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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Pessimism | Part 6
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
June 1, 2025

The late Sam Shoemaker once said, "Everyone has a problem, is a problem, or lives with a problem." But what if I told you that your problem is not nearly as problematic as what you tell yourself about your problem. More often than not, what defeats us in life is the thinking that lies beneath our behaviors. Call it our explanatory style. It’s the things we tell ourselves when things don’t turn out right or go as expected. This final ISM has sabotaged more relationships, defeated more initiatives, and ruined more lives than practically all the other ISMS combined. This Sunday we take on pessimism along with God’s remedy for the negative outlook that robs us of so much in life.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Keith defined pessimism (or the grasshopper mentality) as anytime we allow problems, attitudes, or circumstances to cause us to doubt God and believe that we will lack the resources, ability, or strength to do what He wants done. Have you ever fallen victim to pessimism? What situation were you dealing with? How did it affect you? What if any resolution did you ultimately have?

2. There are three defining characteristics of pessimistic thoughts. A belief that our problems are permanent, pervasive and personal. Go back and review this part of the message or the notes you took. The attitudes define our explanatory style – the things we tell ourselves about our problems. What were your biggest takeaways from this portion of the message? Have you ever personally struggled with one or more of these ways of thinking? When we use these as an explanation for our problems, they become a type of self-fulfilling prophecy. In other words, we find what we’re looking for. Have you ever known anyone like this or been this way yourself? What would you suggest to a person caught up in this way of thinking?

3. What did we learn from Caleb’s life and example? How was he able to choose faith over pessimism?

4. Is your faith weak? Then feed on the Word of God. Like John Piper reminded us, “Faith feeds on the word of God, without a steady diet it gets weaker and weaker. If you are dissatisfied with your Christian courage and joy and purity of heart then check the way you’re feeding your faith.” Try to name as many ways as you can that the Word of God builds your faith. What has been your personal experience with God’s Word as a faith-builder? What stories have impacted you most? What promises? What precepts? Or what do you see in the character of God that encourages your faith?

5. This week, make a list of promises from God’s Word that can help keep your eyes focused on God during whatever difficulties you may encounter. If you’re not sure how to do this, talk about it in your small group. Better yet, as a group or among your friends, have everyone make a contribution regarding their favorite promises to claim. Once you have made a list of verses or references, type them up to keep in your notes on your phone, or print them up and post them where you will see them frequently. Commit to memorizing as many as you can.

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Legalism | Part 5
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 25, 2025

Legalism is a trap that’s far too easy to fall into. Its beginnings are so subtle and seem absolutely benign. But legalism in any form is not just toxic to our souls, it’s downright dangerous. John Piper once said, “Legalism is more dangerous than alcoholism.” He’s right. Few things will strip you of your love, joy and peace with God more quickly than legalism. But do you know the early warning signs of legalism? Are you aware of the sort of thinking that leads us into this deadly trap? Join us this Sunday, May 25th, as we delve into legalism and God’s remedy.

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1. What has been your experience around legalism? Were you ever in a church that was legalistic? Have you ever known Christians who were legalistic? What stood out most to you in those environments? How were they perceived by outsiders?

2. Obviously, legalistic churches exist and sometimes attract large numbers of people. Why do you think that is? What attracts people to this sort of thinking?

3. Was there anything in today’s message that challenged the way you think? Or encourage you in something you have always thought? Or do you find it helpful in evaluating what is healthy spirituality versus what is not?

4. Pastor Keith said there are only two religions - There is FAITH religion and there is WORKS religion. What is the difference between the two? Which do you think is more prevalent in the world? How is Christianity’s approach different from most other religions in the world?

5. In the final point, Pastor Keith contrasted two Greek myths, Ulysses versus Orpheus as it relates to the siren’s song. It’s a good analogy for temptation. Ulysses was bound to the mast of the ship. His story represents those who use rules to defeat temptation. Orpheus chose a different path. He played his lyre so that the sailors were all drawn toward more beautiful music. The siren song of the world is practically irresistible. Some use rules and struggle against them in the face of temptation and others have heard a new song, the love of Christ that draws them to a better way of living. Which do you like more and why?

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Escapism | Part 4
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 18, 2025

Let’s face it. Life can be tough and sometimes the challenges we face seem unrelenting. More than anything we crave a little reprieve from the stress and losses we’re facing. So we escape. We distract ourselves. We do something that gets our mind off our current problem. Our distraction might be binge-watching a Netflix series, playing video games or even just scrolling through our phone – really just about anything other than facing the problem. But when does a harmless distraction become a harmful habit? How do you know when a little break from the stress has become a practiced way of avoiding reality? That’s what this message is all about and more importantly, how to be set free.

