Discussion Questions:

1. Reading Genesis 18 in Context:
   ● The sermon describes Genesis 18 and the story of Sodom and Gomorrah as one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. What interpretations of this story have you heard before?
   ● How does reading the story through the lens of hospitality, violence, and the treatment of strangers change the way you understand it?
2. Practicing Hospitality:
   ● The sermon emphasizes that hospitality to strangers is a biblical mandate. Why do you think Scripture returns to this theme so often?
   ● Where do you see opportunities for RPPC to practice deeper hospitality in our church, neighborhood, and wider community?
3. Scripture, Love, and Harm:
   ● Pastor Mark challenges interpretations of this passage that have been used to shame or exclude LGBTQIA+ people. How can communities of faith repair harm caused by harmful readings of Scripture?
   ● Augustine wrote that if our interpretation of Scripture does not lead us to love God and neighbor more, we have not understood it correctly. How might this guide the way we read difficult biblical passages?
4. God’s Covenant and Mercy:
   ● The sermon suggests that Genesis 18 shows God being held accountable to the covenant God has made with humanity. What does that image of God stir up for you?
   ● Abraham speaks honestly with God, asking whether the righteous should be swept away with the wicked. What does this conversation teach us about prayer, courage, and trust?
5. Justice, Mercy, and Our Intertwined Lives:
   ● The sermon raises a hard question: How do justice and mercy relate to one another? Where do you feel that tension in your own life or in the world around us?
   ● Pastor Mark asks how we think about the ways our fates are “inextricably tied.” What does that mean for how we live as neighbors, citizens, and people of faith?
6. Faith That Wrestles:
   ● The sermon says faith is not a static statement of beliefs, but a living, evolving relationship with God and one another. How has your understanding of God changed over time?
   ● Have you ever felt like you needed permission to question or wrestle with your image of God? What helps make a faith community safe for honest questions?
7. Applying the Sermon:
   ● What is one way you can practice hospitality to someone who feels like an outsider this week?
   ● How can RPPC continue to be a place where all are welcome, where questions are honored, and where love of God and neighbor shapes how we read Scripture?

The post Sermon Discussion Guide: Disputing with God: Advocating for others appeared first on Roland Park Presbyterian Church.

Discussion Questions:

1. Like-Hearted vs. Like-Minded

• Pastor Mark suggests that Paul’s call to “be of one mind” may be better understood as being “like-hearted” rather than “like-minded.” What differences do you see between those two ideas?
• Have you ever experienced a community where people didn’t agree on everything, but still deeply loved and supported one another? What made that possible?

2. Walking in Sync with Jesus

• Pastor Mark shares the image of the older couple walking perfectly in sync. What stood out to you about that story?
• In what ways does following Jesus require practice, patience, and walking together with others rather than striving for perfection alone?
• How might spiritual growth happen through companionship and shared experience rather than uniformity?

3. Power, Humility, and the Way of Jesus

• The sermon contrasts worldly power based on domination and force with the power revealed through Jesus’ humility and self-emptying love. Where do you see these competing visions of power in today’s world?
• Why do you think humility is often misunderstood as weakness? How does Jesus challenge that assumption?
• What does it mean to trust that “God does not work by force, but by attraction”?

4. Diversity and Faithful Disagreement

• Pastor Mark highlights the Presbyterian belief that “people of good conscience can disagree.” Why is that idea important in communities of faith?
• How can Christians remain united in love while holding different political, theological, or personal views?
• What practices help create healthy disagreement without division?

5. Living the Sermon

• Pastor Mark asks: “How little faith in God does it take to force our way on others?” What emotions or thoughts did that question stir in you?
• How can we become a community where “love and generosity and compassion rule, not power and force”?

What is one practical way you can walk more intentionally in the way of Jesus this week?

The post Sermon Discussion Guide: Like-Hearted, Not Like-Minded appeared first on Roland Park Presbyterian Church.

Discussion Questions:

1. Partnership in the Gospel

• Pastor Mark reflects on Paul’s deep affection for the church in Philippi despite the hardships he experienced there. What do you think made that relationship so meaningful to Paul?
• Paul describes the Philippians as his “partners in the gospel.” What does true partnership in faith look like today?
• Have you ever experienced a community that supported you spiritually, emotionally, or materially during a difficult season? What made that support meaningful?

