What's Wrong With This Picture?

 

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: What's Wrong With This Picture?

Readings: Luke 2:1-7

1. Discuss the things we might have wrong ideas about in relation to the birth of Christ. for instance:
• how did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?
• where in Bethlehem was Jesus born?
• which books of the bible talk about the birth of Christ (Old and New Testament)?
• did Joseph meet the wise men?
• who besides the wise men saw the star?
• was the star particularly bright?
• ...what else is there that is tradition rather than fact?
2. What might Mary and Joseph been feeling and thinking?
3. What keeps us from having Christ at (a) the centre of our Christmas and (b) at the centre of our lives?
4. How can we encourage each other in putting this right with Jesus (this being 3 above)?



Death Defeated! Really

Reading: John 11: 17 - 44
 
If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Death Defeated! Really?  

1. Why did Jesus only arrive after Lazarus had been dead 4 days?
2. Discuss what Martha and Mary said to Him? 
3. Jesus said 'I Am the Resurrection and The Life' What does that mean?
4. What condition was Lazarus in when the tomb was opened and why does that matter to John's telling of the story here? 
5. This raising of Lazarus had a significant effect on the people present and the whole world - what effect has it had on you? and what have you learned? 
6. Spend some time in prayer for each other, for the Church and our community in the area between Kings Avenue and Deacons Lane. That we would live in the strength and Power of Christ; for His Glory

Some Application Questions to take home

1. There may be things in your life that do you not believe that Jesus has the power to put right, heal, and/or change? Pray this through.

2. How could your life change if you were to believe Jesus fully?

3. Mary fell at the feet of Jesus. How do we place our burdens at the feet of Jesus?

Why would Jesus do that?

Reading: John 11: 1 - 16
 
If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Will You Live For Christ?  
Lot's of questions, try to cover at least 5 including Q.1

1. First consider verse 16 - Thomas' response to Jesus. In the sermon we looked at living and dying for Jesus. How might we not live for Jesus?
2. Was sickness part of God’s original design? 
3. What was Jesus’relationship with Lazarus & his sisters?
4. What message did his sisters send to Jesus when Lazarus became sick? What did you learn from their example about how you should pray to God?
5. Why do people (you?) blame God for sickness?
6. Why did Jesus wait for two days after hearing Lazarus was sick? Was this cruel? How would you have felt if you were Lazarus’ sister?
7. What  kind of love did Jesus have for Lazarus & his sisters? Was His delay in coming in keeping with that love? 
8. How is God’s perspective different from yours? How can you know that God will
   always love you?
9. Can you glorify God even when sick? If so how?

Study Questions: The Resurrection huh, that’s crazy!

Reading: Luke 24:1-12

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: The Only Hope  

1. Why Does the resurrection matter? (c.f. Romans 4: 24&25; 1 Corinthians 15: 53-57) Spend some time discussing this.
2. Why do you think the women had to go to the tomb - why didn't the angels save them the journey and meet them at home?
3. Discuss verse 5. In particular consider a) how the women might have responded to this and b) how we might, "seek the living from among the dead" in our lives? 
4. Discuss verses 6-8. What are the things we can learn from these verses for our lives?
5. How did the women respond to what they saw, heard and experienced? How does this compare to the apostles response and what can we learn from this?
6. There are countless people who need to hear the truth about the resurrection, what are you going to do about it?
7. Spend some time in prayer for each other and for our church as a whole, that we may come more and more to live in obedience to Jesus Christ, and fulfil, in our time, Matthew 28: 19-20.

Study Questions: What a way to launch a ministry!!

Reading: John 2:1-12

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: What a way to launch a ministry

1. Verse 1: What do we know about weddings and marriage as described in the Bible? And why is it important that we understand about this?
2. Verse 2: What was the big deal about the wine running out?
3. Verse 4: Discuss how Jesus addressed Mary; what is going on here?
4. Verse 5: Talk through what Mary said to the servants.
5. Verse 6-8: look at the details in these verses, what stands out to you and why?
6. Discuss what was said about the bridegroom and Jesus at the close of the sermon.
7. How can we apply all of this to our lives today?