The Otherwayers
Preacher: The Rev. Andrew Van Kirk
Scripture: John 10:1-10
Reflection Questions
The sermon opens with the image of stubbornly hoisting yourself out of a pool rather than walking over to the ladder. Where in your life right now — work, family, health, faith — are you white-knuckling your way over the edge when there's an easier way being offered? What makes it so hard to accept the easier way?
The sermon suggests that sometimes we meet spiritual weakness with "ritual strength"—saying the Morning Prayer perfectly while actually thinking about breakfast. For those of us who have been in church a long time, what are the "rituals" (e.g., attending every service, serving on a committee, checking boxes) that you sometimes use to compensate for a lack of true, heartfelt connection with God?
As the church considers new building projects ("bringing a concrete truck to the campus"), the pastor warns against the trap of "institutionalism"—valuing the building, social respectability, and political clout over the Kingdom of God. Whether it's regarding the church, your alma mater, or a local charity you support, how do you distinguish between loving an institution and actually doing the work of God?
"The moment we ask ourselves, 'Have I done enough to get into heaven?' is the exact same moment we reveal that we don’t think Jesus has done enough." Have you ever caught yourself operating under the belief that your moral behavior, your giving, or your success is what actually makes you acceptable to God? What helps you remember that "this life is grace, all the way down"?
The sermon concludes by urging us to listen for Jesus' voice "in the scriptures, in our prayers and hymns, in your heart." Actually hearing that voice takes intention. What is one concrete, realistic change you could make this week to create space to listen? And who in this group can you tell about it so they can ask you next Sunday how it went?
