Sermons

Moses Sees God’s Holiness

Here’s what happens…

God meets with Moses in a tent, passes by as Moses hides in a mountain crevice, and meets with Moses in a cloud. Moses’ face glows, reflecting that he has spent time with God. Moses’ experiences show us that God is special.

Discovery Questions

- Did anything in this passage capture your attention?

- What did you like about this passage?

- Did anything bother you? Why?

- What does this passage tell us about God?

- What does this passage tell us about people?

- What does this passage tell us about living to please God?

- What differences have you noticed in your own life when you’ve spent time with God and when you haven’t.

- What do you think it is about spending time with God that changes us?

- How does God’s self-revelation in verses 6-7 compare with your experience of him?

God Sends Manna and Quail

While the Israelites wander in the desert, they need food. They complain about how hungry they are and wish they’d never left Egypt. But God is loyal and sends them food from the sky—manna (a mysterious bread like substance) and quail.

What is something a loyal friend would do?

What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus, people and/or life? Why do you think God sent manna to the Israelites? And why only one days’ worth?

Does the passage give us any promises, principles, commands or warnings? What does it show about the Israelites relationship with God? And the trust relationship with us God desires?

What is God saying to you through this, and what are you going to do about it? How does it feel to know that God wants to provide for all your needs?

Who can you tell about what you’ve learnt, within the next week? When might you do that and how will you keep yourself accountable?

God Makes Bitter Water Good

After the Israelites escape Egypt, they travel in the desert for three days without finding water. When they finally find some, it tastes bitter. They complain and doubt God’s plan, but God shows grace by providing a piece of wood that makes the water good!

- When is it hardest for you to show grace to other people?

- What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus, people and/or life? What might be the ‘object lesson’ that God was giving?

- Does the passage give us any promises, principles, commands or warnings? What does it show about human patience? And God’s character?

- What is God saying to you through this, and what are you going to do about it? How do you know what is right when circumstances are unclear?

- Who can you tell about what you’ve learnt, within the next week? When might you do that and how will you keep yourself accountable?

Sunday December 23rd (and throughout 2019)

(During this time we will be unable to record and upload the sermons due to people being on holidays and the technology available. I encourage you to still explore the readings and below is a suggested way that you can dig in deeper into discipleship and Jesus.)

As mentioned in the newsletter on the front page, over summer and throughout 2019 we’ll be “Digging into Discipleship”. Once school returns I’ll resume providing some follow-up questions for the weekly readings. In the meantime, and as a handy help in D.I.Y. bible study (and also incredibly useful in helping either to lead a bible study or simply explain something you’ve read to another person, please find below this well known method of bible study known as Discovery Bible Study.

A bible passage of no more than 10-15 verses is selected – perhaps one that relates to the Sunday preach, or material your Explore Group (or other Missional Community) is currently dealing with, and then it’s over to the Holy Spirit.

It’s designed to work best in a small group of 4-7 people, especially in terms of practising what you might explain to others, (but you can certainly do it on your own to some extent, although this negates the multiplication factor somewhat!).

The passage is read in multiple ways – first reading round the room, then one reading with others listening, and then with everyone pitching in to try and recall what they have read without looking at the passage.

Then ask these 4 questions. The same questions are used every time. (There are many versions of these questions but these are the ones I find most helpful):

1. What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus, people and/or life?

2. Does it give us any promises, principles, commands or warnings?

3. What is God saying to me through this, and what am I going to do about it?

4. Who can I tell about what I have learnt here, within the next week?

The first 2 questions are about exploration – what is the passage saying? You should spend half your time on these questions. This is giving space for the Holy Spirit to be speaking through all the members of the group. I normally follow this with a short pause for people to think on their own about what God might be saying to them through this (especially important for the introverts in the group!)

Question 3 is all about application – these two discipleship questions help people process their “Kairos” / light-bulb moments. If you’re not sure what I mean here, please ask!

Question 4 is about reproduction – this helps people to think not just as a disciple, but also as a potential disciple-maker.

Have a go over summer . . . maybe invite someone for a coffee and do it together informally while you get used to it. It’s fun and you don’t have to be an expert. Try it on these readings which we’ll be using over January . .

December 30 Genesis 1:1-2:3 & Genesis 2: 4-25

January 6 Genesis 11:1-9

January 13 Genesis 13

January 20 Exodus 3:1-15

January 27 Exodus 10:1-18

The weekly Dig in at Home Resource will also be available via the App and Website under the Devotion section during this time.

God Bless

Ian

Sunday December 16th (and throughout 2019)

As mentioned on the front page, over summer and throughout 2019 we’ll be “Digging into Discipleship”. Once school returns I’ll resume providing some follow-up questions for the weekly readings. In the meantime, and as a handy help in D.I.Y. bible study (and also incredibly useful in helping either to lead a bible study or simply explain something you’ve read to another person, please find below this well known method of bible study known as Discovery Bible Study.

