Gospel Rhythms: Sermon Study Guide #1 - Listen to Scripture Consistently & Meditatively

Study Guide #1 - Listen to Scripture Consistently & Meditatively 

READ Psalm 1 - 

Psalm 1 is the introduction and “gateway” to the entire collection of 150 Psalms. As the bible’s handbook of prayer and spiritual life, The Psalms show us what a close, intimate relationship with God looks like. But before we are allowed into the Psalms – we first have to go through the gateway. This Psalm highlights the absolute necessity of a developing a regular rhythm of listening to scripture if we are to enjoy a vibrant relationship with God.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING

Psalm 1 says there are really only 2 ways of living. The word “way” in Hebrew can be literally translated as “road” or “path”. In this life we have the choice 2 paths - the path of the righteous or the path of the wicked (v6). But how do we know what path we are on? The Psalm says these 2 ways of living are primarily defined by what or who we are listening to. What sets the course of our lives is whether we are listening to the “counsel of the wicked” or the law of the Lord (the Scriptures).

If we aren’t committed to learning the rhythm of regularly listening to God (day and night meditation), then Psalm 1 says don’t bother coming into the rest of the Psalms (which is the place of close relationship with Him). The Psalm reveals shaping power of our listening. It’s not a question of whether or not we are listening? It is a question of which voice(s) am I listening to – the voice of God in His Word or the voices that try to make sense of life apart from Him? We need to know which voices are shaping our live & learn to listen to the voice of God in his Word if we are to know Him and experience the flourishing life He intends for us.

 THE OBSTACLES TO LISTENING TO SCRIPTURE

Verse 1 shows us what a progression away from God looks like. The wicked are those who do wrong, sinners are those who make a lifestyle of it and scoffers/mockers are those who not only do evil but mock those who do good. This movement away starts with pattern of listening (counsel), moves to a pattern of behavior (way), then to a pattern of identification (sitting in a seat). The movement is from listening to identity, from how we listen to who we are. So, the obstacles to listening to Scripture are that there will be a lot of other voices vying for our attention, influencing us and offering us a different vision of life. Listening to these will put you on a path away from God.

Learning to delight & meditate on God’s word while living in a world full of different messages means we will need to look what we are listening to as well

as how we listen – ie, habits & practices of listening we may need to unlearn. There three “listening rhythms” that are dominant in our culture:  

·       Listening Passively – Notice the progression toward increased passivity in Psalm 1 – walk, sit, stand. Our media-saturated culture encourages us to consume media passively for entertainment. In order to learn to listen to scripture, we need to unlearn passive listening and learn to listen purposefully.

·       Listening Overload – In our “information age”, we are constantly bombarded & surrounded by noise. Our devices are always with us. This overload of information makes it very difficult for us to focus. In order to learn to listen to scripture, we need to unlearn listening overload and learn to listen attentively to the most important voice – God’s.

·       Listening Selectively – Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year for 2016 is “post-truth”. We live in an age where we can select our sources of information and only listen to those voices that confirm our biases and beliefs. In order to learn to listen to scripture, we need to unlearn listening selectively and learn to listen submissively to God and his word.

THE BLESSING OF LISTENING TO SCRIPTURE

Psalm 1 is a “gateway” Psalm but it is also an “invitation” Psalm that shows us how to experience closeness with God and the “happiness” (v1) He intends for us to find in Him. It’s saying, “Come experience how your life will flourish as you learn to delight in and mediate on Scriptures!” It tells us that delight and meditation are the key to experiencing the blessing. What we delight in and what we meditate on are interconnected. What we meditate day and night on reveals our delight. If our delight is in our wealth/comfort, our success, a relationship, our thoughts will be preoccupied with these things. When things are going well, we’ll be happy. When things are not going well, we’ll be anxious, upset and down. This way of living is like chaff because these things (many of them good) are not substantial enough to be our life’s goal/purpose – this is found only in God.

So - our delight can be detected by what we meditate on day and night but it is also true that our delight can also be redirected by changing what we mediate on day and night. The Scriptures have the power to capture our delight. The Scriptures become our delight as we meditate day and night on their main message – God’s saving love for us in Jesus. Jesus – the only one whose life was truly the prospering tree of Psalm 1 “bore our sin in his body on the tree so we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds we have ben healed” (1 Pet 2:24).  The rhythm of consistent and meditative listening to Scripture regularly renews us in the power of the gospel.

