Sermon Recap

Title: Empty Accusations & Fulfilled Prophecy
Text: Matthew 26:36-68
Question: How do we make sense of a world that goes so wrong even when we do everything right?

Discussion Questions

1. At Jesus' arrest, He displayed "Kingdom ethics" in His response to those coming after Him. How do we discern when to defend the defenseless and when to "turn the other cheek"?

2. How have you found difficulty in reconciling Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount with real life circumstances? (See Matt. 5-7 and Peter's response to the mob wanting to arrest Jesus)

3. Jesus remained steadfast and resolute at His trial before the Sanhedrin because He held onto "Kingdom promises." How do you hold onto promises from God without them becoming trite sentiments?

4. The fact that Jesus was betrayed, arrested, falsely condemned, and beaten reveals that this life in this broken world will be filled with "wrong things" that are done to us. Does that discourage you that it is how things are, or encourage you that the Bible prepares us for this?

5. Jesus prayed "Kingdom prayers" in Gethsemane. How can you latch onto His prayers from Matthew 6 and Gethsemane when your circumstances seem unbearable?

6. Jesus' anguish and anxiety in Gethsemane are incredibly intense. Therefore, He can sympathize with us in anything we are experiencing. How does that comfort or console your heart?

7. How do you need to change how you see, think, or feel about your circumstances in light of Jesus' experience in this text? 

Sermon Recap

Title: 3 Trials
Text: Matthew 26:30-46, 69-75
Question: How do you respond when you find out that you're not who you thought you were?

Outline:
I. Bold Intentions
II. Neglected Dependence
III. Failed Integrity

Discussion Questions

1. Share a time when you found out that something you thought you were good at or competent in turned out to not be the case.

2. Can you relate to times or seasons of life when you thought that your faith was stronger or more unwavering than it actually was? Share what led to your faith being tested.

3. Comfortability and confidence were given as culprits for "neglected dependence." How do your devotional practices reflect your level of dependence on the Lord and His work?

4. When we have "financial stability, familial stability, and societal stability" it can be easy to not need to depend on God. When that is the case, our time in Word and prayer becomes a "have to" rather a "need to." Can you relate to this as Americans in our context? Share more.

5. How do you naturally tend to respond to sin and failure in your life?

6. Respond to which gospel truth from this message most resonated with your soul and brings comfort to the way you answered question 5.

7. Pray for rest over one another in the peace of the gospel.

Sermon Recap

Title: Realizing Your Story
Text: Matthew 26:20-29
Main Idea: This is a story of a meal that is telling a Story—and we're in it!

Outline:
I. One Grand Story
II. Two Complementary Covenants
III. Four Powerful Meals

Discussion Questions
1. What teaching have you had on the Lord's Supper?

2. Do you struggle with keeping the significance of it in front of you? Do you struggle with going through the motions?

3. Regarding the purpose of a physical meal as instruction from Christ for His Church, how have you viewed the importance of the physicality, experience, and fellowship of this ordinance?

4. Do you struggle with feeling guilty at the Lord's Table? Why do you think it is sometimes hard for people to receive the grace of this ordinance?

5. The story of this meal invites us into the story of Christ. Do you struggle grasping the eternal significance of your life? Why?

Sermon Recap

Title: What your heart treasures...
Text: Matthew 26:1-19
Big Idea: Jesus is more important than ministry.

Discussion Questions

1. What do you find beautiful in the world?

2. How do you create, engage with, curate appreciation for that which is beautiful?

3. Do you struggle appreciating beauty because it is not efficient, productive, or economical?

4. How does the concept of beauty inform Christ's desire for our worship?

5. How can you personally be tempted to engage with good things while losing sight of Jesus in the process?

6. What disciplines would you find most helpful to incorporate into life? (Celebration, thanksgiving, generosity, sustained quiet time, etc.)

7. What safeguards would you recommend for our church body to not lose sight of Jesus in the midst of lots of "good" ministry?

