FUTURE SHAPED: LIVING WITH ETERNITY IN VIEW

Virginia Beach Community Chapel

FUTURE SHAPED: LIVING WITH ETERNITY IN VIEW

March 22, 2020 • Clark Halstead

Discussion Questions

1. Share a moment when you did not believe the eventual would become the actual and you were “found out” by the future.

2. Which of the stories in this passage did you connect with most? (Rich man and barns, Good Servant, Unfaithful Servant, Fig Tree)

3. In the 4 Keys to discerning real followers, which was most convicting to you?

4. How would you answer the question, “What is the best news you could get today?” Be honest.

5. In general, do you think of God’s return as a burdensome event, or as a joyous reunion?

6. Of the truths in this passage about real followers of Jesus, which is most significant to you and why?

7. As you think about the faithful servant, what would look different about your life if you were expectantly waiting on Jesus return, but didn’t know when he was coming back?

Explore

· Read chapter 11 and especially the portion at the end concerning the Pharisees. Think about the three main groups that Jesus addresses, Pharisees, crowd, disciples. How does his address to each have a different tone?

· How do we understand that Luke 12:1-Luke 13:9 is a literary unit of Luke?

· Read John 15, who do you think each character in the parable of the fig tree (in Luke 13) represents?

· Should we be overly concerned about the more severe punishments and the less severe punishments in the second story about the servants? Is this a main point of the story? Is there ever a time when being punished by God is not a big deal?

· Think about the Pharisees declaring that Jesus works were from the devil (in Luke 11 or the parallel Mark 3) and Peter denying Christ, and Jesus saying that anyone who says a word against the Son of man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven. What’s going on there?

Justified

May 3, 2020 • Robb Esperat

JUSTIFICATION When you go to God in prayer, what are your most common habits of thought and emotion? What might they tell you about how you relate to God? Read Luke 18:9-14. This parable contrasts two strategies for justification. What were the 3 contrasts mentioned in the sermon today? Are there any other contrasts you see? In Philip Eveson’s essay on the doctrine of justification, he introduces justification as a grace given to “guilty sinners, who turn in self-despairing trust.” What is meant by ‘self-despairing trust’? How does the tax collector embody it? What would it look like for someone in our day? Everyone struggles with self-righteousness to some degree. Review the ‘diagnostic questions’ from the sermon. Which question is most helpful to you in identifying your own tendencies toward self justification? Do you have a tendency to look down on others with a critical eye? Does your sense of personal goodness, acceptability, and self worth rise and fall according to how well you think you are performing? When you think about your ‘righteousness bank account’, are you worn out from trying to make deposits to keep it (hopefully) in the black, or are you resting in the finished work of Jesus’ merciful atonement? End your time in celebration of God’s merciful atonement for sinners. Review this list of verses on justification (or another list of your choosing). Speak verses to one another and to the Lord by ‘personalizing’ the address. For instance: “Joe, Phil 3:9 says you are ‘found in Him, not having a righteousness of your own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, a righteousness from God that depends on faith.” “Katie, just like Abraham, you have believed the Lord, and he has counted it to you as righteousness (Gen 15:6)!” “Lord, you yourself bore our sins in your body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By your wounds, we have been healed. Thank you! (1 Peter 2:24) MAY 3, 2020

Forgiveness

April 26, 2020 • Robb Esperat

The Difference that makes the Difference

April 19, 2020 • Zach Hardison

1. What are the contrasts to highlight the differences the rich and poor man experienced in life? 2. What are the contrasts after death? 3. What is the significance of Jesus mentioning Abraham in this story? 4. In the story, Jesus only seems to highlight that which the rich man failed to DO in life that led him to eternal suffering in hell. Is Jesus teaching a works-based salvation? 5. The name Lazarus means “whom God helps.” Share some ways that God has helped you through Jesus Christ.