Tamar | Genesis 38:1-30

Sermon Description

The genealogy of Matthew chapter 1 raises many important questions, questions like “why are these women included in the lineage of the Messiah?” As the story of Tamar demonstrates, God’s grace is bigger than our sin or the mess that we find ourselves in.

Discussion Questions

  1. The Bible is an incredibly honest record of the people of God. Do you practice total honesty with trustworthy people in your life? Why or why not?

  2. Why is Tamar commended in Scripture? Despite her clearly immoral choices, what can we learn from her example?

  3. Where do you feel like you’re facing an impossible choice? How can you be assured of God’s grace in your situation?

  4. If Jesus’ grace is greater than our sin, how does this inspire you to pursue the mission of Jesus and sharing the gospel with non-Christians?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God would give you grace and wisdom in the messes of life.

  2. Pray that God would open opportunities to share the gospel with friends and family who are far away from God and feel caught in the middle of the mess.

How Does It End? | Daniel 12:1-13

The final chapter of the book of Daniel continues to point its readers forward to a day when God acts decisively to put an end to evil and suffering. By trusting in God’s sovereign control, Daniel’s readers are able to persevere, even in difficult circumstances, because they know that their ultimate vindication awaits: the resurrection from the dead.

Discussion Questions

  1. Looking back through this series in Daniel, what truths have most stood out to you? Where have you been challenged or experienced growth?

  2. Where are you currently experiencing hardship or suffering? How does a trust in God’s sovereignty help you to know that your suffering is never in vain?

  3. Which side of the tension do you naturally lean toward: mercy or justice? How does God want to grow you to hold both in tension? How do we see both in the cross?

  4. How does a right belief in God’s sovereignty actually empower us toward action? How does it fuel us to share the gospel, to live holy lives, and to persevere?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God would help us to trust his sovereignty in all of life’s ups and downs.

  2. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel, even as you seek to live a pure and godly life before him.


Christ vs. AntiChrist | Daniel 11:2-45

Sermon Description

There are few subjects in the Christian faith that generate as much controversy as “the antichrist.” And Daniel ch. 11 is one of the main biblical passages that contributes to the discussion. But as Christians, our call is to be wise about evil, but spend more time focusing on the perfect Messiah who has defeated the forces of evil.


Discussion Questions

  1. How does Daniel 11 help you have confidence in the trustworthiness of the Scripture? How do these historical events increase your trust in God and his Word?

  2. Read Romans 16:17-20. Are you someone who is wise about good and innocent of evil? Where might you be cavalier in your interactions with evil and darkness?

  3. Where does the antichrist show up in your own heart? How is Jesus calling you to put these desires to death by the power of his Spirit?

  4. How does God want you to focus on the real enemy and less on the enemies that capture your attention and imagination?


Prayer Points

  1. Pray against the forces of evil that are alive and well in our world. Pray that God would give us wisdom to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy.

  2. Pray for those in your life who have been captured by the “spirit of antichrist.” Pray that God would use you to break through their objections so they could come to know the love of the Messiah.


Spiritual Warfare | Daniel 10:1-11:1

Sermon Description

Apocalyptic literature gives us a peek behind the curtain, a look at the spiritual realities that are happening all around us at all times—realities that we are largely unaware of. In Daniel 10, we are made aware of spiritual battles that are always raging. But in Christ, the victory has been won.


Discussion Questions

  1. Read Genesis 11:1-9, Deuteronomy 32:8, and Psalm 82. How are “the nations” and the “gods” of this world connected? How does this perspective help you view the world differently?

  2. Why should we take the realities of spiritual warfare seriously? Conversely, where could we go wrong with a focus on spirits and spiritual warfare.

  3. How is Jesus our only hope against the forces of darkness? How can we live in the tension of his “already” defeat of evil but the “not yet” of his final victory?

  4. How do passages like Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Timothy 2:26 help us to view our non-Christian friends and neighbors? How do these truths help us to have grace and love for them even when we disagree?


Prayer Points

  1. Pray against the forces of spiritual darkness in your own life, your family, our church community, our neighborhoods, cities, nation, and world.

  2. Pray for those non-Christian friends and neighbors in your life, that Jesus would deliver them from the kingdom of darkness and bring them into the kingdom of light.

