Discussion Questions from 10/10/2010 Sermons at WBC

Okay, so yesterday I just plain had fun preaching at WBC. I am so grateful to God for Him allowing me the privilege of preaching to such an incredible and hungry group of people. Thank you Lord for Your Word and for WBC!

I am going to take a bit different approach to the discussion questions today and (Lord willing) in the weeks ahead. Instead of asking various questions about the sermon itself, I am going to ask questions to better help you apply the truth(s) mentioned from the sermon. My goal is to help you better think through what was discussed and take the truth(s) a step farther rather than rehash what was already communicated. For the one or two of you who look at these (okay, maybe that number is a bit high!), let me know what you think.

Yesterday morning, I preached from Luke 20:27-44. The title of the message was "Knowing the Scriptures, Yet Limiting God." You can watch and/or listen to the message here.

Here are some discussion questions based on the message's truths and implications:

1. Can you identify a doctrine you believed to be true at one time, only to find out later how unbiblical it was? What was it? How did it impact (negatively) your life? How has the truth impacted (positively) your life?

2. What is your normal pattern/routine for personal Bible reading/study?

3. What are your goals as you go to a text of Scripture to read or study it?

4. How would the Sadduccees' and scribes' lives have been negatively impacted by not 'seeing' the truth in the Scriptures?

5. What are some practical things you can do to better comprehend the Scriptures?

6. How can one be considered worthy to attain the age of the resurrection of the dead?

7. Are you considered worthy? Why or why not?

Sunday night, I preached on one of the most beautiful passages throughout Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6. The title of the message was, "Was Jesus Afflicted By God Or Not?" Again, you can watch and/or listen to it here.

A few discussion questions to aid your application and understanding:

1. Was Jesus afflicted by God or not?

2. Sunday night, I read this quote from Steve Chalke and Alan Mann's The Lost Message of Jesus:

"The fact is that the cross isn’t a form of cosmic child abuse—a vengeful Father, punishing his Son for an offence he has not even committed. Understandably, both people inside and outside of the Church have found this twisted version of events morally dubious and a huge barrier to faith. Deeper than that, however, is that such a concept stands in total contradiction to the statement: ‘God is love.’ If the cross is a personal act of violence perpetrated by God towards humankind but borne by his Son, then it makes a mockery of Jesus’ own teaching to love your enemies and to refuse to repay evil with evil (pages 182-183)."

According to Isaiah 53:4-6, what is wrong with this way of thinking?

3. Can you know for certain that you can be at peace with God because of this text in Isaiah 53? Are you at peace with God? If not, why not? If so, how do you know?

4. According to Isaiah 53:5, how is one healed from sin and its affects? Are you being healed of sin and its affects now? If not, why not? If so, how do you know?

5. How can the truths presented in this passage aid in your love towards your enemies? Is there anyone in your life you need to forgive? If so, why haven't you forgiven them yet?

6. Do you find hope in the fact that for those who are 'in Christ' (trust that Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection accomplished everything necessary for salvation, having endured all the punishment for sin), God is totally and completely for them? How does this truth change the way you view hardships? How does this truth change the way you view uncontrollable circumstances to your life?

7. How is it that the fact that God did afflict His Son is a demonstration of His love?