Questions

1.      What about the sermon most impacted or left you with questions?

2.      Do you agree that what we listen to has the power to shape our way of life and our identity? How have you seen this happen in your life?

3.      What do you think are the biggest obstacles you face in developing a habit of consistent Bible meditation and delight? Which of the 3 “listening rhythms” of our culture (bullet points above) most shape your life? How do these impact the way you listen to God?

4.      Psalm 1 recommends meditation which is different than reading or studying. What does it look like to meditate (literally “chew”) on God’s Word? How have you experienced Scripture redirecting your delight? How do you remember the “main message” (Jesus) as you read all of Scripture?

5.      What is your current practice for reading/meditating on Scripture? What has worked best?

Sermon Study Guide: #MOVEMENTCHURCH - ROME

#MOVEMENTCHURCH - ROME

Read Acts 28:17-31

Acts 28 shows us that what began with a band of 13 men, Jesus and his 12 disciples, had in a matter of decades, expanded from small town Galilee to the very center of the Roman Empire and the world at that time – the great city of Rome. The book of Acts was written to tell us the story of how all this happened. As Michael Green wrote, “Three crucial decades in world history. That is all it took. In the years between AD 33 and 64 a new movement was born.”

Acts wasn’t just written to tell us the story of the birth of a movement but to invite us to join the movement in our time. If you want to start a movement with a speech, a book or a movie – the story’s ending is crucial. You need to end with a bang. Think of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech or Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”. But Acts’ ending leaves us scratching our heads. Is that it? What happened to Paul? What about the church at Rome? Understanding Acts’ ending is critical for us to see how the whole book continues to fuel the movement of the gospel today.

Happy Ending? - Is Acts 28 a “happy” ending? It’s a question that forces us to remember the what story Acts is telling. The story is about how a small group of people huddled together in an “upper room” in Jerusalem somehow accomplished what Jesus said they would. In Acts 1:8 Jesus tells this small group of His followers that they will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Acts ends with Paul in the heart of the empire, in its capital city, just one step away from Caesar himself.

Luke is showing us that against all odds, God’s purpose, plan, mission will always prevail. This should give us great comfort, faith and hope. No matter how things look, no matter what’s happening in our world, whether we are encouraged or discouraged; no matter who’s in leadership, the odds are always on God’s side.

The end of Acts also forces us to remember who the story is about. Though Paul, Peter and the other apostles are foundational figures, the story isn’t first and foremost about them. It’s about Jesus. Paul wrote about his Acts 28 experience in prison chained to a guard in the letter to the Philippian church – his most happy letter. There he said, “I want you to know brothers that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (Phil. 1:12). Paul’s happiness and joy was found in Jesus (“to live is Christ to die is gain” 1:21) and pointing others to find and progress in this joy (Phil. 1:25). Acts 28 is a true “happy ending” because Jesus is being made known with boldness and without hindrance.

Spoiler Ending - The end of Acts also shows us how God starts and sustains His movement of redemption to ends of the earth. If we’ve been paying attention, we should’ve seen this end coming. It’s a spoiler ending - because God always works through suffering, trials and obstacles. Not despite all these things - but in and through them. He turns the tables on suffering and evil to bring life, healing & hope. These obstacles don’t stop his mission, in these the movement is strengthened.

Acts ends with Paul under house arrest and in chains. At first, we think “that’s a downer”. But Paul’s house arrest caused him to slow down and write three of his epistles (Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians). His house arrest also, gave him a safe place to proclaim the gospel free from public rioting and over reaction (like happened in so many other cities). Having Caesar’s personal guards chained to him (a new one every 4 hours) gave Paul a “captive” audience and a way to even reach Caesar himself (see Phil 1:13!).  Paul’s chains weren’t a hindrance; they were an opportunity. God turned the tables on Paul’s suffering and obstacles to advance the gospel in and through Paul.

It’s a spoiler ending that we should have seen coming. The gospel – that God brings our redemption, new life and hope out of the suffering and death of Jesus – shows us that the God who turned the tables on sin and death continues to move in this way today.

