GBC | Big Three

Should we encourage people to ask for a demonstration of Jesus' power? If so, how do we do that to foster faith?What is the relationship between Jesus' miracles and faith in the gospels?The sermon wove the four stories together. Are there other lessons in these stories that weren't picked up?

Rox mentioned that this command is not for everyone. How do we know if he is calling us to “sell everything” and follow him?What are the signs of heart that is being choked by wealth?How do we treasure Jesus?

This week's questions:-The exclusion of the leper seems to be primarily religious (I.e., uncleanliness) rather than medical. Why wasn't health the focus?This healing is also recorded in Mark and Luke. Why is each account a little different?Why would Jesus tell the man not to tell anyone what had happened to him? Would that even be possible?

Jesus was travelling to gentiles. Is Luke 8:22-25 foreshadowing/preparing for when they reach the other side? Including comparing verses 25 and 39, saying Jesus is God. There are unexpected situations where we find Jesus - in the calmed storm - and Jesus does unexpected things. What are those unexpected things he does?Unexpected suffering can wash our faith overboard or strengthen it. How do we prepare ourselves to face storms and mature? 

John 3:5 If we do not need to be baptised to enter heaven (eg Criminal on cross) what does Jesus mean by “born of water” to enter kingdom of God?Jesus teaches the Spirit is “like the wind”, doing what it likes in regards to people being born again. How do we reconcile this with fallen man and his will?Nicodemus was a religious seeker. Does Jesus encounter non-religious seekers? 

Karl talked about the miraculous and how we often respond with cynicism. How can we foster a greater openness to the supernatural? What do you think has contributed to the changed attitudes towards religion and spirituality? How can we help those who have had a negative past with god/the church to encounter Jesus, especially those who may be triggered by worship? 

Making disciples is business as usual for the church. But what are we not doing? Or perhaps more interestingly, what should we stop doing that we are doing?We can encounter Jesus in different ways from reading the Bible to miraculous events. How can we navigate the mess of disciple making when it's so vast.To what extent would you say Christ is present in communion?

We often read to be prepared to give an answer, but can you say more to do with gentleness and respect. How is this how Jesus wants us to speak to others about him?Verse 9 says don't repay evil but verse 12 says the Lord is against evildoers. So, we can't turn our back on God's will or we will receive punishment, but can God do it to us?When is it reasonable not to call out someone's sin?

This week's questions:1 How does the parable's implication that we can lose our forgiveness if we don't forgive well, fit with the sufficiency of the cross?2. If the perpetrator has no interest in being forgiven, does Christian teaching allow for forgiveness to be a silent, internal act rather than a spoken one?3. Is the saying “Not forgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die” compatible with Christian teaching on forgiveness?

What does it mean to be biblically repentant regarding salvation? Is it the same use as in Isaiah?You referred to Revelation and blasphemy. Can you say morSabbath is practiced from a place of rest from the claims of our world, how does that shape what we do (or don't do) on our Sabbath?

This week's questions:1. Joseph's dreams, Samuel's call, and Belshazzar's writing on the wall. How do you decide if it's God speaking or just your own fears and desires?2. We have the cannon of Scripture and it is authoritative and complete and through this God speaks. Why seek experiences outside of this?3. What does the prophetic word of God look like now compared to prophets in the bible?

This week's questions:1.What would you say to Christians who argue that baptism is essential to be saved?2. Is there any situation where you can baptise yourself? If you were compelled to and no other Christians around3. I except by faith that my “old self” has died and been buried. But the struggle against this “self” can still be strong. Please explain. Newness of life. How?

This week's questions:1. Does prayer really work? If we didn't pray would God's work not get done?2. What are the reasons not to pray for a parking space? (And other similar “small” prayers)3 Prayer is one of the spiritual practices we picked as one to lean into as a church. What are we doing in that space?

This week's questions:1. How do we weigh the risk of interpreting scripture to fit our wants or needs, by the way its preached, social influences, our upbringing. How do we know the truth?2. "Hard Work" you spoke of skills and competencies. How do we develop those in ourselves, and within our community of faith?3. What are the other letters of the alphabet that you didn't choose?

This week's questions:-1. You said Paul uses other examples in his letter. Are there other biblical examples of this sort of service?2. As a leader how does serving others fit with the task of leading?3. How do share Jesus in our serving? Should we?

Marc answers 3 Big Questions raised from Sunday's sermon

This week's questions:1. 1 John 3:16 says ‘lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters'. Is that brothers and sisters in Christ or all of humanity?2. If Christian's are unified, why are there so many denominations? Is there any value in them or are they more of a divide?3. How do we support someone who is trying to seek Jesus' love?

This week's questions:1. Is there a list of Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ?2. Can we accelerate or obstruct God's plan?3. How to interpret predestined & chosen from Ephesians 1?

