Sermon Discussion

4/27/25

Colossians 3:22-4:1

"Colossians, pt. 20​: Why and How We Work"
Pastor Tom Gray​​

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• What stood out to you today?

• The term DULOS (bond servant) is not one we use today but the idea is still present in our world. What does it look like today?

• Do we really view all work as significant or honorable? What can we do to change our perspective on this?

• If we are to pursue excellence, does that mean Christians should be the best / hardest workers?

• Why is the temptation to work for the approval of others so strong?

• Tom gave examples of heart service: 

1. diligence

2. Integrity

3. Extra mile service

4. Genuine care for others
   Why are these simple things so counter cultural to the basic work ethic?
   How can we practice those elements in our own jobs?

• For those in leadership / “boss” roles, what are ways you try to practice Colossians 4:1?

4/13/25

Colossians 3:20-21

"Colossians, pt. 19: Parenting—The Next Greatest"​
Pastor Tom Gray​​

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• What stood out to you today?

• Read Psalm 127:3-5. How does Scripture talk about children here?

• Read Ephesians 6:1-3. How do obedience and honor work together?

• What is significant about the promise attached to this command?

• How do these commands of obedience and honor relate to us as we interact with our Heavenly Father?

• Tom called the parents (Fathers specifically) the thermostats of the home.  What does this look like for us today?

• How does a godly marriage encourage and lead our children to the ways of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4)?

• Tom gave a list of things that provoke children. Talk through those things as a group. How have you been affected by those things?

• What are you doing / have done to avoid some of these things?

4/6/25

Colossians 3:17-19

“Colossians, pt. 18: Marriage—The Greatest”

Pastor Tom Gray​​

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• What stood out to you today?

• How does verse 17 set up the following commands in verse 18-19? Why is it so important?

• Why do you think our world is so opposed to the idea of submission, especially among women? What would be your biblical response to someone who says the Bible puts down women?

• What does it look like for us to submit to God (James 4:7)?

• What does it look like for us to submit to other believers (Ephes. 5:21)?

• Tom said “rebellion leads to discontentment and disorder.” How is this played out in marriage roles? How does this play out in other areas of life?

• If husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephes. 5:25), how did Jesus demonstrate this for us?

• “Leadership is expressed through love”. What did Tom mean by this? What does this look like for us?

• How does love help us balance authority versus “dictatorship”? (See 1 Cor. 13:1-13)

3/30/25

Colossians 3:11-17

“Colossians, pt. 17: In All Wisdom Teaching and Admonishing One Another (pt. 2)”

Pastor Tom Gray

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• What stood out to you today?

• What are some of the goals of Christ-followers?

• How does Scripture teach us to view those in leadership? Is this easy or difficult for you?

• How can we practice biblical wisdom and avoid “extremism” when it comes to supporting or not supporting leadership?

• What does it mean to be truthful over tribal?

• How is "Equality of opportunity, not outcome" biblical? How should it shape our views of culture?

3/23/25

Acts 1:5-8

“Find Out About the Holy Spirit”

Pastor Jim Burt

• Why do you think that the Bible’s teaching on the Holy Spirit is misunderstood, minimized or even ignored by many Christians?

• Do you feel that it is important to believe that the Holy Spirit is a person in the same way as the Father and the Son are persons? Why or why not?

• What does the fact that Jesus whole life was covered by the Holy Spirit tell you about your need for the Holy Spirit?

• What do you think of Jim’s assertion that the function of the trinity is “of the Father”, “through the Son” and “by the Holy Spirit”?

• What do you think Jim meant when he said that the “hands on” person of the trinity in your life is the Holy Spirit?

• What do you think that Jesus meant in John 14:12 when He said: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father”?

• What do you think that Ephesians 3:16 means when it says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being”?

3/16/25

Colossians 3:11-17

"Colossians, pt. 16: In All Wisdom Teaching and Admonishing One Another (pt. 1)"

Pastor Tom Gray

• What stood out to you today?

• What’s the difference between instruction and commands?

• What does it mean to “steward our citizenship?”

• Read Ephesians 6:12-18 and 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. We are reminded there’s a lot going on spiritually, behind the scenes. How do we balance that reality with what we see going on in our world physically?

• What does it mean that “God is the biggest threat to our nation”? How does God clash with our world?

• Tom walked through a few different issues: secular humanism, abortion, sexuality, population control, helping the needy.

• Where are you coming into contact with these issues in your life? How are you handling it?

