Bible and a Brew

About this event

All welcome to join us for a pint and a lively discussion about this week's sermon. Remember, you can always find the sermon written in this week’s Ekklesia Newsletter

They have an onsite food truck if you are hungry. Get there early if you want to eat and we hope to see you there! Corby

Summary This sermon explores the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids from Matthew 25, using it as a lens to ask a vitalquestion: Do we have a Christian faith built to last a lifetime? The pastor explains that Jesus will notreturn quickly, and the wise Christian must be prepared for the long wait. Drawing on two ancientcommentators, Augustine and Chrysostom, the sermon identifies the "oil" in the parable as love for Godand love for neighbor. These are the spiritual practices and acts of service that keep our faith alive throughevery season of life. The sermon also honestly acknowledges that every believer will experience seasonswhen their faith falters, much like all ten bridesmaids fell asleep. During those dark nights of the soul, theanswer is not to withdraw but to stay connected to the community of faith. Serving others, worshipingtogether, and receiving communion are the practices that reignite love for God when it grows dim. We arecalled to wait for Jesus together, filling in the gaps for one another, trusting that when he returns He willusher us all into His kingdom. Intro Prayer Heavenly Father, we come together today as people who are still waiting, still hoping, and still trusting inyour promises. As we open your Word and discuss what it means to live a faith built for the long haul, weask that you would quiet our distractions and open our hearts. Speak to each of us in the way we mostneed to hear from you today. May this time together not simply be an exchange of ideas, but a momentwhere your Spirit moves among us and draws us closer to you and to one another. In Jesus' name, amen. Ice Breaker What is one hobby, habit, or routine you have kept up consistently for many years, and what has helpedyou stick with it? Key Verses

• Matthew 25:1-13

• Amos 5:18-24

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

• 1 Corinthians 13

Questions

• The sermon opens with the disciples asking Jesus "when" the end times will come. If you had beenwalking with Jesus that day, what would your first question have been, and why?

• Augustine interpreted the oil in the lamp as love for God, while Chrysostom interpreted it as lovefor neighbor. Which interpretation resonates more with you personally, and why do you think bothmight be true at the same time?

• The pastor describes worship as "the date night of our relationship with God." What does thatimage stir in you? Does it change how you think about showing up for worship each week?

• The sermon notes that all ten bridesmaids, both wise and foolish, fell asleep. What does it mean toyou that even the wise ones struggled to stay awake? How does that bring you comfort or challengeyou?

• Have you ever experienced a "dark night of the soul," a season when your love for God felt dim oryour faith felt distant? What helped you through it, or what do you wish had helped?

• The pastor suggests that the foolish bridesmaids may have made their biggest mistake not byforgetting oil, but by leaving the group to fix the problem on their own. What does that say aboutthe importance of staying connected to the community of faith during hard times?

• The sermon challenges us to ask: "Do we have a Christian faith built for a lifetime?" What practicesin your own life are currently feeding your love for God, and are there any that have faded that youwould like to restore?

• The pastor closes with the image of Jesus returning to find us reaching for Him, whether our faith isstrong or weak. How does that picture of grace change the way you think about your own readinessfor Christ's return?

Life Application This week, identify one specific practice that feeds your love for God (such as prayer, Scripture reading,worship, or serving a neighbor in need) and commit to doing it intentionally every day. If you are in aseason where your lamp feels low, reach out to one person in your faith community and let them know.Allow someone else's light to help carry you through. Come back next week ready to share how it went. Key Takeaways

• Jesus will return at an unknown time, so the wise Christian builds a faith designed to last a lifetimerather than waiting until the last moment to prepare.

• The "oil" that keeps our faith burning is love for God, nurtured through worship, prayer, andpersonal devotion, and love for neighbor, expressed through acts of service and generosity.

• Every believer will experience seasons of spiritual drowsiness or doubt, and the answer is notisolation but staying rooted in the community of faith where others can carry the light for us.

• We cannot hand our faith to someone else, but we can inspire and sustain one another byworshiping together, serving together, and encouraging one another along the way.

• No matter the state of our faith when Christ returns, His grace is the ultimate foundation. He comesto usher us into his kingdom, and our hope rests in his faithfulness, not only our own.

Ending Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for the reminder today that we are not waiting for you alone. You have placed us incommunity with one another so that when one of us grows weary, another can carry the light. As we leavethis time together, fill us with a renewed love for you and a deeper compassion for the people around us.When our lamps run low, remind us to stay close to your people and to your table. And when you return,may you find us reaching for you together. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

From First Lutheran Church Colorado Springs Small Groups