This week's questions:1. How should we navigate the connections and contrasts between God's commitment to fulfil his explicit promises, and his ability to bring in surprises or twists?2. Does God need or want us to be apart of his plan and where do we find this in the Bible?3. What are your thoughts on any connection between the restorative justice of God and the Sabbath as per 2 Chronicles 36:21?

This week's questions:1. Manasseh was influenced by his father & grandfather. Should this encourage the way we worship in front of our children2. Why doesn't 2 Kings include Manasseh's repentance?3. How do we stay faithful when it feels like God is punishing us or allowing the punishments of the world

This week's questions:1. How else can we fulfil our baptismal commitment to the church?2. Why are there different views and practices of baptism?3. Is church tradition a reliable source of information?

This Week's Questions:1. How do we better hold in balance our differing theology of faith = rewards?2. How do we get better at discerning Gods purposes for us, when faithfulness could mean blessing or adversity but we naturally move toward the former.3. Can you talk about the differences between the accounts of Hezekiah in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles

This Week's Questions:1. Chronicles 30:20 says the Lord healed the people. Apparently this Hebrew word means physical healing. Traditionally interpreted as meaning forgiven. What's going on here?2. How do we maintain the tension between the demand for perfect obedience and the priority of the heart?3. What are some of your other favourite passages and why?

Why don't the biblical authors tell us more about the politics of the day?Jehosaphat faced an existential threat. To what extent is today's secular state of Israel synonymous with God's chosen people and the covenants of the Bible?How could Isaiah's prophecy of a virgin birth be a sign to Ahaz given he wouldn't see it in his lifetime? 

Jehoshaphat recognised that the battle was against principalities and powers but it was also a real battle. How do we recognise one without ignoring/confusing the other?Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. How do we stand firm in a crisis?I've heard people make a big deal about the singers leading the army – What do you think?

This week's questions:1. One application was not to support Trump, like evil King Ahab. Harris too has flaws: immigration, inflation, family policies. Why polarisation over compromise?2. None of the leaders of today follow the tenants of the bible. How do we, as Christians decide who we should be voting for as our leaders?3. I'm certain we have diluted our duty to God and His church but where in the historical background of Christian beliefs did the wheels go off the rails?

This week's questions:1. Ironically it was the blessing of God that led to Asa's demise. How do we deal with comfort to avoid becoming comfortable?2. The prophet says that Asa's folly let Aram escape. What does that mean?3. Asa only sought help from doctors not the Lord. What is the relationship between faith in God's healing and going to the doctor?

This week's questions:2 Chronicles 15:13 is an account of the death of those who 'would not seek the Lord'. What are we meant to do about verses like this one?There seem to be a lot of ideals and high places to be removed in Israel.  Why?What does it really mean in practical terms to 'seek the Lord'? 

1. Do you think Sabbath has anything in particular to say about work?2. When we think of what Sabbath is in today's context we seem to get into details that could easily become legalism. Are we over-complicating the Sabbath?3. Looking at examples from the Bible, is Sabbath mainly observed independently or with others? If mainly with others, what does that look like for GBC as a church?

1. We explored the gods battling each other. There is the command to have no other gods. Is there evidence of other gods?2. Does the Sunday “church service” (for some clergy & lay people) make it difficult for some to observe Sabbath?3. We looked at why we should sabbath. Knowing it's a practice we don't often do & whether it be sabbath or something else, isn't it enough that God commanded it?

In the Big 3, Marc Rader answers the Big 3 questions from Sunday's sermon (11th August, 2024)1. What does observing a Sabbath year look like in our modern life? Should we dedicate an entire (metaphorical) year to trust God and giving out or is it different?2. Practically speaking, if Israel had kept the Sabbath year, would they have prepared for it or blindly trusted God to provide? Wouldn't prepping undermine trust?3. If generous actions are permissible how can we do them while still resting?

1. The proscription to rest ie. not to work is clear enough. Are we also being implored to do holy things, “Keep it holy”? What does it mean to keep it (be?) holy?2. In the OT sabbath was about physical rest at a prescribed time. What does the NT say about the “new” rest we now have available to us through the Holy Spirit.3. Marc explores some potential future ways to "Sabbath" as a spiritual practice. 

Marc answers 3 Big Questions raised from Sunday's Sermon on Sabbath: Learning to Rest with Jesus.

1. Can you elaborate on praying specifically rather than sin as a whole? Who are we to decide that, doesn't God know more about what we need?2. Does God only do something or answer prayers if we ask? What happens if we only praise or repent?3. What did it mean that the Tax Collector went home justified? Can you unpack this idea a bit more?

Here are this week's three questions:Is it realistic to expect "good" answers? How do we reconcile answers that are "bad" or no answer at all?Do we really have to ask God not to lead us into temptation? Or to deliver us from evil?Christians obviously use many forms of prayer. Should we use the Lord's prayer more often?