Sermon Recap

Title: Reach Out
Text: Luke 15
Big Idea: Evangelism is joyfully sharing good news!

Discussion Questions

1. Who shared the gospel with you? (Share your testimony!)

2. Share about the first time that you shared the gospel with someone else.

3. Was there a particular strategy or methodology that you were taught regarding how to effectively share the gospel?

4. What active role does evangelism play in your life right now? Be honest, and know that grace abounds!

5. What fears or barriers often serve as obstacles to sharing the gospel?

6. What contexts do you regularly find yourself in in which you are around and engaging with non-believers?

7. Share one name that is on your heart that the Spirit may be convicting you to reach out to, and pray over these names as a group.

Sermon Recap
Title: Submit to Scripture
Text: 2 Timothy 3
Big Idea: Submit to Scripture if you want to last.

Outline:
I. The last days are deceptive. (3:1-9)
II. Faithfully enduring is a battle. (3:10-13)
III. Submit to Scripture if you want to last. (3:14-17)

Discussion Questions
1. How were you raised to think about or interact with the Bible in your home growing up?

2. What were your thoughts to the illustration using AI to generate a fake photo? Do you think much about the deceptive nature of the world we live in? How do you navigate that reality?

3. What in your life has the greatest ability to distract you from the Lord and His Word?

4. How do you maintain a "battle" perspective in life when it can be so easy to coast, become passive, or become comfortable in this life?

5. What struggles do you have with the Bible? Do you have doubts about difficult passages? Do you struggle with the prevalence of miracles? Do you find it hard to be "amazed" or "impacted" in your regular private reading?

6. How have you experienced the life-giving nature of the Bible? Share times that it has hit your life in a way that forever changed you.

7. What practices, rhythms, disciplines, etc. have you incorporated into your life to posture yourself to submit yourself to Scripture?

Sermon Recap

Title: Worship Christ
Text: Revelation 5
Big Idea: There is one who is worthy of all worship.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you more often think of Jesus as a lion or as a lamb? Do you find it challenging to picture him as both?

2. Jesus is the lion of Judah, the lamb who was slain, and the root of David. What other titles for Jesus can you think of? Is there one that brings you the most comfort?

3. What things in our culture do you see people most drawn to and in danger of worshiping?

4. What forms of worship come most naturally to you besides musical worship?

5. What's an area in your day-to-day life where you desire to be more worshipful?

6. What thoughts or distractions most hinder your worship?

Sermon Recap

Title: Pursuing Wisdom | Pursuing Jesus
Text: Proverbs 8
Big Idea: Jesus is the greater and better Solomon.

Discussion Questions

1. What has been most impactful to you from this summer series pursuing the wisdom of Solomon?

2. In what areas of life do you feel the need for more wisdom?

3. How has this sermon grounded "wisdom" much deeper than mere mechanics to make life go better?

4. How does viewing Jesus as the greater and better Solomon enhance and alter the way you read Proverbs?

5. Why is living in accordance with the wisdom of Scripture so difficult in general, and for you in particular? (Remember: It was for Solomon too!)

6. How does Jesus' presence at the foundation of the world deepen your understanding of creation order, and what it looks like to thrive in the world as it was designed?

7. How could you make the pursuit of wisdom an lifelong pursuit?

Sermon Recap

Title: Wisdom Sees the Heart
Text: Proverbs 20:5
Main Idea: The wise person has the skill to see below the surface.

Outline:
I. The heart is deep.
II. The heart is powerful
III. The heart is the target

Discussion Questions

1. When you hear that the heart is called "deep water" and understand the way that the Old Testament talks about deep water, how does that change the way you understand the human "command center"?

2. Three layers of human identity were presented: the identity we present to others, the identity we believe about ourselves, and the identity that is true before God. In what ways have you seen this to be true of yourself?

3. The power of the heart to impact the whole being of a person was discussed. Do you think about how your beliefs and desires control your words and actions? How were you challenged by this reality?