2. Vulnerability and Christian Community

• The sermon quotes Brené Brown’s observation that vulnerability is connected to joy, gratitude, and grace. Why do you think vulnerability is necessary for authentic community?
• What risks are involved in loving others deeply or allowing yourself to be known by a community?
• How can churches create spaces where people feel safe bringing their whole selves — including doubts, grief, questions, and struggles?

3. Hospitality and Welcoming Others

• Pastor Mark describes the importance of making room for guests, newcomers, and introverts within the life of the church. Why can this sometimes be difficult for established communities?
• The sermon contrasts two ways of entering a room: “Here I am” versus “Ah, there you are.” What is the difference between those two postures?
• When have you experienced radical welcome or hospitality in a faith community? How did it affect you?

4. Remembering the Outsider

• Paul never forgot what it meant to be an outsider before encountering the love of Christ. Why is it important for churches to remember the perspective of newcomers and outsiders?
• Pastor Mark says that making room for people with different experiences and perspectives does not impoverish a community — it enriches it. How have you seen diversity of experience strengthen a church or community?
• Are there ways churches unintentionally make people feel excluded or unseen? What changes can help create deeper belonging?

5. Beloved Community and Honest Faith

• The sermon reminds us that confession is necessary because “without confession, forgiveness and repair cannot occur.” Why is honesty about our failures important for spiritual growth?
• As RPPC celebrates 125 years, Pastor Mark encourages both gratitude for the past and honesty about the parts of history we might rather avoid. Why is this balance important for communities of faith?
• What does it mean to you to help build “the beloved community” in today’s divided world?

6. Applying the Sermon

• What is one concrete way you can practice hospitality or make room for someone this week?
• How can we become the kind of church community that says, “Ah, there you are” to those who walk through our doors?
• What part of this sermon challenged or encouraged you most personally?

The post Sermon Discussion Guide: Partners in the Gospel appeared first on Roland Park Presbyterian Church.

Discussion Questions:

1. Truth and Power

• In the scripture, Pilate famously asks Jesus, “What is truth?” Why do you think this question still resonates today?
• The sermon suggests that truth in John’s Gospel is not an idea but a person—Jesus. How does this shape the way we understand faith and discipleship?

2. Being Boxed In

• The sermon begins by describing how people sometimes “back themselves into a corner.” Where do you see this happening in the story between Pilate, the religious authorities, and Jesus?
• Have you ever felt trapped by expectations, assumptions, or choices? How did you respond?

3. Jesus’ Kingdom

• Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom is “not from this world.” What do you think Jesus means by this?
• The sermon describes Jesus’ kingdom as a way of life rooted in nonviolence and the sacred worth of every person. Where do you see glimpses of this kingdom today?

4. Allegiance and Identity

• The sermon suggests that following Jesus means placing allegiance to him above nation, political party, or even family. What challenges or questions does that idea raise for you?
• How might our lives change if our primary loyalty truly rested with Jesus’ way of truth and compassion?

5. Living the Truth

• In a world that often treats violence or power as normal, what might it look like to live according to Jesus’ truth?
• What is one small way you can embody Jesus’ way of truth, compassion, and nonviolence in the coming week?

The post Sermon Discussion Guide: Were You There? Questions of Faith appeared first on Roland Park Presbyterian Church.

Discussion Questions:

1. Mary’s Voice and Divine Calling

• In Luke 1, Mary responds to God’s call with humility and courage. What stands out to you about her response: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord”?
• How do you think God still calls people today through unexpected or marginalized voices?

2. The Magnificat as Protest and Praise

• The sermon compares Mary’s song to protest music across history. In what ways is the Magnificat a revolutionary or political song?
• How does Mary’s praise of God challenge systems of power and privilege? What might it be saying to us today?

3. God’s Justice and Joy

• Diana Butler Bass writes that Advent is a season of “justice and joy.” How does this contrast with how we usually experience or understand Advent?
• What does biblical justice mean to you? How is it different from revenge or punishment?

4. Human Response to Divine Initiative

• The sermon emphasizes that God’s action and our response go hand in hand. What does that balance of divine initiative and human participation look like in your own life?
• Have you ever experienced a moment where you sensed God was “up to something new”? What was your response?

