Zoom Meetings:
Tuesday, 7pm, facilitated by Hannah Baehr
If you’re interested in having your discussion group listed here, contact Pastor Steve
Discussion Questions:
Jesus commands his disciples not to be called “Rabbi,” “father,” or “instructor.” Is Jesus prohibiting the use of all titles within the Christian community (e.g. “pastor” or “elder”)? If not, what exactly is he prohibiting?
Jesus’ seven woes for the Pharisees and teachers of the law are (paraphrased):
- They keep themselves and others out of the Kingdom of God
- They convert people to the wrong kingdom
- They manipulate the truth using religious language
- They obey on surface matters but not on more important matters
- They desire to appear generous but are greedy and self-indulgent
- They desire to appear pure, but they are full of wickedness
- They desire to appear receptive to God’s Word, but they have murdered and will murder God’s messengers
Which among these are the most prominent moral failures among Christians today? Why do you think the Christian community struggles with these issues?
Jesus’ lament in Matthew 23:37 indicates his heart of compassion, even for the most hypocritical and morally suspect members of the religious community. How has God’s compassion and forgiveness ministered to you personally?
In 2 Corinthians 4:2, the apostle Paul renounces “disgraceful, underhanded ways” and commits to an approach to sharing the gospel that he describes as an “open statement of the truth.” Why is that approach so important? What is lost if we do not take that approach?