Only Jesus Truly Saves | Matthew 21:1-17

Sermon Description

The Sunday before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus entered into Jerusalem to much praise and fanfare, because the crowds saw him as the long-awaited king who brings salvation. As we consider our lives and the challenges that we face, we are confronted with a question from Jesus: who or what do we trust for our ultimate salvation?

Discussion Questions

  1. Where is your heart prone to seek salvation apart from Jesus? Why does this specific person or thing hold such sway in your heart and mind?

  2. How can we help each other remember that our ultimate salvation is found in Jesus? How can we keep that thought connected to the fact that Jesus does care about our lives in the here-and-now?

  3. Read through Psalm 118 and identify all the places where the Messiah is pointed to. How does reading the Scriptures with a Christ-focus help you understand the Bible better?

  4. Why is it important to remember our ultimate salvation from Jesus as we  work and serve the poor, the mistreated, and the downtrodden? Why must we never separate spiritual and physical “salvation”?

Prayer Points

  • Pray that Jesus would be your foundation, and your ultimate hope for salvation.

  • Pray for opportunities to serve the poor, administer justice, and care for the fearful—all from the motivation of being given ultimate salvation from Jesus.

More Resources

When I Don’t Have Control | Mark 4:26-29

Sermon Description

Jesus told many parables, simple stories that are used to illustrate profound truths about himself and the nature of his kingdom. In what has been called The Parable of the Growing Seed, Jesus teaches that even though there are so many things in our lives that are beyond our understanding or control, we can trust him with our ultimate salvation.

Discussion Questions

  1. Discussion Questions Why do you think it is so easy for us to buy into the illusion that we have ultimate control over our lives, even when the Bible so often teaches us otherwise? 

  2. Even if it doesn’t feel like it, it’s an act of God’s grace and mercy to remove the heavy burden of “sovereignty” from us. Why do we so often push back on this? 

  3. How is this parable ultimately about Jesus and not about us? Why is it so important to always remember this truth? 

  4. Of the things that we can do (e.g. pray, love, serve), which one(s) is God prompting you to focus on as an area of growth?  

Prayer Points

  1. Pray against the illusion of complete control in our hearts. Pray that God would help us to live in the tension of trusting him and taking action where we can. 

  2. Pray that we would be used by God to bring the love of Jesus and the message of the gospel to those in our lives who are struggling with feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness.

Conflict, Fear, and Comfort | 2 Corinthians 7:2-7

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he acknowledges a season in his life where he was “troubled in every way, with conflicts on the outside and fears within.” When we are honest about the difficulties of life and the fear in our hearts, we can truly experience God’s comfort—a comfort that he often delivers through connection with his people.

Discussion Questions

  1. Of the four ways listed (avoid, escape, trivialize, deny), how are you prone to avoid being honest about the troubles of life and the fears in your heart? Why?

  2. How does Jesus’ life, suffering, death, and resurrection bring us comfort in the here-and-now? Why is it so important to focus on him in this season?

  3. How does God use the community of faith to bring comfort and encouragement in our lives? How can we practice committed connection, even in these difficult days?

  4. How can we be agents of God’s comfort to the outside world?

Prayer Points

  • Pray for God to bring health and well-being to our world in light of all the sickness and hardship.

  • Pray that we would be honest about our hardships, but experience God’s comfort.

  • Pray that we would be able to share the hope of Jesus with a world that needs to know his love, forgiveness, and comfort in troubling times.

Make the Best Use of the Time | Colossians 4:2-18

Sermon Description

In the final section of Colossians, Paul instructs his hearers to make the best use of the time that we have. In particular, he urges his hearers to be diligent in prayer, and to be wise in our interactions with those who are outside of the community of faith. Finally, he lists a long list of people within the community of faith, showing us the beauty of deep relationships that are founded on the gospel of Jesus. When you put it all together, we learn that God wants our interactions with others—both Christian and non—to be an overflow of our interaction with him.

