This blog is a follow-up to the sermon "Our Greatest Need: The Reality of Sin and Separation", preached by Rev Susan Salo on Sunday, December 7th, 2025.

READ Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-13, 3:22-24
1. If someone tells us to do something, why then do we want to not do it?  For instance, if our doctor tells us to cut down on cholesterol, why do we want to eat French fries?
2. How does sin appeal to our lower human nature, the “flesh”? What leads us to rebel against God’s authority over us? Why do we want our own way, even when we know the consequences are bad?

READ Matthew 18:1-9
3. Why is it a blessing that the Gospel writers portray the disciples in all their messiness? They are not “plaster saints.”  Why is that a help to us?
4. Why did Jesus put a little child among them after they argued about who will be the greatest in the kingdom of God?  Why does Jesus tell us to change and be like children?
5. Child rearing was much, much stricter then than nowadays.  Obedience to parents was unquestioned.  Was that part of what Jesus meant by becoming like children?
6. There is a myth in some people’s minds that once one becomes a Christian, we become obedient and stop sinning.  But if we fall into sin, as even wonderful Christians do, we can then hide our sin both from God and ourselves, with drastic consequences.  What are some of the steps to turning this around? READ I John 2:1-2

This blog is based on the sermon "Lest We Forget", preached by Rev. Kim Salo on Nov. 9, 2025.

1. In Deuteronomy 6, name some of the most important things that Israel needed to remember as they entered the promised land of Israel. Why would they need constant reminding?

2. In Luke 6:27-30, why does Jesus command us to love our enemies? In this passage, what actions will show that we do not seek revenge on our enemies, but their good? Would you consider such action toward an enemy as “peacemaking”, or something else?

3. In Luke 6:31, often known as the Golden Rule, the context suggests that “do to others as you would have them do to you” applies more to enemies than friends. Do you agree? Why or why not?

4. In James 4:1-3 and 11-12, list the behaviors and attitudes that lead to “fights and quarrels.” Do these behaviors and attitudes also lead to conflict on a wider scale, such as between nations?

5. Read James 3:17-18, and James 4:7-10. Which of these “remedies” do you find easy to apply to yourself? Which remedy do you find hard to apply?

6. Do you believe that sin is primarily something that only individuals do, or is sin something that groups like tribes or nations do? State your reasons for why you think so.

These blog questions are based on Stewart Wakeman's sermon from Nov. 2nd, titled "The Problem We Can't Ignore: Understanding Sin".

1.What does our Canadian culture consider to be sin? How does this differ from the Bible?

2. If sin is just "missing the mark," or "making mistakes," do we need God's help? Can we "fix" sin by ourselves? 

3. READ Galatians 5:16-21
    This passage names numerous expressions of sin:
    A. "Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality." How does our Canadian culture deal with sexual sin? According to the Bible, what is more important for sexual morality: personal fulfilment, or commitment?
    B. "Enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, envy." These are some of the outcomes of struggles for power or control. Do you think that we are living today in a more than usually severe expression of these sins? Why?
    C. "Drunkenness, orgies, and things like these." Why has the 1960's idea of "do your own thing...as long as you aren't hurting anybody" been so damaging to so many people? 

4. READ Galatians 5:22-26. Why isn't it enough for Christians to simply know that our sins are forgiven? Is it possible to be a loveless, joyless, unkind, unfaithful, and harsh Christian, with no self-control? Why?

5. READ Matthew 18:15-20. This is Jesus' procedure for dealing with sin by one person in the church against you.
Why does Jesus say step one is "just between the two of you"? What does he mean by "if they listen to you, you have won them over"? Why is step one not public accusation? Why would the church decide to "treat them as you would a pagan or tax collector"?

6. Have you ever used Jesus' procedure for reconciliation with another person who has sinned against you?

​This blog is based on Rev Kim Salo's sermon on "The Mission of the Kingdom," Oct. 19.

Read Luke 10:1-20

1. In verse 2, Jesus says "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest." What is so urgent about his mission? What awaits Jesus?

2. Why does Jesus say, in v. 3, that they are sent out like lambs among wolves?

3. In v. 4, why are they to travel so light? And why are they to greet no one on the road?

4. In v.7, why are they told by Jesus to stay in the first house to welcome them? Why are they to eat and drink what is provided?

5. In v.10-11, why are they told by Jesus to leave a town that would not welcome them? What is the significance of wiping its dust off their feet?

6. Jesus lived for a time in Capernaum, and knew well other towns like Chorazin and Bethsaida there. Why does he pronounce woes on them in verses 13-15? Hint: read the parallel at Mt.11:20-24

7. What was the result of the mission, in verses 17-20? Is there a warning here for us?

8. What qualified the pairs of workers to go before Jesus as advance teams? Why pairs? Why not one by one?