Pastoral Letter from Senior Pastor Rob Imberger re. COVID-19 (17th March 2020)

See attachment.

Small Group Discussion Qns - Your Kingdom Come Sermon Series - 8am/10am services

Discussion questions from Mar 15

  1. Read through Isa 61:1-5 again and slowly. Which phrases or words is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you personally?

  2. Jesus appears to apply the Isa 64:1-5 prophecy to himself. Give examples from his earthly ministry that fulfil it.
  3. There are several aspects of "freedom" that Jesus articulates in Lk 4:18-19. Share how you are attracted, intrigued and/or puzzled by these.
  4. In 2020, what would you say is the most serious "captivity" that Australians are in?

 

Discussion questions from Mar 8

  1. Begin by sharing, if possible, a story of your first encounter with the Lord's Prayer.

  2. One scholar has said that this prayer follows a sequence, starting by "getting our priorities right" before moving onto "personal needs". Discuss.

  3. If, through King Jesus, God's kingdom has 'come', why does Jesus teach his disciples to pray for "God's kingdom to come"?

  4. Describe what you can imagine if God's will was done in Hobart, as it is in heaven. Give local examples.

 

Discussion questions from Mar 1

  1. In Mark’s version of events (Mk 1:9-13), Jesus is baptised then tempted. Discuss the link between the two events.

  2. In Lk 4:5, Satan tempts Jesus with "the kingdoms of the world". What do you think this means?

  3. Elsewhere, Satan is described as the "ruler of this world" (Jn 12:31) and the "god of this age" (2 Cor 4:4). In what way does God 'permit' Satan's rule?

  4. What do the cross and resurrection of Jesus prove about His kingdom? (see Col 2:8-15, and 1 Jn 3:8-9)

  5. What difference does it make to people of the kingdom (ie. believers) that we have both an enemy who is against us and a King who is victorious for us?

 

Discussion questions from Feb 23

  1. Read through Isa 55:1-13 again and slowly. Which phrases or words is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you personally? Which phrases or words seem relevant to the wider church (local/national/global)?

  2. Compile a list of attributes from Isa 55:1-13 that answers this question: ‘What are the people of God’s kingdom like?’

  3. According to Jesus in Mk 10:14, the kingdom of God “belongs to children and such as these”. What does he mean?

  4. Re-read Mk 10:29-31. What is Jesus teaching about the future fulfilment of the God’s kingdom?

 

Date

Topic

First reading

Second reading

Feb 9

King of the Kingdom

Isa 6:1-13

Isa 11:1-5

Feb 16

Timing of the Kingdom

Isa 65:17-25

Mk 1:1-15

Feb 23

People of the Kingdom

Isa 55:1-13

Mk 10:13-31

Mar 1

Enemies of the Kingdom

Lk 4:1-13

-

Mar 8

Prayer of the Kingdom

Mt 6:5-13

-

Mar 15

Life in the Kingdom – Freedom

Isa 61:1-5

Lk 4:16-21

Mar 22

Life in the Kingdom – Righteousness

 

Isa 58:1-13

Mt 5:1-10

Mar 29

Life in the Kingdom – Healing

Isa 52:13 - 53:6

Mt 4:12-24

 

Ecclesiastes

Is there any meaning to life? Join us as we on Sunday in our English services as we look at the Book of Ecclesiastes and investigate what is the meaning of life?

Going deeper with "Irrational Man"

Each Sunday in January, we're reflecting on a film's themes and Scripture, to see the God-thread in each, to discover how Christ completes its message(s).

In order to help us engage more, here are a few questions.  Feel free to use them in whichever context they’d be fruitful in: small group discussion, dinner table conversation, or non-Christian friendship.

"Irrational Man"

  1. Using the 'Receive-Reject-Redeem' framework, what strikes you as being redemptive about this film?
  2. Existentialism holds that you are free to define yourself and free from being defined.  In other words, life has the meaning you choose to give it.  List out some possible outcomes of living life this way.
  3. Read Luke 14:25-27.  Discuss the 'hardcore' commitment demanded by Jesus.  Could Christians learn something from Abe's 'hardcore' existentialism?
  4. At one point, referring to a dead philosopher, Abe says he was a Christian and "how comforting that would be".  Compared to other worldviews and philosophies, how is Christianity "comforting"?

 

Going deeper with "Goosebumps"

Each Sunday in January, we're reflecting on a film's themes and Scripture, to see the God-thread in each, to discover how Christ completes its message(s).

In order to help us engage more, here are a few questions.  Feel free to use them in whichever context they’d be fruitful in: small group discussion, dinner table conversation, or non-Christian friendship.

"Goosebumps"

  1. Using the Receive-Reject-Redeem framework, what is redemptive about this film?
  2. Does it change your perspective to know R.L. Stine wrote the "Goosebumps" books to capture his childhood fears?
  3. Read Genesis 27 and 32.  What do we learn about Jacob's character?  Why might it be important that Jacob is 'renamed' during the wrestle?
  4. How should Christians handle culturally-acceptable experiences like scary movies and Halloween?