Sermon Questions

Nehemiah 2-6

1. What type of opposition am I facing?
2. What distracts me from doing God’s work?
3. What advice can I give to someone facing opposition?

Joshua 3, Num 12:26-30,

1. How do I wait for God? What am I wanting for now? How can I actively wait on God? Ps 27:14, 62:5, 130:5
2. Do I look to Him, worship, when I wait? Micah 7:7 How do I worship (in His Word, with His Spirit, with His people)?
3. What is my next wise step as I actively wait? How am I walking with God?

1. How do I know that I am adopted into God’s family?
2. Once I am adopted can God un-adopt me?
3. Because of my adoption, I should imitate my Father. Who do I imitate? How do I imitate? Eph 5:1-2
4. How do I express love through our 7 Family Values? Gal 5:16, 1 Cor 13:13
   1. Put the goals and interests of others above my own.
   2. Live an open and honest life before others.
   3. Give and receive scriptural correction.
   4. Clear up relationships.
   5. Participate in ministry.
   6. Support the work financially.
   7. Follow spiritual leadership within scriptural limits.

When we wrestle with death it allows us to live in freedom!

John 14:1-6

Sunday, August 9

1. What do I fear about death?
2. In what do I place my hope? Does where I put my hope lead to despair?
3. Do I believe Jesus will come back to get me? Why?
4. Do I trust in God’s promises? What are they?

Sunday, July 26

1. Do I believe in the absolute authority of the Bible? 
2. Am I willing to fully trust Jesus with every aspect of my life?
3. Will I choose to live out my absolute identity in Jesus?

Luke 2:8-12

Sunday, July 12

1. When I think of Jesus, do I think about good news? What is a good news story from my life this week?
2. What does it mean to be the object, not the cause, of God’s love? 1 John 4:9-10
3. How has the good news transformed me?
4. Jesus commissioned the disciples to reproduce the good news. How am I reproducing good news? Mark 16:15

Matthew 4:17

Sunday, June 28

1. When is a time in your life that you made a You-Turn?
2. What are you ready to turn from now?
3. How close am I to His Kingdom?

God gives us what we need not what we deserve. 

Luke 15:11-32

Sunday, June 14

1. When is a time that I was far from God? Do I recognizes that the farther I am from God, the more exposed I am to hardship?
2. When have I been proud and self righteous? In these times do I recognize the feeling of not getting what I “deserve”?
3. How do I celebrate when the lost are found? 
4. How do I choose to draw near to God in times of trouble?
5. As I look at the parable of the prodigal, do I identify with the lost son or the son who stayed at home? Do I need grace or correction?

Hebrews 10, 1 Corinthians 13

Sunday, May 31

1. Why is it important for me to gather with other believers?
2. What are some things that I have neglected lately (physically, spiritually, relationally)?
3. What are some habits I need to break or put back in place?
4. What can I do to spur one another on? Who do I need to encourage?

James 4:13-17

Sunday, May 17

1. Do I seek God’s will before I make my plans?
2. What area of my life do I need to know God’s will?
3. What do I think that God wants me to do in order to find His will for my life?

Matthew 6-7

Sunday, May 3

1. Thinking about my friends and family, what are the unspoken fears they might be dealing with right now?
2. What do I do with my fear?
3. Starting today, if I were to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” instead of worrying or being anxious, what would I do?
4. How does fear spur us on to be vigilant and wise in a world that is dangerous and unpredictable?
5. How is the fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge?
6. What are the ideas or idols that try to take God’s place in my life? What could I do to put God back in His rightful place?

Luke 24:36-45

Sunday, April 19

1. Do I experience God’s peace (presence of God that brings wholeness)?
2. Is my mind open to understand scripture? How do I do this? Do I believe that God can give me understanding?
3. Who helps me connect the dots of understanding God?
4. What is something you recently connected the dots of scripture to understand?
5. How is His Spirit convicting me to experience Peace (presence of God that brings wholeness)?
6. What encourages you the most about Jesus giving us His Spirit?

God wants to remove every obstacle that is keeping you from Him. God sent Jesus to restore, revive, and have a relationship with you.

Isiah 57

Sunday, April 5

1. What obstacle is keeping me from a relationship with God?
2. Do I believe that God can restore a crushed spirit? How have I seen God do this?
3. Is my heart repentant? What does being repentant mean to me?
4. You need courage to remove painful obstacles. When is a time I have received courage?

