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James 1:2-4 with Kellan Peterson – Suffering

by | April 11, 2021 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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James 1:2-4

Summary

There are several perspective changes essential to persevering through trials. These perspectives are not just “positive thinking” but an accurate appraisal of our circumstances in light of one unalterable fact: God, our Father, loves us, shepherds us, is sovereign over our circumstances and from Him flow “every good and perfect gift”(James 1:17-18).

Focus

In trials, we’re inclined to become frustrated with our circumstances and believe that God is either against us or disinterested. But because of the gracious and unchanging character of God, believers can take a radically different approach to trials. We’ll talk about joy in trials this week.

Discussion Questions

 

1) What stood out to you in this weekend’s message?
2) What is the natural reaction to trials?
3) How are believers supposed to react? Why are we to react like this?
4) What is the purpose of trials? How do they test our faith?
5) How do they produce endurance?
6) How does endurance bring us to maturity and make us complete?
7) Are we supposed to deny our feelings when we “consider it all joy” in time of trial? How does this work in practice
8) Share an example of a trial you have faced. What did you learn from it?

Easter Sunday with Bill Muir – The Intimacy of the Resurrection

by | April 4, 2021 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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John 20:6-7 | John 20:15-16 | John 20:27-29

Summary

Bill focused on the intimacy of the resurrection seen in Jesus’ interaction between Peter, Mary and Thomas. 

Focus

This week’s discussion will focus on the three observations:
*(You can) Come to Jesus with your confusion and discover His answers (Peter)
*(You can) Come to Jesus with your sadness and discover His joy (Mary)
*(You can) Come to Jesus with you doubts and discover His joy (Thomas)

Discussion Questions

 

What are your thoughts and experience with the events that took place during Holy Week?

Did anything really “hit” you at the weekend Sermon?

Of the three principle characters mentioned in Bill’s message (Peter, Mary and Thomas) which one do you relate to the most? Why?

Peter—
Came to the empty tomb, saw the linen clothes and tried to figure what happened. He went in and analyzed the situation. Have you ever grappled with your faith? How did you navigate it?

Mary—
The message of Mary was Jesus in your sadness Jesus in the midst of it. How does that apply to you and your life?

Upon recognizing Jesus, how did the Mary respond and share her joy? How do you express your joy? How share the joy of knowing Jesus?

Thomas—
Thomas bears the moniker “Doubting Thomas”. But even in his doubts he called Jesus “his Lord and God” (personally). From him we learn you’ll never understand all of Jesus. But we don’t need to know all of Him to worship Him. Bill admonished us to worship the Jesus you are getting to know. Comment on that statement. Does that create a challenge for you?

Palm Sunday with Bobby Baugh

by | March 28, 2021 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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Luke 19:28-44

Summary

Jesus rides into Jerusalem officially presenting himself to the Jews and the world as the true King. There were different responses to Jesus triumphal ride but most welcomed him with joy.  The Pharisees rebuked him for allowing the crowds to do this, but Jesus welcomed it. And then, as he saw The city of Jerusalem and the temple, he broke down weeping because they did not know that God was visiting them  in the person of Jesus. Nor did they really want the kind of peace Jesus came to give.

Focus

This week we’ll talk about the different responses to Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey.

Discussion Questions

 

1) Read Luke 19:28-44. What is the significance of Palm Sunday? What spoke to you from the message? 
2) Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey Why. Do you think that is? 
3) In the crowd were different people or people groups. Each had a different reaction to Jesus. Describe the various reactions. What explanations can you give for the differences in reaction?
4) Name a few expectations that we have for Jesus as our King? Why was he later rejected? Can you think of a time when you expected God to work a certain way, and he worked differently?
5) A king is someone who has authority to rule and reign over a group of people. If Jesus is the King over your life, where do you see His increasing rule? Or, how could you see His increasing rule in your life?
6) What are you doing this week to prepare yourself to truly understand and appreciate the death and  resurrection of Christ? 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

by | March 21, 2021 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

Summary

The Day of the Lord is a day of Judgment when God will judge people’s wickedness and evil deeds. Although we don’t know when it will occur, it is certain. The admonition to the Thessalonians is to live in light of that day and Te return of the Lord. We do that by waiting and watching. Waiting—we live a life that is pleasing to God and inviting others to know Him. And watching cultural trends and not allowing them as Romans 12 says, to allow the world to squeeze us into it’s mold.

