29 Aug Discussion Guide: Differently The Same – Worship Part 2
Before We Get Started
For our discussion today we will be using the sermon series discussion guides. If you would like to follow along you can access this discussion guide on the website at mosaicchurchaustin.com and then select “community group resources” in the menu options.
Prayer
Because the main goal of our time together is to establish relationships and learn how to walk with one another in all that God has called us to be and do, we’d like to begin by praying for one another. So, does anyone have anything you’d like us to pray for, or anything to share regarding how you’ve seen God moving in your life that we can celebrate together.
This Week’s Topic
This week we continue our new Fall series titled Differently the Same. A lot has changed over the past two years, both out there in our world and internally within each of us. However, in light of all the things that are different today, there are some things that remain the same. One of those things is the purpose, mission, and vision we are called to as followers of Christ. During this sermon series we will be taking a fresh look at that mission, and the core values we believe God has called us to pursue together as Mosaic Church: Worship, Community and Mission.
Today’s Topic
What Worship Looks Like Part 2
Discussion Questions
Why do you think anxiety is at an all time high in our nation today?
Genesis 15:9-14
“He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”
How can we create a space to meet with God in the midst of our moments of despair?
What spiritual “birds of prey” threaten to distract you from, or steal away the promises of God He is wanting to accomplish in your life through those moments?
Why might “driving” those things away from your life look like?
What kind of attitude, or mindset, must we have to fight off those promise stealing threats?
Romans 5:1-8
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
What does it mean to be justified, to have peace with God, and to stand in His grace?
How is it possible for us, who have consistently rebelled against God, not trusted God, and failed to obey God, to experience that justification, peace and grace?
So then, if the penalty for our sin has already been paid for by Jesus, then what must that mean about the pain, loss, and frustrations we experience in life?
Paul’s argument here is coming out of chapters 1-4 where he has been explaining the root of sin, the effects of sin, and the judgement our sin deserves. He then transitions his train of thought into chapter 5 and God’s response to our sin. He says we have been justified by faith. Justified means our sin and the penalty we deserve has been paid for in full and we no longer bear the weight of that penalty. He says we have peace with God, meaning God is not angry or disappointed or frustrated with us. When it comes to our relationship with God there’s no tension or silent treatment, there is only peace. And then Paul says we have access into the grace of God in which we stand on a daily basis. Meaning, God is continually inviting us into that place of rest in His grace and presence.
Paul then talks about rejoicing in our suffering because it produces perseverance, character and hope. Essentially, what Paul is trying to communicate with us is that when we suffer we have a guarantee, a promise, that our suffering is not punitive. In other words, our suffering is not God’s attempt to punish us because of our sin. That punishment has already been dealt with in the cross of Christ, and to punish us a second time would be unjust in the eyes of God. Which means this, if our suffering is not punitive, then we can know it is for the purpose of conforming us to the image of Christ.
God’s ultimate desire is for us bear His image, to be a reflection of who he is to the world around us. Since Jesus is the perfect Image Bearer, then being conformed to His image is what God desires for us. And, suffering is one of the ways that happens because Jesus is our suffering Savior.
How did Jesus experience His own moments of questioning, of pain, of feeling betrayed, and of feeling forsaken by God?
How did Jesus respond?
What does it mean to be confirmed to the image of Christ?
How might knowing that is God’s desire for our lives change the way we see those difficult moments in life? How does it help us be emotionally honest with God?
Closing Thought
How might living life like that impact our cultural moment today?