Foundation Church

Why are some people disabled? This has been a question we have wrestled with for millenium. There are many different theories out there but Jesus has an answer for us. In light of his answer what is the Christian response to disability in our world and in our churches? Discipleship Questions: 1. What answers to the question “why are some people born with disabilities and some not?” have you heard or thought? 2. In light of our passage, what has changed in your answer to the first question, why? 3. Why is the Imago Dei (Image of God) in all humans the basis for our love for them? 4. What have you learned through your interactions with those less able than yourself? 5. Why can we have hope for the future in light of present struggles with disability?

There is probably no greater environmental factor that affects how we see the world and how we live our lives like the family we are born into. With such a powerful influence in our lives, how are we to see the radical claims of Jesus on us, and what are we to do as we seek to relate to him as one of his people? Discipleship Questions: 1. What is your initial impression of Jesus’ words in Luke 14:25-31? 2. Why do you think Jesus is so interested in having his followers total allegiance? 3. What type of family did you grow up in? In what ways has growing up in that family affected you? 4. What are some of the generational sins that you struggle with? Bring them to God in repentance and faith. 5. How has Christ made your understanding of family new?

When we meet Jesus we change. This is an undeniable reality of the Christian life, but possibly a great evidence of meeting Jesus is not the immediate change in our lives but the ongoing change in them. Christians keep changing into those who are more like Christ. This Christian Life is a sermon series that is focussed on this ongoing change in all areas of our lives.

Our annual Vision Sunday provides us a time of reflection on where we have come from, where we are currently and where we are going. The coming 12 months present for us an exciting time in the life of our community and our church. How is God calling us to build upon the solid foundation of his faithfulness that has been laid over the last 3.5 years and what are we going to prioritize as a church family into the future? Discipleship Questions: 1. Where have you seen God’s faithfulness over the last 3 and a ½ years in the life of Foundation Church? 2. What season do you believe our church is currently in? 3. Why is faithfulness to Christ so important in all seasons? 4. Is God calling you to lead in our church? If yes where? 5. Is God calling you to step forward and be trained in caring for our church? Why do you think this is?

What gets you the most excited? In this passage, Paul recounts a story of generosity among the Macedonians. They were excited in a most radical way. Despite enduring hardship and poverty, they gave money to support a group of Christians from Judea. Nothing would stop them -- joy and love overflowed for those Christians. Paul makes it clear that we too need to overflow with love. Love that is marked by the concrete act of generosity. In fact, without generosity towards the people of Jesus’ church, our love isn’t proved genuine. With the stakes this high, we must rely God’s grace to produce deep heart change that results in an overflow of love and generosity. Discipleship Questions: 1. What excites you the most? 2. When you think of generosity, what comes to mind? 3. Explain how Jesus’ love for his church, the bride of Christ, would compel us to love the church. 4. Give an example of how you’ve been so moved in your heart (excited) to love the church or someone in the church, that you gave generously. 5

With so much evil in our world, it can be easy to think that it will have the final say. But no matter what the opinion polls or the ever-changing and depraved culture around tell us is the right thing to think or do is God will have the final say and he will make clear that evil in all its forms will not be victorious. Discipleship Questions: 1. What does the title ‘king of Babylon’ represent? 2. How can we ‘see behind the curtain’ when it comes to dealing with evil? 3. Why is it important that God humiliate the forces of evil? 4. Where can you find hope in our passage? 5. How do you feel knowing that you are a Sojourner saved by faith?

Chances are you’ve heard of Babylon, it is a big part of the bible and rightly so. Again and again when God’s enemies gather together they do so under the banner of ‘Babylon’. We’re left in this text looking at God’s ultimate response to those who seek to destroy his good reign and rule. Discipleship Questions: 1. What stands out to you in our passage of scripture? 2. How can we see God’s good Kingdom breaking through in such a confronting passage? 3. Why is God dealing with Babylon in such a seemingly harsh manner? 4. Where can we find hope in this passage for our own lives? 5. Who do you need to bring the hope of the gospel to?