Discussion Questions

  1. Is your prayer life marked by devotion, alertness, and gratitude? Why or why not? How is God stirring you to grow in your prayer life?

  2. Are your interactions with non-Christians marked by wisdom and graciousness? Is your speech “seasoned with salt” and desirable to such people? How does trusting in God’s sovereignty help us in this endeavor?

  3. How do the riches of the Christian community personally bring blessing to your life? How does Jesus invitation into his family shape the way that we interact with other Christians?

  4. Participation in the Christian community will inevitably lead to some heartache because all are sinners. Where have you experienced God’s grace even in the middle of heartache with other Christians?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God’s people will live their lives according to Gospel priorities and purposes.

  2. Pray for opportunities and courage for our church family to boldly share the Gospel of Jesus!

  3. Pray for God’s continued guidance in the forming of the partnership between SCBC and MLBC through the merger.

No Longer Slaves | Colossians 3:22-4:1, Philemon

Sermon Description

Colossians 3 brings up slavery, which is a particularly troublesome and controversial subject in our cultural context. By looking at the letter of Philemon—the short companion letter to Colossians—we see that Jesus radically transforms human relationships, particularly where dynamics of power exist.

Discussion Questions

  1. Where do you have power? Where are you under someone else’s power? How does the gospel inform and transform your relationship to both?

  2. Where does God currently want you to use your authority, influence, and power to lift up those who lack power and influence?

  3. If the Bible is both divine and human, how does that affect our reading? What are the dangers of emphasizing one over the other? Which “side” comes more naturally to you?

  4. Do you personally know any non-Christians who discount Jesus because of passages like Colossians 3:22-4:1? How might a better understanding of the Bible and its cultural context help you share the gospel with such people?

Prayer Points

  • Pray that we would live as slaves to righteousness, not slaves to sin.

  • Pray for wisdom in sharing the gospel with people who largely discount the Bible because of passages like this.

For Further Study

  • ESV Study Bible Footnote on translation of the Greek word “Doulos”

Christ in the Home | Colossians 3:18-4:1

At the end of chapter 3, Paul and Timothy turn their attention to the Christian household, giving instructions for husbands, wives, and children in light of what Jesus has done for us. In fact, the family exists—in the ultimate sense—to live out a demonstration of the gospel.

Discussion Questions

  1. What are the strengths of the nuclear family? What are the weaknesses? Why is it so important that our individual families be connected in an extended community?

  2. Regardless of your gender, family status, etc., where does God want you to grow: love, submission, obedience, graciousness? What practical steps can you take in obedience?

  3. How does the family and its various roles all serve to point to Jesus? How is the gospel our foundation for a healthy, loving family life?

  4. How does the gospel motivate you to want to go and invite others into the family of God?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that you would grow in Christlikeness, more fully reflecting his character in all aspects of your life.

  2. Pray that your family and your life as an individual would serve as a witness to the gospel, inviting people from all walks of life into the family of God.

For Further Reading

Living as God's People | Colossians 3:1-17

After spending two chapters teaching on the supremacy of Christ and refuting false teaching, Paul and Timothy turn their attention to the lives of the Colossian Christians. In this long list of commands and prohibitions, we see that the gospel fundamentally changes how we relate to rules, law, and commandments.

Discussion Questions

  1. When it comes to your relationship to rules and instructions, which direction do you lean: naturally submissive or naturally resistant?

  2. Which areas of the “negative” list are you wrestling with? Relatedly, which elements of the “positive” list do you struggle with and need to grow in? Share with your group.

  3. Read Ephesians 4:25-32 and compare to this list in Colossians? Why is it important to remember that lists like these are not exhaustive but representative?

  4. How is Jesus the perfect fulfillment of all the commandments of God? How can we help one another to grow

Prayer Points

  1. Take time in your group for silent, reflective prayer on these commands and prohibitions. Then collectively, give God praise that our relationship with him is based on Christ’s perfect life, not our own moral efforts.

