English Ministry Sermons: Recent Episodes
Edmonton Chinese Alliance Church
Passage: Matthew 28:18-20 Questions for Reflection What are you excited about the most? What are you sensing a pull towards when you hear all of this? What remains in your mind and soul as we wrap up today?
Passage: Isaiah 8:13-15, 9:1-7; Matthew 4:12-17Spiritual Discussion Questions How was that practice for you today? How might dread rob us of a flourishing life? What do you know about Jesus that can provide hope?
Passage: Isaiah 55:1-9Response Questions: How was that practice of relinquishment today for you? Have you experienced relinquishing something before, how did that go? What might a regular practice of relinquishment do for you?
Passage: John 10:2-5Response Breakout Questions: How was the listening practice for you? What would it look like for you to continue developing your relationship with God so you can better recognize His voice?
Passage: John 5: 19-30Response Breakout Questions: How was that practice of listening today for you? What has been your practice of decision making and what role has God played? What other areas of your life could benefit from spending more time listening to God?
Passage: 1 Kings 19: 11-13Response Breakout Questions: What practice did you try? What was it like for you? How might a longer time this week be helpful?
Questions: Spend some time discussing the implications of being adopted into God’s family. What difference does that make in your life and identity? We follow a God that we can know personally. What does it look like for you to know God? What would your life look like this week if you fully accepted your identity as God’s child?
Passage: Ephesians 1:1-14Questions for discussion: How do you respond to the Heavenly Father for giving you His rich inheritance? Do you feel secure in Jesus to face the future, or you are not so sure? Why? Do you sense the presence of Holy Spirit in your life moment by moment? How can you be more attuned to Him?
Passage: John 17Response Questions Describe a time when you were thought of or you got invited to something that excited you? What does it do for us when we’re invited into his divine nature, “in Christ”? How does it change our love for one another? What is something that resonated with you today?
Passage: Luke 9:18-22, 9:43-45, 18:31-34Questions: 1. Jesus asks “Who do you say that I am?” Share your answer to that question as though Jesus is asking you here today.2. As a follower of Jesus, how do you ensure that you are seeking Him and not just hoping He gives you good things?3. Jesus is the Lord who suffered, died, and rose again. How does knowing this change our daily walk as a follower of Him?
Passage: Luke 12:13-34; 14:12-24(33); 18:18-30“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”Response Questions1. What out of the 4 “Meaning of Money” (Status, Control, Security, Enjoyment) do you resonate with? Why?2. What may be the dangers of valuing money in these ways?3. What other ways can we inject an antidote into our lives to stop the relentless desire for more, letting money control us? What might you try this week?
Passage: Luke 9:46-48, 10:38-42, 18:15-17Response Questions What did you learn about God from the Kids on stage today? What might it look like to take on faith as a child this week? How might a Christian grow more dependent and amazed with Jesus?
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28Questions1. How have you viewed & practiced holiness & sanctification?2. How does putting God in the active role of sanctification change our belief and actions as a Christian?3. What steps could you take this week to lean into sanctification?
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
Questions:
When you think of Jesus returning, what comes to mind? How are you challenged by knowing that Paul used the end times as means of encouragement? In your life this week what does it look like to live with hope both personally and for us as a community?
Passage: I Thessalonians 4: 1-8
Questions:
Have you experienced any pushback regarding the sanctity of marriage? How do you handle it? Do you have trusting friends whom you lean on to help your relationship boundaries? What do these boundaries consist of? What are some healthy ways to express your sexuality without crossing the boundaries?
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 3
Questions:
What are some practical ways you can support people in your church community through life's ups and downs? Is there a time you felt cared for by your community? Share the story. How can we shift from seeing church as program-centered to relational-focused?
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 2: 13-20
Response Questions:
What ways can we receive the word together? What ways are we in danger of hindering the word? In what ways can you/we celebrate God’s work in others? Who might that be for you?
