Christ Church Hessle

08.11.2026 - Luke 9:21-27 - The King who will Die and Rise Preacher: Adam JohnstonAlso available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/m48UU-NupZIBig Idea: Jesus is the suffering Messiah who must die and rise and calls his followers to live by dying to themselves. Aim: Believe the surprising news that Jesus is the rejected Messiah who rose again and follow him by dying to yourself. Jesus is 1. A King who must suffer, die and rise (vv. 21-22) 2. Follow him by dying to yourself (vv. 23-27) Questions for us: 1. On Remembrance Sunday, we remember those who gave their lives for the freedom and security of others. Why do you think acts of sacrifice like these continue to move and inspire us? 2. Recap Luke’s gospel – read Luke 1:68 – Who does this tell us Jesus is and what will he do? Look at the headings for Luke 4-9. What do we see Jesus doing in his public ministry? Read Luke 5:31-32 – What is Jesus’ mission? 3. In 9:20–22, Peter identifies Jesus as God's Messiah. What is the Messiah? Why might Jesus' explanation of what the Messiah must do have come as such a surprise to his disciples? What does it tell us about the kind of king Jesus is? 4. Jesus says that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, be killed and rise again (v.22). Why was it necessary for Jesus to die? Why is his death different from others we remember on Remembrance Day? 5. Why is it important that Jesus didn't simply die, but rose again on the third day? How does his resurrection change the way we think about death and the hope offered to those who trust in him? 6. What does in look like to follow King Jesus (vv. 23-26)? What does Jesus mean by each of these things? Is this different to just giving up something we enjoy? 7. What might taking up your cross and following Jesus look like in the ordinary circumstances of life? Are there particular comforts, ambitions, relationships or priorities that can make it difficult to put Jesus first? Where can we celebrate examples in this group of us taking up our crosses daily? How can we encourage each other to keep going? 8. Jesus promises that some of his hearers will see the Kingdom of God (v.27), and the following passage reveals his glory at the Transfiguration. How does knowing that Jesus is the risen and returning King help us to persevere in following him, even when it is costly? How might that keep you going this week?

01.11.2026 - Romans 16 - Gospel PartnershipPreacher: Adam JohnstonAlso available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/le6GzWMoaacBig Idea: Gospel partnership in grace is a treasure worth giving thanks for and protecting.Aim: Thank God for faithful hard-working gospel partners and watch out for those who'd cause division.1. Give thanks for outstanding gospel service (vv. 1-2)2. Give thanks for faithful, hard-working gospel co-workers (vv. 3-16)3. Beware of gospel disruptors (vv. 17-20)4. Pray for gospel obedience to the glory of God (vv. 21-27)Questions for us: 1. How would you feel if your name were read out in church in a letter from the Apostle Paul as a person to honour? Why do you think Paul ends the letter this way? How does it connect with what we have already seen in Romans?2. Delving deeper: How does the gospel create a deep connection between Christians? What makes this gospel partnership different from other friendships?3. In verses 1–2, in what three ways does Paul describe Phoebe? What does this teach us about recognising gospel partners like her? How were the Christians in Rome to treat her and how should we treat people like her today?4. In verses 3-16, what are some of the common themes in Paul’s greetings to Roman Christians? How should the gospel create communities that are as close as family? How can those who are married or single, young or old, help one another to experience the love and belonging that come through Christ?5. Do we see examples of people known to us whose faithfulness has stood the test? How might we imitate them?6. Paul repeatedly commends people for their hard work and service in the Lord. How does he commend them for their hard work? Is it just those who are in church leadership or paid gospel work who ought to be commended for their hard work? What does serving together often help grow among believers? How might we grow more like Tryphena and Tryphosa?7. In verses 17–18, what sort of people does Paul warn the church about, and what makes them dangerous? How can the church distinguish between those who undermine the gospel and unity, and those who are simply difficult people or hold different views on secondary matters?8. How should the promise that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (v. 20) shape the way Christians respond to threats to the church’s unity and faithfulness? How does this promise direct attention to God’s victory through Jesus rather than simply to human effort?9. In verses 25–27, Paul ends by giving glory to God through Jesus Christ. How does this ending bring together the main message of Romans? How does it reinforce how the gospel ought to shape our lives?10. What is one practical way to strengthen gospel partnership at church this week?

