Say What? Losing My Religion

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Say What? Losing My Religion

February 11, 2024 • Garry Firth • Matthew 5:17–20, Matthew 23:1–5, Matthew 23:27–28, Matthew 11:28–30

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

1. How would you define the word religion? What thoughts or images come up for you when you hear the words religion or religious? Are they positive or negative? Why?

2. In the message we heard this definition of religion: “Religion is a tiresome system of manmade dos and don’ts, woulds and shoulds impotent to change human lives but tragically capable of devastating them.” Do you agree or disagree? What has your experience of ‘religion’ been?

3. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)

What feelings come up for you when you read or hear that? Do you feel like you have no chance of being on God’s good side because you don’t see yourself as being good enough or do you feel something else?

4. Read Philippians 3:5-9. In what ways does his story encourage you? In what ways do you see yourself in Paul’s story?

5. What else stood out for you from this message?

6. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG)

That’s Jesus’ invitation to you. What would it look like for you to take him up on it?

Say What? So What Are You Going To Do?

May 26, 2024 • Garry Firth • Matthew 7:24–27, John 16:33

Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life: 1. What is the most memorable speech you have ever heard? What made it so memorable? 2. Open your Bible or Bible app to Matthew chapters 5-7 and read some of the paragraph headings. What are some things that Jesus taught that apply to your life now? How do these closing verses connect to the previous teachings in chapters 5-7? 3. What does it mean to "build your house on the rock" in your own life? What are some ways that you can apply this principle in practical, everyday terms? 4. Read Matthew 7:24-28. What stood out for you and why? 5. Jesus says we are wise if we put into practice the things he taught. Why do we often choose not to?

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?