Listen Here: https://youtu.be/1T6du9dmjGI
Matthew 21:1-11
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, two saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your King is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" 11 The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
Questions:

1. Why do you think Matthew referencing these portions of scripture?
2. With Jesus coming into the city, Matthew draws parallels from other stories for his readers to conclude. But what do you think was going through the heads of the people welcoming Jesus into the city?
3. What is the role of King in the biblical text?

RESOURCES
The Day the Revolution Began - N.T. Wright
The Bible Project
The Skeltons in Gods Closest - Joshua Ryan Butler God Has A Name - John Mark Comer

Listen here: https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210320-silence-and-solitude

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
 
Discussion Questions
What makes someone trustworthy?
How do you build trust with someone?
On a scale of 1-10 how easy do you find helpful in building intimacy with God?
Why do you think that is?
Is there a discipline or practice that you would like to explore?
Where am I tempted not to trust God?

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Jesus Outside the Church Revelation 3:14-22 This is it. We are at the end of our series the Greatest Reset. We have taken the first 7 weeks of 2021 to look at the 7 churches of Revelation. We have discovered that although these 7 churches were actually congregations in the roman province of Asia Minor. They represent the church through the last 2000 years. The struggles, failures and successes found in these 7 oracles to the 7 churches are universal to the community of believers known as the church. Today we look at the final church that was written to. The church is Laodicea. There are two commonly quoted images in this letter. The first one is Jesus spewing out the church community like lukewarm water. The second is Jesus knocking at the door wanting to eat with those inside. We are going to explore these two images as well as trying to figure out why Jesus called his followers, wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Listen to the Podcast - https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210613-jesus-outside-the-church
The Questions

1. Are you participating in Lent?
2. What are you planning on doing for Lent?
3. What was something that impacted your life during The Greatest Reset Series?

Devotional Thoughts
This week we looked at the church in Laodicea in Revelation.  This church was sternly warned about their deeds by Jesus.  The church in Laodicea was also mentioned as an intended audience for the letter to the church in Colossae.  So for this week please read the book of Colossians.
Day 1 – Read Colossians 1
Day 2 – Read Colossians 2
Day 3 – Read Colossians 3
Day 4 – Read Colossians 4


We Also talked about Ash Wednesday and Lent – Click on this link to access this resource explaining how Lent connects Mardi Gras to Easter Sunday. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Elypoc6sXyE2PqxZYj4JWPhTQQQnVETu/view?usp=sharing

We are continuing our series called the Greatest Reset. Matt Peters is our speaker check out what he has to say about the Oracle to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia.​
Subscribe to the Podcast
https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210206-endurance
To the Church in Philadelphia
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Discussion Questions

1. Who do you trust the most?
2. How would you describe your identity?
3. Give an example of a time that your faith has been tested.

Audio Only: https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210130-wide-awake
​Revelation 3:1-6 To the Church in Sardis 3 “To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 
Sardis has the most in common with our modern North American evangelistic style church. The church has been a significant force in our culture for a number of years. However, we have also seen the church lose it’s way when we deal with politics, social injustice and righteousness. The rebuke in this section is the strongest of the seven churches in Revelation and so we need to take this message to heart. 
Discussion Questions 1. Why do you think that the Christians in Sardis had become their own worst enemy? 2. Why does the church seem to be less influential when they are not encountering opposition? 3. How do you guard against becoming your own worst enemy? How can encourage each other to escape this trap? 
Devotions for the week. Day 1 – Read Matthew 23:27-28 how do we avoid being like the Pharisees? Day 2 - Hebrews 10:23-24 – who in your life spurs you to love and good deeds? Day 3 - Read 2 Corinthians 13:5 – why is self examination crucial to our faith? Day 4 – Romans 12:9-13 – How do these instructions help us create a welcoming atmosphere for those struggling with mental health issues? Day 5 – Philippians 4:7 – what are some ways that you experience the peace of God in your life?

Audio Only: https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210123-theopolitical
Scripture Reading
Revelation 2:18-29
Discussion Questions:

1. When is a time where you changed something about yourself to be accepted?
2. When you think of the word compromise, what do you think about?
3. What secret knowledge could we be enticed to pursue?

Devotions
Day 1 – Read 1 Timothy 1:3-7 how do these verses apply to us today as we react to many theories and conspiracies?
Day 2 – How do we de-escalate the rhetoric online according to Proverbs 15?
Day 3 – How does Philippians 4 help us to break from the conspiracy loop?
Day 4 – Read 1 Peter 2:1-3 - Why should we be careful not to promote baseless or unproven accusations?
Day 5 – How does 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 counteract the conspiracy culture?

Link for Audio only: https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210116-church-of-compromise
​
Check out Sermon #3 of our 2021 kickoff series the Greatest Reset. Greg speaks about the church in Pergamum. Revelation 2:12-17. Here are the devotions for the week. 
​
Devotions 
Day 1 – Acts 15:24-30 records the decision of the Jerusalem Council. What do we learn about conflict management in the early church? 
Day 2 – Back to Acts 15 specifically verse 28. Have you ever felt that the Holy Spirit has given you insight into a difficult decision? 
Day 3 – We asked the question in the message of how to you determine right and wrong for yourself? This is the question I want you to explore today. 
Day 4 – In the second letter to Timothy, Paul writes these final words regarding the role of the Bible in his life. Read 2 Timothy 3:10-17 what are the four functions of Scripture? 
Day 5 – Reread 2 Timothy 3:10-17. How have you experienced the Bible equipping you for Christian living?
​

Link to Audio Only: https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210109-faithfulness-in-suffering
​
Oracle to the Angel of the Church in Smyrna. Revelation 2:8-11. 8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. 11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. 

Discussion Questions 
What is suffering? 
What is faithfulness? 
What is a time in your life where you have been faithful to God? What is a time where God has been faithful to you?
​
Devotions
Day 1 – Revelation 22:12-13 Jesus refers to himself as the Alpha and Omega how does this help people who are suffering for their faith.
Day 2 – James 1:2-4 In Canada we don’t usually face persecution, but we can at times face opposition.  What should our attitude be?
Day 3 – Matthew 12:33-37 One of the ways that the church in Smyrna suffered was through malicious slander.  How does this passage help you work through the pain of being slandered?
Day 4 – Isaiah 41 is a declaration from God to restore his people.  As Christians how does this passage encourage us when we face fearful situations?
Day 5 – Hebrews 4:14-16 – Jesus said to the church in Smyrna that he knew of their suffering.  Jesus showed empathy.  Read these verses and be reminded that Jesus does know of our struggles.