersed in baptism?

3. Ask if anyone has a baptism story they’d like to share - was anyone here baptized at Veritas? Was anyone baptized as an adult - what led to that decision?

4. In verses 16 and 17 the two other members of the Trinity make an appearance. Discuss what this must have meant for the ministry of Jesus (Leaders: It must have authenticated both John and Jesus' ministry and shown people that Jesus was truly the Messiah).

5. In verse 16 we read of the Holy Spirit “descending like a dove and coming to rest on him (Jesus)”. Whether or not this was an actual bird, can you think of another time a dove was significant in the Biblical narrative? Generally speaking, how have we come to think of what a dove symbolizes?

6. Matthew finishes his account of Jesus’ baptism by relating the stunning occurrence of an audible voice coming from the sky - the voice of God the Father proclaiming that Jesus is His “beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” If you were there, what thoughts would have been running through your mind at this proclamation?

7. As followers of Christ, we have been adopted by the Father, Christ sharing with us His great inheritance. Therefore what does it mean for us that God was “well pleased” with Jesus? (Leaders: Because the Father was “well pleased” with Jesus, we too have the Father’s favor, not by our own work, but by righteousness of Jesus. This means that not only have our sins been forgiven, but that God’s favor and joy rests upon us as adopted sons and daughters.)

A sermon based on Matthew 3:13-17 by Nick Nye, preached on February 26, 2017 at Veritas Short North as part of the sermon series "Unfit."

Reflection and Application:
1- What is the beauty and what is the scandal of the baptism of Jesus?

2- How do we see the Trinity displayed in the baptism? Discuss the elements of water, Spirit Dove and the Father’s voice (vs 16-17).

3- Reflect and share about your own baptism. How is God drawing us in to see Jesus as we reflect on our own baptism? What would you say to someone if they asked you, “What is baptism and why do you do it?” (If you have never been baptized, consider talking with someone tonight about what may be keeping you from doing so.)

4- In verse 17 we see the Father being pleased and satisfied with the Son. Often times we don’t seek satisfaction in Jesus. Where have you sought satisfaction?

5- How do we sometimes miss God’s display of grace? What are some truths we can remind ourselves of when we consider the baptism of Jesus and what it means about who God is and who we are.

Call:
Consider praying and asking the Father, “If you are pleased in the Son, show Him to me!”