4. The idea of "guarding your heart" was shared. How have you practiced watching over / guarding your heart to preserve its quality?

5. What have you learned about getting below the surface in "targeting the heart"? What have you learned about people and intentional conversations?

6. Do you shy away from probing into people's lives? Why? How could you go too far, and how to make sure that you go deep without crossing a line?

7. Share stories of people in your life that have a struggle. Be discreet and confidential, but discuss together questions that could open up the deeper heart issues. Pray for these individuals.

Sermon Recap
Title: Wisdom for Citizens
Text: Prov. 29:2 et al
Question: In a country built on freedom, how do we apply Solomon’s wisdom?

Outline:
I. Wise Christian citizens respond to prosperity with our generosity.
II. Wise Christian citizens respond to wickedness with justice.
III. Wise Christian citizens respond to needy with mercy.

Discussion Questions
1. How have you seen the church talk too much about our national and civic responsibilities, or too little?

2. How do we show generosity to the poor when we can't meet every need we encounter? How do you say "yes" or "no" to opportunities to be generous?

3. What stewardship principles were you raised with, or were impressed upon you? What principles do you see most at risk amongst believers today?

4. What wisdom do you use as you approach voting for particular candidates? (be civil in your discussion)

5. Have you thought much about how you invest or who you give your business to as it relates to the topic of righteousness and justice? What convictions or questions do you have on this topic?

6. Do you feel like the problems of the world are too big to do anything about personally? What does faithfulness to showing mercy to the needy look like in your particular context?

7. The church is uniquely situated to be care for the otherwise vulnerable in our community. What would you like to see North Park become engaged with as we share the hope of Jesus? (email any good suggestions to luke@northparkfw.org)

Sermon Recap
Title: Fear God, Not Man
Text: Proverbs 9:10; 29:25
Big Idea: The fear of God casts out our fear of man.

Discussion Questions
1. How have you heard the phrase "fear of the Lord" defined or described?

2. How did your relationship with your earthly father help or hinder your ability to understand "fear of the Lord" along with safety and security in the Lord's presence?

3. Does your natural thinking about God lend itself more toward seeing Him as a mighty Judge and Creator, or more toward loving Father and Friend? Why do you think you tend that way and do you think it's a proper balance of both?

4. In what ways do you most struggle with the "fear of man" in your life? (Think: people-pleasing, identity, purpose, value, worthwhileness, etc.)

5. How has "fear of man" most impacted living the faithful life God has called you to? Or, in what ways has the "fear of man" been an obstacle to obedience?

6. What could it look like to take a step toward living in the "fear of God" over living in the "fear of man" in your current circumstances of life? (ex. sharing your faith with a neighbor or friend)

7. Spend time as a group praying for the Martins to be encouraged in their work and for their updated prayer requests.

Sermon Recap

Title: "Hear, my son..."
Text: Proverbs 1:8
Main Idea: Get wisdom and give wisdom.

Discussion Guide

1. Who is the wisest person in your life? Share why you give that answer.

2. How have you sought or received wisdom in your life?

3. What has been your relationship with the book of Proverbs? What sermons/teachings/books have you encountered?

4. How did this message, mainly directed at fathers, connect with your life?

5. Review the 7 principles here, and share which is most relevant for you (regardless of whether you're a dad or not).

6. Share the impact of your earthly father or a spiritual father that you want to honor.

7. Pray for the dads and men of our church.

Sermon Recap

Title: Life Under the Sun
Text: Ecclesiastes 1-3

Outline:
Does your life have value?
Where do we look for meaning?
The wisdom of hope.

Discussion Questions

1. Share some examples in which understanding the "why" changed your approach/motivation toward something.

2. How have you seen unbelieving neighbors, friends, or family trying to live with a "why" apart from God? How has it impacted their lives?

3. How have you been tempted to live for the pleasures of this world? How did it prove to be a "striving after wind"?

4. How have you been tempted to build your identity around gaining wisdom, knowledge, or skill beyond others? How have you seen the same life trials hit the "wise" and "fool" alike?