  2. Pray that we would share the gospel of Jesus, not a list of behaviors that people ought to do. Pray that our lives would look more like Jesus so that we would be effective witnesses.

For Further Reading

  1. Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters by Carmen Joy Imes

Christ is What You Truly Want and Need | Colossians 2:16-23

Sermon Description

  1. In Colossians 2, Paul and Timothy directly address the false teaching that threatens to derail the Colossian church. This false teaching has elements of traditionalism, mysticism, and legalism—but all of these fall short of the gospel. At the end of the day, Jesus is truly all that we want and all that we need.

    Discussion Questions

  1. As you read through this passage, what are the good parts of each of these beliefs and practices? How do they become spiritually harmful when untethered from Jesus?

  2. Do you tend more toward the traditionalist, the mystic, or the disciplined? Ask those in your group for their perspective. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?

  3. How does each element—Sabbath, festivals, angels, visions, and even rules—point us to Jesus? What harm comes when we elevate one of these things over Jesus?

  4. What—if any—of these elements do the non-Christians in your life focus on? How does this clarity help you to share the gospel with them?

    Prayer Points

  1. Pray that no matter your natural disposition or what things tend to grab your attention, you would approach those things with Jesus as central in your life.

  2. Pray that the Spirit would help you to grow in your ability to share the gospel with people in your life who are focused/fixated on various things in life.

Your Christ Isn't Big Enough | Colossians 2:6-15

Sermon Description

In Colossians 2, Paul and Timothy come to the heart of why they wrote this letter: addressing certain false teaching that threatens the spiritual well-being of this church. By forgetting how truly amazing Jesus is, these Colossian Christians were prone to seek out truth and security in other sources. This only can happen when we forget that Christ can’t be overestimated or overstated.

Discussion Questions

  1. Ask those in your group who know you what is “big” in your life? What do you often talk about? What do you most often share on social media? Relatedly, what keeps you up at night? Where do you seek security? What feels like “true” knowledge?

  2. What does it mean that “the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ”? What are the implications of the truth that Christ still exists in a (resurrected, perfected) body?

  3. Jesus’ work at the cross operates at three levels: individual regeneration, corporate debt forgiveness, spiritual victory over the forces of evil. Which one do you tend to think of most often? How are all three levels connected?

  4. As you think of the non-Christians in your life, what things tend to be “big” in their hearts and minds? How can you help them to see that Christ is more loving, more secure, more true?

Prayer Points

  1. Spend some time in personal silent prayer this week (Psalm 131) and see where your mind starts to wonder? Ask Jesus to help your heart focus less on those things and more on him.

  2. As a group, pray that our church would keep our focus on Jesus over and above any other thing.

  3. Pray that God would help you share with the non-Christians in your life how Jesus is the absolute greatest.

For Further Study

  • Selection (ch. 37) from “The Unseen Realm” from Dr. Michael Heiser

The Mystery of Christ | Colossians 1:24-2:5

Paul tells the Church at Colossae that he is striving and struggling for their edification in the knowledge of the Mystery of God revealed.  He also explains that his suffering is helping to complete a part lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

 Discussion Questions

  1. In what ways do we take for granted the gospel-serving suffering of the saints on whose shoulders we stand?  How can we honor their legacy through our faith put into action?

  2. Jesus is the Mystery of God revealed, the Savior of the World!  Who in my life or circle of influence needs to see this mystery revealed before them through my bold and consistent witness?

  3. What Kingdom fruit do I see from my own present or past times of suffering for the gospel?  How can I catch a vision of God’s work in order to stay motivated to persevere in striving to proclaim the Gospel?

  4. In what ways do you give up on Gospel efforts when you encounter challenges beyond your own strength?  How can you grow toward greater dependence on God’s power to work through you?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God will create in us an abiding and compelling passion for proclaiming the mystery of Christ to the world near and far.

