Cornerstone West Los Angeles » Sermons Cornerstone West Los Angeles

How do we know what is right or wrong, good or evil? Who has the right to say? God in His perfect goodness and authority speaks to a world so often confused about good and evil.

Application Questions: 
1. How does authority relate to morality?
2. How does truth relate to morality?
3. Why is the "I choose" approach to morality empty?
4. How does the "we choose" approach to morality fall short?
5. Why is it better for us if "He chooses" our morality?

Los Angeles is a city filled with people striving to find their own meaning in life. The options seem endless, and the idea of discovering our own purpose seems exciting. But can we really have the deep purpose we crave if we are making it up ourselves? Only Jesus can give us a stable purpose that we don't have to earn.

Application Questions: 
1. In what ways do you see those around you in our city striving to invent meaning in life instead of inheriting it?
2. Which of the 7 "C's" are you most tempted to find your ultimate purpose in life in?
3. How does the gospel free you to enjoy that area in life without it carrying the weight of being your ultimate purpose?
4. In light of the gospel, what is the purpose of your life (hint: there is one right answer)?
5. How might this week look different if you remembered your ultimate life purpose?

Easter is a time of generic hope ("after winter comes spring"), but Jesus says he brings hope into our lives now. We tend to downplay Easter so we can fit it into the ways we already understand the world, but Jesus bursts our categories. Dying for our sins and rising from the grave, Jesus opens the door to a new kind of life here and now, and ushers us into eternal life with him forever.

Application Questions: 
1. How do you see death affecting your own life? What are the ways you tend to cope with it? 
2. What are some ways Jesus’ resurrection interrupts the way you normally think about the world? 
3. Are there ways Jesus is inviting you to experience a new way of life now? What would it look like to take him up on that invitation?

Jesus famously calls us to "abide" with him as a branch abides in a vine. But what does that mean? What does it practically look like to live a life of abiding? And how do we know if we're abiding or not? 

Application Questions: 
1. How has the gospel already given you a vital connection with Christ?
2. How does your relationship with your phone (or the internet) inform what it might mean to live a life of "abiding"?
3. What evidence of abiding do you see in your life?
4. What evidence of abiding do you see in the lives of the Christians around you? Share these with them.
5. How have you seen a life of obedience be the life of greatest joy?

Everyone is searching for meaning, and purpose, and abundant life. Jesus makes it clear that the only way to the life we were created for is through Him. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life.

Application Questions: 
1. What answers are you looking for from God that He doesn't promise to give you?
2. What promises can you cling to instead?
3. How does Christ being the "way" speak into your hopes and dreams?
4. How does Christ being "the truth" relate to Him being "the Light of the World"?
5. What life does Christ offer? Are you embracing the abundant life offered in Him?

People in Los Angeles aren’t very familiar with sheep, but Jesus compares himself to a shepherd to help us understand who he wants to be in our lives. Shepherds know their sheep, love their sheep, and lead their sheep. When Jesus is your good shepherd you will follow him more closely than anything else. 

Application Questions: 
1. Jesus knows you even better than a shepherd knows his sheep. How might that encourage you this week?
2. How does Jesus laying down his life for you touch down in the things you are dealing with in your life right now?
3. Where do you think Jesus is calling you to follow him right now?