God Can Handle It

Psalms 13

Sunday, March 22

1. Where do I normally turn to in a time a lament? Do I turn to God or to something or someone else?
2. Do I complain to people or to God? How can I complain to God and engage with Him in my emotions?
3. Do I worry about what I have or don’t have? Do I ask God for what I need? How can I increase my prayer and decrease my worry?
4. Do I trust that God is in control? What areas of my life do I need to trust more? When do I worship?

I am a worshiper! There is a difference in Praise and Worship. Praise is an expression of respect or gratitude as an act of worship. Worship is the demonstration of value or worth to God.

Psalms 92:1-5

Sunday, March 8

1. What do I praise as an expression of my worship? Is my highest praise to GOD?
2. How do I view worship? Is it often based on my circumstances and feeling? What will I do to remember that God is always worthy of my worship? How do I know this is true?
3. When do I worship? How will I make worshiping God my lifestyle?

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

Sunday, February 23

1. Who am I teamed up with that is helping me pursue Jesus?
2. Who do I go to about making wise decisions?
3. How do I know that God lives within me?
4. When I hear God speak to me, who does God say that I am?
5. What is your next wise step about living in biblical Community?

Hebrews 11 and 12

Sunday, February 9

1. Remember the illustration about our physical life being a small piece of tape on a long rope into eternity. What am I doing that is going to make an impact on eternity? What am I doing now that is NOT making an impact on eternity? Should I stop doing this?
2. The beginning of Hebrews 12 says, “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” What are the unnecessary things slowing me down? What sin keeps tripping me up? Am I willing to get rid of these things?
3. Are the “dreams” I have for my life God-centered or self-centered? How can I align a self-centered dream to a God-centered one?

Hebrews 11

Sunday, January 26

1. What attributes am I instilling in my family/friends that are God honoring?
2. What am I focusing on with my family/friends that is NOT God honoring?
3. Do I make decisions based out of fear or faith? Why do I do this?
4. I can not give to my family and friends what I do not have. What do I need to ask God for in order to see the gifts He has already given me (Life and Faith for example)?

Hebrews 11

Sunday, January 12

1. Do I find my faith comfortable, lazy, or selfish?
2. What hard thing is God asking me to do that I don’t want to do?
3. What am I holding onto that should be God’s first (week, wake, wage)? If God has my “firsts”, what else may I be holding onto that should be His?
4. How will I practice heartfelt worship? (Like Abel’s worship/sacrifice)
5. What is the next best step I can take to walking in faith with God?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, October 20

Clark claims that the identity of Jesus is the central question of our lives. It is the question around which all others orbit. Was he born of a virgin? Was he truly the son of God, and yet fully God himself? Many believe he was a teacher, leader or revolutionary, but they aren’t convinced he is really God. People often already have an idea of who God is and can’t fit Jesus into that, or they already have an idea of who Jesus is and can’t fit God into that. We learn who Jesus is through the Scriptures, by hearing what he teaches, but by also acknowledging he demonstrated his claim as God through his actions. Being born of a virgin, living a sinless life, performing miracles and ultimately, being resurrected from the dead are all demonstrations of his deity. Clark summarizes that facing the problem of God is about far more than getting the right information for ourselves; it’s about a transformation of ourselves. Jesus has real power to create new life and new desires and new futures for anyone.

Getting Started:

1. Jesus not only claimed to be God by what he said, but also by what he did. What truths of Jesus’ life support his deity?
2. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the center of Christianity. What do you believe about the resurrection of Christ, and why? What evidence do you have to support it?
3. In what ways have you been skeptical about Jesus’ claim to be God? What encouraged, or discouraged your belief in this claim?
4. Some argue that Jesus never said the words “I am God”. How would you acknowledge this, and yet argue that he did claim to be God?

Going Deeper:

1. Clark provides examples of 4 primary arguments or pushbacks to the resurrection of Jesus. In your own words how would you refute the following:
   • Jesus didn’t really die on the cross.
   • The body of Jesus was stolen after his death.
   • The disciples went to the wrong tomb and that is why it was empty.
   • The disciples made up the resurrection as a “copycat” from another popular myth.
2. Many argue that Jesus was a great moral teacher and did many kind things, but was not God. If you knew someone today that claimed to be God, and you knew they were not, why would you accept anything they did or taught to be of value? Would you not conclude that they were either a liar, or a lunatic?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, October 6

Studies show the top 3 reasons people reject Christianity are that “church people” are seen as anti-homosexual, judgmental or hypocritical. People have connected past wars, torture, murders, slavery and other horrific acts, done in the name of Jesus, with the position and purpose of God’s design and calling for His church. The church is a place for the imperfect, but many who attend and represent Christ, don’t have a real relationship with Jesus. And many who do, do not live a lifestyle counter to cultural norms. True Christians must have beliefs coupled with lives that are God-honoring. In the book, Clark tackles past violence and intolerability by those professing faith in Jesus. “The Bible calls us to judge the truth of Christianity by the life of its founder, Jesus Christ himself, not by the lives of those attempting to follow him, because in him and him alone will you find someone worthy of trust and imitation.”

