God working through tragedy

I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts/responses to Mary Duncan's story of how God strengthened her through tragedy, as she shared in our worship time today.

MM

The Real Power of Change

The good works we do in following Jesus' example are not the things that make us right before God, but rather are the things that allow God's Holy Spirit into our lives to make us right. The Holy Spirit is the power that changes us, our work in obedience to Christ is the opening through which He comes. (Like window blinds and light. Opening the blinds only lets the light in, but the light's the important thing)

One glorious fact in all this is that the more the Holy Spirit changes us, the more good deeds we want to do, which enables us to experience more of the Holy Spirit. 

Have you ever experienced God in such a way that it changed the things you did and didn't want to spend your time doing--an experience that transformed your desires? (I'm assuming many of you have)

Please make a post to let us know. 

MM

Jesus' Shocking View of the World

In addition to Jesus' shocking view on death (such that he would tell a woman at her son's funeral not to cry), what are other aspects of his worldview that are radically out of line with the status quo? 

In other words, what are some more examples of things Jesus said that would cause someone to laugh at him (like the women at Jairus' house in Luke 8) or think he was crazy? 

MM

Nothing but the Truth

Two Questions about Truth: 

1. What's the worst thing you've seen happen as a result of someone believing that truth is relative to what each individual wants it to be? 

2. What's the worst example you've seen of Christians conveying the truth without love. 

MM

Bethany Film Project (and sermon question)

For information about the Bethany Film Project.

See the link on the church's homepage at http://www.bethanyredlion.com


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Here's the question stemming from this week's sermon:

Why (and how) are references to Satan overused and abused by some Christians? Why do you think others neglect thinking about Satan at all?

MM

For Sunday School Group on The Nature of The Bible

Here are two links to more detailed information on the topics we discussed in Sunday School today. (For the question on this week's sermon, see the post below) 

http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=ddr5rgsk_41cwsgbm94

http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=ddr5rgsk_637xk8cxfj

Points of Friction

In John 14:15-19 Jesus says Christians can see him and see the Holy Spirit when others cannot. What is an example of a controversy or point of friction that can arise when Christians are guided by that which they see but is hidden from other people?

MM