  3. Pray for Jesus to return soon and bring his victory to its final culmination.


Seventy Sevens | Daniel 9:20-27

The “seventy sevens” passage in Daniel 9 is considered by most scholars to be the single most difficult section of Scripture to understand and interpret. With its complex series of dates and cryptic language, it leaves most people scratching their heads. But when considered in light of Torah instruction regarding Sabbath and the explanation of 2 Chronicles 36, the point becomes much more clear: God cares deeply that we obey his command and invitation to rest.

Discussion Questions

  1. How do you deal with the tension that God discloses divine secrets to us, yet also leaves us with mystery in the details of life?

  2. Why do so many of us find it so hard to rest?

  3. Share with your group your regular practices of rest: daily, weekly, and beyond. Where do you need to make changes to have rest that is intentional, regular, and Christ-focused?

  4. Do you truly believe that, like Daniel, you are “greatly loved” by God? If not, what wrong beliefs or hurtful experiences may be affecting your ability to accept that reality?

Prayer Points

  1. Take time on your own this week to practice silent, restful prayer. Start with 5 or 10 minutes, and simply meditate on one particular aspect of God’s character or the gospel. Don’t be discouraged when you find that your mind will wander all over the place. Simply come back to that thought and ask God to help you focus on his presence.

  2. Pray for people in your life who don’t know Jesus and are running from one thing to another seeking fulfillment and meaning, when they could have it in Jesus.

Daniel’s Prayer | Daniel 9:1-19

Sermon Description

As Daniel reads the Word of the Lord given through the prophet Jeremiah, he is moved to prayer and repentance. Repentance is considered by many in our culture to be a dirty word. But when correctly understood, it is a gift from God to draw us closer to him and to free us from our burdens.

Discussion Questions

  1. How healthy is your prayer life? What aspects of prayer are strengths for you? What aspects need to grow?

  2. How does Scripture help us in our prayer? Is it possible that you struggle in prayer because of a lack of engagement in God’s Word?

  3. Do you sit over culture as a “judge” or a “servant”? How is prayer connected to this proper perspective?

  4. How does God use prayer to transform us to be more like Jesus? How is Jesus’ prayer our greatest hope?

Prayer Points

  1. Spend more time than usual in group this week praying. Take time for repentance, and pray for the needs of each other. Pray for our cities, state, and nation, that we would turn to Jesus for grace. Pray for people in your life who have yet to meet Jesus.

The Ram and the Goat | Daniel 8:1-27

In chapter 8, Daniel receives another vision of the future regarding hardships that the people of Israel will endure. And while he receives an explanation from the angel Gabriel, the explanation is only partial, leaving other questions unanswered. When we suffer, we want answers, and yet what we most often receive is the gracious offer of God’s presence with us.

Discussion Questions

  1. Who in your life have you watched endure hardship in a really good way? What was it about their example that was inspiring?

  2. Why do we want answers—information, dates, results—when we are suffering? Why do we think it will always help? What if it doesn’t?

  3. Where are you currently facing hardship? How does Jesus’ suffering bring you peace?

  4. Of the non-Christians that you know, who is currently suffering? Is there something specific God wants you to do for them to show them God’s love and presence?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray for those in your group, your family, your neighborhood, our church community, who are currently going through a period of suffering. Pray for relief from their hardship, and pray for them to know that God is near as they endure.

  2. Pray that we would be the kind of disciple who would trust God even when we don’t have all the answers.

Son Of Man | Daniel 7:1-28

Sermon Description

It is not an overstatement to say that Daniel 7 may be the most influential chapter in the Hebrew Scriptures when it comes to the life and work of Jesus. As we approach this challenging section of apocalyptic Scripture, there is great hope to be had in trusting Jesus, even as the nations rage.


Discussion Questions

  1. What are the different genres of literature in the Bible? How does each genre contribute something to the overall collection? Why is “apocalyptic” important?

  2. What fears do you have when it comes to understanding the Bible? How can we help each other have confidence as we search the Scriptures for truth?

  3. Why might Daniel 7 be the most important section of the Hebrew Bible when it comes to understanding the life and ministry of Jesus? Consult the PDF of “Son of Man” references for understanding how important this is to the life and teaching of Jesus.

  4. Where are you currently experiencing stress, worry, fear, and confusion? How does Jesus step in and help us in that state?


