Ross Road Community Church - Podcast

SERMON NOTES Time is not a resource to exploit, but a sacred gift to share. Cultural Undertow vs Biblical Reality to Stand On Time is Scarce vs. God is Eternal and Abundantly Generous Significance is Earned vs. Jesus Accomplished All Things Commodifying People and Idolizing Tasks vs. Time is Meant for Love A Case Study (Luke 10:38-42) Living it Out Abide in silence with Jesus. Dwell in Scriptures;...

SERMON NOTES Stay with Jesus this summer Remain in Jesus (hold onto his words) obey his commands (love one another) receive complete joy (friendship with God) produce fruit. Questions for reflection: How will you remain with Jesus this summer? What practices do you need to be intentional about that will enable you to stay with Jesus throughout this season?

SERMON NOTES True children of God love their enemies" The Old Testament Command Jesus Teaching Implications for Our Faithfulness For further reflection: Is there anyone in your life that you would consider an enemy? What might it look like to follow Jesus instructions regarding that person? Start with the practice of praying Gods blessings over their life.

SERMON NOTES Kingdom people are like their King when they refuse to retaliate. The Old Testament Command Jesus Teaching Implications for Our Faithfulness: Nonresistance__________________________ Nonresistance__________________________ Nonresistance__________________________ For further reflection: Why do you think Jesus prioritizes nonresistance when it is so countercultural and difficult to do? W...

SERMON NOTES Kingdom people are truthful people The Old Testament Command: Jesus Teaching: Implications for our Faithfulness: Put it into practice: Do an audit of your speech each day this week. How truthful was it? When were you tempted to tell a half-truth, exaggerate, or outright lie? How does your connection to Jesus help you be truthful?

SERMON NOTES Marriage, as a gift of God, is intended to be a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. The Old Testament Command: Jesus Teaching: Implications for our Faithfulness: Questions to ponder: How has divorce impacted your life or the lives of people you know? How does Jesus teaching here agree with or disagree with current cultural thinking about marriage and divorce? How can you st...

SERMON NOTES We renounce: Pride and Fear We announce: Our confidence is in God We affirm: 1 John 4:18 Colossians 3:12-14 We commit to act: We clothe ourselves in humility toward one another in love. The Challenge of Fear (Luke 1:26-33) The Temptation of Pride (Luke 1:34-38) The Song of Humility (Luke 1:46-55) For reflection: Where in your life are you wrestling with fear and/or pride? How can you...

SERMON NOTES Burdens Bodies Time Question to ponder: What am I prioritizing over my relationship with Christ? How am I keeping myself busy?

SERMON NOTES God desires radical reconciliation from a transformed heart, made possible only through Jesus. 1. The Problem of Interpretation Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17) and reveal its true intent. 2. The Heart of the Law Matthew 5:21-22 3. The Call to Radical Reconciliation Matthew 5:23-26 Romans 12:18 4. Our Only Hope: The Righteousness of Jesus For reflect...

True obedience starts with Christ The context How does Jesus fulfill the Law? True greatness in the Kingdom Consider: How does Jesus fulfill the OT Law in his proclamation of the Kingdom of God? What implications does this have for your life and discipleship? How does Christs obedience inspire yours?

SERMON NOTES Gods wisdom leads us to new life through the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ Human Wisdom vs. Human Foolishness Religious and Secular Wisdom Gods Foolishness Gods Wisdom For further reflection: How does God demonstrate his wisdom in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Have you received Gods wisdom into your life or are you still trusting in your own wisdom?

SERMON NOTES Jesus took the humiliation of the cross for us The pain of the cross The shame of the cross The offence of the cross The gift of the cross Reflect: How has shame played a role in your life? How does Jesus decisively deal with your shame through the cross? How can you live in the truth of what Jesus has done for you?

SERMON NOTES The cross is the centre of the Christian faith Why wed rather remove the cross Why we cant remove the cross To reflect: How will you focus your attention on the cross this Easter

SERMON NOTES "We must speak about people according to who they are in Christ." We Renounce: Slander against our identity in Christ We Announce: We are complete in Christ We Affirm: 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Ephesians 4:29 We Commit to Act: We speak life-giving words to each other. What Christ has Done Our Identity in Christ as a New Creation Speaking the New Story Follow up: Pray: Ask God to help you...

SERMON NOTES "True faith doesnt fit in with the world" The inevitability of persecution The true reason for persecution The way to persevere through persecution Follow up: Take some time to read about the persecuted church worldwide at opendoorscanada.org. Then pray for believers who are suffering for their faith and ask God to give themand uscourage to live out our faith in Jesus in spite of diff...

SERMON NOTES Kingdom people always pursue peace Shalom/Eirene The Church Peacemaking How Jesus brings peace For reflection: How does Jesus teaching on peacemaking influence my life? In what area of life (family, work, friendships, church, etc.) do I need to invest in the hard work of peacemaking?

SERMON NOTES Those who are pure in heart will see God Pure in heart The problem The solution Questions to ponder: What does it look like to pursue purity in heart while also realizing that we cannot reach that without Gods help? What do you need to work on, with Gods help, to see God more clearly?

SERMON NOTES Those who have received Gods mercy freely give it to others What is mercy? Two expressions of mercy: The challenge of mercy: Questions to consider: How has God been merciful to you? Make a list. How does Gods mercy to you inspire your mercy towards other people? Take some time to ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you are already practicing mercy in your life and where you could pr...

SERMON NOTES True disciples are desperate to live Gods way Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. For reflection: How does my life reflect the righteousness of God? In what areas of my life do I truly hunger for God? In what areas of my life has my hunger grown weak?

SERMON NOTES Because God faithfully blesses us, we can be meek. What does it mean to be meek? 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Mark 10:42-45 Matthew 11:28-30 Meekness is restful confidence in God's rule. Psalm 37:1-9 Isaiah 30:15 They will inherit the Earth To reflect: Where in your life do you tend to try to take control rather than being meek? What are some results that you are grasping and may be causing y...

SERMON NOTES Through mourning, God transforms our grief into grace 1. Mourning the Weight of Sin (2 Cor. 7:10, Luke 6:25, Ps. 119:136) 2. The Promise of Comfort (Ps. 34:18, Eccl. 7:4, Rev. 21:4, Ps. 30:5) a) Gods Comfort is Personal b) Gods Comfort is Transformative c) Gods Comfort is Certain 3. Grief can become a Gift (Rom. 8:18, Isa. 35:10) For Further Reflection: What grief are you currently ca...

SERMON NOTES Those who are poor in spirit recognize their desperate need for God Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven So what? To reflect: What does it look like to be poor in spirit, according to Jesus? What is the opposite of being poor in spirit? Spend some time in prayer this week, thanking God that He has done for you what you couldnt do for yourself.

SERMON NOTES What do we need to know in order to read the Sermon on the Mount well? The Sermon on the Mount is Part of Matthews Gospel The Sermon on the Mount is Carefully Constructed The Sermon on the Mount Summarizes Jesuss Teaching on Kingdom Life The Sermon on the Mount Challenges and Comforts Response: Set aside some time this week to read the Sermon through, in its entirety. If you can, do t...

SERMON NOTES We pray so that we can know the heart of God Prayer Action Plan: We Renounce - Quenching the Spirit We Announce - We are the temple of the Holy Spirit We Affirm - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Eph. 4:30 be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit; singing and making mu...