St. John's United Methodist Church - Edwardsville, IL

Chains Shall He Break: All Oppression Shall Cease

by Rev. Grant Armstrong
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Luke 4:14-24
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SERMON NOTES 
I. From the time He was born, oppressors have felt threatened by Jesus.
II. If it’s not Good News for the oppressed, it’s not the Good News of Jesus.
III. Christ’s followers join with Jesus in breaking the chains of injustice.

FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
- If you had to pick one favorite lyric of a Christmas song, what would it be?
- If the birth of the Messiah was part of a prophecy, why do you think Herod believed he could stop it?
- How is this congregation embodying the Good News of justice for the oppressed?
- How has Christ made you aware of your active or complicit participation with injustice? How is the Holy Spirit equipping you to be transformed?
- Name one way you can help "break a chain" of injustice for someone as part of your Christmas?
- What is God saying to you through today's scripture?

Chains Shall He Break: Thus in Lowly Manger

by Rev. Grant Armstrong
Sunday, December 13, 2020
Luke 1:46-55
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SERMON NOTES 
I. The humble do not escape God’s notice.
II. What pride corrupts, Jesus corrects.
III. How we respond to this stable-born Savior helps diagnose the pride in our lives.

FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
- What is your level of excitement for Christmas this year on a scale of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas to Buddy the Elf? Why?
- Mary offers her first words of praise simply because she was seen by God. Why does that matter?
- Mary's song later makes the humbling work of God seem rather forceful at times. Why do you suppose that's the case? 
- What sort of pride in our lives would want to reject or deny the story of the virgin birth of an infant God? How does faith require some humility?
- Where do you need to invite Jesus to set you free from hurtful pride? What step will you take to receive Christ's humility?
- What is God saying to you through today's scripture?

Chains Shall He Break: The Weary World

by Rev. Grant Armstrong
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Matthew 11:27-29
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SERMON NOTES 
I. The birth of Jesus brought an invitation of peace to the weary.
II. When we know Jesus is in control, He can counter our weary worries.
III. Christ sets us free from the frustrations of “just try harder.”

FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
- Have you ever worked a late-night job? What was it?
- What difference does it make that angels proclaimed the message of peace to night-shift workers? Who else would have been as weary?
- In His call for people to find rest, Jesus emphasizes that all things are in His hands. How are those things related?
- In the balance between "try harder" and "trust more," where do you typically lean? 
- Where are you having a difficult time finding Christ's peace today? What does it look like to share that burden with Jesus?
- What is God saying to you through today's scripture?

Chains Shall He Break: In Sin and Error Pining

by Rev. Grant Armstrong
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Luke 1:67-79
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SERMON NOTES 
I. God can be trusted to keep His promises.
II. God’s mercy keeps us from being buried in our mistakes.
III. Christ was born to free us from sin and death.

FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
- When do you usually decorate for Christmas? Did that change this year for any reason?
- In Luke 1:5-23, 57-66, we read about the events that lead up to Zechariah's song of praise. What is the significance of God's message to Zechariah after the Hebrew people experienced such a long time of silence?
- How does sin entrap people? According to Romans 6:23, what is the outcome of sin?
- Tell about a time when guilt was eating away at you. How was that guilt relieved?
- What is the importance of Jesus coming in a mortal human body as part of breaking the chains of sin?
- Where in your life do you need to experience Christ's liberty from the weight of sin?
- What is God saying to you through today's scripture?

WORELATIONSHIP: Furbies of Faith

by Rev. Grant Armstrong
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Hebrews 10:19-25
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SERMON NOTES 
I. Christ has created a path to reconciling with God and one another.
II. Our relationships as disciples will be different because of our spiritual bond and shared purpose.
III. Friends in faith yearn to know, “How is it with your soul?”

FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
- What are you giving thanks for this week?
- How does a clean conscience impact your relationship with other people?
- Vulnerable conversations among believers have to be built on mutual trust. What is a barrier to mutual trust in the church?
- How do you think Jesus would want relationships between believers to be different than relationships between non-believers?
- Who regularly checks in on the well-being of your soul? Whose spiritual health and maturity are you called to check on?
- What is God saying to you through today's scripture?