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Discussion Questions

1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being very little and 10 being a lot), how much do you personally struggle with perfectionism? When you think back to the pressures of society and the influence of parents and other authority figures, what messages did you internalize that contributed to the problem of perfectionism?

2. What has perfectionism cost you professionally, physically, psychologically, relationally and spiritually? Can you think of any other ways your life has been adversely affected by perfectionism?

3. People with perfectionistic tendencies often struggle with forgiving themselves. Has this ever been an issue for you? What did you learn today that might be useful in the future as an alternative to beating yourself up over and over again?

4. What were some of the things that stood out most to you in today’s message? Any new learnings about perfectionism or yourself? How will you take what you learned today and incorporate it into your life?

5. Discuss the ideas of progress not perfection and the willingness to do things poorly.

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Materialism | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 11, 2025

Materialism is not about the amount, it’s about our attitude. When Jesus addressed materialism in the Sermon on the Mount, He spoke of necessities not luxuries. He also gave us the surest sign of materialism and that’s worry. This Sunday, we’ll learn how to be set free from this toxic “ISM”.

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Discussion Questions:

1. Some Christians define sin in terms of sinful acts (observable external behaviors). In this way, we are much like the Pharisees who did the same. But Scripture has always been careful to define sin primarily as desires gone awry – that our internal want is broken. So whether you’re talking about lust, greed, or coveting, before we ever commit an external act, we crave something internally first. Why do some Christians define sin in terms of external observable acts alone? Why are we so reluctant to admit that our desires are the real problem? Why do we try to justify our coveting or explain it away? Why do we only deal with the fruit instead of the root?

2. Rate yourself as a worrier. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being “not worried at all” and 10 being debilitating worry. Where would you put yourself on that scale? What tends to be your biggest worries? What, if anything, did you learn in today’s message that might help you better deal with worries when they arise?

3. Real wealth is determined not by our houses, cars or money in the bank but by our character, contentment, generosity and relationships. Why do these things matter more than the other things? Have you known people who were rich in one or more of these areas? What were they like? What did you learn from them? How do they inspire you to be rich where it counts?

4. To be truly rich in relationships is to be rich in our friendships, marriage and with God. Where are you strongest? Where are you weakest? What practical steps can you begin to take to make incremental improvements in all of your relationships?

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Alcoholism | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
May 4, 2025

When you think of addiction, if all you can picture is a homeless man passed out in a drunken stupor, then you don’t really understand addiction at all. Did you know that 3 out of 4 alcoholic men and women are married and still living at home? 95% of them still have jobs or own their business. In fact, only 3-5% of alcoholics ever reach skid row level. The truth is addiction often wears a familiar face or it may even be the reflection you see in the mirror. It’s time we spoke truth into a topic filled with unfair stereotypes and misunderstanding. It’s past time for people to know there is hope and healing for anyone caught up in addiction.

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Discussion Questions:

1. In the first half of today’s message, Pastor Keith shared three stories to illustrate God’s heart for the poor and oppressed; the shepherds, the leper and the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus. What were your main takeaways from the three stories? Could you put yourself in the shoes of any of these marginalized groups? What comfort or encouragement is found in these stories as it relates to addicts?
2. Do we really see people as people? Or more importantly, do we see people as God sees them? What groups of people today are still being marginalized? Why do people struggle with seeing the value, worth and dignity of others? If someone struggles with seeing others as God does, what would you suggest to them that might help them see what God does? How does the way we see people affect the way we treat people?

3. Why do we stereotype alcoholics? When the vast majority of alcoholics and other addicts are actually living in homes (sometimes as our neighbors), holding down jobs, and are able to manage appearances to most people who surround their life – knowing all of this – why do we associate alcoholism with only the worst-case scenarios? Have you ever personally known an alcoholic or addict?

4. All of us are broken people. No one is immune from that. We all have our weaknesses, Achilles’ heel, our vulnerability to certain types of sins. Why do people often act as if they are better than others simply because they sin differently? What’s the best remedy to that sort of behavior or attitude?

5. Confession helps to heal us. Being honest with God, ourselves and others brings many practical benefits. Can you name one or several? What experiences have you personally had with confessing to others your greatest struggles or failures? If someone is afraid to open up about such matters, what cautions would you give to them? What encouragement would you give to them?

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ISMS that Poison the Soul
Perfectionism | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 27, 2025

Perfectionism sabotages everything you do in life. It limits your potential. It robs you of your joy and even strips away the peace of God every time you fail. This message will explore the roots of perfectionism, how it affects us and most of all, God’s antidote to this poisonous root in our soul. This is a message you don’t want to miss.

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Discussion Questions

1. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being very little and 10 being a lot), how much do you personally struggle with perfectionism? When you think back to the pressures of society and the influence of parents and other authority figures, what messages did you internalize that contributed to the problem of perfectionism?

