St. Matthew's Anglican Church | Sermon Followup 2007 Archive

Sermon Followup 2007 Archive

December 16th & 23rd, 2007

Investing in Eternity 'The Day of Judgement' - Revelation 20:11-15 & Luke 2: 1-20

Last week I preached on the The day of Judgement - the day coming when we will all be called to account & judged for everything that we have said and done. The bible tells us that "all have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard" (Romans 3.23) that the "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6.23) and that the only way to be saved what we rightly deserve is to repent of our sin & independence from God and believe in Jesus. Has Jesus saved me from the eternal consequences of my sin & independence? Am I confident about how I will be judged that day?
What on earth am I doing to build up treasure in heaven? Am I using the time & resources that I have to steward as God instructs to gain a full heavenly reward? What is the purpose of my life?

December 9th, 2007

Investing in Eternity 'Dust to Dust' - Psalm 90

What is it you would really like to achieve in life? Have you put plans in place to achieve these life-goals? How does working or not working impact your plans? What can you still achieve even when you not healthy enough?
How long do you think you will live? Does 70 or 80 years seem enough to you? If you were to die tomorrow, would you “die happy”? Why?
What do you think God has to say about all this? How do your plans fit in with God’s? How do you think God “gets the most out of life”? How can you fit God’s agenda into yours?

December 2nd, 2007

'Built to Last' - 1 Cor. 3:10-15

Why is it important to have good foundations?
What do people around you build their lives on?
What does a life built on Jesus look like?
How can we use life’s challenges to strengthen our trust and faith in Jesus? (Hint: Use the learning circle).

November 25th, 2007

'Moths and Rust' - Matt 6:1-24

What are we looking to for security in our lives?
What do you understand by the term ‘…storing up riches in heaven?’ How can we do that? Why would we do that?
Whom or what are we serving in our lives?
Is our love for God hindered by our attachment to things? What can we do to ensure we don’t have a divided heart?

November 18th, 2007

'He Knew Everything I Ever Did' - John 4:1-42

October 28th, 2007

The feeding of the 5000 as told in John 6:1-15

In John 6:1-15 the little boy gave what he had to Jesus even though it was a small amount. What would be your 5 loaves and 2 fish?
Two people in this story, Philip and Andrew, have very different responses to Jesus. Which one reminds you of yourself ?
Why is giving such an important part of our lives as God’s people?

October 21st, 2007

A Second Chance God -Reading –Philemon 1-25

Have you ever felt useless? Was it a lack of skills, willingness, experience or all three? How did you overcome that situation?
Have you ever felt your personal sin might be preventing you from being useful to God? How might you deal with that?
How could you be useful to God? What skills do you have that are not currently being used? What about if you’ve made mistakes in the past? How does the story of Onesimus in the book Philemon encourage you?

October 14th, 2007

Made Like God -Reading –Genesis 1: 26—2: 3

Given that God contains everything he ever needed within himself, why do you think he made you?
Do you think God likes you? Discuss. Do you like yourself?
We are told to go on being filled with the Spirit. How does this happen? How can we turn it into a daily discipline?
We are instructed to love one another not in a natural way, but in a way which appreciates the work Christ is doing in each of us. What are some of the benefits to our church if we resolve to do this?
Meditation; sit with God and ask him what he likes about you. ( Be prepared to really like yourself. )

October 7th, 2007

Messages From God – Pt. 2 - Slow to Anger and Full of Compassion -Reading – Jonah: Chapters 3 and 4

How do you feel when you see: someone behaving badly; governments acting unjustly; armies abusing innocents; criminals breaking the law; humans ruining the environment? Why?
How do you think God feels about the above? What evidence from scripture supports that view? How do you think God feels when he sees you living inappropriately?
Who do you think is best placed to make “judgment” decisions? What skills do they need? How can this inform your prayers & actions?

September 30th, 2007

Messages From God – Pt. 1 - The Long Arm of The Lord -Reading – Jonah: Chapters 1 and 2

How far do you think you can run from God? What messages from God have you been hearing and ignoring – for you? For someone else?
How might you approach God now, understanding that you cannot avoid forever, what God is calling you to do?
How does it make you feel that you too, can be a messenger of God?
How will you check what you’ve heard? How will you deliver it?

September 23rd, 2007

Reading – Psalm 95

How should I prepare for gathered worship? Is there anything I can change in my routine beforehand that would help me better prepare my heart and my head to worship Him?
What should be my attitude when we gather together to worship God? How can I help others to Worship God in a gathered worship service?
What motivates me to worship God? Typically, do I worship God for what I can give to Him or for what I can get from Him?

