Discussion Questions

1. Experiencing the Wilderness

• The sermon compared our modern lives to the Israelites’ time in the wilderness. What does “wilderness” look like for you today?
• Pastor Mark shared Barbara Brown Taylor’s idea that we don’t choose the wilderness—it happens to us. Have you ever felt thrown into a wilderness season? What was that like?

2. Hangry Faith

• The Israelites’ physical hunger made them forget God’s faithfulness. Pastor Mark joked about being “hangry” and reminded us we’re not ourselves when we’re hungry. How do your spiritual or emotional needs impact your faith and relationships?
• When have you, like the Israelites, forgotten past blessings during present stress? What helped you remember again?

3. Daily Bread vs. Long-Term Security

• God offers daily bread—not monthly or yearly—and invites us to trust. Why do you think it’s difficult to live with “just enough”?
• How does this challenge or reshape your understanding of God’s provision in your own life?

4. Recognizing God’s Gifts

• The Israelites received manna and asked, “What is it?” Have you ever missed or misjudged an answered prayer because it didn’t look how you expected?
• How can we become more aware of the “manna” God places in our lives today?

5. Serving One Another

• Pastor Mark invited us to serve one another communion in a “holy exchange.” How can we better serve and recognize God’s presence in our neighbors?
• In your life this week, who might be hungry—spiritually or emotionally—and how can you offer “bread”?

6. Applying the Sermon

• What is one tangible way you can trust God’s provision this week?
• How can RPPC—as a community—create space for others to receive “daily bread,” both spiritually and materially?

The post Sermon Discussion Guide: You’re Not You When You’re Hungry 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?

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