  2. Pray for the Persecuted Church and the saints around the world who are currently pouring out  their lives for the Gospel and the Church.   

For Further Reading

All About the Gospel | Colossians 1:15-23

Before Paul and Timothy begin to address the false teaching that threatens to harm the Colossian church, they want to firmly establish their teaching about the gospel. In this passage of Colossians, we see that while the gospel is for us, it is primarily not about us, but about Jesus.

Discussion Questions

  1. What are the implications of the truth that Christ is both fully human and fully God? Where do untruths creep into our modern thinking, and how can we address them with the truth of Scripture?

  2. What other things might contend for primacy over the gospel in the life of a church? What about in your own life?

  3. The gospel requires honesty, change, and grit. Which of these is God most stirring in your heart as something that needs to be addressed? How does his grace empower you to make the necessary changes?

  4. As you consider the quote from Elliot Clark (and the long list of NT verses), how might you need to shift from “sharing” the gospel to “proclaiming” the gospel?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God would help us and individuals and as a church community to be all about the gospel of Jesus.

  2. Pray for boldness to “proclaim” the gospel of Jesus in both word and deed with those in your life who have yet to believe in him.

For Further Reading

  • Evangelism as Exiles by Elliot Clark | There are still free copies available if you don’t have one, inquire at the connect desk.

Christ Loves His Church | Colossians 1:1-14

Sermon Description

Paul and Timothy have deep affection for the church in the city of Colossae. This affection is not arbitrary, but it is a direct reflection of the kind of love that Jesus has for his church. This leaves us with the question: do we love the church that Jesus loves?

Discussion Questions

  1. Read John 15:1-17. How does this teaching from Jesus undergird everything we see from Paul and Timothy in Colossians ch. 1? What words or phrases strike you as similar? How does this contribute to Paul and Timothy’s joy over the church in Colossae?

  2. Share with your group if there have been times where you’ve been hurt by “the church.” If appropriate, make it more specific and less general (e.g. this specific person hurt me). Is there follow up that should happen so you can experience healing and grace? How can your group or the elders of Sound City help you in that process?

  3. Similarly, share with your group if there have been times where you’ve been loved well by “the church.” Again, be specific and give thanks to God for those people.

  4. How does God want you to grow as an individual so that Sound City can be the most loving, fruitful, and Christ-like church that we can be? 

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that we would be deeply connected to God’s love as individuals and as a local church. Pray that this love would help us to love each other better.

  2. Pray that we would be a fruitful church, one that is compelled by the love of Jesus to proclaim the gospel with people in our lives who don’t yet know his love.

Stand Firm and Take Action | Daniel 11:32

Sermon Description

As we pause to celebrate five years as a church family, we look back on his grace to us and look ahead as to where God is leading us. The words of Daniel 11:32 serve to remind us that we are to walk closely with our God, to stand firm on the truth of his Word, and take action toward the goals God has called us to.

Discussion Questions

  1. How can you see God’s hand of grace upon Sound City Bible Church? Share what you are thankful for with others in your group?

  2. Are you more of a “hold firm” person or a “take action” person? How does God want to grow you in both? Who in your life is stronger in the opposite side than you?

  3. What practical steps do you need to take in order to more closely “know” your God? What needs to give? What habits or practices do you need to commit to?

  4. What are you excited about as we head into this next year as a church? What are you excited about as an individual or a family? What area of ministry is God calling you to?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray and give thanks to God for his faithfulness on us as a church family. 

  2. Pray that he would increase our dependence upon him, as we seek to hold firm and take action.

  3. Pray that many people would come to know Jesus and that many lives would be changed through God’s work in us as a church community.

Mary | Luke 1:46-55

When Mary receives the news that she will give birth to the promised Messiah, she breaks out in joyous song. Through this song, we see that her deepest joy is found in God’s plan of salvation. We also see that God is a God who keeps his promises, including one very unique promise to use “the woman” in a special way to usher in the plan of salvation.