Open Ending - Acts purposefully closes with a very open ending because there is a “to be continued…” Once we see what the story is about, who the story is about & how the story advances forward thru obstacles then we are ready to ask, “What’s my place in the story?”. The ending to Acts is left purposefully open as an invitation for us to be a part of the movement of the gospel. 

There is a famous line from W. Shakespeare’s play Tempest ,“What’s past is prologue” ie. all that is gone before is preparation for what lies ahead. The gospel shows that us nothing in our lives is a foregone conclusion; there are no closed endings. Acts invites us to see our stories as a part of the Grand Story that God is writing and to join the movement of His Spirit in bringing healing to the world.

CONVERSATION

1.      What about the sermon stood out to you or impacted you most? Do you have any follow up questions about the sermon?

2.     Does the end of Acts puzzle you? What questions are you left with? How does remembering what the story is about as a whole help to see the resolution (happy ending)? How does knowing God’s story moves forward “against all odds” provide us with comfort, faith and hope?

3.     What’s the happy ending you wish for in the hardest thing you are facing right now? If you could write the ending, what would you write?  How might remembering who the “big” story is about (and where true happiness and joy is found) change the ending you’d write?

4.     It was said in the sermon, “What seem like our greatest obstacles, hindrances & chains, can be the places God turns the tables to bring healing/life to you and through you.” Have you found this to be true? Share your story. Do you struggle to believe this? Share your struggles.

5.     What does it mean for us to take our place in movement of the gospel today, in the “to be continued…” of Acts? What might this look like for you?

Sermon Study Guide: #LEARNINGCHURCH - BEREA

#LEARNINGCHURCH - BEREA

Read Acts 17:10-15

Berea was a Macedonian city forty-five miles southwest from Thessalonica along the Via Egnatia. After all the disruption in Thessalonica, Paul and Silas left during the night to find the next place in their journey to bring the gospel to region. What happened at Berea was the polar opposite of what happened when the gospel came to Thessalonica. We are meant to read these two stories side-by-side, comparatively. At Berea, the gospel was welcomed with receptive ears; at Thessalonica with rioting and rejection. Why such a different response? The Berean church is a model for us of what it looks like to be people who are transformed by our encounter with Scripture.

4 Keys to a Transformative Encounter with Scripture

 1) Open-mindedness

The first key has to do with the kind of character we bring to our reading and listening to the Scriptures. Luke tells us the Bereans were “more noble” than the Thessalonians. The word “noble” originally meant being of noble birth, but came to mean having an open-minded character. Being an open-minded person means not allowing personal bias and prejudice to prevent you from listening to and fairly examining other beliefs and views. In order to be transformed by the Bible, we need to learn to identify and set aside our biases and prejudices so that we are able to listen with an open mind.

 But how do we identify our biases? Our personal biases are so intuitive and natural; we can’t see our own. The Thessalonians help us see how we might discover these biases. They reacted in anger to the message of Christianity because of their sense of religious and ethnic superiority. The couldn’t receive the gospel because it challenged their religious and ethnic pride – so they became angry and attacked. What we learn from this is that one key diagnostic to identify our own close-mindedness is our anger. What makes us most angry about other people/groups is often an indicator of where own prejudices and close-mindedness lie.

 Contrary to many people’s impressions and (unfortunately) experiences, Acts is telling us that Christianity fosters open-mindedness and is most appealing to open minded people. For Luke, a close-minded Christian is an oxymoron.

 2) Receptiveness

Verse 11 tells us the Bereans “received” the word. This is the second key. The word for “received” was used for warmly receiving visitors into a home. The sense here is that they didn’t keep the message of the gospel at arm’s length or at a safe distance but they welcomed it into their lives. Often we approach the bible in a “it’s there if I need it on the periphery of my life” kind of way - the gospel isn’t impacting our real struggles or everyday lives. We can tell this is happening if we find that we are more frequently using the bible as a weapon against others but rarely being challenged ourselves or confessing our sins in response to what we read/hear.

Receiving the bible means learning how to combine our reading and study with prayer. Prayer welcomes the word into our lives. We also need to learn to the bible in community. We would sorely misapply this passage if we thought it said that we are to examine what we hear/learn “just me and the bible”.  All the adjectives and verbs in this passage are plural. They describe the character and practices of a community.  