September 16th, 2007

Proverbs 3: 1-12 & Matthew 9: 9-13

How hard have the changes & challenges, of the last 18 months at St Matt’s, been for you? In what ways can you see these things as a form of discipline from God?
How does tithing rate, in your mind, alongside other spiritual disciplines such as: prayer; fasting; reading scripture and serving?
In what ways are you hoping to be “part of the Vision” at St Matt’s? What do you need to help you be that?

September 9th, 2007

‘Good Order in Worship’ - 1 Cor. 14: 26-40

Is there a way for worship to be ordered but also spontaneous and joyful?
What does a worship service that is conducted in a fitting and orderly way look like?
What would you say is the key ingredient in Christian worship according to this passage?
How do you think God’s character of order and peace is reflected in our worship at St Matthews?

September 2nd, 2007

‘’Prophecy and Babbling’’- 1 Cor. 14: 1-25

Have you ever spoken in tongues or had a “word of Prophecy”? Why do you think it would be good/bad to? How would you go about doing these things if you never have before?
Do you think you are prepared to have your “heart laid bare” before the Lord? How would that feel? How might a complete stranger react to having their “heart laid bare”?
Why do you think Paul urges us to pray and sing both in the Spirit & with understanding?

August 26th, 2007

‘Body Building ’- 1 Cor. 12: 12-31

What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you? Why did you appreciate it so much? How did it make you feel?
What is the one thing you’ve always wanted to do for God? Why do you think that would be so good? How do other people go about doing it?
What are you good at? What do you enjoy about it? How do you think you could serve God with whatever it is? How might it link-in with what others are doing?

August 19th, 2007

‘Gifts for Everyone’- 1 Cor. 12: 1 -11

What do think it means to be able to say, “Jesus is Lord”?
How is Jesus Lord for you? In what areas of your life is Jesus not Lord?
What do you think is meant by the phrases “to each one” (1 Cor 12:7) & “for the common good”? Which gift would you like? How would you use that gift?

August 12th, 2007

‘The Lord’s Supper – What is Actually Going On?’- Cor. 11: 17 - 34

How do you prepare for worship? How do you feel about The Lord’s Supper? What do you think happens when we share that “meal”?
How might you “discern the Body”? Who do you think should “take communion”? Under which circumstances should you not take it?

August 5th, 2007

‘Culture and Worship’ - Cor. 11: 2 - 16

Is there anything in my life or in my MPod – any attitudes, anything in my appearance or actions – that could prevent anyone else from coming closer to God?
What is my attitude towards those in authority over me and towards those I am leading? Do I value people differently according to their position? Is there room for improvement in my attitude towards leadership or submission?

July 29th, 2007

‘Freedom and Responsibility’ - 1 Cor. 10: 23 – 11:1

Unavailable this week, speak to Ian Weaver.

July 15th, 2007

Unavailable this week, speak to Bob Seaton.

June 24th, 2007

Genesis 39

Unavailable this week, speak to Matt Parkins.

June 17th, 2007

Eph. 6: 10 - 24

Unavailable this week, speak to Bob Seaton.

June 10th, 2007

Eph. 5:21 – 6:9

Unavailable this week, speak to Rosemary Maries.

June 3rd, 2007

Eph. 4:17 – 5:20

Can you think of a time you were “destroyed” by something someone said or did to you? Can you notice a difference between that experience and your experiences in a church community? What are some of the differences?
Have you ever “destroyed” someone by something you did or said? Why do you think that grieves the Holy Spirit? How might you build others up?
How important is forgiveness in all this?

May 27th, 2007

Eph. 4:1 –16

Can you see yourself as one of the Ministry “types” (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher)? Which one and why?
What do others say about your assessment of yourself?
Who do you see around the church with similar/different ministry types?
How can each of the types “equip the saints for the work of ministry, building up the body of Christ” (each other)?

May 20th, 2007

Eph. 3:14 –21

Part of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 is for us to live our lives with a fuller loving trust in Christ (vs 16-19). What can we do to develop that?
Why is the phrase “…together with all the saints…” (vs 18) an important one for a follower of Jesus?
Do we recognize what God can do according to his power that is at work within us? (vs 20)

May 13th, 2007

Eph. 3:1 –13

How has St Matt’s been an Oasis for me? Why might there need to be, “a moving on” from the way things used to be? What might my role be in that?
What does Satan accuse you of? What is the thing that makes you feel unworthy before God? What gives you hope in the face of these accusations?
How will our church be used to reveal “the wisdom of God to rulers and authorities”?