2. What has perfectionism cost you professionally, physically, psychologically, relationally and spiritually? Can you think of any other ways your life has been adversely affected by perfectionism?

3. People with perfectionistic tendencies often struggle with forgiving themselves. Has this ever been an issue for you? What did you learn today that might be useful in the future as an alternative to beating yourself up over and over again?

4. What were some of the things that stood out most to you in today’s message? Any new learnings about perfectionism or yourself? How will you take what you learned today and incorporate it into your life?

5. Discuss the ideas of progress not perfection and the willingness to do things poorly.

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Jesus is The G.O.A.T | His Church... not so much
Easter Sunday
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 20, 2025

Church people and non-church people seem to agree on one thing. Jesus is pretty awesome. We want to celebrate that this Easter. How Jesus Christ has left a lasting imprint on society and on the lives of so many who call Him Lord and Savior.But we also want to speak honestly and directly to those hurt by the church. So whether you’re new to church or someone who has stayed away, this message is for you and our hope is this marks a new beginning for us all.

1. Have you ever had any encounters with disaffected Christians (those who were once a part of a church but now no longer trust it)? What were they like? What concerns or criticisms did they express? How valid do you think their reasoning was? Did you say or do anything to address the issues they brought up? Where is that person today?

2. Jesus left a lasting impact on lives and history. What things stood out to you most in the message? What are some other ways Jesus Christ has left an indelible mark in lives and history?

3. Looking at all that Christ has inspired throughout history, what ways move you most? In what ways do you emulate Christ’s example? What does society view churches that are involved in compassionate ministries and those that are not?

4. How do you relate to people outside the church or outside the faith? Do you tend to think in terms of bounded sets or centered sets? The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were bounded set thinkers who defined the spiritual life by external behaviors like observing the sabbath and a myriad of other rules. Have you ever known Christians to think in similar ways? When you consider Jesus’ approach to outsiders, his primary concern was whether or not they were moving toward God or away from Him? What sort of things let you know that someone has a spiritual interest or hunger?

5. Share with your small group your personal testimony. What was it like to give your life to Christ and what has He done in your life that only He could do?

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The Triumphal Entry:
Palm Sunday
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
April 13, 2025

It’s a story told by all four gospel writers and marks the beginning of the Passion Week of Christ. Just about the time you think you really understand it, it surprises you with layers of rich meaning that you never noticed before. At the heart of this story is a choice and not just any choice - THE CHOICE - are we committed to Jesus for Who He is or for Who we want Him to be? Don’t miss this message!

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1. It turns out that donkeys are more important than many of us ever realized. What are the things about donkeys that stood out most to you today? How do they enhance your understanding of Christ and His mission? What sort of statement did it make for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey at Passover? Do you think people in his day understood the significance of this?

2. Obviously at Passover, the fervor of the people reaches its highest levels. Remembering the significance of the deliverance of their people from Egypt and now being under the bootheel of another superpower made them yearn for God to do it again. But neither the people nor even Jesus’ disciples understood the sort of deliverance Christ intended to bring. Why do you think they were so blind as to what Christ intended to do even though He taught it and explicitly said it many times? If you lived in those days, do you think you would have seen things differently or the same as everybody else? Why or why not?

3. Pastor Keith said, “We want Jesus to be who we want Him to be instead of who He is." He then gave examples of the many ways we distort who Jesus is; Political Jesus, Magic 8-ball Jesus, Mr. Rogers Jesus, Santa Jesus and even Self-Help Jesus. Have you ever witnessed this yourself?Is this something you did at some point in your faith journey? How did that affect you? How did you come to a true, better and more Biblical understanding of Christ?

4. There were two likely triumphal entries into Jerusalem that day taking place on opposite sides of the city. One involved Pontius Pilate accompanied by a massive display of force. The other involved Jesus, a donkey and a rag-tag group of followers. Why does the world worship power and military might even to this day? Which parade would you personally fit into best? What does Jesus' entrance into the city that day say about the nature of His kingdom?

5. We all must make a choice. In a sense, even today, we are still waving our palm branches. This National Jewish symbol for liberation can either be waved in the political sense, i.e. believing that our deliverance rises and falls based on who possesses power in Washington DC. Or it can be waved in a more profound spiritual sense believing what’s fundamentally wrong with the world can’t be fixed by legislation, executive order or any other sort of political action. Instead, each and every heart needs to experience forgiveness, liberation from the bonds of selfishness and be set free to love God and others as intended. In which sphere do you wave your palm branch most? Based on what you read, what occupies your time and energy and conversations, or how you post on social media, what would others say is the sphere where you wave your palm branch most?