3) Slow Inquisitiveness

The Bereans didn’t believe immediately on the spot. They took time to daily examined the Scriptures themselves. Their slow and inquisitive study led them to a transformative faith in the gospel. When we think of having a “transformative encounter” with Scripture we can often have a mistaken picture of what that looks like. We look for sudden and dramatic moments of change. But most often our growth happens like fruit – slow, gradual, eventual. Maturity is the result of patience and steadfastness.

The Bereans also show us that examining the Scriptures (the word was used in judicial contexts for “cross-examining) is not only “allowed” – it leads to transformation. Our questions are not to be ignored or downplayed, they are potential gateways into deeper growth.

4) Eagerness

The 4th key to the Bereans transformation was the eagerness they had for learning the message that Paul brought. It totally transformed 1) what they expected to find in the bible and 2) how the bible worked to transform. Paul came claiming that the whole bible was about Jesus (Acts 17:1-3). They were eager to see if this was true. We will only be eager to learn if we are convinced that in the Scriptures we but encounter Jesus.

They were also eager to learn how the gospel worked to transform them. Luke tells us women and men of high standing believed. Why? He’s giving us a picture of how the gospel works. People of high standing were brought low (“you are all sinful and in need of a Savior”). People who were oppressed (the women) were affirmed as of equal standing and importance in the gospel. The gospel humbles us & brings us low like no other message BUT at the same time affirms us & lifts us up more than any other message.

CONVERSATION

1.      What about the sermon stood out to you or impacted you most? Do you have any follow up questions about the sermon?

2.     Did it surprise you to learn that Acts portrays open-mindedness as a positive character trait? Why is open-mindedness (as defined above) so important for being shaped by the Scriptures?

3.     What about people/other groups gets you most angry? How might your anger reveal a sense of superiority or bias? What do you think your own anger reveals about your own character, close-mindedness?

4.     How do you warmly welcome and receive the Scriptures into your life? Do you have a community of people that help you understand and apply the Scriptures to your life and struggles?

5.     How do you respond to the reality that transformation is almost always slow? Have you taken time to explore your questions regarding your faith or aspects of the Bible? Why or why not?

6.     Are you currently at an “eager” place to learn? It was said in the sermon: “the places you are being brought the lowest now -these are the places you are most ready to receive the word” How are you being brought low now? Where are you most in need of affirmation and being lifted? How does the gospel speak to both of these things?

Sermon Study Guide: #DEEPCHURCH - EPHESUS

#DEEPCHURCH - EPHESUS

Read Acts 20:17-38

Ephesus Paul spent three years in the city of Ephesus – his longest stay of any city in Act up until this point. Acts 19 says he set up shop in a place called the Hall of Tyrannus and reasoned (the word connotes back and forth dialog, conversation) with people about the gospel. As a result, Luke writes that “all the residents of Asia” heard a reasonable account of the message of Christianity. For three whole years, night and day (v34), house to house (v20) he spent time with people and taught the Scriptures. in Acts 20:17-38, we have a one-of-a-kind speech in Acts. Instead of being a model of how the apostle Paul communicated the gospel message to those who had not heard it before, it is a speech to a group of Christians - specifically, church leaders.  What we have in Acts 20 is Paul’s recipe to follow to create a deep church - a healthy, flourishing church. We find at least three essential ingredients.

1) Deep Teaching - What stands out so clearly in this passage is how strongly Paul emphasizes his focus on teaching: He says in at least 7X in different ways:

• I didn’t shrink from Declaring to you anything that was profitable (v20)

• Teaching you in public + house to house (21)

• Testifying of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord JC (21)

• Testify to the gospel of the grace of God (24)

• Proclaiming the kingdom (25)

• Declaring to you the whole counsel of God (27)

• Commend you to God and the word of His grace (32)

Paul isn’t describing 7 different focuses of teaching but his 1 focus in 7 different ways. When we add all 7 of these statements together – we find that Paul’s deep teaching was focused on taking people deep into the gospel; into God’s grace and showing people how the whole bible, all theology/doctrine finds its center in the gospel. What we learn from this is that deep teaching means going deeper into the gospel NOT going beyond the good news of the message of Jesus into theological disputes and doctrinal inquiries.