Getting Started:

1. Take a few minutes as a group and share what portions of the book or the Sunday morning message were most impactful to you? How has what you’ve heard re-shaped the way you think
2. In your own experience, how has the poor behavior of Christians impacted your belief about Christianity, and its’ beliefs as a whole? What culturally encourages the thought that Christians are to be “perfect”?
3. When assessing Christianity, it is best done by investigating its’ central teachings, and teacher, Jesus, and not it’s followers, the church. Why is this important for anyone looking further into Christianity to understand that the fact there are hypocrites in the Church, affirms its ability to transform lives?
4. Do you believe StoneWater Church is a hypocritical church, filled with hypocritical people? Are there conversations you need to have with leadership regarding your concerns? Are your positions based on the actions of individuals, or does the culture being displayed or taught not mimic the life of Christ?

Going Deeper:

1. When confronted with examples of horrible things the church has done in the name of Jesus, what is your response? How do you respond when people give examples of followers of Jesus living a life counter to the teachings of Jesus?
2. Many take the position that Christians preach to love everyone, yet they judge and distance themselves from those who do not look like or act like they do. What is inaccurate about this perspective? Should there exist the opportunity to both disagree with someone’s position, but still show love? Share some examples of how this could be lived out.
3. Pastor Jeremy referenced “fakers” of the faith in his Sunday sermon on hypocrisy. Why is it difficult to identify cultural Christians from real followers of Christ. What queues help identify the difference?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, September 29

Clark outlines some of the obstacles people raise regrading hell. How can an all-loving God judge people? Why does God condemn people eternally for what they do in a finite amount of time? Why is it necessary for hell to involve a kind of torture (i.e., eternal fire, brimstone, etc.)? Or desire to not experience hell should never be driven by fear of hell, but instead, by love for Jesus. Jesus spent much of his time sharing about the love of God, but also the wrath of God. To deny the existence of hell is to deny the teachings and person of Jesus. He goes on to explain why he feels it is not easy to accept but necessary as well as just. He believes hell will not be the same for everyone, is not a torture chamber, but is a place of emotional, psychological, and relational suffering and anguish where we are allowed to be our own god and are allowed to sustain and provide for ourselves. “Hell is a place where Satan is punished. It is the culmination of his defeat by God, and God is sovereign over it, not Satan.” “Hell was originally designed for Satan, not people.”

Getting Started:

1. Up until this point, what has been your understanding of hell? How did that understanding motivate you towards, or away from Christianity?
2. Share what portions of the book or the Sunday morning message increased your confidence that Jesus is a loving, tender father, that also has created a repulsive place called hell?
3. How would you describe the relationship between God’s characteristics of love and tenderness, as well as righteousness and justice? Does one negate the other, if some are achieved through the means of hell?
4. Clark shares how his own father and grandfather who have died never openly professed their faith in Jesus. Have you had experiences with death where you questioned someone’s faith? What emotions did you wrestle with? What truths brought comfort? Did realities of scripture and that experience affect change in your own life? How would you counsel someone else in similar situation?

Going Deeper:

1. It has been said that Hell is an Old Testament principle or idea. How does Jesus’s frequent mention of hell, and its attributes change your perspective?
2. How would you describe hell to a 8 year old? What attributes would you use to describe it? Is it made of fire? Is God there? Is Satan in charge? Is it physical torture?
3. Do you believe people are forced into hell against their will? Philosopher J.P. Moreland contends that hell is a place for people who, given what is needed to belong in heaven, do not want to go to heaven. Thus, hell is the natural consequence of the choices people make. How does this statement affect you?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, September 22

Chapter 4 tackles many conspiracy theorists who have taken the position that Jesus never existed, was simply a mythical character created by the culture of the time, or at a minimum, existed but did not raise from the dead. Clark writes “Under the persecution of both the Jews and the Roman Empire, Christianity grew from a group of twelve disciples to over 33 million people in just 350 years, and by 400 AD, 56% of the entire population of the Roman Empire were Christians.” This tells us that those closest to the life and resurrection of Jesus may have been more likely to place their faith in Jesus than many people today. He shares that time has allowed the truth to be mystified in some way. What is most surprising, is this distortion hasn’t taken place with the most scholarly historians, but instead with those who do not take an honest look at the actual evidence that exists. Because of great evidence, we can know “that he (Jesus) was a real flesh-and-blood Jewish teacher in first-century Israel”, who was crucified and raised from the dead.

