Say What? Love Who?

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Say What? Love Who?

March 10, 2024 • Garry Firth • Matthew 5:38–48, Romans 12:17–18, Romans 5:8

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

1. What is your favourite movie genre? (action, romance, fantasy) Why? What is it you like about them?

2. We heard how we have a natural tendency to escalate violence. Why do you think that is? How do you tend to respond when you experience some kind of injustice (falsely accused, betrayed etc) or you see injustice happening in the world (war, corrupt governments taking advantage of people etc)?

3. “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person…” (Matthew 5:38-39)

What thoughts come to mind when you hear/read Jesus’ teaching? What did Jesus mean exactly? Are we to be doormats and never fight back or stand up for what is right? As followers of Jesus, what would standing up for ourselves or others look like?

4. “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” (Matthew 5:39-41)

What principle do you think Jesus is trying to teach in these verses? How would these different scenarios show up in real life now?

5. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:43-44)

St. Augustine said: “Many have learned how to offer the other cheek, but do not know how to love him by whom they are struck.”

Who is someone that you find hard to love? What would you have to do in order to begin praying for them?

6. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

Do you find those words encouraging or crushing? Why? Of course, we by ourselves will never be perfect. We are only made perfect by what Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection. As a follower of Jesus, when God looks at you he sees Jesus - the perfect sacrifice.

This week set aside some time to reflect on how (in contrast to Liam Neeson who said, “I will look for you, I will find you and I will kill you”), Jesus said, “I will look for you, I will find you and I will die for you.”

Say What? Won't Get Fooled Again

May 19, 2024 • Russ Smith • Galatians 5:22–23, James 2:14–17, John 10:9, Matthew 7:13–23

Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life: 1. That old saying goes: Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me. (or according to George W. Bush: can’t get fooled again) Are you fooling yourself about anything in your life these days? What is it? 2. Check out again the spiritual fruit mentioned in the message that’s found in Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT): But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 3. In the message, Russ said: “Legitimate spiritual fruit comes from following Jesus. So if you’re a Jesus-follower and there’s no sign of fruit in your life, you might want to ask God why that is. Otherwise, you might just be fooling yourself.” So if you’re a Jesus-follower: Got any fruit? How’s your fruit? 4. Matthew 7:21-23 has some troubling words from Jesus: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” What do you think about that? 5. There’s that scene from the movie Prince Caspian where Caspian says he doesn’t think he’s ready to be a king and then Aslan responds “It’s for that very reason, I know you are.” How do you think that’s similar to our relationship with Jesus?

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?