Paul’s emphasis on deep teaching shows us that a shallow approach to, understanding of, application of the gospel will lead to a shallow faith and a shallow church. We tend to shrink the bible according to our tastes, preferences and biases. Paul says he “didn’t shrink back” (v20, 27). We tend to skim the bible by either focusing on gaining more information or avoiding the hard work of learning and study. Paul says he emphasized wholehearted response (v21 – repentance and faith). It’s deep teaching, reflection and engagement with the gospel that creates a healthy, thriving church & a deep, maturity spiritual life.

2) Deep Tears Twice in this speech Paul points to his tears as signs of the authentic nature of his ministry. In v19 and v31, he says his tears are proof that his leadership was not self-serving but was from God and was out of genuine care. If deep teaching addresses a shallow understanding of the Christian faith, deep tears addresses the danger of having a hollow church and a hollow faith.

What stands out in this passage is the depth of emotion and connection Paul shared with this group of elders from Ephesus. It was something Paul called these leaders to share with and model for the people they led. The person who will teach at you but won’t shed tears with you is someone who is not qualified for leadership in the church. Deep tears are what brings deep teaching to life. We can know something is true – but it won’t penetrate our hearts until it’s brought home to us with deep care and love.

Teaching without tears is too cold to move anyone to change. Tears without teaching is too soft because it never calls for change. Paul embodied the approach of Jesus – deep teaching + deep tears. There was never any teacher as bold as Jesus. There is no other person in human history as caring as Jesus.  

Why did Paul cry for people? He tells us in verses 31-32 – it was because of his vision for people as being build up in God’s grace to become holy together with his compassion for the ways people struggled, stumbled and suffered towards this vision. This combination of vision and compassion is what moves us to “gospel tears” and deep, intentional care for the people God puts into our lives.

3) Deep Team The third ingredient of a deep church and a deep spiritual life is deep team. In our study of Acts, we’ve seen how Paul lives and how he leads in the church – He is always working with a team. He was rarely ever alone. His team wasn’t just about finding people he needed to accomplish his goals - his team were people he loved and needed for his own spiritual health and maturity.

Nate Larkin writes, “The church, according to the NT, is not a loose confederation of individuals. The church is a body - a living breathing organism whose members are so intimately connected that they can only move together. On any given day, every member of that body needs help, and every member has some help to give. For years I had been begging God for a private solution to my private problems and he had always ignored that request.” In order to have a deep, thriving faith; we need a deep team in our lives. It’s how God has designed the church and designed us to go deeper into His grace.

CONVERSATION

• What about the sermon stood out to you or impacted you most? Do you have any follow up questions about the sermon?

• Why is depth of teaching so important for the health of a church? The health of a Christian? What has been most helpful to you for more deeply reading and studying the Scriptures? What are the biggest barriers for you when it comes to deeply understanding & applying the gospel?

• When have you experienced the “ministry of tears”? How did this impact your faith? What would it look like to have vision + compassion for your spouse? Kids? Friends or co-workers?

• Where in your own life do you most deeper support from loving friends? Share with the group. Use this time as an opportunity to go deeper as a community into the gospel and into each other’s lives.

Sermon Study Guide: #ENDURINGCHURCH - CORINTH

#ENDURINGCHURCH - CORINTH

Read Acts 18:1-17

Corinth was one of the largest cities in the Greco-Roman empire with an estimated population of 200,000. Located strategically on an isthmus in Southern Greece, it became one of the ancient world’s most important commercial centers. As such, good and luxuries from all over the world were available in the city. Alongside its reputation as commercial center, Corinth also developed a reputation for being a center of licentiousness and decadence. The Greeks even coined a term, “corinthainize”, as way to describe immoral behavior. This city of comfort and pleasure was a very difficult context for Paul to bring his message of repentance.