25.10.2026 - Romans 15:14-33 - Gospel Mission Preacher: Brian ElwickAlso available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/k9VVvaChhRs?si=mCk_jJU4f1tAd439

18.10.2026 - Romans 14:1-15:13 - Gospel Peace Preacher: Adam JohnstonAlso available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/AHvMbMKMv50Big Idea: The weak in faith are to be welcomed as God has welcomed us through using our freedom for peace. Aim: Welcome the weak in faith and seek peace not judging others or causing them to stumble. 1. Welcome the weak in faith (14:1-3; 15:7-13) 2. Do not judge the weak in faith – Jesus is Lord (14:4-12) 3. Do not cause others to stumble and destroy them (14:13-23) 4. Do not please yourself but build others up (15:1-6) Questions for us: 1. What is the difference between a matter on which the Bible gives clear moral instruction and a matter on which Christians may legitimately differ? Why is it important to recognise the difference between the two? 2. Can you think of any issues where one Christian’s conscience might be troubled and another Christian feel free? 3. How does Paul tell us to relate to other believers (14:1, 15:7)? What might this look like at Christ Church Hessle? What attitudes to one another must we be careful in avoiding? 4. What reasons does Paul give in 15:7-12 for why we should welcome one another? How should these truths affect the way we view our own convictions? How should it shape how we relate to other believers whose consciences differ? 5. In verses 13–23, Paul warns Christians not to put a stumbling block in another believer’s way. What does it mean to cause someone to stumble in this context? How is that different from simply doing something that another Christian dislikes? 6. Instead of causing one another to stumble, what should Christians be seeking in verses 17-18? How could Christians exercise their freedom in a way that shows love and builds others up, rather than putting pressure on them to act against their conscience? 7. In Romans 15:1–6, Paul says that those who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak rather than please themselves. Why does Christian maturity involve using freedom to serve others? What might this look like in the life of our church? How easy do we find it not to demand what we want? 8. What is one attitude or practice that you may need to change so that the good of other Christians is valued above personal preferences? How can we encourage one another to pursue peace, build one another up, and bring glory to God?

11.10.2026 - Romans 13 - Gospel Obedience Preacher : Adam JohnstonAlso available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/quLbHV1mQvcBig Idea: In response to God's mercy and in light of Jesus' return, Christians should submit to authority, love others and put off sin. Aim: Submit to those in authority, love others, and put off sin as you await Jesus' return. 1. Living in God’s world means submitting to those in authority (vv. 1-7) 2. Living with the future in view means living a life of love (vv. 8-14)Questions for us: 1. We live in a time often obsessed with politics. What kind of attitudes towards those who have governing authority do we often see? 2. How does Romans 13 follow on from Romans 12? What difference should God’s mercy make to the way we live in relation to others? 3. What does Paul teach about how we must respond to governing authorities in verses 1-7? What two reasons does he give for this? 4. Who are the governing authorities we are called to be subject to? Can we pick and choose which we need to be subject to? 5. How should we respond when those in authority misuse their power or fail to act justly? What difference does it make to remember that we are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven? 6. In verses 6–7, Paul speaks about paying taxes, giving respect and showing honour. Which of these do you find most challenging, and why? How might that affect how we speak of those in authority, how we might protest government policies, or how we might view political comedy or satire? 7. In verses 8–10, Paul describes love as an ongoing debt. What does he mean by this? How does love fulfil the law, and why is love more than simply being nice to people? 8. How does our obligation to love challenge our tendency toward individualism and impact our desire for comfort? 9. In verses 11–12, Paul urges us to wake up because our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. What does he mean, and how should the return of Jesus motivate the way we live now? 10. Paul calls us to put off the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light, and then to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” (verses 12–14). What do these pictures teach us about Christian growth? How does union with Jesus help us to live differently?

04.10.2026 - Romans 12:3-21 - Gospel Service Preacher: Adam JohnstonAlso available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/fbSdAwO7TSoBig Idea: God's mercy transforms people to humbly serve God's people, and sacrificially love others, even their enemies. Aim: Live a life of humble service of fellow believers and sacrificial love to others, even our enemies, since we have received God's mercy. 1. Serving in a church shaped by God’s mercy (vv. 3-8) 2. Living in view of God’s mercy in a hostile world (vv. 9-21) Questions for us: 1. What reasons might someone have for serving at church? Can you do something good, like serving others, but for the wrong reasons? Does that matter? 2. How does Paul begin Romans 12? What bearing do verses 1-2 have on our passage for today? 3. In verse 3 we are told not to think too highly of ourselves but to consider ourselves with sober judgement. What reasons does Paul give for this? Does this mean we should consider ourselves worthless? 4. How does what we learn about ourselves in verses 3b – 6a undermine both our desire for self-importance and our instinct towards individualism? 5. How might we use the gifts listed in verses 6-8 to build up our own reputation or sense of importance? 6. In what ways are we each using our gifts to serve our church family? Are there opportunities for you to start serving in new ways? 7. How does our instinct for individualism make it difficult to treat others as Paul says in verse 9-13? Which of those instructions do you find most difficult? How might you make changes in those difficult areas this week? 8. How does our desire for self-importance get in the way of treating others as Paul says in verses 14-16? How can we grow in a self-forgetfulness that puts the interests of others above ourselves? 9. In verses 17–21, Paul tells us not to repay evil for evil, but to overcome evil with good. Why does trusting God's justice help us to respond to those who wrong us without taking revenge? What might doing good look like in a difficult relationship? 10. How does Jesus exemplify all the qualities we are called to in this passage? How does knowing that he has saved us and is changing us through his Spirit help us live as we are called to here?

