PASSAGE: John 9 & Ezekiel 34:1-6, 11-12

DESCRIPTION: This Sunday, we explore the heavy and often painful reality of religious abuse. This happens when people misuse religion, Scripture, or spiritual authority to manipulate, control, or harm others. Drawing from the account of the man born blind in John 9 and the shepherd warning in Ezekiel 34, we contrasted the harsh actions of flawed leaders (and even simply any self-claimed follower of Jesus) with the compassionate heart of Jesus Himself, our Good Shepherd who actively seeks out the brokenhearted. If you’ve experienced hurt from Church people, a vital starting point toward healing is learning to separate the harmful actions of humanity from the character of God. Don’t let their failure define to you who Jesus really is; go explore the heart of the Good Shepherd for yourself. At the same time, we in the Church must be continually mindful of how we are reflecting Christ’s character in all our daily interactions; being intentional that our words and actions so that we represent Christ well as His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). Is there any transformation that we need to surrender over to Jesus today and let the Holy Spirit continue to form you more into His image so that when people interact with us, they will encounter the love of Christ in us?

DISCUSSION:

1. Reread Ezekiel 34:1-6, 11-12. What stood out to you from these passages, or what questions do you have?

2. Why is it so difficult to separate the painful actions of people who claim to represent Christ from the actual character of God, and how can we begin to bridge that gap?

3. Skim through the story of the man born blind in John 9. How does this story contrast the difference between the religious leaders' legalism and Jesus's personal compassion for the man?

4. In what practical ways can our everyday words, tone, and interactions reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd rather than becoming a source of hurt to others?

PASSAGE: Acts 17:16–34

DESCRIPTION: This Sunday's message explored the common cultural objection that faith and science are incompatible; and that following God and His word is an anti-intellectual endeavor. But as we examined how the apostle Paul engaged with the brilliant philosophical minds of ancient Athens in Acts 17, we see one of many examples where Scripture consistently encourages believers to use reason, test claims, and examine the evidence. To help navigate deep intellectual doubts and skepticism today, we talked about starting with three categories of evidence to take an honest look at: manuscript reliability, empirical science and archaeology, and internal transformation. Ultimately, while some may mock or dismiss the message of Christ, believers can step out with confidence, knowing God still uses thoughtful conversations to change lives. How might God be preparing you to walk through these deep questions?

DISCUSSION:

1. Reread Acts 17:16–34. What stood out to you from this passage, or what questions do you have about how Paul interacted with the philosophers in Athens?

2. How have you personally encountered the cultural idea that science and faith are enemies, and how has that influenced your own thoughts or conversations about God

3. The message challenged us to examine manuscript, empirical, and transformational evidence. Which of these three areas resonates most with your current season of faith or doubt, and why?

4. What is one practical step you can take this week to either deepen your own understanding of the evidence for Christianity or lovingly engage in a spiritual conversation with someone else?

PASSAGE: Mark 2:13-17

DESCRIPTION: This Sunday, we kicked off a brand-new series called "The Exit Ramp," tackling one of the biggest reasons people walk away from the faith: hypocrisy in the church. Looking at Mark 2:13-17, we saw how Jesus sat with tax collectors and sinners, reminding us that “it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Too often, the church tries to act like a "showroom for saints;" pretending to have it all together while alienating those who are hurting. But Jesus calls us to something much better: a hospital for the spiritually broken. To heal this narrative, we need to: (1) Fix our focus on Jesus who initiates and perfects our faith, not on the failures of those reflecting Jesus poorly; (2) Personally drop our own masks through honest confession to one another; and (3) Restore our purpose to match Christ's heart and mission. How can you help combat hypocrisy and build a culture of authentic grace this week?

DISCUSSION:

1. Reread the scripture passage (Mark 2:13-17). What stood out to you from these verses, or what questions do you have about how Jesus interacted with Levi and the Pharisees?

2. Pastor Mike described how wearing a "spiritual mask" or pretending to have it all together can contribute to hypocrisy in the church. In what areas of life is it most tempting for people to put on this kind of mask, and why is it often so difficult to be honest about our personal struggles?

3. The message challenges the idea of the church acting as a "showroom for saints" versus a "hospital for the spiritually broken." What does a healthy, grace-filled community look like when people feel safe enough to bring their sins and doubts into the light?

4. Reflecting on the three shifts mentioned (fixing our focus, dropping our masks, and restoring our purpose), which one do you feel God is calling you to lean into most during this season, and what is one practical step you can take this week?