Good Reign: Taste and See
Matthew 5:13-16, Psalm 34:8
Eric Henderson, Senior Associate Pastor, erich@churchbcc.org
Just like the first hearers of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount sitting there on the hillside, we too are immersed in and surrounded by the ethics of a rival kingdom. So today, we also sit and listen to the way of Jesus, this Good Reign, that invites us to the transformational power of God’s ethic. His ethic challenges the status quo around us, and two weeks before a national election, the party politics of our day, and invites us to a higher and better way of being in the world.
- Identity
- Impact
- Invitation
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Discussion Questions
Before questions, attempt to give the group a bit of a summary of the main points of the sermon and then choose a few questions that fit your group’s needs and style. We don’t intend for you to use all of these. Three to five questions may be a good number.
- Take a moment to taste salt by itself and share what is your favorite food to add salt to.
- Sandwich the reading of Matthew 5:13-16 aloud between two readings of Psalm 34:8. Consider reading two different translations.
- How does the Jesus naming our saltiness as an aspect of our identity versus telling us to “go and do” something change how we are to act or be in the world?
- Who is following you and who are you following that shine as a Christ-like example?
- Which of the flavors have you experienced in Christian community: bitter, toxic (like bleach), tasteless(like sand)? Does experiencing those flavors in believers affect you differently than experiencing it in nonbelievers?
- Pastor Eric reminds us that we cannot build anything strong and lasting on sand, but that we need solid ground practices like prayer, worship and fellowship. Which of the Rule of Life practices are you currently practicing? Which might you consider adding this week?
- (Note: Feel free to remind people that even if they haven’t been practicing each day is a new day and God meets us in that without shame whenever we turn back to him anew!)
- Strobe, dimmer, LED, oil lamp, or other. Which type of light have you been? What are the cons and pros of being these different types?
- Pastor Eric mentions the home as one of the hardest but most necessary places to shine your light as it is where we are seen and known most fully. Even if you live alone, we each have an inner circle of people closest to us to who we can shine these different types of light.
- Who is your “most important congregation” right now? (ex. Roommate, best friend, spouse, children, parents)
- Are there relationships where you could change from strobe/dimmer to another type of light?
- Take a moment to confess to one another as you bring your own mess to Jesus.
- Reflecting on the last week of zoom calls and social media posts, do your words and actions reflect Jesus in all of your digital spaces?
- Pastor Eric cautions us that we become like the Dead Sea Community or “the sons of light” that Jesus was rebuking if we aren’t actually proximate to and learning from the people God has placed around us; including those we disagree with.
- What does it look like to humble ourselves, be curious, and walk alongside others?
- If everyone around you agrees with you, what would it look like to seek proximity with those who are different from you to learn from them and their unique expression of the in-dwelling Christ.