27.09.2026 - Romans 12:1-2 - Gospel LivingPreacher: Samuel ParkerAlso available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/0LId4LTfFW41. How does God’s mercy shape your actions? 2. How does God’s mercy shape your thoughts?3. How does God’s mercy shape your values?

20.09.2026 - Romans 11 - Good News of God’s FaithfulnessPreacher: Adam JohnstonAlso available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/B-_bVrn3aUoBig Idea: God's promises are secure and his grace overflows to Israel and the nations for his glory. Aim: Be humbled by God's mercy, grateful for our place in the story and expectant for him to accomplish his purposes for his glory. 1. God’s grace preserves a remnant (vv. 1-10) 2. God’s grace leaves no room for boasting (vv. 11-24) 3. God’s mercy accomplishes his purposes (vv. 25-32) 4. God’s wisdom deserves our praise (vv. 33-36) Questions for us: 1. Paul begins by asking, “Has God rejected his people?” (v.1). What evidence does he give that God has not abandoned Israel? What does Paul’s own conversion tell us about God’s grace? 2. What does Paul mean when he says that there is a “remnant chosen by grace” (vv.5–6)? Why does Paul say that salvation by grace and salvation by works are fundamentally incompatible? 3. Elijah thought he was the only faithful person left, but God told him about 7,000 others (vv.2–4). How might we worry God’s word has failed when looking around us? What does these verses teach us about God’s grace? 4. Paul repeatedly warns the Gentile Christians not to boast (vv.17–21). Why would it be tempting for them to feel superior to Jewish people? How might we be tempted to boast by comparing ourselves to Jewish or other ‘religious unbelievers’ today? 5. Paul says that the Gentiles have been “grafted in” and now share in the nourishing root (vv.17–18). What does this picture teach us about our relationship to God’s promises and to Israel? 6. Paul tells us to “consider the kindness and sternness of God” (v.22). Why do we need to keep both of these aspects of God’s character in view? What happens if we emphasise one while neglecting the other? 7. Paul says that Israel’s hardening is “in part” and “until the full number of the Gentiles has come in” (v.25). What does this teach us about God’s sovereignty over the course of history? How should this affect our confidence in God’s ability to keep his Word? 8. Paul concludes this section by saying that God has “bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all” (v.32). What does this teach us about the basis of our salvation? How should God’s mercy affect the way we think about people who currently reject Christ? 9. Romans 11 ends not with Paul praising God. What truths from the whole of Romans so far should lead us to praise God?

13.09.2026 - Romans 9:30-10:21 - Good News We ProclaimPreacher: Adam JohnstonAlso available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/FZSu_XqykmsBig Idea: God keeps his promise because salvation is freely given to all who believe in Christ though those who seek righteousness by their own efforts reject God. Aim: Recognise that seeking righteousness by our own efforts rejects God and prayerfully proclaim salvation offered in Jesus. 1. People are zealous for their own righteousness and reject Christ (9:30-10:4) 2. Salvation is not earned by effort but received by calling on Jesus (10:5-13) 3. God’s salvation plan is accomplished through the proclamation of the good news (10:14-15) 4. People still hear the good news and reject it (10:16-21)

06.09.2026 - Romans 9:1-29 - Good News of Election Preacher: Adam JohnstonAlso available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/OwnWWnsHJ5IBig Idea: God has never broken his word because God's merciful salvation has always been based on promise and election not parentage or effort. Aim: Trust that God will keep his promises because he has not broken his word to his people and cry out to him for the salvation of our loved ones. God’s word hasn’t failed because… 1. Not all who appear to be God’s people are God’s people (vv. 1-13) 2. His mercy is sovereign (vv. 14-24) 3. It always included a remnant of Israel and the Gentiles (vv. 25-29)