5. How have you worked to build something significant with your labors/vocation? How have you thought about it all going to someone else when you die?

6. How have you seen God redeem each of these areas and your orientation toward them in your life?

7. How does hope and the "eternity within our hearts" give us wisdom to live by? Apply it to some current situations you are navigating right now. Work as a group to help think through this with one another.

Sermon Recap
Title: Let me introduce you...
Text: 1 Kings 3
Big Idea: Flourishing comes from wisdom.

Outline:
I. The Gift of Wisdom
II. The Power of Wisdom
III. The Choice of Wisdom

Discussion Questions
1. Share examples of people who exhibit a unique "hokma" or skill in their particular craft. How has it been used for in beneficial ways for the good of those around?

2. Every human made in the image of God can exhibit a level of hokma wisdom/skill, but God's people have an ability to embody the deepest root of wisdom. How would you define and/or differentiate between the two when you see it in others?

3. What does it look like, or has it looked like, for you to seek wisdom from God and to find it? Did you ever misread what you thought was wisdom?

4. Wisdom has incredible power to bring justice (mishpat) to the community around you. How have you, or what example can you share, about how wisdom was able to alleviate problems in others' lives?

5. How do you see God at work in North Park to leverage our collective wisdom to bring justice to our community? What would you like to see us press into more? (Email any noteworthy examples to Luke at luke@northparkfw.org)

6. The statement was made, "You will act in accordance with what you love over what you know." Do you agree or disagree? How have you seen this proven true?

7. How is your relationship with Jesus impacting your relationship with wisdom? Explain.

Sermon Recap
Title: The Silence of God
Text: Psalm 88
Big Idea: Go to God when you feel abandoned, for He has not abandoned you.

Outline:
Encouragement 1: You can go to the source.
Encouragement 2: You can be honest.
Encouragement 3: You can rest in Christ.

Discussion Questions
1. Read Psalm 88 as a group. What stands out to you?

2. How do you respond when trials hit? Who do you go to? Do you draw near to God or do you pull away?

3. Do you go to God with your questions?

4. Have you ever given up on something because God had not yet responded?

5. Share about a time that God seemed silent.

Sermon Recap
Title: A Life Worth Living
Text: Matthew 25:14-46
Big Idea: What you do with your life matters more than you know.

Outline:
I. What you do has value. (25:14-30)
II. What you do shows Whose you are. (25:31-46)

Discussion Questions
1. Do you ever battle the thoughts that your day-to-day life doesn't have much meaning or eternal significance? Share your processing of that answer.

2. Do you ever find yourself longing for "more" in life, thinking, "Is this all there is to Christianity and life?"

3. What has the Lord entrusted to you, that you may steward it for His kingdom growth? (Think of gifts, relationships, opportunities, service, possessions, time, connections, etc.)

4. How are you actively laboring to steward your life for Kingdom significance? What prayer requests go to that end?

5. How do you think North Park as a collective congregation could steward what we have as a church to advance the Kingdom in our community? (Share any good ideas to Pastor Luke at luke@northparkfw.org)

6. What thoughts do you have about rewards in heaven? What teachings have you heard over the years?

7. How do you balance the incentive of rewards with the apparent heart of the "sheep" that didn't recognize they were serving Jesus Himself in their labors of love, seemingly suggesting that didn't expect any reward for what they were doing? What are the implications of this for us in how we live?

Sermon Recap

Title: Could it be today?
Text: Matthew 24:36-25:13
Big Idea: Don't be unprepared!
I. Prepared for today
II. Prepared to wait

Discussion Questions

1. Are you a patient person? Justify your answer. How does that impact the way you relate to this topic from this message?

2. What is personally difficult for you about navigating the tension of living as if Jesus could return today with recognizing He may call us to wait?