Prayer Points

  1. Pray that Sound City Bible Church would be the kind of church who diligently searches the Scripture for truth, guidance, and comfort in a harsh and sinful world.

  2. Pray for opportunities to share the Son of Man with those who have yet to come to faith and are experiencing the hardships of this fallen world.

Man and Animal

From Nebuchadnezzar’s madness to prophetic visions of goats, rams, and lions, the book of Daniel is chock-full of references to animals. When we understand that the central hero of the book is one like a “son of man,” we can better live out our true vocation  as God’s image-bearers in the world.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why is it important to define “image bearer” not as some ability that we possess but as what it means to be human? What are the implications of being an “image bearer”?

  2. Why does pride and sin make us act like animals? How do we see this lived out in our world? How do you see it play out in your own life?

  3. Why is it important that Jesus is the perfect image-bearer of God? How is it good news for us that he perfectly lived in that space between angels and animals?

  4. What does it mean for us to be good stewards as followers of Jesus in the north Puget Sound suburbs? How can we work while we await the final return of Jesus?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God would continue to restore his image in you, “from one degree of glory to another” as you grow in sanctification.

  2. Pray for opportunities to go into the world and exercise God’s wise and loving rule. Pray for opportunities to share about Jesus, the one who is the perfect “image of the invisible God.”

The Lion's Den | Daniel 6:1-28

Sermon Description

The last story in the book of Daniel is arguably one of the most famous stories in the entire Bible: Daniel in the Lion’s Den. Through this account, we learn that exiles will only be able to endure if they deeply rely upon the Lord through prayer.


Discussion Questions

  1. Why can we trust the Scriptures even if we don’t have all the information (historical or otherwise) that we might want?

  2. What can we learn about the nature of being an exile from this chapter of Daniel’s life? How does this story encourage us to not put our ultimate hope in human political rulers?

  3. Consider the parallels between Daniel and Jesus. How can we find inspiration from the life of Daniel? And how is that different from finding living power from Jesus?

  4. How does Daniel encourage us to be public with our faith? What fears and insecurities keep you from loving non-believers by sharing the gospel with them?


Prayer Points

  1. Pray that Sound City would truly be the type of church that is deeply committed to both Scripture and prayer.

  2. Pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done in the north Seattle suburbs. Pray that he would use us to share his kingdom.

Writing On The Wall | Daniel 5:1-30

Sermon Description

Daniel is now an old man, and a young, impetuous ruler named Belshazzar sits on the throne of Babylon. As Persian forces gather to conquer Babylon, the hand of the Lord appears in the Babylonian throne room; a sign of great terror for the wicked king, but a sign of great comfort for the exiled Hebrews.


Discussion Questions

  1. Read 2 Kings 24:10-17 and 2 Chronicles 36:5-8. Why do all these writers mention the “vessels” from the house of the Lord? What is their significance in the story of Daniel?

  2. How is “the hand of the Lord” both a symbol of his judgment and his grace? What verses come to mind for you when you hear this phrase?

  3. How did Jesus experience both the hand of God’s judgment and redemption? How is this good news relevant to us?

  4. As a Christian, the “hand of the Lord” should now be a source of great comfort, but is there anywhere this phrase brings fear in your heart? Why? How can we help one another think differently about this phrase?


Prayer Points

  1. Pray that you would walk in humility before the Lord and others, and that you would experience God’s hand of grace, power, and providence.

  2. Pray for the non-Christians in your life to be humbled before the hand of the Lord so that they can experience his grace and redemption.


Pride and Humility | Daniel 4

Sermon Description

Nebuchadnezzar has another dream, and once again requires the assistance of Daniel to interpret its meaning. In the dream, God warns Nebuchadnezzar that if left unchecked, his pride and arrogance will lead to his downfall. For Christians, the passage serves as a comfort—God is sovereign over even the most prideful kings—and as a warning: none of us are exempt from the corruption of pride.


Discussion Questions

  1. What are the differences between good and bad pride? How can we cultivate a healthy self-respect while actively fleeing from sinful pride?

  2. When pride shows up in your life, what does it typically look like? How can those who are closest to you help you to see your pride? How can you practice humility by truly hearing their perspective and learning from them?

  3. In what ways did Jesus display humility during his earthly ministry? How is the cross the ultimate example of humility? Why is Jesus’ humility our only hope?