Again and again, in the scriptures, the work or promises of God are followed up by great songs of praise. Why might this be the pattern that we see? And how in a culture that is not used to communal singing can we rightly understand and apply this rhythm to our lives? Discipleship Questions: 1. What is your experience with communal singing? How do you feel about it? 2. Why do you think Isaiah follows the promises of chapter 11 with a psalm of praise to God? 3. Why is the advent of Jesus such a big deal? 4. Of the three advents discussed in the sermon which do you associate with the most? Why? 5. Tell the story of how you have grown in singing praises to Jesus to your group.

God has designed all things in his creation and women are not immune from this. They are not simply copies of man but are created with dignity, equality and distinctive purpose. In our world that has so been affected by sin, who God has designed women to be has also be affected. How can Gods good design for women be put right again? Discipleship Questions: 1. Read Genesis 2:15-25, what are your initial impressions? 2. Why was it not good that Man was alone? 3. How has sin affected God’s good design as it relates to the place of women in the world? 4. Which of Jesus’ interactions with women is most impactful to you and why? 5. How does the work of God in his church regain his good design for women in the world?

God’s tool of justice and judgment is proclaimed to be the nation of Assyria. What do we do with this challenging reality that God is using an evil people to judge his unfaithful people? What can be made of God’s goodness in the reality of his sovereignty? Discipleship Questions: 1. Why do you think God is using Assyria to judge his unfaithful people? 2. What do you make of God’s use of human agency to achieve his will? 3. Have you wrestled with the mystery of God’s sovereignty? Where did you land, or are you still wrestling? 4. How is the cross of Jesus Christ the ultimate picture of God using evil for good? 5. Where have you seen God’s sovereignty work for good through evil in your life?

The Old Testament, and especially the book of Isaiah, is full of descriptions on what the coming hope of the world will look like. Beginning in Gen 3 we are promised that one will come to crush sin, Satan, and death, but here in Isaiah 9 we see an amazingly detailed description of the coming hope, but who could it be and why are we so sure we know the answer? Discipleship Questions: 1. Why would have the promise of Immanuel been so hopeful for Isaiah’s readers? 2. What are some descriptions of Immanuel in Isaiah 9:1-7? 3. What is the significance of the titles given to Immanuel in v6? 4. How does Jesus Christ fit the description of Immanuel? 5. In what way does Jesus’ fulfillment of the promise of Immanuel effect you?

The perilous political position of Judah leaves them exposed and vulnerable. Where will they turn what will God do? And maybe more importantly where will the people find their hope in such concerning times? Discipleship Questions: 1. Why do you think God had Isaiah publically make known the coming judgement? 2. What is the importance of the promise of Immanuel (God with us) to God’s people in the context of Isaiah 8? 3. Why is faith the defining factor in our relationship with God? 4. Where have you been tempted to believe that being faithful will exclude you from suffering? 5. Where might you need to repent and find sanctuary in Christ?

In what is one of the most important moments of Isaiah’s early ministry he is sent to the King to bring God’s word to him. King Ahaz will respond in faith, but who will his faith be in? God or man? Discipleship Questions: 1. Why is historical context important to our understanding? Find a historical narrative for this time period in the bible. (Hint - 2 Kings is a good place to start). 2. King Ahaz’ response seems like a good and holy response, why is that not the case? 3. Why is faith the defining factor in how we live our lives. 4. Have you had to make a hard faith decision? Share with the group. 5. How can we have confidence that our faith in God will not fail us?

Palm Sunday may be very well covered ground for many of us but it is important that even if we are familiar with this great moment we continue to feel its importance and be moved to worship and reverence for Christ, our humble king, who comes to his people in love, grace, and meekness. Discipleship Questions: 1. What is your experience with Palm Sunday? 2. Why is it important that we understand the greater context around passages of scripture, especially regarding prophetic texts? 3. How should we respond to Jesus’ in light of our passage? (Matthew 21:1-11) 4. Explain the differences between the peace Jesus brings us and any other peace 5. How are you preparing your heart for ‘Passion week’? Discuss.