Know Grow Show

Prayer is honesty

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.
https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/
The Passage
1 Cor 2:9-12, Ps 139:4, Ps 62:8, 1 Sam 1:15, 1 Jn 1:8, Col 2:13, Lam 2:18-20, Ps 55:16
The One Thing
Prayer is honesty
Discussion starters
Know
K1 Do you think God ever gets bored of our prayers? Why or why not?
Grow
G1 Dan mentioned honesty in CONFESSION and honesty in EMOTION. What other things do we struggle with being honest with God about?
G2 Do you think using strong language in prayer is OK?
G3 What is the difference between respect and politeness in prayer? How is honesty a form of respect? How is politeness a form of disrespect?
G4 What other cultural pitfalls do you think that, as Canadians, we need to avoid in our prayer life?
G5 What is one practical way that we can allow ourselves to express emotion more in prayer?
Show
S1 Dan said that there are two truths that can lead us into deeper honesty with God: (1) God already knows (Ps 139:4) and (2) God can be trusted (Ps 62:8). This week before you pray, take a moment or two to meditate on one of these verses and notice if it impacts your prayer.

Prayer is waiting

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.
https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/
The One Thing: Prayer is waiting
Discussion Questions
Know
K1 What ordinary life tasks would you find difficult if you had biceps but no triceps, or triceps but no biceps?
Grow
G1 Lamentations 3:25 says 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who SEEKS him; 26 it is good to WAIT quietly for the salvation of the Lord. How might these be considered opposite sides of the same coin, or opposite muscles in the same group?
G2 Waiting on God and seeking God both have their "dangers of excess". What are these dangers? How does waiting help us fight the danger involved in seeking? And vice versa?
G3 What did you think of the Lectio Divina exercise? Did it come easy to you? Do you think you'll try it again?
G4 What did you feel God say to you through the Lectio Divina? Share with the group if you are comfortable doing so.
Show
S1 Have you signed up for the "Set Free Retreat" (14-15 May) or "the Way" (15 week renewal pathway starting 17 May)? Sign up at www.knowgrowshow.ca/setfreetheway

Prayer is seeking

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.
https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/
Passage: Psalm 27
The One Thing: Prayer is seeking
KNOW
Dan share how pleased he was that he and Wendy decided (last minute) to get off the hop-on-hop-off tour bus in Rome and actually walk down into the Circus Maximus. Have you ever gone out of your way to do something or go somewhere that was inconvenient but you're so glad you did?
GROW
Ps 27:4 How can we live out the spirit of Psalm 27:4 in the practicalities of day-to-day life?
Dan said "God ultimately gives us what we seek". Do you agree? Why or why not?
Luke 10:41-42 Dan said that the main hindrance to single minded devotion is distraction. What should or could Martha have done differently in this scenario?
Some of the distractions to single hearted devotion are sin (Ps 66:18), self (Jas 4:2-3), doing life my way (Deut. 1:43-45), hypocrisy (Isa 1:15), faithlessness (Jas 1:6-8). Which of these idols do you need to declutter from your life?
Ps 27:8 What do you make of the idea of the Psalmist's heart communicating to the Psalmist? Have you ever experienced this phenomenon? What might we call this today?
Psalm 27:8 shows the Psalmist listening to his heart. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things. How do we know when to listen to our heart and when to reject it?
Psalm 27:8 What is God's face? Is it wise to seek God's face (read Exodus 33:20). What is this verse getting at and how can we live it out?
SHOW
Have you signed up for the "Set Free" Retreat (14/15 May) or "The Way" Renewal Pathway (starting 17 May)? If not, visit knowgrowshow.ca/setfreetheway

Prayer is remaining

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.
https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/
Passage: John 15:5-6
The One Thing: Prayer is remaining
Know 
K1 Dan talked about drifting while listening to someone talk. Has Covid made it easier or harder for us to actively listen to others? 
Grow 
G1 What did God say to you through the message on Sunday? 
G2 Dan's main point is "Prayer is remaining". Do you see remain as a positive verb or a negative verb? Why is Jesus so strong in his language in John 15 to remain? 
G3 Dan said that according to John 15:5-6 we either thrive or we wither. Do you agree with Dan or are there other options on the continuum? 
G4 Reflect on your current spiritual state. Is your trajectory towards thriving or withering?  
G5 What are some of the telltale signs to indicate that we might be drifting? 
Show 
S1 Is God perhaps prompting you to take part in the "Set Free" Virtual Retreat (May 14: 7:30 - 10:00pm + May 15 : 10:30-6:00pm) or "the Way" 15 week discipleship pathway (starting on Monday May 17th, 7pm-8pm)? 
S2 What is one thing you will do / are doing this week to remain in Jesus? 

