Greg Gilbert — Philippians 2

Vantage Point: Pharisees (Mark 2:13-17; 3:1-6 and Phil 3:4-9)

Sunday, February 28th - Pastor Kyle Van Tine  

"Vantage Point: Pharisees" (Mark 2:13-17; 3:1-6 and Phil 3:4-9) 

Listen to "Vantage Point: Pharisees" by following this link

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 

What kind of religious traditions have you seen or experienced that actually go beyond the scriptures, or even contradict God’s Word?

Why is it easier to see disobedience in others instead of ourselves?

In what specific ways do you have a condemning and judgmental spirit towards others?

When you think of being a hypocrite, what does that mean to you? The Bible describes a time when Peter was hypocritical (Gal 2:11-13); share a time where you found yourself acting hypocritically. What is involved in the process of moving from honesty to hypocrisy?

What is the motivation behind times when you have behaved hypocritically? What are areas of hypocrisy in your life and how do you fight against hypocritical tendencies?

The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus’ popularity and threated by his growing influence. How have you experienced jealousy in your own life? What tends to provoke you to jealousy and why? When we live in ongoing jealousy and envy of others, what truths are we not believing about the Gospel?

In what areas of your life do you tend to find your value, significance and worthiness apart from the cross of Jesus?

How does the cross confront our self-righteousness?

How does the cross confront our hypocrisy?

How does the cross confront our jealousy?

Why do you think it was so hard for the Pharisees to see these qualities in themselves? Why is it so hard for us? As a group, if you were challenged to help a Pharisee recover, how would you help him/her? What advice and help would you offer? Of that advice, what do you need to apply to your own life?

Summit View "Compelled by Weakness" 2 Corinthians 11:1-12:10

CG Coaching for Week #12 of 2 Corinthians: A Church Compelled 

Sunday, August 23rd sermon by Pastor Kyle Van Tine  

"Compelled by Weakness" - (2 Cor 11:1-12:10)

Listen to "Compelled by Weakness" at this link 

Growing deeper

The biblical picture of the Church in the Bible is a bride. We are the Bride of Christ. Paul sees himself as the father of the Bride, protecting and preparing her to be presented to her Bridegroom, Christ Himself, when He returns to claim His Church. As a father, Paul is ready to defend his daughter the Church from the false doctrine that has threatened to turn her from the path to the altar before the Lord. Satan is always ready to lure the Church away with false promises that our sinful human hearts seek – health, prosperity, power, autonomy, heaven in the here and now. It’s easy for us, the waiting betrothed, to get anxious and seduced by the promises of a different “gospel” as our Bridegroom prepares a place for us. Satan’s seductive and beautiful light distracts the Church from the truth of the Gospel. We must not be tempted to follow artificial light. Beware of messages that claim we can have it all now. Our home is not the here and now. Christ’s life is our example. Paul’s boasting is in his weakness and sufferings for the Gospel. His sufferings were aimed at pointing to Christ’s work reconciling sinners with God. There is nothing else to authenticate the truth of the Gospel. The Christian life is a life that embraces everything counter culturally – weakness, suffering and a sacrificial love for others, so they might be saved. The Church is a place for the weak and lowly and broken - that is its strength.

Read 2 Corinthians 11- 12:10, John 3:16-36, 2 Peter 2 

The Gospel is strange and out of step with the world. When we try to twist the Gospel into the world’s idea of power it becomes useless. The Gospel is not elitist. The end goal of the Gospel is the reconciliation of people with God and with each other. Any message that changes that is false. 

Discuss how the Gospel message is one of reconciliation.

How do counterfeit gospels seek to distort that message?

Evaluate what are some possible counterfeit gospels you might be following in your life. Test those messages against what God’s Word says. 

How are you preparing for the coming of your Bridegroom, Christ?

Jesus Saves! A Sermon on Ephesians 2:1-10

Jesus Saves! 

Jesus saves us FROM death, the world, the devil, ourselves and God's wrath and Jesus saves us FOR life, life, amazement, humility and good works. Rejoice as you listen to this message on the good news of the Gospel.