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-12
Response Questions:
1. Which analogy of Paul’s Approach to Growth Together catches your attention today and why? Mother? Father?
2. How is Paul’s approach to growing together similar or different from your understanding of disciple-making?
3. In what ways can you lean into peer/life on life disciple-making in the coming days/weeks?
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1
Response Questions:
Tell of a memorable time you were encouraged? What has it looked like in your walk with God? When is a time you sensed the love of God or his power? Encourage one another. Who might be someone you could encourage this week?
Questions:
What does it look like for you to recognize that God is sovereign over your life this week? Have you ever struggled with feeling like you have to be a ‘perfect Christian’? Hebrews 11 is a list of people with great faith but they all have deep flaws, none of them are perfect. How does this change your expectations of your own life and faith? Is there a time in the past few weeks you had to trust in God? What happened?
Discussion Questions:
Our God provides life! How does knowing this change your perspective on life and its challenges? What can it look like to be infused with God’s life for you this week? Do you need life in a specific situation? How can His life transform the ordinary parts of your life? Share a time that God breathed life into your life.
Response Questions:
1. What stood out to you today with Moses and his faith?
2. What holds us back from serving the marginalized with the love of Jesus?
3. What is One Step you can take this week to address this type of faith in your life?
Passage: Hebrews 11:20; Genesis 27:27-29Breakout Questions:1. What about God (his love or kingdom etc) amazes you?2. How does that affect how you live?3. What’s one way your faith can cause action this week?
Questions: What’s one impossible thing you’ve seen become possible? What might it look like to be faithful through the impossible or not seeing God’s promise/plan? What is one step you could take this week to be faithful?
Passage: Hebrews 11:1-7; Genesis 6-7Questions:1. What’s a fear (rational or irrational) you had as a kid or still have?2. How is fearing God different than fears in our world?3. What’s One Step you can take this week towards growth in God?
Passage: Hebrews 11:4-6Questions:1. What does it look like for you to live a life of faithfulness where you ‘walk with God’?2. Was there ever a time you stood out from those around you because of your faith? What happened?3. God desires us to have life, not death, how have you experienced life from Jesus?
Passage: Hebrews 11:1-3Questions:1. What has faith looked like in your personal life?2. How have you experienced the realization of hope in your life? It could be a relationship with God, experiencing His kingdom, knowing the historical life and resurrection of Jesus, etc.3. Why is it important that faith is not just blind?
Passage: Colossians 4:2-18Questions:1. What are some things you’ve learned from the book of Colossians?2. What are some things you are thankful for right now?3. What does it look like for Jesus to be King in your life this week?
Passage: Colossians 3:12-4:1Discussion Questions:1. Why is it significant that after all the in-depth teachings about Jesus in Colossians, the application of the book is how we live our regular lives?2. What are some practical ways you have loved your household and can continue to?3. Do you have a story about being an excellent employee? Share it with your group.
Passage: Colossians 3:1-14Response Questions: What’s one church practice or tradition that has been helpful to point you to Jesus. What are some Christian morals that could cause shame, driving people away from Jesus and not toward him? How might you “put off” the old self when it comes lurking this week? (think ways to Posture Shift)
Passage: Colossians 2:16-3:4Response Questions: What’s one “Life Hack” you’ve tried that wasn’t very helpful? What are some examples of things “with the appearance of wisdom” but might not help with “indulgence of the flesh”? What are some ways you could or already do to seek Christ & the things above?
Passage: Matthew 5: 1-10Response Questions: How much do the Kingdom and its values resonate with you? Please share your experience in giving or receiving mercy. What will you do in the coming week as a Kingdom person?
Passage: Colossians 2: 6-15Response Questions: What are some things that you chase and desire other than Jesus? How can you give Jesus priority in your life?
