Grace South Bay

Q&A from the May 30 sermon, "Home Away from Home" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty

Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand…And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.20 He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it. 21 And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” 22 And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for

NOTE: there are some skipping/popping issues with Bob's mic in this episodeQ&A from the May 9 sermon, "Rebuild and Repair" with Matt Cabot and Bob Crossland

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;    you discern my thoughts from afar.3 You search out my path and my lying down    and are acquainted with all my ways.4 Even before a word is on my tongue,    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.5 You hem me in, behind and before,    and lay your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;    it is high; I cannot attain it.7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?    Or where shall I flee from your presence?8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!9 If I take the wings of the morning    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,10 even there your hand shall lead me,    and your right hand shall hold me.11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,    and the light about me be night,”12 even the darkness is not dark to you;    the night is bright as the day,    for darkness is as light with you.13 For you formed my inward parts;    you knitted me together in my mot

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” 6And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.7 And th

NOTE: there are some skipping/popping issues with Bob's mic in this episodeQ&A from the May 2 sermon, "Rebuild and Repair" with Matt Cabot and Bob Crossland

And the Lord said to Moses, 13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. 16 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”18 And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written wi

1. What parts of Jesus' story do you identify with? In other words - how does he accurately represent you? 2. Where are some places you try to 'transfer' the guilt of your sin? 3. How do you see God at work purifying you presently? 4. How would you describe how the connection between you and God feels?  Is that how Jesus describes it in 5. Having direct access to God - are you using that access? what are you communicating to him?6.  What might God be inviting you to offer as sacrifice? (use Rom 12 as a guide)Read Heb 8 - 10 on how Jesus upheld the office of High Priest and gave us direct access to God. 

“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it.33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.36 “You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.3 You shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and fire pans. You shall make all its utensils of bronze. 4 You shall also make for it a grating, a network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners.9 “You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side the court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long

1. In what ways can you say God has been kind to you?2. When do you find yourself most ready and willing to confess sin?3. What is the purpose of obedience to God?4. How distinct from the nations should God's people be?5. Of the three specific areas mentioned (marriage/romance, sabbath rest, supporting worship) where and how would you like to grow in obedience and distinctiveness?6. Have you ever given up on a commitment because you saw yourself ultimately failing at it?  How does Jesus give us confidence to keep committing to walking with God?  7. Do you see yourself as made for eternal fellowship and joy in God?  If you struggle to, how could that impact your life?  How can you grow to see the truth better?

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, 5 tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.1: What characteristics or qualities make home, “home” for you?2: Does that feeling of home feel close or far off?3: How do you try to make or secure those feelings of home when life is chaotic?4: In what ways might you try to put build before blood? (i.e. focusing on what you need to do instead of

Why is it hard to remember that Jesus is rescuer first? (Over good example or good teacher)When was one time that you know God rescued you?How does your relationship with God compare to a relationship with a good friend or family member? How has God been changing you in the last 14 months - during COVID?How would you like to see God renew you? 

1.    When you read or hear scripture, what is the default interpretive grid you usually apply to it?  E.g. What is the example I am supposed to follow?  What am I supposed to learn/do?  How have I failed or achieved?  What is the correct theological teaching?  Etc. 2.     Do you agree that the bible is most of all a rescue story?  If not, what is it? 3.     Do you recognize your need to hear the bible read and explained?  What are you tempted to filter out of God’s word? 4.    Can you see where you fit in in the biblical narrative?   5.     Is rejoicing a typical reaction for you when engaging scripture?  If not, what could change that? 6.    What’s your honest response when you hear you are God’s joy?   7.     Do you want rescuing?  From what?

14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. 16 I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 19 Remember for

Q&A from the April 25 sermon, "Rebuild and Repair" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty

1. Is it difficult to see yourself or the church as a temple of the living God?  Have you ever thought of yourself as a place where God is known and enjoyed and available to others?2. Do you feel shame or see ruins when you look at the church or yourself as a Jerusalem?3. What are the doubts, fears, costs that might hinder you from fighting for God to be manifested in your church and life?4. How can Grace South Bay be more of a place where God is known and encountered?  What can you do about it?5. Where in your life is more Jerusalem (God being experienced and known) and where is there more Babylon (the opposite)?6. What do you need God's grace and others' prayers for specifically for you to fight for God to be known through you and the church?7. Do you believe you are worth it?

Q&A from the April 18 sermon, "Where is Home?" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty

Q&A from the April 11 sermon, "Where is Home?" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty

Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.13 Hanun and the

Q&A from the April 4 sermon, "Why Do We Need the Resurrection?" with Matt Cabot and Steven Chitty