Focus

We will focus our discussion on how we should live in light of The Day of the Lord and Christ’s return. 

Discussion Questions

 

1) What stood out to you in the weekend sermon from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11?

2) Read 2 Peter 3:1-18. 2. The Day of the Lord” is a huge concept and will be a huge event! What does the Bible say about it? (Joel 1:15, 2:10-11, 2:30-31, Amos 5:18-20, Isaiah 2:11, Malachi 4:1, Hebrews 4:13). In your own words what is the Day of the Lord?

3) What reason did Peter give his readers (and you!) for living holy and godly lives? (1 Peter 3:11-13)

4) Bill said we tend to view God as a kindly old gentleman. Does it bother you that that God will one day pour out wrath upon evil? Explain.

5) What would it look like for you to live as “children of the light” in this generation?

6) What are some ways that the church might be asleep and unprepared for for Christ’s return?

7) Bill quoted Romans 12:19 that says to not take vengeance. How can we determine when it is right to fight for our rights and when we should just accept being wronged?

8) Does Scripture require us to try to carry on a relationship with someone that has wronged us? Can we keep our distance?

9) Is there a situation where you need to apply the principles of our text

Psalm 32 with Bobby Baugh

by | March 14, 2021 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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Psalm 32

Summary

Psalm 32 is a “Maskil” or, a Psalm of instruction. In this case, its a teaching about how one is brought to a clear sense of their sin, thru acknowledgement of it, and receiving the pardoning power of God’s grace.

Focus

When we confess, God forgives. Confession and forgiveness are a part of God’s grace working in us. This week we will talk about the power of confession and the blessing of forgiveness. 

Discussion Questions

 

1) What stood out to you from pastor Bobby’s message from Psalm 32?
2) Has there been a time in your life when you felt the depth of your sin against God and knew you needed God’s forgiveness?  Describe what that time in your life was like? Did you confess it to the Lord? If not, why? 
3) How would you define “repentance? How would you define the word ‘blessed’?
4) Read Vss 1-2. How many different words does David use for sin? Why does he use these words? What are the results of sin? 
5) What would it mean to be the person “in whose spirit is no deceit”?
6) How does God respond to David’s confession?  How does David respond to God’s forgiveness?
7) Read Psalm 51. To what attributes of God does David stake his request for forgiveness? How had David experienced these characteristics of God before?
8)  What would it look like to cultivate more honesty with yourself and with God about your sin (live with no deceit) and simultaneously cultivate an awareness (an understanding) of God’s love and forgiveness for you through Christ

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

by | March 7, 2021 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

Summary

1 Thessalonians 4 was written to encourage the young Thessalonians church regarding Christ’s return and their concern that those who had died had missed it. AS we learned last week, Bill focused on four phrases from the text:
1) Caught up
2) Together with them in the clouds
3) Meet the Lord
4) Always be with him

Focus

The focus of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians was not to debate when the returns of Christ would occur, but rather to encourage them that Jesus’s return would not be a secret event that someone would miss and secondly, death doesn’t separate us from Jesus or each other! So our discussion will be on the heart of the message (vs18) and how we should live in light of Christ’s return. 

Discussion Questions

 

1) What did you take away from Bill’s message on the text? 
2) Bill quoted St. Francis who said, “In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity. What’s does that mean to you and how does this apply in light of this weekend’s teaching? 
3) What do you think was Paul’s main point in these verses? What was he attempting to communicate to the Thessalonians?
4) The early church believed Jesus could return in their life and it affected how they lived. Do you believe Jesus’ return is eminent? How does that reality effect how you live?
5) What hinders you from looking for and desiring Christ’s return? (Note to leaders:’’not spending time with Jesus. The more time you spend with him the more the desire of your heart is to be with Him) 
6) How can we encourage one one another?