Blog Posts

Covenant Group Questions (4/9-4/15)

4/9/2017

During our current sermon series focused on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we will publish weekly a set of small group questions for your Covenant to make use of should you desire to use them. Here are the questions for this week:

Read Matthew 21:1-11.
If you were part of the advance team for Jesus, what visibility would you want to arrange? Maximum exposure or a quiet entrance? Explain you choice. What does it mean that Jesus went for the maximum exposure?
Why is there such a large crowd? What is their shouting about? Do we hail Jesus in our worship songs with similar words and thoughts? What is different or the same?
To what extent do you think the people realize who Jesus is? List out what they are getting right about Jesus. And what are they getting wrong? All of us see Jesus imperfectly. How do we avoid the danger of the crowd that is for him one day and dead set against him days later?
What kind of king are the people expecting? What kind of king does Jesus offer himself as? What kind of king do we want Jesus to be for us? How is our hope the same or different from those in the crowd?
Zechariah 9:9 made a statement about the King of the Jews. Do you think Jesus knew this passage? Do you think he made arrangements for his entry into Jerusalem with deliberate attention to the prophecy of Zechariah? What does that tell you about Jesus?

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Covenant Group Questions (4/2-4/8)

4/3/2017

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Read Matthew 6:24-34
What do I worry about the most? Why? What does constant worry reveal about my faith in God’s love for me? Who benefits from my worry? Who is hurt?
What are the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual consequences of worry in my life? How has worry affected those around me? Read Philippians 4:4–7. What concepts stand out to me? How could this passage change my perspective and circumstances for the better?
Has there ever been a time when I have really worried over my material needs? How has God faithfully met all of my needs?
The early church elder Augustine (354–430) said, “Our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee [God].” How can I consciously and continually find rest in God’s love for me?
How far do you really believe God is interested in your life and daily activities? What is behind that belief?
How does the passage speak to you? Does one of these summarize the passage for you today: everything will be O.K., don't sweat the small stuff, God will always bail you out, get out of the fast lane, or get your act together?
What is Jesus saying about planning?
Don't plan ahead?
Plan ahead so you won't worry?
Live for today?
Trust God with things you can't control?
Take it as it comes?
Name one thing this passage might change for you?

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Covenant Group Questions (3/26-4/2)

3/29/2017

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Read Matthew 6:19-24.
Contrast the treasures of earth and heaven. Are they mutually exclusive? How does Jesus' teaching relate to what is popularly considered the good life?
Over the course of a person's Christian life, how can they store up treasures in heaven (6:20)? What specific treasures can be sent ahead?
What are your most valuable material possessions? In what specific ways have you witnessed the decay and loss of belongings? Have you ever been robbed? If so, what did this do to your sense of security and permanence?
Would others describe you as a generous person (6:22–23)? Andrew Murray (1794–1866) once said, “We ask how much a person gives; Christ asks how much he keeps.” When it comes to the money that God has entrusted to you, how much do you keep for myself (and those that count on you)? How much do you let go of and invest in the Kingdom of God?
Do you live in light of Proverbs 23:5? How would you explain this verse to children? Would your own lifestyle back this up?
How can a person increase their standard of giving instead of their standard of living?
Name one thing this passage might change for you?

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COVENANT GROUP QUESTIONS (3/19-3/25)

3/17/2017

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Read Matthew 6:16-18
If you have an experience of having fasted, describe what it was like. Why were you fasting? Was it an experience of drawing closer to God, or didn't it help?
It has been said that "fasting is not so much abstaining from food as it is choosing to feast on spiritual things." How does that statement work? Is fasting from food connected to feasting on God? Or are the two a matter of "either/or?"
Fasting is such a large part of spiritual life in the Bible, and even plays a major part in other world religions. Why do you think there is so little attention to the subject in North America today?
Why does Jesus use the word “beware” when instructing us about fasting and the effect it might have with other people? How far should we keep silent about fasting when we are doing it? (Review Matt. 5:16 before answering)
What role should fasting play in the life of Jesus followers today?
What are some ways that fasting could be practiced in your life? Is there a role for support from others in undertaking a fast (your Covenant Group or family?) without falling into the "showboating" trap Jesus talks about?
Spend some time in prayer to hear from God and to speak to God about any future role in fasting in your own life.

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Covenant Group Questions (3/5-3/11)

3/2/2017

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Read Matthew 6:1-4
Almsgiving is about giving to needy people, particularly the poor. It isn't about giving money to the local church. Where does Almsgiving fit into your lifestyle? Which ways are flashy and which ways are done "in secret?"
Why does Jesus use the word “beware” ("be careful not to" in some translations) when he teaches us not to perform our religious acts before other people?
It is said that a person's character is seen in their actions. Back in Matthew 5:16, Jesus says that we should let our light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father." Yet here in chapter 6 Jesus seems to be saying that we are to keep our actions hidden. How do you make sense of these thoughts?
Describe the most religious person you have know. What stands out about them?
What religious actions/activities are valued in our church and in other churches you know? How can they be misused in a way that subverts what Jesus wants to happen in our own lives?