Today's Big 3 Questions:If Jesus is both fully God and fully man why does he need to pray? And is he praying to himself then?If Jesus prays for us and we pray with him, when is it appropriate to pray to Jesus (rather than the Father)?If the disciples are hopeless at praying but still see Jesus' glory why not just sleep and rely on Jesus' prays for us?

Here are this week's questions:You said the miracle revealed something about Jesus. What was revealed?We follow Jesus wherever we are – how else can we see Jesus revealed in our vocation?How do you know when you should “leave the nets” and consider a call to vocational ministry?  

We hope this message has challenged and strengthened you, encouraged you to pray and rely on God, and blessed you today. If you'd like to get to know some of our church community, you can listen to the We Are The Church Podcast - an open conversation with real people who call GBC home as they share stories of God at work in their lives and how their lives are being changed by Jesus.We'd love for you to join us for one of our services this weekend. For more information on upcoming services please visit www.gymeabaptist.org.auAlso, be sure to follow us on Facebook or Instagram to keep up with all we are doing. 

What other echoes or meanings from the Old Testament are found in Acts 2?If the Spirit's activity in our lives is super-normal, how do we know it's the Spirit?If we are all inclusive, does that mean we would be welcoming to the Queer community?

Marc answers 3 Big Questions from Sunday's service

The gate was opened for the predestination talk! If we have the choice to accept being headhunted, does that mean there is free will in predestination?David did the preparations when he was told not to build it. Was it God's or David's will for Solomon's temple to be built? Was God speaking of Jesus alone?So we speak about the amazing work of Lebanon Baptist churches with Syrian Refugees - how do we do this at GBC with displaced peoples e.g Aboriginal Peoples ?

1. How does 2 Samuel 24:1 (where he Lord told David to take the census) match up with 1 Chronicles 21:1 (attributing the motive to Satan)2. So God killed 70000 men as the result of a fairly harmless sin? Why not tell David before hand? Or punish David? Does it seem proportional/ fair to you?3. Rox said “God's mercy meets people's greatest need”. But it was God's angel who was killing people. Do we need God to save us from God? Is this the gospel? 

1. How do we do better at focusing on the forest when the stump is so prevalent for us?2. Psalm 89 laments and attacks God for the wrath He has outpoured. How does God respond to this? Is it ok to talk to God like this?3. So are 1 Chr 17:11 & Ps 89 referring to Jesus rather than David and Solomon?

Marc unpacks 3 Big Questions raised from Sunday's Sermon1. If you did have time to tell us more about the ark of the covenant, what would you tell us?2. Who actually wrote the psalms that the Chronicler included and when were they written?3. If the promises of God aren't dependent on us at all what is the role of confession?

1. Should we be worried about the differences in the four gospel accounts of the resurrection?2. How valid are word associations when we read the Bible?3. Is it enough to simply read the gospels to “remember” what Jesus has said? What actions go along with the mental assent?

Most of us would say like Mary we trust and have faith in God but what are some small was that we can actively respond in this way when our lives are flipped?Can you elaborate on the 'zoom out' idea? Looking at Easter by zooming out to see Christmas.  Is this important for our understanding of Easter and all Scripture?How can we participate in the reversals that accompany God's activity?

Marc answers 3 Big Questions raised from Sunday's Sermon. 1. How do maintain a present tense discipleship? 2. How does forgiveness in Jesus relate to God's immediate response to unfaithfulness? 3. Faithfulness is a different form, but related to obedience and God wants faithfulness more, but aren't there places in the Bible where strict obedience is demanded?

In a world with idols that feel essential to focus on (eg: money) how do we recognise, repent, refocus and ask for guidance for our values, priorities and behaviours?How are waiting and persevering related?Why are you so excited about the genealogies?

1 Are they're particular actions or practices as followers of Jesus ( that aren't secular “self help” ) we could be doing to improve ourselves in the work place?2 Is there an area of work we should avoid? I struggle to reconcile military/armed service, or some shady big tech?3 Work can be very long hours and can interrupt family time or our weekend? As this world pushes hustle culture, should we be better keepers of a day to rest?

Mark discusses 3 Big Questions raised from Andrew Sloane's message on the effects of sin on our work. 1. Why does God allow darkness to reach into the Christian world? 2. Since our lives are "hebel/hevel" (breath or mist), how can we correctly value our time, skills, etc.? 3. How might we find meaning and purpose in work that is primarily drudgery, boredom, frustration, etc.?

Marc Rader answers 3 Big Questions from Sunday's Sermon by Kara Martin. 1. When we are on call, have the strength to endure as Jesus endured - how do we balance working too much? Saying yes to too much? 2. The question remains the same but the context changes as we pass through life. How is this different for school leavers vs retirees? 3. If we are are struggling, how do we differentiate between the calling of God in our vocation and genuine reasons to leave/transition to a new vocation?