David George / This past weekend, I opened my sermon with a number of probing questions about the emotional, social and spiritual legacy from the home we grew up in. I saw these questions at the Focus on the Family website. Well-conceived questions have a way of taking us to places we might not otherwise go. Carefully formulated questions can open us to think about our life, our past, and our choices in fresh ways.

Our new sermon series during the season of Lent - Jesus’ Life-Giving Questions - is aimed at shaping our personal discipleship through Jesus’ questions. Jesus challenged and comforted both friends and enemies through the questions he asked: questions about their fears, needs, presuppositions, and foundation for their faith. Jesus’ first disciples were trained by his questions. “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) His questions created space in their thinking and opened them to see life through Jesus’ eyes. As a result, they became fruitful bearers of the gospel, and the church grew and took root. My prayer for myself and all those who partner in this journey is to experience how Jesus’ questions teach and transform us by leading us to him.

Heavenly Father, I pray that in Jesus’ questions the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which you have called me, the glorious inheritance I have in community with your people, and your incomparably great power for all who believe. May my life be fruitful in doing the works of love and mercy you have prepared in advance. Amen

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen The Book of Common Prayer (Last Sunday after the Epiphany)