Revolution Church Annapolis

<p class=""><strong>SCRIPTURE: </strong>1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, Galatians 6:2, &amp; Matthew 26:26-29</p><p class=""><br><br></p> <p class=""><strong>YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON </strong><a href="https://revolutionsermons.wordpress.com"><strong>HERE</strong></a><strong>!</strong></p><p class=""><strong>REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:</strong></p><ol data-rte-list="default"><li><p class="">Do church relationships/friendships seem strangely “brittle” at times? Why might this be? What needs to change in how we approach friendships in the church in order to make them more resilient?</p></li><li><p class="">Kenny shared two stories about church relationships: one lacking <em>commitment</em> but trying to force <em>formation</em>, and another with strong <em>commitment</em> but missing spiritual <em>formation</em>. Have you experienced either frustration before? How do we find the right balance between these two elements?</p></li><li><p class="">In your current church friendships, which aspect needs more attention: the <em>commitment</em> part or the spiritual <em>formation</em> part?</p></li><li><p class="">The sermon compares the covenant of <em>marriage</em> to the covenant of the <em>Church</em>. What are some key similarities between these two covenants? How does this comparison illuminate your role in Christian community?</p></li><li><p class="">Galatians 6:2 instructs us to “bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” How can we practically live this out in our church community beyond Sunday services? What is one specific way you could help bear someone's burden in our church community this week?</p></li><li><p class="">The sermon suggests that authentic Christian community is <em>urgent</em> in our current world of war, oppression, poverty, and fear. How can deeper church relationships help us be “tangible blessings” to our neighbors?</p></li></ol>

<p class=""><strong>SCRIPTURE: </strong>Psalm 23</p><p class=""><br><br></p> <p class=""><strong>REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:</strong></p><ol data-rte-list="default"><li><p class="">Have you been reading through the Psalms with us so far? What have your experiences with these verses been like?</p></li><li><p class="">Read Psalm 23 again: what stands out to you here? What claims is the psalmist making about God and/or God’s character? What questions does the psalmist seem to be wrestling with?&nbsp;</p></li><li><p class="">Have you ever felt like you’re in “the valley of the shadow of death”? What happened in that experience? What helped you to move through it?</p></li><li><p class="">Paul helpfully (and bluntly!) reminds us that <em>believing God is really with us </em>isn’t always easy to do. Do you sometimes struggle with this? What shape do those struggles take?</p></li><li><p class="">Paul also points out that <em>God puts His reputation on the line for us</em> in these verses! How does this idea shape/reshape what you think about this Psalm?</p></li><li><p class="">Once again, this sermon concludes with the invitation to <em>look at Jesus</em> when we are afraid and full of doubts. Is this something you have ever done before? Is it something that feels hard to do? What questions do you still have about God’s “nearness” in times of trouble? What <em>hope </em>might there be?</p></li></ol>

<p class=""><strong>SCRIPTURE: </strong>Matthew 5:31-47</p> <p class=""><br><strong>YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON </strong><a href="https://revolutionsermons.wordpress.com"><strong>HERE</strong></a><strong>!</strong></p><p class=""><strong>REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:</strong></p><ol data-rte-list="default"><li><p class="">What rules or commandments have felt challenging to you, and how might understanding their deeper purpose change your perspective on following them?</p></li><li><p class="">Where in your life might you be using 'extra guarantees' because your basic word hasn't been trustworthy?</p></li><li><p class="">How does Jesus's teaching about loving enemies and going the second mile (Matthew 5:40-42, 44-47) reveal God's ultimate purpose for humanity?</p></li><li><p class="">Think of someone who has opposed or hurt you. How might understanding their underlying <em>fears</em> or <em>needs</em> change your response to them?</p></li><li><p class="">Kenny suggested that we<em> already know</em> what it means to be 'real human beings' because it's 'hard-wired into us.' What evidence do you see of this in your own life and in others?</p></li><li><p class="">When have you felt most authentically 'human' in your interactions with others, and what made those moments different?</p></li><li><p class="">The sermon concludes that being human is not about following a thousand different rules but about one clear invitation: 'Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.' Why <em>isn't</em> this standard meant to be frightening? How might it be <em>encouraging </em>or <em>inviting </em>instead?</p></li></ol>

<p class=""><strong>SCRIPTURE: </strong>Matthew 5:17-28, John 3:1-3</p><p class=""><br><br></p> <p class=""><strong>YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON </strong><a href="https://revolutionsermons.wordpress.com"><strong>HERE</strong></a><strong>!</strong></p><p class=""><strong>REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:</strong></p><ol data-rte-list="default"><li><p class="">How do you feel when you read what Jesus says it will take to “enter the Kingdom of Heaven”?</p></li><li><p class="">Kenny talks about how trying to be better or fixing our flaws is like trying to perfectly sand a wall: why isn't “trying harder” enough to meet God's standard of righteousness?&nbsp;</p></li><li><p class="">In what areas of your life have you been trying to “sand down the rough edges” rather than allowing God to help you start fresh?&nbsp;</p></li><li><p class="">In Matthew 5, how does Jesus reframe the commandments “You shall not murder” and “You shall not commit adultery”? Why is this distinction between <em>merely not harming </em>and <em>truly honoring </em>others so important? What does it reveal about us and what we’re <em>made </em>for?</p></li><li><p class="">How do you typically handle anger or conflicts with others? What would it look like to truly honor them as image-bearers of God?</p></li><li><p class="">The sermon compares trying to become righteous through our own efforts to “carving a tree from a block of wood”: What makes being “born again” (John 3:1-3) such an important concept for understanding Christian growth?</p></li><li><p class="">What areas of your life might need to be approached with a “growing from a seed” mindset rather than a “chiseling into shape” mindset?</p></li><li><p class="">Do you believe Jesus’s righteousness <em>really can </em>become your righteousness? What might change in your life if you could?</p></li></ol>

<p class=""><strong>SCRIPTURE: </strong>Matthew 5:13-16</p> <p class=""><br><strong>YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON </strong><a href="https://revolutionsermons.wordpress.com"><strong>HERE</strong></a><strong>!</strong></p><p class=""><strong>REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:</strong></p><ol data-rte-list="default"><li><p class="">In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus calls his followers 'salt of the earth' and 'light of the world.' How might these metaphors relate to our purpose as Christians in today's world?</p></li><li><p class="">The sermon suggests that formation is not about becoming someone different, but rather about revealing who we truly are. How does this perspective challenge your understanding of spiritual growth?</p></li><li><p class="">What 'baskets' might be hiding your true identity in Christ, and what steps can you allow Jesus to take to remove them?</p></li><li><p class="">How might the sermon's explanation of salt being mixed with sand help us understand the difference between our true identity and the things that dilute it?</p></li><li><p class="">What are some 'sandy' elements in your life that might be diluting your effectiveness as a follower of Christ?</p></li><li><p class="">Kenny shares Kate's story about being light in dark places. How can being different from the world actually create opportunities for ministry… rather than isolation? What fears do you have about standing out as a Christian, and how might God use those differences for His purposes?</p></li><li><p class="">The sermon suggests that being salt and light isn't just another thing we do, but might be 'the thing.' How would this shift in priority change how we approach our daily lives?</p></li></ol>