Prayer is an Exchange

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.
https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/
Passage: Matthew 11:25-30
The One Thing: Prayer is an Exchange
In what ways would you consider prayer to be an exchange (a swap or a trade)? 
Matthew 11:25-26 Who does God hide Himself from? Who does He reveal Himself to? Read verses 20-24. What might be God's motivation in hiding Himself? 
Matthew 11:27 Read this verse slowly. Trace the way each person is connected to the other.  
Matthew 11:27 The word "reveal" from verse 25 is repeated here. Why is this important? What is Jesus communicating? 
Matthew 11:28 What are the "requirements" to come to Jesus? Talk about the scene Dan painted of the child standing at the door both excited and afraid to come in.  
What is the yoke that Jesus invites us to take? 

Prayer (Keeping company with God)

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.
https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/
Passage: Revelation 2:4-5
The One Thing: Prayer (Keeping Company with God)
1. Someone with no faith background asks you to define prayer. What do you say?
2. What do you think of the tagline of the series: "Keeping company with God"?
3. Matthew 13:22 – why is it noteworthy that the two things mentioned that can choke the God's word in our lives are (a) the worries of this life and (b) the deceitfulness of wealth
4. Romans 12:2 In what was can prayer be part of renewing our minds? Share your thoughts about how our souls / minds need an oil change.
5. Revelation 2:4-5 Share with the group your experience of being guided through this listening to God exercise. Was there a section of the exercise that God particularly spoke to you through?
6. Why is listening prayer so vital? Why is it so difficult? What percentage of your prayer life is spent listening to God? Think of one way to grow in this area.

Satisfied Jesus (Isaiah 53:11-12) Easter Sunday

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.
https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/
Passage: Isaiah 53:11-12
The One Thing: Satisfied Jesus

Crushed Jesus (Isaiah 53:10)

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.
https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/
Passage: Isaiah 53:10
The One Thing: Crushed Jesus

Cancelled Jesus (Isaiah 53:7-9)

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.
https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/
Passage: Isaiah 53:7-9
The One Thing: Cancelled Jesus
Discussion Questions
1. What are your thoughts of cancel culture and outrage culture? Why are these so prevalent at the moment?
2. Jesus was cancelled through His own silence (verse 7). Why did it seem so important to Isaiah that the Isaiah 53 Messiah figure did not open His mouth or say anything? What point is Isaiah trying to make?
3. Jesus was cancelled through others' silence (verse 8). Think of all the peope who saw Jesus' mistreatment, SHOULD have said something and didn't. What does this add to the Passion story?
4. Jesus was cancelled through the silence of the grave (verse 9). Pretend you don't know the end of the story. Thinka bout someone you've lost. What is it about the silence of the grave that is so poignant?
5. Jesus endured his silencing because He trusted God 1 Peter 2:23. What should we take away from this?
6. Jesus endured his silence because He knew His mission. What was His mission (Isaiah 42:1-3)? How can knowing our mission help us endure in the face of suffering? What is your mission?
7. The prophecy of Isaiah 53:7-9 was described as "the good news of Jesus" in Acts 8:35. What does it say to us that this prophecy from Isaiah led an Ethiopian official to faith in Jesus 700 years later? What was it that convinced you to follow Jesus?

Fall guy Jesus (Isaiah 53.4-6)

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario.
https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/
Passage: Isaiah 53:4-6
The One Thing: Fall guy Jesus
Is your faith more of a simple faith (like the blind man in John 9:25 who said "One thing I know, I was blind but now I see") or are you someone who likes to look under the hood of the faith and try to figure out out how it all works?
Which "Theory of atonement" resonates the most with you: Moral Influence Theory (Jesus is our example, 1 Peter 2:21), Ransom Theory (Jesus is our ransom, 1 Tim 2:25), Christus Victor (Jesus is our hero / victor, Heb. 2:14) or Penal Substitution (Jesus is our substitute, Isaiah 53:6)?  Is there one you struggle with?
Why do you think there are so many ways in scripture of understanding what went on at the cross? Wouldn't it be easier just to have ONE?
Scot McKnight talks about how each theory is like a golf club in a golf bag - each with its own use. Can you think of a situation or scenario in which you would emphasize one Atonement Theory over another?
Stephen Morrison says "“Thankfully, at the end of the day we aren’t saved by theories. We’re saved by Jesus! How that happens may be fun to discuss and theorize about, but only in sight of the fact that it’s the WHO that matters far more!”.  Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
 
Resources reference in the sermon:
7 Theories of the Atonement (Stephen D Morrison)
https://www.sdmorrison.org/7-theories-of-the-atonement-summarized/
Sacrifice and Atonement (video from Bible Project)
https://youtu.be/G_OlRWGLdnw
The Day the Revolution Began (book by NT Wright)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29587429-the-day-the-revolution-began
A Community Called Atonement (book by Scot McKnight)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1037862.A_Community_Called_Atonement