The Gospel | DNA | Luke 9:21-27
This Sunday we start our “DNA" series. DNA are the fundamental building blocks of life. Our DNA ultimately expresses us into the world. The DNA of our faith does the same thing…or at least it should. In the series opener, we’ll unpack “Gospel,” the fundamental of our fundamentals. In this passage, Jesus tells us that the Gospel doesn’t just save us (through His mission to die for us and raise us up with him, v. 31) but cause us to truly live (through walking as disciples, 34-37). Later in the series, as we explore children’s ministry, generosity, worship and so much more—in each instance, the building blocks are the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Song of Remembrance | Singing the Psalms | Psalm 40
King David is in the Pit. It’s a place of stress, fear and anxiety. In the place, David chooses not to rely upon his own strength to get him out but his memory of God’s past faithfulness, coupled with the power of prayer in humility. Our great task is to remember the way of the Lord and how He has provided for us in the past, trusting He will do the same in the present. If we don’t, we’ll place our functional trust in something or someone else and never escape our pits. But what we know that even David didn’t know was the perfect obedience (v. 8) of Jesus who lived in perfect trust and makes it possible to know the Father, our place of trust.
Song of Confidence | Singing the Psalms | Psalm 23
Psalm 23 may be the best known passage in all of Scripture and is a main stay at funerals but familiarity may breed contempt. Why exactly is this Psalm so well loved? It’s because in the midst of hardship, David shows us what both comfort and confidence can look like. Neither are in our circumstances nor possessions in this world but are found in God alone. He is the shepherd who protects, provides and guides. But we have an even greater confidence than David because we have the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for the sheep (John 10.11). Because of Christ, we can live without fear despite the world around us.
True Rest | Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus calls all who are tired and burdened to come to him and find rest. He assumes we are yoked to something looking for soul rest but instead is weighing us down leaving us restless. He challenges us to instead be yoked to him and allow him to bear our burdens with us. His yoke is fitting and his burden is light. He tells us we can learn from him because his heart is gentle and lowly.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. In what ways has the last year left you burdened and restless?
2. Where do you feel that you are not connected with Jesus?
3. How would you have described the depths of Jesus’ heart before this passage?
4. What’s your plan to get soul rest this summer?
The Love of Jesus | Portrait of Jesus | John 13: 1-20
As Jesus approaches the cross, he prepares his disciples for what is about to happen. All coming from his absolute love (v1) for them.
How do you experience the love of Jesus towards you?
What is your response to Jesus/God becoming like a slave, kneeling before us and washing your feet? What does your heart do with a Jesus/God that serves you instead of requiring you to serve him?
What does it look like for you to go and live Jesus’ pattern out to those in our community? What happens for you as you consider becoming like Jesus to pursue and wash the “dirty feet” of those in our community?
The Tears of Jesus | Portrait of Jesus | John 11: 17-44
“Jesus wept.” John 11.35 is the shortest verse in the Bible and yet it contains some of the most potent messaging. It’s part of the resurrection of Lazarus story we’ll look at and, in many ways, is at the heart of the whole story. You can’t build an accurate portrait of Jesus without engaging His tears. Those tears speak volumes of not only His humanity but ours. They confer to us a way of moving in a troubled, broken world that allows us to be not only be more fully human, but also more godly. And as we’ll see, it is through the tears of Jesus that we find salvation and, paradoxically, one day freedom from tears themselves.
Where do you find yourself in sorrow today?
Scott said the tears of Jesus represent both His humanity and His true presence with us—is it hard for you to “see” Jesus as one who weeps for you or is it easier to see Jesus as simply distant power who defeats sin and death? What difference does it make that He is the “God who weeps”?
Scott said the revolution in this passage is knowing the meaning of His tears—the angry tears of determination and the His tears over His impending death. How does a better understanding of why Jesus weeps change your faith?
Scott concluded by saying Jesus transforms our tears—away from grief without hope to hope within grief. We don’t dismiss our tears but neither do we get lost in them without hope. Are there places in your sorrow today that need to be informed by the hope of Jesus Christ?