Shameless Audacity
Sermon Notes
Domination story (Romans)
Revolution story (Zealots)
Purification story (Pharisees)
Victimization story (Samaritans)
Isolation story (Essenes)
Consumption story (Landowners)
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- Matthew 4:17
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;
6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’
7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
9 So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
- Luke 11:1-13
Table Group Resources
Mixer
What fashion trend you followed was very cool at the time, but now looks ridiculous?
‘Neighborly’ - Daily Devotional
To get the Daily Devotionals delivered to you every morning, text ‘dailydevotional’ to 97000.
In Pastor Harry’s 3/2/21 entry, God Is, he says: “The Bible is primarily about SomeOne to know... not Something to do!” Spend some time reading each of the descriptions of God and think of how He has become real in that particular way in your life. Or maybe it forms a question in you. Write these down and use them in your prayers. God likes to know that you know Him!
In Pastor Pam’s, 3/6/21 entry, Living in Laodicea, she asks: “God is doing something in me, in us! Do you feel it?” Has your fire for Jesus grown dim? What are some ways that you believe God is reigniting it? How do you respond to Him as more than a conqueror?
Sermon Questions
Scripture: Matthew 4:17; Luke 11:1-13
In the intro to this series, Pastor Jared said that the human heart loves a good story - and we all have one. Out of the story frameworks he gave, which one resonated as the one you are telling yourself?
● Domination Story - Romans (If they would just do what we tell them to do...)
● Revolution Story - Zealots (Maccabees revolt vs Jesus’ entry on Palm Sunday)
● Purification Story - Pharisees (If everyone would act the way I act...)
● Victimization Story - Samaritans (victims and villains)
● Isolation Story - Essenes (Lock our doors and keep the bad stuff out.)
● Consumption Story - Landowners (If we could have more stuff...)
Either personally, or globally, is there an example right now of how the way you see the world conflicts with the way another person sees the world? What has happened to that relationship?
How do you tend to relate to God? As boss/employee, or Father/child? What misconceptions about God did this message shake loose? What helps you to better understand God as your Father?
How does knowing that God will always give you what you need, maybe not what you want, impact how you pray? (Have you been asking for a scorpion, but He gives you something different instead?)
Pastor Jared describes ‘shameless audacity’ (Luke 11:8) with words like “rude, annoying God, persistent, relentless, child-like.” How will this description impact how you will pray now?
Go Deeper - with Goodbook
Dr. Mark Strauss and Pastor Ken Ingold
Week 8: Exile and Return
The message of the Babylonian exile is that unfaithfulness has consequences, but God is always ready to receive back his wayward children. Can you describe some time you have seen this in your life or in the life of someone you know?
The central theme of the book of Daniel is that God is sovereign in human history. Even when events seem to be disastrous, God is at work. What are some examples of this in human history or in your life?
The message of Esther is that God is at work, even when we don’t see him. Can you think of examples when God has been behind the scenes all along, but you did not realize it?
*Are you joining the Goodbook Q&A Zoom on Tuesday evenings? Email ken@thechurchrb.org
Serve
Get your Table Group together and connect with each other on a service project at our next Good Neighbor Day, Saturday, March 20! Register online or in your Church Center app.
Pray
Pray this week over Baptism at Church in the Park next Sunday! Each person that is stepping into the waters is making the public declaration that Jesus is the King of their heart. Celebrate this moment with the LORD as He prepares them this week.