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Covenant Group Questions (2/26-3/5)

2/22/2017

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Read Mathew 5:33-37.
What is the original intent of the Mosaic law in verse 38 (Ex. 21:22-24, Lv. 24:13-23, Dt. 19:15-21) and in verse 43 (Lv. 19:17-18,33-34)?
Jesus commands that we are not to seek revenge even when faced with an injustice against ourselves. He teaches that true justice is not retaliatory. What practical implications does this have for our personal lives? For the way we deal with our “justice system?”
How can a follower of the Sermon on the Mount deal with payback and retaliation as governments practice these actions? Can a Christian serve in roles where retaliation of some form is expected (police or military)? Give arguments for your choice.
In what practical ways do you love your friends? How about acquaintances? How about people who don't appeal to you so much? How about enemies?
In the movie, The Mission, Jesuit missionaries are bringing the Gospel to indigenous people in Brazil back in the 18th century. But the Portuguese colonial government wants these people sold as slaves and sends soldiers. The missionaries face two alternatives to the coming violence. The character played by Robert DeNiro rallies some of the villagers to fight back. But the priest played by Jeremy Irons chooses instead to celebrate a worship service. Both are killed. Which response has the most appeal to you as a follower of Christ? What does this say about choices we face in the 21st century?
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Covenant Group Questions (2/19-2/25)

2/22/2017

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Read Mathew 5:33-37.
What was “vow taking” like in Jesus’ day? What lies behind Jesus forbidding the making of vows? How did this apply to the day in which he spoke?
Should Christians today stay away from oaths completely (i.e. taking the stand in a trial, being sworn in for government office). Why or why not?
How important is truth to Christian faith? If someone asked if truth was more important than love how would you answer?
As we interact with children at home, church, or classroom, how do we help them see the long term value of truth telling over the short time "advantage" of lying? Make the case for those who follow Jesus and for those who do not. What differences do you find in the two approaches?
The tendency to fudge when telling the truth is universal. Today, perhaps more than before in the modern era, politicians make up truth that fits their needs. What standard should we hold for our governmental leaders regarding telling the truth?
What are other implications of this teaching of Jesus for our day and age?

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Covenant Group Questions (2/5-2/11)

2/4/2017

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Read Matthew 5:21-26.
Many of our legal codes recognize some forms of justifiable manslaughter or homicide. Jesus seems to be going in a different direction. How should today’s followers of Jesus deal with this distinction?
What do you think about the fairly new legal proscription of “hate crimes?” What do you say to someone who points out the difficulty of prosecuting a hate crime. God knows heart.
If someone came to you claiming their anger was justified because it was about right and wrong and God cares about right and wrong—what would you say? How might you counsel them?
When Jesus says one should leave off making an offering and rush to reconcile, is he engaging in dramatic overstatement or is he giving serious instruction? Would you ever leave a worship service to try to reach someone who had a grudge against you? Why or why not?
Raca is an insult. But scholars, although they know it is an Aramaic swear word of sorts don’t know exactly what it means. It is Untranslatable. Maybe on purpose we have to fill in the blank. A driver ahead cuts me off, “You blankity, blank blank blank! Have you blanked anyone recently? What should you do about it?
Can you share an example of a reconciliation that went well? Leaving out names if that is helpful describe the thoughts and feelings before, during and after the talk.

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Covenant Group Questions (1/29-2/4)

1/27/2017

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Read Matthew 5:17-20.
Why do you think Jesus gives so much attention to the importance of the Law and the Prophets (the Old Testament)?
Jesus expresses a high regard for the Bible. How does the Bible anchor your thinking? Where do you find yourself wanting to take a different view than what you read there? Is this the result of the way certain passages are taught or the result of not liking their core meaning?
Jesus and his followers were accused in his day of abandoning the Law. Jewish society had already by the day of Jesus turned from some of the specific laws in the Old Testament (i.e. death penalty for many transgressions). Do you think Jesus wanted those reinstated?
How is the teaching of Jesus regarding the kingdom of God similar to the Torah? How is it different? What is the place of the love commandment of Jesus which “sums up the law?”
How would you explain the call to have a goodness (righteousness) in your life that exceeds that of the scrupulously religious?
Bible study is a high value in evangelical churches. Do you think we ever overdue study and undervalue doing what it says?

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Covenant Group Questions (1/22-1/28)

1/20/2017

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Read Matthew 5:13-16.
What does this passage suggest about being involved in society? Should we be or not?
If you had to describe your output as an electrical bulb what would it be? A searchlight? A 100 Watt bulb? A night lite? What would it take for you to increase your wattage?
In what ways are you distinctive from your non-Christian friends? How does being distinctive work with keeping friendships?
Give some examples of saltiness? How do you personally relate to these descriptions? Do you need to increase or decrease your own saltiness? If increase, how can you become more salty?
In what ways are you arresting the moral decay in your world (salt)? In what ways are you challenging the moral decay in your world (light)?
How are Christians to penetrate society? In what ways are they to not become enmeshed? How do you see the boundaries between the two?

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