3/9/25

Colossians 3:11-17 / Romans 14 / 1 Corinthians 8

"Colossians, pt. 15: Above All"

Pastor Tom Gray

• What stood out to you today?

• What do you think it means to “put on love above all”?

• Why do you think unity is such an important aspect of the Christian life?

• How can we stay united as we interact with those who have different views?

• Unity in the essentials. Liberty in the non-essentials. In all things, charity (love). Talk through this mindset. How have you experienced this in your life?

• What’s the difference in being “right” compared to being “loving”? See 1 Corinthians 8:1. How do we keep ourselves from being a stumbling block to others? (Romans 14:13-15 / 1 Corinthians 8:7-9). ABOVE ALL, PUT ON LOVE 

3/2/25

Colossians 3:11-17

"Colossians, pt. 14: God's Chosen Ones, Holy and Dearly Loved"

Pastor Tom Gray

• What stood out to you today?

• How have you seen the gospel redefine or change a collective group of people?

• Look at the characteristics in verses 12-13. How do we see each of these modeled in the life of Jesus?

• “Application is most relevant in the areas that are the most difficult” - Tom. What does this mean? How have you experienced this?

• How has the Lord forgiven us? What would it look like for us to forgive others around us? Is there anyone I need to reach out and extend forgiveness to?

• “The action of forgiveness is more important than if we deem the individual worthy of forgiveness.” - Tom. Why? What point was Tom making here?

2/23/25

Colossians 3:5-11
"Colossians, pt. 13: Kill It"
Pastor Tom Gray

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• What stood out to you today?

• The point this week was very clear and simple. We should continually be at work identifying and killing the old self as we are being renewed in Christ Jesus. What does this look like in your own life?

• Where have you seen the most impact or change in your own life because of Christ’s work of salvation?

• Tom spent most of the time focusing on a list of things to kill or “put off” as Paul says. What stood out to you about this list?

• Where do you see this list show up in your own life, family, work, etc?

• Tom’s practical steps at the end are super helpful. Attack the issue early and at the source. What happens when we don’t do this? Do you have an example of not attacking something early? What happened?

2/16/25

Colossians 3:1-4
"Colossians, pt. 12: Seek and Set"
Pastor Tom Gray

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• What stood out to you today?

• The focus this week was on valuing the eternal over the temporary. Where do you have the hardest time with this perspective in your life?

• What does it look like to seek the kingdom?

• What does it look like to seek a new identity?

• Tom said “if it is true of Jesus, I want it to be true of me.” Why is this such an important way to live, especially in light of seeking the eternal thing?

• C.S. Lewis once said “the ones who do the most for this world are the ones most focused on the next.” 

• How does this apply to what we have been discussing about eternal vs temporary?

• Tom spent some time focusing on the idea of “setting” or “anchoring” to the right things. What are some of the other things that we are tempted to anchor to?

• How have you experienced meditation and memorization help you with the idea of replacing things below and helping to focus on things above?

2/9/25

Colossians 3:1-4
"Colossians, pt. 11: Living Prayactively"
Pastor Tom Gray

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• What stood out to you today?

• What does it mean that our “life is hidden in Christ”? (v. 3)

• This was the main question of the day that Tom focused on: How does my living and His living in me work? How do we answer this?

  • ​See Colossians 1:27-29; Galatians 2:20, 5:25; Philippians 4:12-13

• How do we balance our responsiblity to live and work with the fact that we are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to live the way He’s called us to?

• Tom created a new word this week to describe how we approach this balance: Prayactively = praying (as abiding) then doing

• How does this fit into the balance we just talked about?

• When do you find it easiest to pray?

• When do you find it more difficult to pray?

• How do we know if we are living in or not living in a spirit or attitude of prayer?

• We are always working on our relationship with God. What has God been teaching you over the last month or so?​​

2/2/25

Philippians 4:14-23
"The Philippian Church: A Model for Missional Engagement​"
Pastor Matt Russell

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• What stood out to you today?

• The Philippians church knew Paul well (see Acts 16). How does being relationally connected help us be missionally engaged?

• What global missionaries are you personally connected with?

• Giving generously is another key element of being missionally engaged. How has giving (either locally or globally) increased your trust in Christs provision?

• Where and with what partners have the people in your group served beside? What did you do? Learn? Experience?

• Matt listed a number of barriers for each of his points. Which of those barriers do you run into the most when it comes to being missionally engaged?

• ​As a group:

  • Where can you connect with local partners?

  • Where can you connect with global partners?

  • What partner(s) can you learn more about?