Good Reign
John 18:36, Luke 22:25-26
Richard Dahlstrom, Senior Pastor, www.spiritsoulbody.org
- The Mystery: My Kingdom is not of this world
- The Mandate: The Kingdom is at hand
- The Challenge: It’s swept away
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
What thoughts or concerns keep you up at night?
- Noting the four different sub groups (Herodians, Zealots, Pharisees, Essenes) and their similarities to groups today:
- How does the perspective of the Jewish people of Jesus’ day influence how we can understand living as a part of the kingdom today?
- Which of the Jewish camps do you fall into? (ex. Pastor Richard identifies as an Essene)
- What danger lies in viewing a political view as God’s political view?
- Knowing that to follow Jesus would have meant the death of their old systems, what of your own systems, like that of early Jesus followers, needs to be put to death?
- The first step in repentance is turning AWAY from the kingdoms of this world - kingdoms that are painted over with Christian veneer. Can you name one kingdom you need to turn from?
- Pastor Richard reminds us that it is possible to tell someone is in the stream of God’s kingdom activity when they are displaying humility, curiosity, honesty, joy, truth telling, servanthood, hospitality, contentment, simplicity. How can you cultivate practices that lead to fruit of the spirit such as this? (See The Rule of Life Handout)
- Option to text “life” to 64600 for a copy to each person’s phone.
- Read Matthew 8:5-12 aloud. Knowing people are not their affiliation, and that they have both blind spots and faith simultaneously, who is your "Roman soldier” or “outsider/unworthy one”?
- Is there anyone in your life who has been a good example of being a person with both known blind spots AND humility, displaying how to be open to repentance and change?
- How does one become diligent or obsessed with God’s reign (over the kingdoms of this world/parties of this world)?