5. Singing Your Own Song

• Pastor Mark said that “each and every one of you has a song.” What might your Magnificat sound like?
• What hopes, longings, or convictions might God be inviting you to share with the world right now?

The post Sermon Discussion Guide: Voices of Advent: Mary appeared first on Roland Park Presbyterian Church.

Discussion Questions:

1. Silence and Spiritual Growth

• Zechariah is struck mute after expressing doubt. How do you interpret the role of silence in his story? Was it a punishment, or something more?
• Have you ever experienced a time when silence—chosen or imposed—deepened your faith or changed your perspective?

2. Doubt and Divine Encounter

• Zechariah questions the angel’s message due to his and Elizabeth’s age. What does this reveal about the human response to divine promises?
• How do you navigate doubt in your own faith journey? What does this passage teach us about God’s response to doubt?

3. Reflection on God’s “Severe Mercy”

• Pastor Mark referenced Robert Dykstra’s phrase “God’s severe mercy” to describe Zechariah’s silence. What might this mean in the context of Advent and waiting?
• Can you think of a time when something difficult or unexpected in your life became a space for spiritual growth or clarity?

4. Listening for God

• Silence can be unsettling, yet it may also make room to hear God more clearly. In what ways might our noisy lives be drowning out the voice of God?
• What practices help you listen for God during this Advent season?

5. A Community of Waiting and Witness

• Zechariah’s muteness may have impacted the whole community. How do our personal experiences of faith affect those around us?
• How can we, as a church, embrace both silence and speech in ways that prepare us for Christ’s coming?

6. Applying the Sermon

• What is one concrete way you can create space for silence or reflection this week?
• How might your story—like Zechariah’s—shift from doubt to declaration as you prepare for Christmas?

The post Sermon Discussion Guide: Voices of Advent: Zechariah appeared first on Roland Park Presbyterian Church.

Discussion Questions:

1. Prophetic Imagination & Hope

• Isaiah 9 was originally written for a coronation in ancient Israel, likely during a time of war. How does understanding this historical context shift or deepen your appreciation for the text?
• Pastor Mark shared that prophets aren’t fortune-tellers but people with “supreme trust in God’s future.” What does it look like to trust God’s future in our world today?

2. Language About God

• The sermon reminded us that all language about God is metaphor. How does that affect how you engage with titles like “Father,” “Son of God,” or “Prince of Peace”?
• What are some new or different metaphors you’ve used—or might be open to using—for God? How do these reflect your lived experience?

3. Jesus as Metaphor and Meaning

• Pastor Mark explored how calling Jesus the “Son of God” expresses theological, not biological, truth. How does that shape your understanding of Jesus’ relationship to God—and to us?
• Which metaphors or descriptions of Jesus feel especially relevant or powerful in your faith right now?

4. Inclusive and Evolving Faith

• The sermon emphasized that it’s not only okay to use new images and language for God, it may be essential. How do we balance tradition and innovation in faith language?
• How can the church model this openness while honoring diverse spiritual experiences?

5. Practicing Hope and Light

• Isaiah speaks of light shining in darkness. Where do you see glimpses of that light today?
• What does it mean to live with “imperfect tense” hope—believing God’s vision of peace is already completed, even if it hasn’t happened yet?

6. Applying the Sermon

• How might you explore or introduce new God-language in your own prayer or spiritual practice this week?
• As a church, how can we better reflect a community that welcomes evolving understandings of God, rooted in justice, hospitality, and curious faith?

The post Sermon Discussion Guide: An Idea Is Born to Us appeared first on Roland Park Presbyterian Church.

Discussion Questions:

1. Building and Becoming:

• The temple took seven years to build. In that time, how have you seen yourself spiritually or emotionally grow over long stretches of time?
• Solomon’s identity evolved through the project—from self-serving ambition to spiritual insight. How do you relate to the idea of becoming someone new through extended effort or transformation?

2. Where God Dwells:

• The sermon emphasizes that God never asked for a temple, preferring to dwell among the people. What does that say about our modern ideas of “sacred space”?
• How can we make space for God to “dwell” in our lives today—at work, at home, in community?