3. In what ways, in your life, have you functionally lived with an unsaid posture of the heart that would indicate you do not believe Jesus is coming back today or anytime soon?

4. Describe how you do, and how you could grow, in preparing your soul today to see Jesus soon.

5. Describe how you do, and how you could grow, in being found faithful in your Master's service to love the world around you?

6. How can you live through the "normal days" of our lives here and now in a way that enjoys this life and the goodness of God in it, while doing so without getting lost in worldliness?

7. How are you "playing the long game" for the glory of God with your life?

Sermon Recap

Title: In the end...
Text: Matthew 24:1-35
Big Idea: The end has begun.

Outline:
I. The Context
II. The Question(s)
III. The Text

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever had doubts about the Bible's claims because of how long it has been since Jesus promised to return?

2. Church history is filled with pastors and theologians believing Jesus would return in their lifetimes or soon thereafter. Why do you think we are still prone to do the same thing today?

3. What teachings have you received (including the influential Left Behind series) that has shaped your expectations about how things will go down in the end?

4. How have you seen Christians interact with "end times" beliefs? Has it been contentious? Has it been dogmatic? Has it been wishy-washy? How has that impacted your disposition toward the topic?

5. Would you say that you have a clearer picture of how things will go down in the end because of what you have heard people tell you or what you have expressly read in the Bible? What is your picture of things that you have derived from reading your Bible?

6. Does the idea of Jesus coming back scare you? Do the things Jesus talks about preceding His return give you anxiety? Share more!

7. What does it look like for us, in our specific context, to faithfully endure to the end? Paint a vivid picture together as a group.

Sermon Recap

Title: A Harsh Lesson
Text: Matthew 23
Big Idea: Be careful who you let lead you.

Outline:
I. A Word on Leadership
II. A Warning Against Hypocrisy
III. A Lament for the People

Discussion Questions

1. What emotions or thoughts did you experience as you heard this Scripture read through at the beginning of the message? Why do you think you responded the way you did?

2. When you think stereotypically about pastors and leaders of the church, do you generally have suspicions about them or do you tend to naturally trust them? Why do you think that's the case?

3. Have you been hurt by the news of a famous or influential pastor or leader who did not end well? Share why that was difficult for you.

4. Have you been hurt by your local church leadership at any point in your Christian life? Share the story. Why do you think things were not handled better?

5. What do you think are some of the main reasons that pastors who start well don't always finish well? What goes wrong along the way?

6. How does this passage need to connect with your life? (as a future leader? as someone who has a Pharisee's heart?)

7. How can we as a church safeguard and preserve Christlike leadership? Email your responses to elders@northparkfw.org.

Sermon Recap
Title: Questioning Jesus
Text: Matthew 22:23-46

Question: When the Kingdom of God comes in full, what will it be like?
I. It will be beyond your comprehension!
II. It will be governed by love!
III. It will be centered on Christ!

Discussion Questions

1. What do you think the average person on the streets thinks about the afterlife?

2. What teachings have you heard about what eternity will be like? How has that been helpful or not so helpful and why?

3. What excites you most when thinking about the New Heavens and New Earth? 

4. How do you honestly feel about no marriage in the resurrection? Why do you feel that way? How do you respond with your thinking?

5. How do you specifically practice becoming a more faithful person of love?

6. What in your life is the greatest obstacle to you being a person of love?

7. How do we hold a Biblical pattern of love against all the other non-Christian versions of love in our culture? Where do the lines blur? How can we mark our love as distinct from other "loves" that may have similar expressions?

Sermon Recap
Title: Dual Citizenship
Text: Matthew 22:1-22
Big Idea: In this life, we hold dual citizenship.

Discussion Questions
1. How have you seen allegiance to God and allegiance to country misunderstood or misapplied in the lives of Christians?

2. What misunderstanding or point of clarification do you need that would be helpful to dialogue about in the group on the concepts of "the city of God" and "the city of man"?

