Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (John 19:38-42), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion… This passage is about the burial of Jesus’ dead body in a tomb. Why might tombs and dead bodies be difficult subjects to think or talk about? Why might it be… Read more »

Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (John 19:28-37), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion… [28, 36-37] Why do you think John is so concerned to show the Scriptures being “fulfilled” in Jesus? What does that mean? What’s the significance of it? [28-29] When Jesus said,… Read more »

Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (John 19:16b-27), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion… [19-20] Kingship is an important theme throughout the Scriptures. Can you think of some places in the Old Testament where this theme is advanced? In the New Testament? Why is the… Read more »

Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (John 19:1-16), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion… [1-2, 16] Even though Pilate publicly declared Jesus “not guilty” three times, he still brutalized, humiliated, and crucified Jesus as if he were guilty. Why, ultimately, was it impossible for Pilate to… Read more »

The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)—of which Ascension is a congregation—had its 46th annual General Assembly last week (June 12-15) in Atlanta, Georgia. Around 1500 pastors and elders from the United States and Canada gathered for worship, fellowship, seminars, and the prayerful work of the church. Here is a helpful article introducing the week-long conference:… Read more »

Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Psalm 139), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion… [1-6] David outlines God’s omniscience (“all-knowing-ness”) in interpersonal ways. Persons search and know; David has been personally known by Yahweh, utterly, in all his ways, words, and even thoughts; and now David is praying,… Read more »

Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (John 18:28-40), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion… [28-35] Case Study… A friend says it is anti-Semitic for John (or the other Gospel writers) to portray the Jews as those behind the murder of Jesus. This person also cites… Read more »

Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (John 18:15-27), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion… Why is it good that the Scriptures give a painfully honest account of Peter’s denial? (There might be several reasons.) Are you personally helped by this account in your own life… Read more »