42 min
Restoring Meaning King's Cross Church
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- Christianity
This is a passage where Jesus picks a fight over tradition - including and especially when it comes to the Scriptures. Is tradition a good thing or a bad thing? Is Jesus conservative or progressive? As is often the case with Jesus, he does not so easily fit into our pre-existing grids.Discussion QuestionsIs there a church or Christian tradition that bothers you - What’s the point!? Is there a tradition you know is only tradition (no clear biblical basis), but you would hate to lose it? Are you OK with worship services or something like Christmas looking completely different than what you know?In our passage, Jesus uses the word “tradition” (in Greek) mostly in a negative sense (vs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 13). But it’s used positively elsewhere, in places like 1 Corinthians 15:3 (i.e., passing on what is important). What makes some traditions justified and others meaningless, or even wrong?“Nostalgia” is a powerful force because it gets at our sense of identity through memories. When do your practices override your beliefs, because it brings you back to your past or heritage? What does it look like to have our beliefs override and change our practices? If Jesus wants to do a new thing in you, to what degree are you open to that?Originally Pharisees had a good goal: to remind God’s people of God’s laws through tangible practices, which they forgot during the Babylonian exile. However, these efforts resulted in empty religion. How can you know if you’re just coasting on what know, versus growing in faith and practice?God’s agenda is to get your heart, not have you follow rules. Can you explain or pinpoint a moment when He got your heart and it changed your behavior?The Scriptures are a means of passing on or handing down Jesus. The Word of God thus takes on this metaphor of a meal (i.e., “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4). Are you getting a steady diet of Jesus, or are you feasting on too much junk food? What kind of junk food, and how does that affect you? Do you have any tips or recommendations about getting more of Jesus into your spiritual diet?Gospel: Jesus tradition-ed Himself to us. He handed Himself down so we could get more of Him into us. We don’t get His blessings when we are good - like earning presents from Santa. Getting more of Jesus is only a gift - The Gift - and makes us more like Him.What did you need to hear in the sermon, or during this discussion?
This is a passage where Jesus picks a fight over tradition - including and especially when it comes to the Scriptures. Is tradition a good thing or a bad thing? Is Jesus conservative or progressive? As is often the case with Jesus, he does not so easily fit into our pre-existing grids.Discussion QuestionsIs there a church or Christian tradition that bothers you - What’s the point!? Is there a tradition you know is only tradition (no clear biblical basis), but you would hate to lose it? Are you OK with worship services or something like Christmas looking completely different than what you know?In our passage, Jesus uses the word “tradition” (in Greek) mostly in a negative sense (vs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 13). But it’s used positively elsewhere, in places like 1 Corinthians 15:3 (i.e., passing on what is important). What makes some traditions justified and others meaningless, or even wrong?“Nostalgia” is a powerful force because it gets at our sense of identity through memories. When do your practices override your beliefs, because it brings you back to your past or heritage? What does it look like to have our beliefs override and change our practices? If Jesus wants to do a new thing in you, to what degree are you open to that?Originally Pharisees had a good goal: to remind God’s people of God’s laws through tangible practices, which they forgot during the Babylonian exile. However, these efforts resulted in empty religion. How can you know if you’re just coasting on what know, versus growing in faith and practice?God’s agenda is to get your heart, not have you follow rules. Can you explain or pinpoint a moment when He got your heart and it changed your behavior?The Scriptures are a means of passing on or handing down Jesus. The Word of God thus takes on this metaphor of a meal (i.e., “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4). Are you getting a steady diet of Jesus, or are you feasting on too much junk food? What kind of junk food, and how does that affect you? Do you have any tips or recommendations about getting more of Jesus into your spiritual diet?Gospel: Jesus tradition-ed Himself to us. He handed Himself down so we could get more of Him into us. We don’t get His blessings when we are good - like earning presents from Santa. Getting more of Jesus is only a gift - The Gift - and makes us more like Him.What did you need to hear in the sermon, or during this discussion?
42 min