Say What? Give a Hoot - Don't Toot - The Meeting Place Church

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Say What? Give a Hoot - Don't Toot

March 17, 2024 • Russ Smith • Matthew 6:1–4

Give

Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life:

What Jesus said in Matthew 6:1-4 is the background for this: "Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do - blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."

1. Russ told a story about Secret Santa leaving gifts for his friend. Has someone ever secretly given things to you? What happened?

2. Have you ever felt like maybe you were actually giving (your time, talent, treasure) so that you could be admired by other people?

3. Without revealing how you give (because then it wouldn’t be so secret), what are some ways we can give without making a show of it?

4. Russ mentioned this in the message–we give our time & talent & treasure because:

It demonstrates that God has first place in my life.

It reminds me that everything I have was given to me by God.

It expresses my gratitude to God for all he’s given to me.

What do you think about that?

5. If you’re not currently giving (your time, talent, treasure) at TMP, what would need to happen to change that?

6. There’s so much happening at TMP with our vision and mission because people are giving. We can thank God for that!

Say What? Ask, Seek, Knock

May 12, 2024 • Peter Bird • Matthew 7:7–11, Luke 18:42

Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life: 1. What are your first thoughts about prayer? Read Matthew 7:7-11. 2. What are your first impressions of Jesus' words in these verses? 3. How do you make sense of unanswered prayer? How has it or does it affect your trust in God? 4. What has your experience been with prayer? Do you find it easy or difficult? Why? 5. What do you think it means that “prayer is not a task of expediency, but a practice of intimacy”? How does this idea change the way you pray?

Say What? Here Comes the Judge

May 5, 2024 • Garry Firth • Luke 18:10–12, Matthew 7:1–6

Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life: 1. Would you consider yourself a judgmental person? 2. Share a time when you judged someone prematurely. What did you learn from that experience? 3. Read Luke 18:9-14. How do you relate to the two men in this story? We heard how we all judge people, oftentimes without even being aware of it. Are you tempted to say, “At least I’m not like that Pharisee?” 4. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2) How would you summarise the meaning of "Do not judge, or you too will be judged"? What might be some misconceptions about this verse, and how would you address them? 5. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5) What is the plank or log in your own eye that gets in the way of loving others the way Jesus asks us to? How can we overcome the tendency to judge others while neglecting our own faults? 6. “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6) How do you interpret the symbolism of dogs and pigs in this verse? How might this verse inform our approach to sharing our faith or discussing spiritual matters with others? What steps will you take to help you be a better judge?

Say What? Don't Worry 'Bout It

April 28, 2024 • Garry Firth • Matthew 6:25–33

Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life: 1. We heard how worrying begins with having a ‘bad feeling that something might or could happen.’ What are some things you tend to worry about? 2. Jesus said that by worrying no one can add a single hour to their life. If that’s true, why do you think we tend to worry? 2. We heard about God’s providence and how he will provide us with what we really need (which may or may not be what we think we need.) When we don’t get what we think we need, we can become discouraged and confused. But then after time passes and we look back, we can see how God provided for us by not giving us what we thought we needed. Share a time from your life like this. 3. What are some reasons you believe in the existence of God? How has believing in God helped you make sense of suffering in your life and the sometimes seemingly randomness of life? 4. Matthew begins and ends his story of Jesus by showing how Jesus is always with us. In what ways can that help you deal with worry? 5. Jesus said, “But seek first his (God’s) kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) Garry described how he still struggles with worry every now and then and how he’s working on shortening the time between him dealing with worry on his own and going to God for help. How quickly do you tend to go to God when you are worried about something? What would help you shorten that time? 6. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34) Share with your connection group or a friend whatever current worry you have and pray about it together.