StoneBridge Community Church
All This Took Place #5: Who Are You?
Pastor Cynthia Purvis
Locations & Times
StoneBridge Campus
4832 Cochran St, Simi Valley, CA 93063, USA
Saturday 5:30 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Online "Connection Card"
Thanks for joining us today! Follow this link to a simple online "Connection Card" where you can let us know you were here and share any prayer concerns.
http://bit.ly/2jWI2QtTED: Ideas Worth Spreading
Who Are You? What makes you, well, you? Get to know yourself a bit better with this collection of thought-provoking talks.
https://www.ted.com/playlists/354/who_are_youAlice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Alice's conversation with the Caterpillar can be found in chapter 5 of Lewis Carroll's book.
http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/resources/chapters-script/alices-adventures-in-wonderland/chapter-5/For reflection/discussion
For reflection/ discussion: What do most people ground their identity in? If you were to be honest, what is your personal identity based on? Your job, your family, your place in the world? How would you answer the question- Who Are You?
Who Is Jesus by R.C. Sproul
A fraud, a madman...or God incarnate?
No person in history has provoked such widely divergent assessments as Jesus of Nazareth. Some say He was a cunning fraud, while others say He must have been out of His mind. In many cases His story is altered to suit the fancies of those seeking to make Him an ally for a host of militant causes.
However, as Dr. R. C. Sproul points out in this Crucial Questions booklet, there is compelling evidence that Jesus was something more — that He was, in fact, God in the flesh. By wrestling with the biblical titles for Jesus and the accounts of His life and ministry, Dr. Sproul unfolds the scriptural portrait of Jesus, the Son of God.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/who-is-jesus/id940237103?mt=11No person in history has provoked such widely divergent assessments as Jesus of Nazareth. Some say He was a cunning fraud, while others say He must have been out of His mind. In many cases His story is altered to suit the fancies of those seeking to make Him an ally for a host of militant causes.
However, as Dr. R. C. Sproul points out in this Crucial Questions booklet, there is compelling evidence that Jesus was something more — that He was, in fact, God in the flesh. By wrestling with the biblical titles for Jesus and the accounts of His life and ministry, Dr. Sproul unfolds the scriptural portrait of Jesus, the Son of God.
Who are the Pharisees?
Who are the Pharisees and why do they dislike Jesus?
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/pharisees-sadducees-and-essenes1. Deeds/Actions
Your actions reveal your identity.
For reflection/discussion
For reflection/discussion: When was the last time you served another purely for the joy of serving? Describe that experience. Was it self-sacrificial? Why or why not?
The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen
The modern classic that interweaves the solitude, silence, and prayer of the fourth- and fifth-century Egyptian Desert Fathers and Mothers with our contemporary search for an authentic spirituality.
https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Way_of_the_Heart.html?id=0sN7pivnlokCFor reflection/discussion
For reflection/discussion: Name a role model you had when you were young. What made you want to be like that person? What attracted you to that person? Who is your role model today? Are you a role model to someone else? Who is that? As a role model, is imitating Jesus easy or difficult? Why?
2. Words
Words matter. Words are powerful. Words have meaning.
For reflection/discussion
For reflection/discussion: Have you ever regretted your words? What feelings surfaced when confronted with Matthew 12:36? Does the idea of a film crew following you around and capturing your every word make you nervous or energized?
3. At the heart of the matter is an invitation...
to enter into a relationship with Jesus.
For reflection/discussion
For reflection/discussion: Jesus invites us to come until him, (Mt 11:28-30). How is committing to entering into relationship with Jesus easy? How is it difficult? How would you describe your relationship with Jesus today? Jesus invites those who are burdened to come unto him, (Mt. 11:28). What is burdening you right now? How can your growth group support you in this?
For reflection/discussion
For reflection/discussion: What is your takeaway from this week's message and discussion? What truth did you learn or recall based on the message and our discussion?
Join us this Wednesday evening, March 8th at 7:00pm for The Inside Scoop.
Next Steps:
1. Memorize Matthew 12:33
2. Analyze your life- are you imitating Jesus in your actions?
3. Analyze your life- are you imitating Jesus with your words?
4. How would you answer the question- who is Jesus?
1. Memorize Matthew 12:33
2. Analyze your life- are you imitating Jesus in your actions?
3. Analyze your life- are you imitating Jesus with your words?
4. How would you answer the question- who is Jesus?
Growth Group Resources
On this StoneBridge web page, you'll find resources to help you in your group or individual study of Matthew's Gospel. These resources include (1) a Growth Group Study Guide, (2) two excellent introductory videos from The Bible Project, (3) links to free online Bible commentaries and study materials, and (4) the complete Visual Bible: Gospel of Matthew movie featuring Bruce Marchiano's winsome portrayal of Jesus.
http://stonebridgesimi.com/mediaresources/matthew-resourcesLike Us on Facebook
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