| Sermon Discussion Questions |
Sermon Discussion QuestionsJuly 9-10th “Gospel with a Face: Our Enslaved Free Will” by Bill Senyard Questions written by Rick and Dee Gilmore This week Bill continued to concentrate on how to present the gospel to a certain kind of person: ourselves. We will be thinking about how we need to hear the gospel. Paul's will does what it wants. He has a choice, but his flesh is stepping all over his choice. Luther said that we need the gospel “hammered into our heads” over and over. Second century Tertullian came up with the concept of “free will” (liberatum arbitrium). In our hearts we weigh choices as being good or bad and calculate what to do. Augustine added that the free will is captive and enslaved to do what it wants to do. Start by reading Romans 7:14-25. 1) How do you define “will?” Are you responsible for your choices? 2) Are our wills fallen like our hearts, minds and flesh, or is the will somehow neutral? 3) Bill talked about the “Want-to Calculator” as being corrupt and pre-loaded with anti-God motivations. Do you agree? Why or why not? 4) Do you sense that a war or conflict is going on inside you? Describe it. 5) Bill said that our “Chooser boxes" are free to choose but our "Want-to Calculators" are not free. And because our Want-to Calculators are corrupt by sin it feeds the Chooser box with only corrupt thoughts and ideas. How can we break this cycle? 6) What did Bill say was the best response to this conflict in our lives? 7) Which statement best fits with repentance? July 2-3rd "Gospel with a Face - The Holy Imposition" by Bill Senyard Questions written by Chris and Geneva Douville Read Exodus 6:6-8 1) Our culture embraces liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness as the highest of ideals. But God has something greater than this for us -- glory. The glory God gives us provides identity, honor, a sense of purpose, and substance. Do you believe this? Given the society we live in, have you struggled with this idea that God has something greater for you? How? 2) God continues to intervene in our lives, thus the "Holy Imposition", as we often do not look for him. How have you experienced God's "Holy Imposition" in your own life? Was the imposition convenient (probably not)? How did the experience impact your spiritual walk/relationship with God? 3) There is the thinking that when God intervenes in people's live, things get messy. How have you experienced or seen this? How was God's glory shown through that situation or circumstance? |