3. Dialogue together about the implications of paying taxes even when taxes are used for evil purposes. (Ex. Caesar used tax money to indulge in pagan practices, sexual fornication, and persecuting Christians. American taxes go toward things like abortions. How do you respond to that?)

4. How do you think you do at discerning news and other information in a digitized world? Why? How can you improve?

5. Do you invest more time and effort in your heavenly citizenship or your earthly one? Process it out loud.

6. How can you practically and specifically, in your personal context, do good for your city as a faithful citizen in how you love your neighbor?

7. Think through the list of people, many of whom can easily be marginalized and victimized, and consider what you can do or what we can do as a church body to care for these groups. Email a couple of your good ideas to Pastor Luke J.

Sermon Recap

Title: Of Lordship and Lip Service

Text: Matthew 21:23-45

Big Question: What does a life that is “bowed” to Jesus look like?

Diagnostic Questions:
I. Will you admit what is true? (Are you humble?)
II. Will you do what is right? (Do you repent?)
III. Will you give what you owe? (Do you submit?)

Discussion Questions

1. What was most challenging from this message?

2. How have you been tempted in life to present yourself differently than how you truly know yourself to be?

3. Where do you have difficulty believing that something God has said is true or good or right?

4. How do you typically do at being corrected or called out by someone else? Is it hard to swallow? Why or why not?

5. Why do you think we tend to make excuses more readily than simply owning our mess ups, asking for forgiveness, and making things right as best as you are able?

6. How do you do regularly and practically acknowledging that everything you have is to be submitted to God and His will? Give concrete examples of either successful moments of yielding to that, or areas that have been difficult to surrender.

7. How does “receiving the Son” revolutionize our understanding of this passage? How does it safeguard from legalism, while still calling us to service?

Sermon Recap

Title: Triumphal Entry: The King Has Come!

Big Idea: The hands of the King are the hands of a healer.

Outline:
I. He is King of the Jews & the King of creation
II. He is humble & He is strong
III. He has come to bring curse & He has come to bring kindness

Discussion Questions

1. What stories do you love because they echo of the truths of Scripture?

2. How does your life indicate that Jesus is King of your life?

3. How does the truth that Jesus is King of creation impact the way you see the world, current events, news headlines, etc.?

4. How does the humility of Jesus encourage your life in how you interact with others?

5. How does the strength of Jesus against abuses and evil need to be embodied in real tangible ways by His church (especially North Park)?

6. Who in your life can you invite to North Park to hear the gospel preached?

7. How do you need to receive the kindness of Jesus today?

Sermon Recap

Title: A Church That Prays
Text: Acts 4:23-31

A praying church is an unshaken church.

Outline:
I. A Pattern for Prayer
II. A Pattern for Suffering
III. A Pattern for Ministry

Discussion Questions:

1. Which of the five characteristics of prayer in Acts 4 stood out to you the most?
(Urgent, Worshipful, Scriptural, Historical, Expectant)

2. Share about an experience of suffering and how it challenged your faith.

3. Why might God allow suffering in the lives of those who are to be furthering His Kingdom?

4. In what ways have you been blessed by the church praying together? How would you like to see this happen more often?

5. Spend some time praying together for our missionaries.

Sermon Recap

Title: What Makes for Greatness?
Text: Matthew 20:17-34

Outline:
I. The Disciples & Power
II. The Blind Men & Mercy
III. Jesus & Service

Discussion Questions:

1. How have you seen the world’s concept of greatness infused into the way we view church or the Christian life?

2. How have you personally been tempted to view your worth, status, or value from the world's vantage point?

3. In what areas of life may you be tempted to inadvertently use Jesus as the means to some other end?

4. Share stories of how you have seen the church at some point in your past beautifully display humble service, like what Jesus calls us to.

5. How have you been personally gifted or called to serve the church in the world around you?

6. How can we better use the collective good of the church to meet the needs of our people and our community?

7. When you hear the question of Jesus,” what do you want?”, what immediately or naturally comes to mind?