When Paul arrived in Corinth, we see similar scene play out. Paul first goes to the synagogue to reason with his fellow Jewish people as well as the God-fearing Greeks who attended the synagogue. Just like in Iconium, Thessalonica, Berea, Paul encountered resistance. This time it got personal. The Jewish people strongly opposed him (this word is used only here in the NT) and reviled him (TNIV, “became abusive”). Paul’s response was intense. In essence, his symbolic actions and pronouncement said, “I’m done with you” (v6). We get the strong sense that Paul was weary, tired and struggling with fear as he faced the challenges enduring in the call God had given him. So, in v9, God meets Paul in a very rare and special way - He speaks to Paul in a vision. What God said to Paul then remains incredibly relevant for our own struggles, fears and challenges today.

“Do not be afraid” This is the most repeated command in the Bible. God knows we all gravitate so easily from faith to fear. He knows the power fear has over us. Instead of rebuking us - “What’s wrong with you!”, “Why is your faith so weak?”, or minimizing our fears - “It isn’t that bad.”, Jesus comforts us by acknowledging our fear. He sees and knows all about it. We don’t have to hide our fear. He comes to us gently as says, “Don’t be afraid”.

“Go on speaking, and don’t be silent” At first this seems like a strange encouragement. Speaking (see I Cor 2:2) was exactly what was causing Paul fear and weariness. What we learn from this is that Jesus is telling Paul (and us), “The way out of your fears is not around them and not away from them, it is in and through them.” Why? It’s moving into our fears that exposes & disarms them. It’s in our fear where we learn that we are not in control and that God can use us and work in us most powerfully in our weakness, fear and trembling (1 Cor. 2:2).

“For I am with you” in large part, the power of our fears is not just about what it is we fear will happen but the greater fear that we will be alone, helpless in hardships and struggle. The four short, simple words, “I am with you” carry enormous power and weight when read in the context of the biblical story.  These are words of unbreakable covenant commitment and loving purpose. “I am with you” means God is for us for our good. He will never abandon us or forsake us. Whatever He calls us to do, He gives us strength to carry out. Wherever he calls us to go, He goes before us. Whatever happens to us is never outside his greater covenantal purpose for us – to work all things for our good.

 “No one will attack you to harm you” Though this statement is not a blanket promise of physical protection (Paul did encounter harm later in Acts), it was a statement of God’s protection of Paul during this season of his ministry. What was at stake here was not just Paul’s emotional health or personal comfort. If he was stuck in his fears, he would have missed the very reason why God had called him to this city. Here we learn an important truth - Dealing with our fears is not just for our personal benefit but for the sake of identifying and fulfilling the calling God has given us to bless and serve the world. Fear turns us inward where God calls us outward. God is telling Paul (and us) here – wherever I call you to go, you can trust me to take care of you.

“For I have many in this city who are my people” It appears that Paul was discouraged because of the big challenges he faced in Corinth. But the vision reminded Paul that God is able to work in the most unexpected places, even in the most broken and sinful places. Jesus is saying, “Despite what you might see as a difficult place with many obstacles/barriers for people embracing Jesus and establishing a healthy church, I am at work here.” What’s fascinating to note is that there is still a church in the city of Corinth today. This church can trace its lineage all the way back to this moment. Jesus saying, “I have a 2000 year plan I'm working on here Paul, this is year one.” Our fears give us an exaggerated sense of our own importance and ability to control things – Jesus assures us He has a larger purpose and He is in control, even when we lose sight of these things.

CONVERSATION

1.      What about the sermon stood out to you or impacted you most? Do you have any follow up questions about the sermon?

2.     In what ways do you need to hear “do not be afraid”? Are you facing weariness or challenges in life? What are you afraid of? How is your fear affecting you?

3.     How do you handle times when things are going well outwardly but inwardly you aren’t doing well? How does God help you press on and give you fresh vision? What role does community play in your life in times like this?

4.     How are you avoiding the question “What am I afraid of?” when it comes to fulfilling your calling (vocation) from God? (This could be in your job, family – marriage or parenting, area of ministry, etc).

5.     How do you regain perspective of the bigger picture when you are discouraged and fearful? How does the perfect love of God in the gospel for you drive out your fears (I Jn 4:8)? How does knowing that Jesus was forsaken so we would never be reframe even our greatest fears?

ACTION Fresh Vision to Endure. Where are you struggling to endure? Use the five phrases from God’s vision to Paul as a framework for prayer. Write each phrase down. Underneath each phrase write how it specifically can encourage you or provide new perspective.