  4. How can we demonstrate gospel humility to our prideful culture and broken world?


Prayer Points

  1. Pray that you would pursue humility so that God would not have to break you of pride through hardship and discipline.

  2. Pray that we would demonstrate gospel humility to our family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers who don’t yet know our humble King Jesus.

The Fiery Furnace | Daniel 3:1-30

Sermon Description

The story of Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego is one of the most memorable stories in the Bible. It is also one of the most misunderstood and misused. This story does inspire us to remain faithful to God even under pressure. But the more that  we truly see God’s faithfulness, the more we can find the courage to face life’s trials and temptations.


Discussion Questions

  1. While we might not face something as extreme as this “bow or burn” tale, where do we face pressure to bow to false idols in our culture?

  2. What temptations do you struggle with? Where might you be tempted to give in to temptation, even though it won’t necessarily help you avoid trials?

  3. What trials are you currently facing? How does Jesus want to use his word and his people to reassure you of his love for you?

  4. How is Jesus the real hero of the story of Daniel 3? How does keeping him as the focus actually empower us to live courageous lives?


Prayer Points

  1. Pray that we would treasure Jesus more and more, so that we would have the courage to say “no” to temptation, and the strength to face life’s trials.

  2. Pray that our courage and resolve would be a witness, even to people seemingly as far away from God as Nebuchadnezzar.



Wisdom and Power | Daniel 2:1-49

Humans—both ancient and modern—seek out knowledge and wisdom so that they can have some semblance of power and control in a chaotic and frightening world. True wisdom and power belong to God alone, and he gives them with those who come to him through Christ Jesus.

Discussion Questions

  1. Consider the similarities between the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) and the story of Daniel. How is Daniel presented as even greater than Joseph? How would Daniel’s story be particularly encouraging to the Israelites in exile at the time?

  2. When you are tempted to seek wisdom apart from Christ, what sorts of things grab your attention most easily? What would those who are closest to you say?

  3. How can we encourage each other as we pursue wisdom from Christ and the Word of God? How can we encourage each other to treasure God’s Word more and more?

  4. How can we share the gospel in the middle of a culture that seems to be declining or deteriorating? How might it encourage us when we remember that all earthly kingdoms decline?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray for wisdom and might that comes from God alone. Pray for the ability to resist the allure of mere human knowledge and power.

  2. Pray that your confidence and hope in Jesus would grow so that you are more excited and willing to share the gospel with others in your life.

Living As Exiles | Daniel 1:1-21

Sermon Description

The book of Daniel tells the story of one of the darkest days in Israel’s history: the exile. Yet despite the difficulty of these days, we see that God is always working behind the scenes to bring about the hope of restoration. Because of this, we can remain faithful to God even while we live in a world that is not our final home.

Discussion Questions

  1. What stood out to you from Daniel 1? What questions do you have? What are you hoping to learn or see as we study this book?

  2. Why does the Apostle Peter call us “exiles” and “sojourners”? How does this help us to relate to the people of Israel in the exile?

  3. Where are you tempted to compromise your faith in the little things? How does this story help us find the courage to be faithful even when it seems small?

  4. When it comes to our sinful culture, are you more prone toward the fight impulse or the flight impulse? How does God want you to grow in faithfulness and service to your city?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God would use our time in the book of Daniel to teach us how to live faithfully as exiles and sojourners in this present world.

  2. Pray that we would seek the welfare of our city, and in so doing we would show the goodness of Jesus and the hope of the gospel to those in our lives who have yet to believe.

For Further Study

The Proverbs 31 Woman | Proverbs 31: 10-31

Sermon Description

Proverbs 31 presents us with an idealized portrait of the wisest woman who ever lived. But when we look at idyllic people, our hearts are prone to either pride or despair. Only Jesus is the ideal; the rest of us are growing and making progress as we increasingly rely on his grace.


Discussion Questions

  1. What misconceptions or misunderstandings have you had about Proverbs 31?

  2. How is this idealized portrait of the “virtuous woman” intended to inspire and instruct us, not demoralize us? How can we help one another guard against both pride and despair?

  3. Read Hebrews 10:11-18. What does vs. 14 mean when it says that we have been perfected, but are still being sanctified? How is this truth freeing and life-giving?

