Living Faith Anglican Church

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

Ascension Sunday

Discussion Questions:

1. Jesus's primary role following his ascension is mediation, as stated in 1 Tim. 2:5-6: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” Does this truth impact your sense of security and comfort as you live your life before God? Explain.
2. Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. Did you find the acronym RIIBS helpful for the New Covenant works of the Holy Spirit (i.e., Regeneration, Indwelling, Baptism, Sealing)? Which of these works would you like to discuss further with your small group?
3. Does it amaze you that Jesus was willing to turn over the ministry of the Gospel to the Apostles and the early church as he ascended to heaven? Does it amaze you that the church has survived and thrived for nearly 2000 years following this model? What does that tell you about the plan of God for his church and your role in it?
4. The Jewishness of the Gospel is demonstrated in the grounding of Jesus the Messiah's ministry in the Jewish Scriptures, which are organized into three divisions: the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Writings. What does the fact that Jesus held the Jewish Scriptures in such high regard as a testament to himself tell you about the importance of the Word of God? Does it give you greater appreciation for and confidence in the Word of God as a believer in Jesus? 
5. Have you ever had an experience in which the Holy Spirit illumined a truth from the Word of God in such a way that "your heart burned within you" like the disciples on the Emmaus Road? Tell the group about that experience.
6. While we can talk about Jesus's death and resurrection and what these events accomplished in many different ways, Jesus chose to summarize their effect in terms of the "forgiveness of sins." Do you think about your salvation in these terms? What impact should this truth have upon how we live our lives and maintain our relationship with a holy God?

Sermon by Dcn. Bob Fabey

5th Sunday of Easter

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

4th Sunday of Easter

Discussion Questions:

1. If the Jewish leaders don’t believe that Jesus is the Christ, then why might they have asked Jesus the question: “Are you the Christ?”?
2. How do the three characteristics of Jesus’ sheep (hear, know, follow) show up in your own life? 
3. When Jesus describes his loving care for his sheep, what part offers you the most comfort?
4. In what ways does Jesus’ statement—“I and the Father are one”—represent a summary of John’s Gospel?
5. What do you believe Christ most wants to accomplish in you through this passage?

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

3rd Sunday of Easter

Discussion Questions:

1. Can you identify a time in your life when you had a "full circle" experience where an opportunity or situation repeated itself, and this time you were able to engage it with greater maturity, less naivete, and better prepared? Share your story with the group.
2. What types of things has God redeemed in your life and given you a second chance or a renewed opportunity?
3. Peter was called by Christ from the vocation of fishing two different times, at the beginning and the end of his earthly ministry. Has God ever called you to abandon something you knew and loved to serve his kingdom priorities?
4. Jesus returned to the Father as the God-man, something that was not true of him prior to the incarnation. Because of that, he was able to appear before God as the "Lamb that was slain," bringing with him redeemed humanity of all time. What response does this "full circle" story of Jesus (leaving and returning to God's presence) inspire in you? (e.g., praise, gratitude, thanksgiving, humility, obedience, etc.)  
5. How does God's use of the "full circle" pattern of redemption help you process your current difficulties, struggles, confusion, and disappointments? Do you think your situation can be redeemed and used by God? In what way do you imagine?
6. Would you take time over the next couple of weeks to pray for Fr. Peter and Fr. Carl as they travel to Rwanda (May 12-22)? Pray for their safety, fruitful ministry, and discernment of how Fr. Carl might be used by God in his retirement. Thanks!

Presentation by Eric & Karin Crawford, Bishop Keith, and Fr. Peter Smith

2nd Sunday of Eastertide

Discussion Questions:

1. What has Living Faith meant to you and your family?
2. What do you thank God for about this parish?
3. What has Christ done in and through our church in the last 20 years?
4. If Living Faith didn’t exist, what would be missing?
5. What things have we been committed to that we must continue to be committed to?

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

Easter Sunday

Discussion Questions:

1. In a context of suffering and persecution, why do you think Peter ended his household-type exhortations with a challenge to Elders/Pastors? In other words, what role do elders/pastors play in helping Christ followers endure suffering with the hope of glory?
2. Fr. Carl taught that implied in Peter's exhortation to "Shepherd the flock of God" were two primary roles of elders/pastors: (1) Feeding the flock of God (through Word and Sacrament), and (2) Leading the flock of God. Do you think that is a good job description for a pastor/elder?
3. Our sermon series was on the topic of "Suffering and Glory." Has it been your past belief that these two terms are linked? What do you think about Fr. Carl's answer to the question, "What links suffering and glory? The answer is HOPE!"
4. Can you recall some of the passages Fr. Carl raised about hope, whether from 1 Peter or some other book of the Bible? Can you add others?
5. Fr. Carl applied this message of hope to how we view individuals who are bound by sin and marriages that are experiencing difficulty. What difference does the Gospel of Hope make in these cases?
6. The sermon ended with a challenge to live into (and memorize) 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV): "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." In what ways does this promise from God's word provide an "anchor for your soul"?

Sermon by Fr. Bob Fabey

Suffering and Glory Series

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

Suffering and Glory Series

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it so essential to expect a measure of suffering in marriage and our home life?
2. What do you think of the idea of submission as willingly cooperating with the good purposes of those we are under?
3. If you’re married, is there anything you found particularly challenging or encouraging in this passage?
4. If you’re not married, what challenge or encouragement does this passage offer for your life, especially as it relates to self-sacrificial love?
5. When you think about the kind of glory that can come from loving marriages, what examples or stories come to your mind?

