The following notes and application questions relate to Daron Taylor’s message from Sunday, February 5 at St. Andrew’s City Church.

Daron began his time by showing this brief interview with Super Bowl quarterback, Tom Brady, as he talks about his personal search for meaning in life.

If you’re more of a visual/audio learner, here is Daron’s summary of what he taught on Sunday.
Teaching Summary

City Church February 5, 2012 Summary from Daron Taylor on Vimeo.

• What did Jesus have to say about John the Baptist? Read Matthew 11:1-11.
• John’s ministry was to prepare the way and then get out of the way.
• John the Baptist was not driven by the things he “ought” to do or the ways he “should’ behave. He also was not driven to do things FOR God. Instead, his life is a reflection of gratitude for what God first did for him.
• Even though John the Baptist had an incredible ministry, while in prison he sent someone to Jesus to ask him, “Are you the one?” In this way, we must also find freedom and permission to ask God the hard questions.
• Even though Jesus called John the “greatest of men born of women,” the final chapter of his life was lived alone and powerless in prison prior to being executed. How does that picture fly in the face of what we often consider it means to be ‘significant’?

Applications

• In what way have you attempted to live a life of faith based on the “oughts” and “shoulds” other people have places on you?
• Think of a time or event in which you were strong in your faith. What were the circumstances? How did God reveal Himself as ‘real’?
• Often times we shy away from asking the hard questions because we fear it reflects a weak faith. However, be honest with yourself and those around you. What is the hard question you’d like to bring to God?