Getting Started:

1. Take a few minutes as a group and share what portions of the book or the Sunday morning message increased your confidence that Jesus really walked on this Earth.
2. If “The Christ Myth” were true, that Jesus never existed, or that he was not raised from the dead, what ramifications would this have for Christianity? For humankind?
3. When do you believe Jesus was born, and why do we currently celebrate it on December 25^th? Why do we assume there were three kings at his birth? Why is it important to know scripture when engaging skeptics?
4. Clark writes “Historians continue to debate the nature of Jesus, the exact date of his birth, what he did and taught, etc., but they almost unanimously affirm that he existed.” Knowing this, why do you believe so many have taken the position that he never existed?

Going Deeper:

1. What have you done, or what will you do, if someone makes a claim that Jesus was not real? Do you pursue original texts, or rely on secondary sources? What benefit does critical study play in developing our faith position?
2. Can you imagine how Christianity could grow so rapidly without the documented eyewitness accounts of the physical resurrection of Jesus? Can you relate this to a situation in your life, where it would be impossible to convince so many without eyewitnesses, and simply telling a story?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, September 15

Clark begins by stating “If we are going to believe in God, then we must ask what the evidence is for his existence. What proofs and clues are there that an all-powerful, eternal, infinite being actually exists?” His arguments are then categorized into two primary areas, the morality of people, and the order of the universe. In short, why do we have an innate desire to do what’s right, to lay down our life for people we love instead of doing whatever necessary to advance ourselves. “The very fact that something within us is repelled by racism, sexism, and unequal treatment of the poor and disabled begs the question that such convictions would have to come from somewhere, for they are not natural.” The chapter goes on to provide evidence against the Big Bang Theory, as well as evolution, and supports evidence of an intelligent design.

Getting Started:

1. Take a few minutes as a group and share what portions of the book or the Sunday morning message where interesting to you. What was most “eye opening” as you heard and read about an intelligent designer.
2. On pg.58, Clark writes “The laws that govern physical matter would need to exist prior to the big bang. They could not come into existence at the same moment as the big bang itself or else they would not do their work.” Based on your faith and beliefs, what existed first? When did the laws of physics exist? Heaven? Hell? Angels? Jesus? Holy Spirit? Devil?
3. Theories and opinions regarding creation are readily available today. How do you lead your kids, grandkids or young people through the discovery process to determine what they believe is truth vs theory? How do they do this while honoring God and loving people along the way?
4. Based on the information you’ve read in this book, and the discussion that took place, do you feel your confidence in God has increased? Do you feel you have more questions than when you started? What is your next step with this new position? This may be intentional conversations with your kids, other family, friends, co-workers?

Going Deeper:

1. Prior to reading this chapter or listening to the message, how would you explain our society’s desire to live by a moral code or a desire to “do the right thing”? In your own words, how do you explain the fact that we as a whole are against murder, or racism, or other “wrong things”?
2. Many people believe that the creation of the universe was simply a “lucky”, single occurrence (Big Bang Theory). Clark shares a poker analogy where the odds of the universe being created consistent with the Big Bang is equivalent to being dealt a perfect royal flush in poker every hand, forever. Why do you believe so many people feel it is easy to believe in the Big Bang, when they would never believe in the poker analogy?
3. If someone came to you and argued that the Grand Canyon was created millions of years ago, how would you began to use your faith in God to defend the creation story? What are other examples of theories people share and we accept as facts when it relates to creation and the universe?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, September 8, 2019

StoneWater Church has created the following questions for groups as a guide for discussion. They have been based on the book The Problem of God by Mark Clark, as well as a sermon series at StoneWater Church in the fall of 2019. These questions are simply a guide to help you grow in your faith and gain confidence in the teachings of the Bible. 

INTRODUCTION

During your first meeting, we would encourage you as a group leader to spend some time getting to know everyone in the group. Below are a few questions that can help initiate conversation. You can also take a moment at the beginning of each subsequent session and allow someone different to share how they heard about Jesus and the Christian faith for the first time. 

1. What were some key conversations, truths or experiences that led you to take the next step and commit your life to following Jesus? 
2. What doubts or hurdles did you have to overcome or what questions are still waiting to be answered in order for you to make that decision to commit your life to Jesus? 
3. If you had to complete this sentence, “My problem with God is ….?”, how would you complete it?