Conversations with the King
Religion vs. Relationship
April 2, 2023 • Brandon Rose • Matthew 16
“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others” —Matthew 23: 1-7
Failure to Friendship (Mountains/Valleys)
March 26, 2023 • Brandon Rose • Matthew 16
Here are some questions to think through this week: 1.) Have you ever had a “mountain top/valley” experience with God and/or in life in general? If you are willing to share about it with your group, please do! What did you learn from it? 2.) Why is it so hard to see/hear from God when we are in the valley vs the mountain? Do you think God is near or far from you while in the valley? Or is it that we have drawn away from Him? 3.) Do you believe God cares about your valley moments/failures in life? Do you believe that despite our failures to see/hear from Him or learn from our mistakes/hardships, God wants to restore us back to Him? Why? 4.) Where are you in life now? Are you hearing/seeing God clearly or do you feel like He isn’t there? What do you need help/support with and how can we do that for you?
Greater than/Less than
March 19, 2023 • Brandon Rose • Matthew 20
“Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” —Matthew 20: 20-28
Jesus and Peter: Ordinary to Extraordinary
February 19, 2023 • Brandon Rose • Luke 5, 1 Peter 1:13–16, 2 Peter 1:3–11
“On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” —Luke 5: 1-11