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

Suffering and Glory Series

My message today was on "Suffering in (Pagan) Society," with a heavy focus on the subject of submission. This is not a popular topic, but I think it is foundational to our discipleship as well as a crucial posture for living Christianly in the world. Here are some questions that should generate some thoughtful and impactful discussion this week:

Discussion Questions:

1. Does the topic of submission cause a negative reaction in you? If so, what do you think is the basis of that reaction? (E.g., is it cultural, bad experiences, or what?).  
2. Do you think more about Jesus Christ as your "Savior" or as your '"Lord"? What is the difference to you?
3.  Do you think submission to someone requires that you trust them? If not, what does it require? Or, what does submission entail and look like for you?
4. Do you think about Christianity as a revolutionary religion? If so, in what sense or manner is it revolutionary? Do you think that it advocates political violence?
5. Do you have the sense that submitting to God first and foremost gives you freedom to submit to others? Is it difficult for you to honor those to whom you are called to submit? 
6. Do you view Jesus as an example for you in terms of suffering and submission? What does this look like practically for your life?
7. Does the challenge to "entrust your soul to him who judges justly" seem like a helpful way to embrace submission and suffering? What difference would this make? 
8. In what ways might submission promote the mission of Jesus Christ? Does "putting to silence the ignorance of foolish men" sound missional to you? 
9. Think of your most difficult relationship for you to embrace submission. What might "doing good" look like in that relationship?

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

Suffering and Glory Series

Discussion Questions:

1. If authentic worship requires sacrifice, what sacrifices are you committed to offering to God?
2. If our sufferings can be transformed into sacrificial worship, what is one suffering you’re experiencing now that could be surrendered to God for his glory?

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

Suffering and Glory Series

Discussion Questions

1. What does holiness have to do with the Gospel?
2. What are some of the reasons holiness is difficult?
3. How does suffering make it harder to be holy?
4. If suffering is a necessary part of our sanctification, how can we know which suffering can be avoided and which is God’s will for us?
5. Is there an area of suffering in your life right now that you believe God wants to use for redemptive purposes?  If so, describe it.
6. What does the difference between perishable and imperishable have to do with suffering and glory?
7. What does it look like to make ourselves ready (“to gird up your loins”) to pursue holiness?

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

Suffering and Glory Series

We started our Lenten sermon series this morning on 1 Peter and the theme, "Suffering and Glory." I hope this will be a fruitful time of discussion within our groups regarding the various types and contexts of suffering, as well as how the hope of the Gospel shapes our perspective in the midst of our various difficulties.

Here are a few questions prompted by my sermon:

1. Has it been habitual for you to associate suffering with glory? What difference does this association make?
2. The opening Salutation and first section of 1 Peter are focused on the salvation that God provides for us. Read 1 Peter 1:1-5 aloud in your group and talk about what you hear and how it impresses you. 
3. Does the fact that you and your inheritance are being "kept by God's power" and "guarded through faith" give you a sense of security? Do you ever consider your faith to be the "weak link" in God's plan of salvation? How does this passage indicate your faith can grow?
4. Does it give you any comfort that God has a purpose in your various types of suffering (i.e., to bring about the "tested genuineness of your faith")? Does rejoicing in your trials come easy for you?
5. The fact that Jesus, our Messiah, was made "perfect through suffering" (Heb. 2:10) provides a model for us in our suffering. How have you seen suffering "perfect" or "complete" you and/or your faith?
6. Read again 1 Peter 1:8-9, and discuss how your love, faith, and joy demonstrate the evidence of your salvation even though you have never seen Jesus Christ in person. 
7. Peter declares that believers after the time of Christ's death and resurrection were specially privileged (beyond the prophets and the holy angels) to understand how the "suffering" and "glory" of Christ fit together in God's plan (10-12). Do you sense that you are privileged to live in the era after Christ's time? Explain.

Let me also encourage you to work on the Lenten series memory verses together:

Peter 4:12-13:

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

8th Sunday of Epiphany

Questions for Group Discussion

1. God is not like us.  What emotions does that statement cause you to feel?
2. God’s glory is above and beyond all created things.  What dangers do we face when we make God like us?
3. Throughout the story of Scripture, in what ways has God mediated his glory to human beings?
4. Since Christ is now the perfect mediator of God’s glory, what’s changed about our relationship to God and his glory?
5. What might it look like for Christ’s glory to rub off on you?
6. This Lent, what wilderness might God want you to walk in, or what mountain might God want you to climb in order to see more of his glory?

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

World Mission Sunday

7th Sunday of Epiphany

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

6th Sunday of Epiphany

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

Rwanda Sunday

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

4th Sunday of Epiphany

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

3rd Sunday of Epiphany

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

2nd Sunday of Epiphany

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

Epiphany Sunday

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

2nd Sunday of Christmas

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

1st Sunday of Christmas

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

Advent Sermon Series: Thy Kingdom Come

4th Sunday of Advent

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

Advent Sermon Series: Thy Kingdom Come

3rd Sunday of Advent

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

Advent Sermon Series: Thy Kingdom Come

2nd Sunday of Advent

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

1st Sunday of Advent

Advent Sermon Series: Thy Kingdom Come

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

All Saints Sunday

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

23rd of Ordinary Time

Clergy and the Church Series

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Quarterly Pastoral Update by Fr. Peter Smith

22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

20th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

19th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

Clergy and the Church Series

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Presentation by Rwanda Travel Team: Tina Larsen, Dcn. Blake Plympton, Rick Larsen, & Dean Bob Fabey

Rwanda Sunday

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

15th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Peter Smith

13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

12th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

11th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Bob Fabey

10th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Dcn. Blake Plympton

9th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Bob Fabey

8th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sermon by Fr. Bob Fabey "Mercy- God’s Response to a Rebel Heart" 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Sermon by Fr. Carl Smith

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time