Revolution Church Annapolis Revolution Church Annapolis

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 7:9-10 & 2 Timothy 2:8-25




































YOU CAN ALSO READ THIS WEEK’S MANUSCRIPT HERE!
REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What is the most diverse community you have ever been a part of? What was that experience like?
What diversity do you currently see in our church community? Has it had any impact on your faith or life? How so?
Read Revelation 7:9-10. What do you notice here about diversity in God’s Kingdom? Does this vision challenge some of your current beliefs about God, Heaven, or the Church?
What can “stall out” some of your own efforts to better engage with or appreciate other beliefs/viewpoints/cultures? 
Read 2 Timothy 2:1-25. What advice does Paul give to Timothy about the difficulties of maintaining a healthy and diverse church community? Do you see humility here?
Kenny said that “diversity is the fruit that grows on the tree of humility.” What do you think this means? 
How do you think we might better value and appreciate the unique perspectives, cultures, and gifts of others in our church community? What needs to change?

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:5, Philippians 2:1-4, & 2 Corinthians 12:8-9





































YOU CAN FIND THE MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS WEEK’S SERMON HERE.
REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
How would you define “meekness”? Have you heard it discussed in churches or sermons before? What ideas and feelings does the word bring up for you?
Can you think of a situation where you practiced meekness in your life? How did it change your relationship with others in that situation?
How does meekness challenge the world's view of power and strength?
What is an area, relationship, or situation in your life where you can practice restraint, patience, or grace? What might change if you try?
Have you ever been forced to lean into one of your weaknesses rather than one of your strengths? What happened? 
Why might God be more interested in your areas of weakness? 
Why does Jesus say that the meek “will inherit the earth”? How do you feel about this claim?

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 11:28, 30; Ephesians 5:1-14, & Ezekiel 36:26





































YOU CAN ALSO FIND THE MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON AT HERE.
REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
In Matthew 11, Jesus invites us to come to Him and find rest. How does walking with Jesus make the right work easier?
Why is it important to bring our disobedient behaviors and sins into the light?
Can you think of a time when bringing a personal struggle into the light led to growth or positive change?
What does it mean to live a life of surrender to God? How might you practice listening to the Holy Spirit on a more regular basis? 
What does surrendering to God have to do with welcoming others? How does what we actually discover in our relationship with God retrain us to be inclusive?
The keys to being truly welcoming are grace, patience, and follow through. Which of these comes most naturally to you? Which comes least naturally? How can you stretch yourself in these areas?

SCRIPTURE: Romans 11:13-24

“ A posture of surrender–to God’s capacity for grace, to our God-given capacity to love and include–is what makes radical and enduring welcome work. And the proof that this surrender will work, that we are safe even when it is costly, is the empty tomb on Easter Sunday.”





































REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What is the most welcoming community you have ever been a part of?
Have you ever been a part of a community–or experienced a community–that felt “closed” to you? Has this ever happened in a church?
The big idea this week is that “welcome,” under our own power, won’t last forever. Why do you think this might be?
In Romans 11, what is Paul afraid will happen to the “welcome” of non-Jewish Christians? What does he want them to remember?
Think about your own faith story: have you experienced the “welcome” of God? What did that feel like? What does it make you think about?
What, in your view, is the connection between “welcome” and “surrender”? 
Can you think of a time when you surrendered to God's love in your life, and how did it impact your relationship with others?
Are there people (or people groups) who are hard for you to “welcome”? Why is that?
How can we make sure that a posture of surrender–to God’s love for us and others, to God’s capacity for grace–remains at the center of Revolution’s culture?

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:4, John 11:20-26, & Romans 12:9-18





































YOU CAN FIND THE SCRIPT FOR THIS WEEK’S SERMON HERE.

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Do you have experience with grief you would be willing to share? 
Why is it important to allow ourselves and others to experience the grief process without rushing it?
How does Jesus's response to Lazarus's death demonstrate the importance of empathy and understanding in the face of grief?
What does it mean to be 'Resurrection People' as described in Romans 12:9-18?
How can you apply the principles of being a 'Resurrection People' to your everyday life?
How do the Beatitudes, specifically the second Beatitude about mourning, help us understand the core message of Jesus's ministry?

WEEK 5 // A SAVIOR WHO LIVES
SCRIPTURE: John 20 




































REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Jesus’s biography is the one and only biography in history which doesn’t end in death! Take some time to think this through and wrestle with it: why is this an important belief for Christians? What would it mean? Is it something you believe?
Paul said that “believe” is the most important word in John’s gospel. What do you think John means by this term? What do you think this term means? What are some things you “believe” in?
What do you think John means when he asks that we “believe” in Jesus? What does that include? How do we do it?
When she sees Jesus near the tomb, Mary mistakes him for “a gardener.” Paul suggested this is an important word! What is significant about “gardens” in Jesus’s world? What hope might we find here?
Think about Thomas: is there something wrong with his desire to seek proof of Jesus’s resurrection? How does Jesus respond to him? How do you think Jesus responds to our own doubts?
What do you think “full commitment” looks like for us?