  4. Where is God currently showing you your weaknesses and imperfections? Rather than ignoring them or explaining them away, how can they be used to grow in his grace?


Prayer Points

  1. Pray that, in our efforts to pursue wisdom, we would not give place to pride or despair, but that we would increasingly fear the Lord and rely upon his grace.

  2. Pray for opportunities to show non-Christians in our lives that we are not perfect people, but that we follow a perfect Savior.


Wisdom and Words | Proverbs 18:20-21

When God speaks, it is an act of incredible power. As humans who are created in his likeness, our words also carry a great amount of power. People who truly know God will grow in wisdom in what they hear and what they speak.

Discussion Questions

  1. Read Proverbs 18:21. Why do our words carry such power? Also, what does this verse not mean?

  2. Of the various types of harmful words, which one(s) do you struggle with the most? Why is this type of speech able to snare you easily?

  3. What does it mean that Jesus is the true Word of God? Why is this such incredibly good news for us?

  4. How can we help one another to use our words in a God-honoring way, and in a way that builds others up? How might we need to grow in boldness to confront sinful words in our Christian brothers and sisters?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God would give us godly restraint in our speech, and that we would use our words to bring God’s grace and life into the world.

  2. Pray for opportunities to use our words to communicate the good news of Jesus with those who have yet to hear and believe.

The Weight of Wisdom | Ecclesiastes 1-12-18

God has hardwired us to search for knowledge and wisdom. But, as fallen creatures, we often search for that wisdom in places outside of God. As well, the more that we learn and understand, the heavier the weight of wisdom becomes. Only in Jesus can true wisdom for life be found.

Discussion Questions

  1. How does Genesis 1 show that humans are hardwired for knowledge and wisdom? Why is this desire a good thing? Where does it go wrong?

  2. If Proverbs is more “optimistic,” why do we need a book like Ecclesiastes that seems so pessimistic? How is this God-breathed Scripture useful for us?

  3. Why is wisdom so heavy? Why does sorrow increase the more that we learn?

  4. Why do we need Jesus “over the sun” to find meaning in this life “under the sun”? How can we trust him to bear the weight of wisdom?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that we as disciples would seek true wisdom and knowledge in Jesus. And pray that he would help us give the weight of wisdom to him.

  2. Pray that we would be faithful to share the gospel of Jesus with those in our world who are searching for knowledge, wisdom, and meaning from life.


Fear of Man | Proverbs 29:25

Sermon Description

The book of Proverbs repeatedly warns us against something called “the fear of man.” What is the fear of man, and how can we avoid it by fearing God? Guest preacher Dmitriy Spatarel from Resurrection Church Tacoma continues our series in Proverbs.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you struggle with the fear of man? Where does it show up most often in your life?

  2. What does trusting God in those moments of temptation with the 'fear of man' look like for you?

  3. How does the Gospel of Jesus Christ free you from the 'fear of man'?

  4. What does it mean to truly fear the Lord in the right way? How does the Bible portray the fear of the Lord?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that we would truly fear God, and not give place to the fear of man. Pray that in those moments where we are tempted to fear man God’s Spirit would remind us to fear the Lord and seek to please him.

  2. Pray for opportunities to get over our fear of man and share the gospel with those in our lives who don’t yet know his grace.

The Wisdom of Friendship | Proverbs 17:17

Sermon Description

Friendship is one of the most misunderstood and often-neglected virtues in our modern world. But Jesus calls us his friends, his close companions. In the Proverbs, we see much wisdom on what it means to have friendship with Christ and with each other.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think that friendship is so often misunderstood in our culture? What are the ways that our culture gets it right/wrong? How does the biblical picture of friendship stand in contrast?

  2. Why do true friendships always involved risk? How can we help one another to open our hearts and lives to be truly vulnerable in friendship with one another?

  3. Think about the continuum of acquaintance-companion-friend-family. How does the gospel continually move us further down the line into a place of committed closeness?

  4. How do our close, committed, and caring friendships showcase the gospel of Jesus to a world that is fragmented and isolated? How should our friendships be used to further our witness, not hinder it?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God would grow us as people who practice true, biblical, committed, and loving friendships.

  2. Pray that God would heal us from pains that we’ve experienced in friendship.

  3. Pray that our friendships would serve as a gospel witness to a lost and broken world, a world that deeply longs to be loved and known.