WORELATIONSHIP: Macro Lens Selfies

by Rev. Grant Armstrong
Sunday, November 15, 2020
James 1:19-25
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SERMON NOTES 
I. We are tempted to become defensive when scripture holds its magnifying mirror up to our lives.
II. Your relationship with yourself changes through worship.
III. Worship lifts up the image of Christ and equips us to grow into that image.

FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
- How often do you look in a mirror over the course of a day?
- Why is our natural response to correction often denial or defensiveness? What is at work inside us when that happens?
- What aspects of worship help us to better see ourselves as God sees us?
- Where are you most resistant to God "meddling" in your life? What's at stake there?
- How is the process of being formed into the image of Christ more like surrender than willpower? 
- What is God saying to you through today's scripture?

WORELATIONSHIP: Bad Math, But Solid Theology

by Rev. Grant Armstrong
Sunday, November 8, 2020
1 John 1:1-4
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SERMON NOTES

I. The relational nature of God is impossible to explain, but possible to experience.

II. We are created and invited as an extension of God’s communal nature.

III. We reflect the Trinity when we invite others into God’s love.

 

FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION

- If someone were to say you "overflow" with something, what would it be? Why?

- It's been said that God doesn't need a relationship with humanity, but instead wants a relationship with us. How does that distinction make a difference?

- What comparisons have you heard to describe God as Three-in-One? How are these comparisons helpful? How are they unhelpful?

- Where do you see Christ's followers best reflecting God's heart for growing the loving community?

- Where do you struggle with inviting people into the experience of God's loving community? How is God helping you overcome that struggle?

- What is God saying to you through today's scripture?

WORELATIONSHIP: Connected to the Cloud

by Rev. Grant Armstrong
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Hebrews 12:1-4
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SERMON NOTES

I. Through worship, we are connected with believers throughout time.

II. The cloud ultimately connects us to Jesus and His sacrifice.

III. These witnesses inspire us to persevere in love and holiness.

 

FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION

- Who do you think of when you think of a saint? Why does that person come to mind?

- How is it comforting to know we're surrounded by believers throughout time? How is that unsettling?

- Who has helped you understand the power of Jesus' life and sacrifice? How did they do that?

- Why are we sometimes tempted to believe living our faith today is tougher than it was "back then?" How do the stories Christians who have gone before us challenge that understanding?

- Who would you like to inspire with your life of faith? What can you do right now to help make that impact?

- What is God saying to you through today's scripture?

With A Little Help from My Friends: Friends Bring Joy

by Rev. Grant Armstrong
Sunday, October 25, 2020
John 3:23-30
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SERMON NOTES

I. Even if you’re in a desert, God can make sure there’s plenty of water.

II. Comparison is a thief of joy.

III. Joy is not the same as success and fame.

 

FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION

- Who cheers the loudest for your successes? How does that make you feel?

- This scripture is set where there might be insufficient water, insufficient disciples, and insufficient satisfaction. Why do you suppose none of that seems to trouble John?

- John's friends were so worried about competition. How is their anxiety unhelpful? What's the antidote to their fretting?

- How do you respond when your spotlight seems to be shifting to someone else? Is it possible to find joy in that?

- What is one way you can celebrate a friend's success this week? How will you share your joy with your friend?

- What is God saying to you through today's scripture?

With A Little Help from My Friends: Friends Are Compassionate

by Rev. Grant Armstrong
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Job 2:11-13
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SERMON NOTES

I. Friends remind us that we are not alone.

II. God’s kind of friendship journeys with others through joy and pain.

III. When we short-circuit compassion, we compound the hurt.

 

FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION

- Tell about a time when a friend showed up just when you needed. How did that make you feel?

- How does our culture connect with the practice of sitting with those who grieve? How is our culture disconnected from that time of comforting presence with those who mourn?

- Emotional vulnerability is a key component to compassion. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being very reserved and 10 being an open book, where would you place yourself?

- Why do you think Job's friends moved into "justify and blame" mode? What tempts us to do the same in the face of sorrow and tragedy?

- What hurt in your life would benefit from having someone sit with you to offer nonjudgmental comfort? What keeps you from seeking that?

- What is God saying to you through today's scripture?