A bible passage of no more than 10-15 verses is selected – perhaps one that relates to the Sunday preach, or material your Explore Group (or other Missional Community) is currently dealing with, and then it’s over to the Holy Spirit.

It’s designed to work best in a small group of 4-7 people, especially in terms of practising what you might explain to others, (but you can certainly do it on your own to some extent, although this negates the multiplication factor somewhat!).

The passage is read in multiple ways – first reading round the room, then one reading with others listening, and then with everyone pitching in to try and recall what they have read without looking at the passage.

Then ask these 4 questions. The same questions are used every time. (There are many versions of these questions but these are the ones I find most helpful):

1. What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus, people and/or life?

2. Does it give us any promises, principles, commands or warnings?

3. What is God saying to me through this, and what am I going to do about it?

4. Who can I tell about what I have learnt here, within the next week?

The first 2 questions are about exploration – what is the passage saying? You should spend half your time on these questions. This is giving space for the Holy Spirit to be speaking through all the members of the group. I normally follow this with a short pause for people to think on their own about what God might be saying to them through this (especially important for the introverts in the group!)

Question 3 is all about application – these two discipleship questions help people process their “Kairos” / light-bulb moments. If you’re not sure what I mean here, please ask!

Question 4 is about reproduction – this helps people to think not just as a disciple, but also as a potential disciple-maker.

Have a go over summer . . . maybe invite someone for a coffee and do it together informally while you get used to it. It’s fun and you don’t have to be an expert. Try it on these readings which we’ll be using over January . .

December 30 Genesis 1:1-2:3 & Genesis 2: 4-25

January 6 Genesis 11:1-9

January 13 Genesis 13

January 20 Exodus 3:1-15

January 27 Exodus 10:1-18

The weekly Dig in at Home Resource will also be available via the App and Website under the Devotion section during this time.

Jesus talks with Peter

When someone asks you the same question repeatedly, what does it imply? Why do you think Jesus did that to Simon Peter? Do Peter’s words remind you of a previous conversation he had with Jesus? Where and when did that happen? What happened afterwards?

Why do you think Jesus calls Peter, “Simon son of John”? What does that signify?

What association do you make with the image of “feeding sheep”? What sense of the discipleship process do you get from that allusion? What does Jesus do? What will Peter do? What will people who follow Peter do?

What does Jesus say the future holds for Peter? What does Jesus say the future holds for John? Which would you prefer? What does Jesus suggest will keep Peter on track?

What do you think about Jesus knowing you completely? Do you feel like Jesus has a specific calling for you? What is it? What do you think will keep you on track? How do you actually follow Jesus? How is that noticeable by others? List some things you do that are worth following/copying?

Jesus appears to his disciples

Why do you think it was important for Jesus to appear to His disciples after his resurrection? How do you think Jesus got in the room? There’s some considerable thought that this room was the same room that the Last Supper was held in – what significance might there be in this?

How would you feel if Jesus appeared before you? What level of importance would you place on it? How would you know it was him? What would convince you? Why do you think Thomas would not believe what the other disciples were telling him? How does Jesus treat Thomas?

What sense of the discipleship process do you get from this passage? What are the important elements of the story that should always get passed on? (ref vv21-23, 29, 31) How do you feel about your role in forgiveness?

How does believing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God bring you life? How would you explain that to someone who doesn’t yet believe in Jesus? In what sense is Jesus present when believers meet together? How might that help someone who doesn’t yet believe in Jesus?

THE POOR WIDOW’S OFFERING

The teachers of the law and the well-to-do cop another barrage from Jesus in this passage. How would you sum up the issues Jesus had with them? What do you see as their fundamental problem?

How does the level of giving demonstrated by the widow challenge you? What means of income did she have, do you think? How would she have lived . . . the next week?

In the hierarchy of all the things you need to spend money on; how does giving money to God rate? Do you see it as a need or a choice?

Make a list of all the ways can you “give money to God”. Which do you find easy/hard?

What do you see as the underlying principle here? How might you give all to God? What are some practical ways that come straight to mind? Are they easy or challenging? How might you discern which to take action on?

THE POOR WIDOW’S OFFERING

The teachers of the law and the well-to-do cop another barrage from Jesus in this passage. How would you sum up the issues Jesus had with them? What do you see as their fundamental problem?

How does the level of giving demonstrated by the widow challenge you? What means of income did she have, do you think? How would she have lived . . . the next week?

In the hierarchy of all the things you need to spend money on; how does giving money to God rate? Do you see it as a need or a choice?

Make a list of all the ways can you “give money to God”. Which do you find easy/hard?

What do you see as the underlying principle here? How might you give all to God? What are some practical ways that come straight to mind? Are they easy or challenging? How might you discern which to take action on?