3. Control and Containment:

• Pastor Mark said, “We want God to stay put. To be tame.” In what ways do we try to limit God to fit our preferences or agendas?
• When have you experienced God surprising you—breaking out of boxes you tried to place God in?

4. Legacy and Purpose:

• Solomon may have been building a temple to secure his legacy. What legacy are you hoping to leave? How does your faith guide that vision?
• How can we, like Solomon eventually did, shift from building monuments to fostering movements rooted in God’s love?

5. The True Temple:

• The sermon ends with a powerful reminder: “The only dwelling place God wants… is the sanctuary of the human heart.” What practices help you become more aware of God’s presence within?
• What would it look like for our church to be more focused on building the “temple of the heart” than the physical building?

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Discussion Questions

1. Humor and Scripture

• Pastor Mark suggests that parts of the Bible are meant to be humorous, and that we often miss the joke because we don’t expect it.
  • Have you ever encountered humor in Scripture before? If so, where?
  • How might humor open us up to deeper spiritual truths or catch us off guard in a helpful way?
  • Why do you think it’s important that we approach the Bible with curiosity and openness to unexpected interpretations?

2. Deception, Identity, and Family Dynamics

• In this story, Jacob deceives his father Isaac with help from his mother Rebekah, disrupting birthright norms.
  • What emotions or reactions do you have to this act of deception?
  • Have you ever felt like you had to “prove” yourself to receive something you already deserved or hoped for?
  • How do family dynamics—favorites, rivalry, expectations—shape our understanding of identity and worth?

3. Striving vs. Receiving

• Pastor Mark suggests that Jacob’s mistake—and often ours—is fighting for something already given.
  • What are the “rabbits” you feel you’re chasing in your life?
  • What would it look like to live from a place of already being blessed, instead of always striving?
  • How does the idea of grace challenge the belief that we must “earn” God’s love or success?

4. The Ladder and God’s Presence

• Jacob dreams of a ladder with angels ascending and descending—yet it is God who comes down and stands beside him.
  • What does it mean to you that God comes down the ladder to meet Jacob where he is?
  • Have you ever had a moment where you realized God was present in a place you hadn’t expected?
  • How might we begin to trust that God is already with us, not just waiting at the top of the ladder?

5. Blessing and Becoming a Blessing

• God tells Jacob: not only are you blessed, but you will be a blessing to others.
  • What’s the difference between receiving a blessing and being a blessing?
  • How do you see yourself living as a blessing in your community, family, or workplace?
  • What unique gifts might God be calling you to share right now?

6. Applying the Sermon

• Pastor Mark uses humor, storytelling, and a Fred Craddock parable to challenge how we see ourselves and our spiritual journeys.
  • What part of the sermon surprised you, challenged you, or made you laugh?
  • What is one thing you will carry with you this week from this sermon?
  • How can we, as a church, encourage one another to stop chasing the “not-real rabbits” and instead trust the love that already surrounds us?

The post Sermon Discussion Guide: Climbing the Stairway to Heaven appeared first on Roland Park Presbyterian Church.

Discussion Questions

1. Reflection on Creation:

• Genesis 1 offers a poetic vision of creation with repeating patterns and intentional rhythms. What stands out to you most in this creation account?
• Pastor Mark pointed out that God “invites” creation into being rather than commanding it into existence. What does this teach us about God’s character?

2. Sacred Partnership:

• Pastor Mark suggests that Genesis 1 shows not just what God made, but how God creates: by inviting, making space, and blessing. How might this shape the way you approach your own creativity or relationships?
• In what ways do you see yourself as a participant in God’s ongoing act of creation?

3. Freedom and Love:

• The story of the grandparents leaving their granddaughter at college offered a powerful metaphor for God’s love and freedom. Have you ever experienced a time when love required letting go?
• How does this model of divine love challenge or affirm your image of God?

4. Caring for Creation:

• Words like “dominion,” “stewardship,” and “care” reflect different interpretations of humanity’s role in creation. Which of these resonates most with you? Why?
• What responsibilities do we carry, as a church and as individuals, in nurturing creation?

5. Applying the Sermon:

• The sermon outlined a three-part pattern: Invite. Make Space. Bless. Which of these is hardest for you? Which comes most naturally?
• How can you practice this pattern this week—in your home, workplace, relationships, or community?

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