Ruth | Ruth 1-4

In the book of Ruth we find a story of disobedience to God, and the tragedy & suffering that so often follows such disobedience. But we also find people of godly character living lives of loyalty, devotion, empathy, and faith. Finally, if we know where to look, Ruth also shows us a foreshadowing glimpse of the advent of Jesus…our great Redeemer & Savior.

Discussion Questions

  1. If obedience to God brings blessing, and grows us in holiness, then why do we have such are hard time staying the course? What is God asking you personally to do about your own struggles with disobedience to him? What do you need to repent about before him and others?

  2. What do we do in those lonely and difficult times of suffering in our lives when we can be tempted to believe that God is far off, or worse that he’s abandoned us. Do you every feel that way? How might we fight feelings like that, that rob our joy in Christ? How do the Scriptures encourage us to respond to such feelings? Make a list of all the promises of God that might encourage you to really embody this truth in your daily life, and then share it with others.

  3. What are the truths about Jesus that are foreshadowed in Boaz? List the ways you can think of, and how Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of each one of them. 

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God would increase our obedience to him, for his glory and for our good.

  2. Pray that God would protect us from the schemes of the enemy, who would have us believe God has abandoned us. Pray that God would daily remind us through his Word, and through his people, that he is indeed with us, and that nothing can separate him from us. 

  3. Pray with thanksgiving that Jesus is our kinsman redeemer, and pray that he would redeem a great many others in and through each one of us who is part of the Sound City Bible Church family.

Bathsheba | 2 Samuel 11-12 (Suffering)

Sermon Description

The story of Bathsheba is a story of incredible sin on the part of a powerful ruler, King David. His sin has devastating effects on the lives of everyone around him, not least of all Bathsheba. But when we see the grace of God revealed in Bathsheba’s descendent, Jesus, we see that the “second David” perfectly did what the first David failed to do: lay down his life for his bride.

Discussion Questions

This week, due to the sensitive nature of the content presented, consider having the men and women meet separately for a frank discussion of sexual sin, sexual abuse, and freedom in Christ.

  1. If you have been the victim of sexual assault or misconduct, please pause to consider before simply bringing it up in your community group. Maybe reach out to the leaders first, or ask to meet with one of the pastors.

  2. If you are trapped in sexual sin, go to members of your group (men with men, women with women) and confess immediately. 

  3. Consider and discuss the idea that David’s sin in 2 Samuel 11-12 broke all ten commandments. If this is true, how so?

  4. How does Christ take our shame upon himself and wash us clean? What other verses in the Bible about cleansing/washing/etc. have been  encouraging to you? Share with your group.

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that we would individually and corporately put sexual sin to death by God’s grace.

  2. Pray that our church community would be a safe place for people to heal from the wounds of sexual abuse.

Rahab | Joshua 2, 6

Sermon Description

In Matthew 1, Rahab the prostitute is listed as one of the ancestors of Jesus. Her story, which is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua, is a story of remarkable faith and trust in the God of Israel. From her story, we see that God delights in showing his goodness through the faith of people who are deemed weak and outcast by society.


Discussion Questions

  1. What is the connection between true faith and action? How can this connection be misunderstood or misconstrued?

  2. How can success and prosperity be an inhibitor to genuine faith? How might your own faith be negatively affected at times due to success and prosperity?

  3. What sorts of things are you prone to put your trust in over-and-above God? How do those things ultimately fail us? How can we help each other see those areas of misplaced trust?

  4. Why does God prefer to show his grace and glory through the down-and-out, the weak, and the despised? Why is it such good news that Jesus came in weakness and humility?


Prayer Points

  1. Pray that God would increase our faith, causing us to trust in him at a deeper and deeper level.

  2. Pray for deeper humility and a willingness, like Jesus, to be associated with the outcast.

  3. Pray for faith to believe that God would save people in your life who have yet to come to know Jesus.