May 6th, 2007

Eph. 2:11 –22

Which category would I place myself in: watcher, wanderer or cheerer?
Why has it been like that for me?
How might I get off the bench and into the fray?

April 29th, 2007

Eph. 1:15 – 2:10

Unavailable this week, speak to Matt Parkins.

April 22nd, 2007

Eph. 1: 1-14

Unavailable this week, speak to Jon Taylor.

April 15th, 2007

Luke 24 : 13-35

Unavailable this week, speak to Mary Black.

April 8th, 2007

Matthew 28: 1-15

How can you know that Jesus is alive? What happens if you can’t feel His presence? What other evidence is there?
What difference does it make to your life that Jesus is alive? How would explain that to someone who is not a Christian?
What practical demonstration can you give to prove Jesus is alive to other people?

April 1st, 2007

Waiting in Hope - 1 Thess 5: 1-24

What do you think about Jesus as Judge? How does that fit with our image of Him being the perfect representative of love?
When do you think Jesus will return? Why is it important? How can we be urgent without being a nuisance?

March 25th, 2007

God Builds His Church - Acts 14: 8-30

Who prepared the way for you to receive Jesus? Do you still see them? Do you still think the same way as them?
Why do you think John the Baptist needed to decrease, (see John 3:28-35)? Can you see a correlation between his own miraculous birth, the birth of Abraham & Sarah’s son Isaac and the way we give glory to God?
How can we make sure that we move from repentance to new life?
Who can you think of that needs the way prepared for them to receive Jesus? What ways can you think of to make the paths straight for them, what obstacles might need to be removed?

March 18th, 2007

Is there anybody you can think of who is beyond salvation? Why/why not?
How do you react to people who are obviously different to you? Have you ever thought of yourself as a Gentile? How does that feel?
How do you react to denominational/doctrinal differences? Why don’t we just have one big happy family of church? What common ground do we share?

March 11th, 2007

Read Romans 12:3-13. How we can use the various gifts of the Spirit with which God blesses His people for service in His kingdom. How have you noticed the Holy Spirit working through particular people in our own congregation/your M-Pod?
What is the ‘fruit’ of the Spirit? Read Galatians 5:22-26. Discuss each of the fruit and their importance in the life of a Christian and the church.
In what fruit/gift do you want to pray for the Spirit to fill/equip you?

March 4th, 2007

Power from On High - Acts 1: 1-11

How do think the disciples felt, having just lost Jesus, got him back again and now losing him a second time?
What is it about the Holy Spirit you don’t understand? What is it that excites/concerns you?
What do you think is the main purpose of the Spirit? How do you want to be changed accordingly?

February 25th, 2007

Jesus Wins the Victory - Mark 16: 1-8

Why is the resurrection of Jesus the keystone in God's masterplan? How does it fulfill God's Old Testament promises?
Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-20. How does this passage apply to us?
How does knowing that Jesus is alive help us in our daily lives when we: are tempted? fall into sin? become seriously ill? have doubts about God? face death?
Jesus' death and resurrection is Good News. In what ways is God calling you to particpate in sharing that news with our world?

February 18th, 2007

The Day Jesus Died - Matthew 27: 27-54

What price did Jesus have to pay for my sin? Do I take the cost of my sin lightly?
To what extent do I feel like I am forgiven? Am I still trying to make up for my sin? When was the last time I felt the peace, joy and love that come from being forgiven?
What do I understand about how Jesus’ death on the cross brings me into a ‘covenant’ relationship with God? How does this affect my life?
What is there remaining in my life that I can hand over to God in exchange for the good things He’s promised me?

February 11th, 2007

The Week of the Cross - Mathew 21: 23-46

What events can you name from the week leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus? How is each one significant?
Why do you think Jesus choose Passover week to come to Jerusalem? How do you explain the change in the crowd’s attitude towards Jesus from his entrance into Jerusalem to the trial before Pilate?
How do you think the disciples would have felt when Jesus told them He was leaving them?
How does Jesus’ determination not to deviate from his calling affect you?

February 4th, 2007

A Time for Decisioin - Mathew 16: 13-23

Who do you say Jesus is? What does Messiah mean to you?
How did Jesus’ understanding of Messiah differ from: Peter’s; the crowds’; the religious leaders’, yours – go on, be honest?
How can you, “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus”, at home, at work, at school, down at the pub, on the bowling green, as part of church?