Passage: Colossians 1:24-2:5Response Questions: If you dare, tell a short story of an awkward situation or not feeling like you fit. How has someone had your back or you had theirs (bonus if it had to do with being Christian) How would you describe the sense of belonging? What might it feel like to belong to the church? What things have been pulling on you that distract you from the ONE thing that matters, namely, Christ in you?
Passage: Colossians 1: 15-23Response Questions: What are the things that tend to take priority in your life (besides Jesus of course)? Recall a time when you were amazed at Jesus or a story of Jesus? What is one way you can continue in or look at Jesus this week?
Passage: Colossians 1:9-14Response Questions: How can you spend time knowing God more this week? Where in your own life do you see good fruit, and growth in the knowledge of God? What does thankfulness to God look like for you?
Passage: Proverbs 11:24-26Response Questions: Please share your experience as life influencer/influence. What are the obstacle(s) when you try to influence others? What will you do in the coming week to try to influence others?
Passage: Colossians 1:1-8Response Questions: Did you make or have you ever made New Years’ Resolutions? How did they go or how are they going? How has the gospel come to you in the past? What are some ways you can focus on Jesus in 2023?
Questions What areas of your life that you need the grace of Jesus Christ? How has the love of Christ compell you towards a deeper relationship with Him this past week Who has God shown you to share this compelling love? How would you be able to do that?
Response Questions: Recall a peaceful moment that you love or have loved at Christmastime. Which story of peace stood out to you today and why? How might you be an agent of peace this week/Christmas?
Response Questions: What did you learn about God dwelling with us? How can you bring joy to your world this week?
Response Questions:
What is one way you get ready for Christmas? How has God given you hope in the past or present? Who may God be sending you to as an agent of Hope?
Response Questions:
1. Please share your experience facing setback or adversities in your spiritual journey in the past. 2. Do you know your life’s mission? How did you find it out? 3. What will you do in the coming week to find out God’s mission for you?
Passage: Acts 13:1-3; Matthew 6:16-18
Response Questions: 1. Have you tried fasting before? What was the motive? Was it for Worship, was it in urgency? If you’ve done a biblical fast, what was your experience like? 2. What are some barriers for you with fasting? 3. What is a takeaway for you this week?
Passage: Acts 13:1-4
Response Questions: 1. What has been your understanding of worship? 2. How can you change or grow in your worship moving forward? 3. What makes worship so important in missions?
Passage: Acts 13:1-4; John 10:27
Response Questions: 1. Have you thought much about the Spirit sending you? What have your feelings been towards hearing God? 2. Have you ever felt a nudge to do something? Did you believe it was God leading you? 3. To whom or to where might God be sending you this week? 4. How could you spend time this week getting to know his voice?
Passage: Acts 13:1-12
Response Questions: 1. What makes it difficult for you to let go of your own agenda and follow God’s leadings? 2. When was a time you felt that you trusted in God? What happened? 3. How can you expect the Holy Spirit to move in your life this week?
Passage: Acts 9:10-20
Response Questions:
1. Please share your experience facing fear or uncertainty in your spiritual journey in the past.
2. What are the way(s) that can help you cope with or overcome such fear or uncertainty.
3. Do you currently have a spiritual mentor or mentee? If not, please pray for God’s guidance in the coming week.
Passage: Acts 13:1-12
Response Questions: 1. What do you desire to see in the life of church? 2. Serving in church and the Mission of God can often be confused as synonymous. How does this difference change what we do and how we participate in church? 3. What is a way you can work on to be on Mission and not simply serving?
Passage: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Questions: 1. Pastor Brandon talked about his thorn in flesh Disney story, do you have a “thorn in your flesh” moment where you were hurt but had to power through the day? 2. What’s one area or story where you may have seen/heard God show up in weakness? 3. What might be a thorn in your flesh where God’s power could shine?
Philippians 3:13-14 What is our attitude/hope toward the New Year after such a challenging year?QuestionsWhat are the 2 things that you want to forget or put behind you in 2021?What are the 2 things that you look forward to with hope as Jesus’ follower in 2021?