Papsda Pulpit - Make Room Part 2: Stopping - Keryn McCutcheon

Make Room Part 2: Stopping - Keryn McCutcheon

05/14/24 • 30 min

Where we start in our relationship with Jesus, strongly determines the way we live life. This week we are exploring the practise of Stopping, (yes you heard correctly) in order to position ourselves in the best starting place to make room for our relationship with God.

Discussion Question - Luke 10:38-42 (also John 12:1-3)

Getting Started:
Share a time when you needed to, or were brought to a STOP, that changed the direction of
your life?

Digging Deeper – Luke 10:38-42 (also John 12:1-3)
- Describe the 2 perspectives of the sisters. In your current relationship with Jesus, do you
most connect with the experience of Mary or Martha?
- What are some of the ‘distractions’ (they may be good or unhelpful) that show up for you
regularly?
- In the passage in Luke we see Martha serving, discuss some of the feelings and attitudes she
most likely was having that led to her encounter with Jesus?
- In the passage in John we see Mary serving, discuss some of the feelings and attitudes she
most likely was having that led to her encounter with Jesus?
- Why do you think STOPPING to sit at Jesus feet is the ‘one thing’, the ‘better’ thing that Jesus
commends Mary for, and encourages Martha and us to do?

How To Apply This:
- Of the 3 postures forSTOPPING (To sit at Jesus feet. To stand back to reflect. To face
forward to refocus) which do you feel the Holy Spirit inviting you to adopt, to prepare
for the next season of your discipleship journey?
- Mary was deliberate, shocking even claiming to be a disciple by sitting at Jesus feet;
what deliberate, bold and obvious way can you MAKE ROOM and demonstrate your
desire to be a disciple of Jesus this week?

Discussion Question - Luke 10:38-42 (also John 12:1-3)

Getting Started:
Share a time when you needed to, or were brought to a STOP, that changed the direction of
your life?

Previous Episode

Make Room Part 1: Abiding - Willie Iererua

Sometimes we need to make room for the important things in life. This week we begin a new series about doing this through spiritual disciplines. How are you making room for God in your life? The series will unpack a discipline each week for the next 3 months. We first paint the over all purpose, that Jesus invites us to live an intentional life that prioritises abiding with Him.

Discussion Questions - John 15:4-6

Ice-Breaker

What does it means to abide? How does Jesus’ analogy of a vine/branch help us with the definition?

Digging Deeper

Why is it important for a branch to abide with a vine or trunk?
Is it possible to go to church and not abide in Jesus? What are the consequences?
How do we understand “being thrown out in the fire” (verse 6) in the light of God’s love?
Is abiding with Jesus more about setting boundaries or living with consistency? Which of these is God calling you to grow more right now?
How can we abide with God more effectively today? What would it take?

Application

What lifestyle shift could you put in place for this “make room” series over the next three months?

Next Episode

Make Room Part 3: Praising - SJ Riley

Being thankful is something that can boost our mood, shift our perspective, and even open our eyes to God’s active presence in our lives. Praising however, is next level, as it calls us even closer to experience a deepening intimacy with God. This week we continue with part 3 in our sermon series MAKE ROOM as we explore the spiritual discipline of “Praising”.

Getting Started:
1. Where is the place that you connect most with God? OR what is your favourite way to praise
God?

Digging Deeper:
2. How does this passage describe praise?
3. What is the relationship between thanksgiving and praise?
4. Why do we have reason to praise? (be careful not to make this about what He does for you)
5. In what ways is verse 3 central to this passage?
6. What makes God good?
7. How can praise grow us as disciples?
8. What are the barriers that stop us from praising God as a spiritual disciple?
9. What does praise require of us?

How to apply this:
10. As a class come up with as many names/characteristics used to describe God
a. Which one(s) stand out to you right now? Why?
b. Without asking God for anything, praise Him using that name/characteristic.
11. How are you going to implement the spiritual discipline of praising into your new week?
a. Complete commitment card (will be delivered to discussion groups on Sabbath)