Sermon Discussion Guide 12-8-24
Sermon Discussion Guide
The Roots of Christmas | Advent Week 2 | Rahab | Matthew 1, Joshua 2
Gathering Question:
Think of a time when someone gave you a gift that you didn’t feel you deserved. How did it make you feel?
Gathering Prayer:
Father, by Your Spirit, would you guide us into all truth. Help us to hear and be attentive to Your voice as we work through this study. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we pray, Amen.
Opening Questions
Joshua 2 | Rahab
The Scandal of Grace
Grace is “Inclusively exclusive”
Christopher Watkins in Biblical Critical Theory writes,
“…salvation comes only to people who admit that they are failures, people whose only fitness is to admit and fully embrace the fact that they are not fit… grace is the great leveler - it allows the weakest to come, not only the top performers. So the outworking of the logic of grace is that a Christian is someone who has been stopped in their tracks by the depth and persistence of their own ongoing wickedness, not someone who looks down on the wickedness of others.”
The Family Line of Jesus | Matthew 1:1-17
Closing Prayer
The Roots of Christmas | Advent Week 2 | Rahab | Matthew 1, Joshua 2
Gathering Question:
Think of a time when someone gave you a gift that you didn’t feel you deserved. How did it make you feel?
Gathering Prayer:
Father, by Your Spirit, would you guide us into all truth. Help us to hear and be attentive to Your voice as we work through this study. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we pray, Amen.
Opening Questions
- What stood out to you in the sermon?
- What insights did you gain?
- What questions did it raise?
Joshua 2 | Rahab
- Rahab showed remarkable faith in recognizing God’s power and surrendering to Him. What stood out to you about Rahab’s faith in Joshua 2:8–11?
- How does Rahab’s story challenge the idea that we need to “clean ourselves up” before approaching God?
The Scandal of Grace
- A rabbinic tradition tried to “clean up” Rahab’s story by making her an innkeeper. Why do you think they were uncomfortable with the reality of Rahab’s story?
- Our wider culture often talks of “karma” (you get what you deserve). Why do you think that is so common in the wider culture? How does grace counter that viewpoint?
- Why do you think people struggle with the idea of grace being messy or uncomfortable?
Grace is “Inclusively exclusive”
Christopher Watkins in Biblical Critical Theory writes,
“…salvation comes only to people who admit that they are failures, people whose only fitness is to admit and fully embrace the fact that they are not fit… grace is the great leveler - it allows the weakest to come, not only the top performers. So the outworking of the logic of grace is that a Christian is someone who has been stopped in their tracks by the depth and persistence of their own ongoing wickedness, not someone who looks down on the wickedness of others.”
- Reflect on this idea that our only fitness for the kingdom of God is our lack of fitness. How does this sit with you? Where does this challenge you? Where does this encourage you?
- How does Rahab reflect grace as “the great leveler”?
The Family Line of Jesus | Matthew 1:1-17
- Out of all the people to include in the family line of Jesus, why does Matthew include Rahab? What is he telling us about Jesus? What does this mean for our lives?
Closing Prayer
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