SCRIPTURE: Acts 2-3 YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What does it mean to have 'all things in common' in the context of a church community? Can you think of a time when you shared something valuable with someone else? How did that experience affect your relationship with that person? In Acts 3, Peter and John healed a man and then called for repentance. Why is this two-step process significant? How can you approach helping others while also encouraging them to think about their relationship with God? How do we balance the need for community with the challenge of including those who might not share our beliefs or values? Are there people in your life whom you find difficult to accept? What steps might you take to open your heart to them? How can the Holy Spirit help us overcome our fears about sharing our possessions or time (or grace !) with others? What responsibilities do you have as a member of the family of God?…

SCRIPTURE: Acts 2 REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What are the significance and implications of the Holy Spirit arriving at Pentecost, especially in relation to the previous events at the Tower of Babel? How do you think the way we communicate today shapes our unity or division in communities and relationships? How does Peter's transformation from denying Jesus to boldly preaching at Pentecost inspire you in your own personal growth? Can you think of a time when you overcame a difficult situation or learned from a mistake? How did that change you? How does the concept of a universal message reflect the importance of inclusivity in faith communities? How can you foster inclusivity in your own environment? How?…

SCRIPTURE: Acts 1:1-9 & 1 Corinthians 3:9 YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS MESSAGE HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Why do you think the disciples were focused on a political kingdom instead of understanding Jesus's mission to address sin? How do you think our society today sometimes falls into similar traps of seeking political or material solutions rather than addressing deeper spiritual needs? In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells the disciples they will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. What does being a witness to Jesus mean to you? What role do you think the Holy Spirit plays in helping us understand God’s love and guidance? Have you ever felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? How did that influence your decisions or relationships? Kenny defined “caretaking” as “curiosity towards what is placed in your care and the kind pursuit of its flourishing.” What do you think of this definition? Have you ever been a “caretaker”? To be effective caretakers, we must listen, trust, and nurture our relationships with God and others. Which of these is easiest for you? Which is most difficult? How can you take steps towards growth this week?…

SCRIPTURE: John 4:1-41 YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Why do you think Jesus chose to engage in a conversation with the Samaritan woman, despite the cultural tensions between Jews and Samaritans? Have you ever felt hesitant to talk to someone because of differences in background or opinions? How can you overcome those feelings to build a connection? How can having an “unhurried conversation” help you see a person more fully? Can you find an echo of your thoughts in the story in John 4? Why is it so hard to avoid “us vs. them” traps in conversations… especially in charged political climates like our own? What might we gain from pushing through these traps and trying to stick it out in our conversations with others? What does Jesus gain? What about the woman from Sychar? How might having longer and more sincere conversations with other people actually model the hope we have in/through our faith? Is it actually “doing any good” to talk with people? The last thing Kenny noted in this story was that Jesus stuck around for this woman (and her friends!). Why is this such an important step in building relationships? Who can you “stick around” for this week?…

SCRIPTURE: Psalms 4 & 5, Mark 1, James 4:7-10, & Hebrews 10:19-24 YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Why is trusting that we are cared for important for us to become caring people? Can you think of a time when you struggled to feel cared for? How did that affect your ability to care for others? How can we use prayer as a tool to experience God's care according to the examples from David’s psalms? Have you ever prayed honestly about your feelings? What might change in your prayer life if you were more vulnerable with God? What can we learn about “dwelling in care” from the example of Jesus? What is the difference between “doing to feel” and “feeling to do,” as discussed in the sermon? Jesus makes time in silence, time in solitude, time in prayer a priority before he takes next steps. How might you follow after him in this? James challenges us to pursue radical and profound humility … what do you think he means? How might this help us experience God’s care? Kenny said that “ Humility is the daily trust that simply being a person among people is enough.” Is it really true that seeing ourselves as “just” people is the key to being lifted up into God’s care? Why might this work? The author of Hebrews says that we can (and should!) have confidence in God’s presence. Why is this okay? What would this look like in your spiritual life? All caring actions flow out from our security and experiences as “cared for” people. What changes can you make in your routines to spend more time dwelling in God’s care for us? Will you make them?…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 139, Isaiah 54:10, Zephaniah 3:17, and Romans 5:8 & 8:37-39 YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS MESSAGE ON HIS SERMON BLOG HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What does “care” mean to you? What sense of the word (receiving, extending, feeling) do you think about first? Do you struggle to feel or believe God cares for you ? What has helped you overcome this struggle in the past? Where do you think these struggles come from? In the sermon, Kenny suggests that we sometimes over-rely on Scripture when we’re looking for answers or for comfort because the more mysterious realities of our faith–our living relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwelling within us–can feel less clear or certain. Can you relate to this? How so? Do you find comfort in your connection to the “big story” of the Bible? Is it really “okay” if God isn’t talking exclusively to us in Scripture? How might this possibility affect the ways you study and read? The first way to feel God’s loving care for us is to accept that we are small parts of a much, much bigger story. Have you ever felt a sense of belonging that came from being one part of a bigger group? Share that story! The second way to feel God’s loving care for us is to talk to God! Ask God how He feels about you this week. This is scary… but it really can provide deep comfort! The third way to feel God’s loving care for us is to participate in a caring faith community. Are there steps you could take towards deeper belonging here at Revolution?…

SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 10:1b-2 & 1 Peter 5:6-10 YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What does “care” mean to you? What sense of the word (receiving, extending, feeling) do you think about first? In the Old Testament, care is compassionate, reflecting a fear that something might be lost . Have you felt this before? In the New Testament, care is more closely related to worry and anxiety . Have you felt this way before? What can we learn from Peter’s insistence that you can “cast your cares upon” God, “because He cares for” you? What is the relationship between accepting worry and caring, as God models it? We often “feel love” for others… but that doesn’t mean we are always willing to listen to their worries or anxieties! Who can you do a better job of listening to this week? Although it is good to care for others by accepting their worries… you can’t hold onto them forever, either! Kenny suggested we think of ourselves as “conduits of God’s care”: what do you think this means? How can we do this? In your life, what have you learned about receiving care? What have you learned about extending care? What have you learned about feeling care for others, for your community, or even for the world more broadly?…

SCRIPTURE: John 9-12 THE MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS WEEK’S SERMON CAN ALSO BE FOUND HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What have you been learning in this series on John’s gospel? Have you felt challenged by anything in particular? Do you feel afraid? What are your specific fears today? It is okay to acknowledge them… and to share them with God. In what ways do you think our fears about life, like fear of not having enough or fear of death, can limit our ability to experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit? In this section of John’s gospel, Jesus is the “Sign”... but how would you describe who or what Jesus is pointing towards? How does the story of “the man who was born blind” in John 9 reveal the limits we put on the Story God might be telling? What do you see in the disbelief of the Pharisees in this story? In the man’s faith (v. 35-41)? How do Martha's words to Jesus about her brother Lazarus show both anger and hope? What does this teach us about processing our emotions? What do you think this means: “Sin and Death might bind you, but they cannot keep you”? How does this idea shape your understanding of freedom in faith? Why do you think it’s important to be open to seeing the world through a larger story? How can this perspective affect your daily choices?…

SCRIPTURE: John 2-6 YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: The first half of John’s Gospel is known as “The Book of Signs.” Have you ever thought about Jesus’s miracles in this way–as “signs”? What do they point to? How do they work? Can you think of a time when you faced a fear or need and how trusting God helped you see beyond it? In the story of the wedding at Cana, how does Jesus's act of turning water into wine challenge our understanding of scarcity and abundance? How do you view abundance in your own life, and are there areas where fear of scarcity is holding you back? Why do you think Jesus emphasizes 'Do not be afraid' in the stories of his signs, and how does this relate to our fears? What fears do you struggle with that might be preventing you from fully experiencing the life Jesus models for us? Where can you grow in your own radical generosity during this season?…

SCRIPTURE: John 1:19-51, Genesis 28:11-19 YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS MESSAGE HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What do you think is the significance of Jesus being called both the “Lamb of God” and the “Chosen One” by John the Baptist? What about “Rabbi” and “Son of God”? What do these names illuminate about Jesus? How can understanding the different roles that Jesus fulfills impact the way you view your own faith and relationship with God? Consider Jesus’s encouragement (which is echoed by Nathanael) to “come and see.” What does this reveal to us about who Jesus is and how he is working? Why is it notable that Nathanael says this, too? The name Jesus gives to himself in John 1 is a reference to a dream given to the Jewish patriarch, Jacob (Genesis 28:11-19). Read that passage… what does it teach us about who Jesus is? What does it teach us about his work and purpose? As “Christians,” we’ve all been given a new name, too! What do you think this name really means? What responsibility does it carry? We’ve probably all had experiences with “Christians” who weren’t great representatives of that name. Take a moment to reflect on these experiences without personal judgment : what was really the source of the hurt? What can we learn about how we might carry this name ourselves? Christian faith is not intended to be practiced alone. How can we support one another as “witnesses” to the name we’ve been given? How can a community like our church work together to carry this name well?…

SCRIPTURE: John 1:1-18 YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What might it mean to “exegete the Father” as described in the sermon, and how does this concept help us understand who Jesus is? Why is it important to recognize both the humanity and divinity of Jesus when understanding His role in revealing God to us? How does understanding Jesus' dual nature influence your perspective on challenges you face as a believer? The first “key” is that Jesus is God’s Words, made understandable. What does this mean to you? Does it teach you anything new about Jesus? The second “key” is that Jesus is God’s Life, made undefeatable. What do you think this means? How might this offer real hope to us? The third “key” is that Jesus is God’s Light, making God’s Way visible. What does this teach us about the relationship between Jesus’s example and how we live our own lives? The final “key” is that Jesus is God’s Purpose, made believable. Talk this through with a friend in your small group, or with God in prayer: how does Jesus really accomplish this? Do you believe in him? What does this mean? What do you think the word “repentance” means? Why do you think it’s understood to be such a crucial part of what it means to be a Christian? One way of understanding our task, as Christians, is to “exegete Jesus” in much the same way Jesus “exegetes” the Father. Have you ever thought about Christian living in this way? What does it illuminate for you? How can you act on what you are discovering?…

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:10 & Acts 6-7 YOU CAN ALSO READ THE MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS MESSAGE HERE ! REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: How does the concept of the 'good life' differ between our culture and the teachings of Jesus? Kenny said the Desert Fathers and Mothers “fear safety more than persecution.” What do you think this means? Have you ever felt this way? What do you think it means to be 'persecuted for righteousness’s sake'? Can you think of a time when you stood up for something you believed in, even if it was hard? How did that experience shape your understanding of righteousness? Kenny said the Pilgrims sought persecution by running away from their neighbors. What mistake was embedded in this decision? Can you relate to this situation? In the final “skip,” Kenny talked about a moment when he imagined persecution as a middle schooler. What mistake was embedded in this attitude? Can you relate to this situation? In the end, persecution isn’t something you should seek out or something you should run from… because it isn’t really supposed to be about you . What do you think of this idea? How might it apply to your current situation? When we follow Jesus’s example–caring for outcasts by stepping in to their situations–persecution can happen… but we don’t need to fear it. Who can you care for and support in this season? Where can you show courage by choosing to model Kingdom values over the values of our world?…