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Weekly questions and information

1 Corinthians 13:4 Pt. 2

by | October 25, 2020 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Summary

Bill continued his sermon series from 1 Corinthians 13 on love and marriage and how a marriage can thrive and not just survive. This week he focused on vs 4 where Paul writes “(love) does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful”

Focus

This week we will focus on love not being self absorbed or insisting upon having it’s own way. The goal would be to do some self evaluation and see if there is room for change in these two areas.

Discussion Questions

 

1) What does the word agape mean to you?
2) Why do you think God defined this word for us in Scripture?
3) Read 1 Corinthians 13:4b. What is your understanding of the phrase “(love) does not insist on its own way;…is not irritable or resentful”?
4) Ephesians 4:26 says “Be angry, but do not sin.” Is it right just to conceal your anger and not deal with it? How do you deal with your anger and keep from sinning?
5) Read vs 27. How does anger give the devil a “foothold? What are you tempted to do whenever you get angry with someone else?
6) Read Matthew 5:22-24 and 18:15. How does Jesus tell us to handle people who wrong us? How are these passages related to Eph. 4:26 and marriage?

1 Corinthians 13:4

by | October 19, 2020 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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1 Corinthians 13:4

Summary

Pastor Bill focused on 6 action words that need to take place in a relationship if is going to thrive and not just survive: Patience, Kindness, does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant or rude.

Focus

The focus of this week’s discussion is how to apply these 6 action words in our marriage

Discussion Questions

 

1) What was your one big takeaway from this weekend’s message?
2) How does the culture describe love? How does it define love? How does this contrast from how Scripture describes and defines love?
3) Describe both patience and impatience. How does one develop a patient attitude even when inconvenienced, annoyed, or hurt by others? If we tend to be impatient, in what ways do we need to die to self?
4) With regard to kindness, in what ways can you actively work for the welfare of your spouse?
5) In this passage love seems so beautiful and simple. Why is loving like this so difficult?
6) Of these 6 areas what is the most difficult for you?
7) Do these 6 characteristics come naturally to us? If not, how can we learn to be kind while suffering long with someone?
8) Jesus demonstrates all of these characteristics of love to us. Bill said we will never be able to reflect this love until you embrace His love in your life. Comment on that phrase. 
9) Moving forward, how will you love your spouse better?  What are practical steps you can take

1 Thessalonians 4:1-6

by | October 11, 2020 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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1 Thessalonians 4:1-6

Summary

The topic of this weeks sermon was marriage. What makes marriage unique is that it is a life long commitment. It was created by God to be enjoyed. But for many, it is just endured. In this weeks sermon Bill talked about the 5 love languages and then 7 keys to a thriving marriage. 

Focus

Thriving marriages don’t just happen. They take work. This week we will focus on recognizing each individuals primary love language, identifying the love language of their spouse, and then discuss the 7 keys to a thriving marriage 

Discussion Questions

 

1) Pastor Bill suggested that there are five ways we express love: 1) Words of Affirmation 2) Quality Time 3) Physical Touch 4) Receiving Gifts 5) Acts of Service.

a) What is your Primary Love Language? 

b) What is your Spouse’s Primary Love Language? 

Are these love languages real in your experiences? How have they impacted your relationships?

 

2) Bill said there 7 principles to a thriving relationship: Charity, Communication, Commitment, Consideration, Compromise, Courtship and  Christ. From your experience, what would you add to this list? How did you score in each of these areas? What grade did you give yourself?

 

4) How often do you sit down as a couple simply to talk to one another? Do you set time aside specifically for this purpose? Why or why not?

 

5) Can you honestly say that you regard your spouse as a “treasure”? How do you express your feelings of mutual appreciation?

 

6) To what extent do you look to your spouse to meet your needs, fulfill your expectations, or bring significance and meaning to your life? Do you think this is healthy or unhealthy?

7) How are you encouraging your spouse to pursue personal and spiritual self-development? Is there anything practical you can do to create more space and freedom for your mate?

 

8) Where is God in your marriage today? Where do you want Him to be? Is there anything you can do to help your spouse achieve his or her goals and become the person God wants him or her to be?

Matthew 16:13-20 – Guest Speaker Pastor Josh Davis

by | October 4, 2020 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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Matthew 16:13-20

Summary

In this passage, Jesus asks about people’s identity of Him. But the important question is not who other people say Jesus is, but who you say he is.

Focus

Jesus’ identity is important because it shapes how we think, how we live, and how we face a crisis. So the focus on this week’s discussion is “Who do YOU say Jesus is.”

Discussion Questions

1) Why does Jesus ask for their thoughts about His identity, instead of just telling them who He is?
2) Instead of only asking His disciples what they thought, why does Jesus first ask what others are saying?
3) What are some of the responses to who Jesus is today?
4) What does it mean that Jesus is “the Christ”?
5) If Jesus were to ask you, “Who do you say I am?”How would you respond? Why is it an important question? How does your answer shape your response to a crisis in your life?
6) Does knowing who Jesus is help you to know who you are? How?
7) What is your relationship with Jesus like?

Psalm 5 Pt. 2 – Guest Speaker Pastor Bob Bonner

by | September 20, 2020 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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Psalm 5

Focus

Crises are a part of life. Some are global – tsunamis, earthquakes, or fires. Others are local – cancer, divorce, bankruptcy, or the death of a loved one. But here’s the question: “Is it possible to experience God in the midst of that kind of catastrophe?” In part 2 of a message from Psalm 5 entitled “Surviving a Crisis of faith, Pastor Bob Bonner explores the character of God and how it gives hope when we experience a crisis of faith 

Discussion Questions

1) What stood out to you from this week’s message “How to Survive a Crisis of Faith”
2) Share a time in your life when you were in the deepest despair. During that time, what gave you the greatest hope or strength to get through it?
3) How does the truth that God is everlasting, holy (always does what is right), sovereign (always in control) and faithful (always doing good for His people)
shape the way you view a trial?
4) What are some of the common images of God? How can you more fully conform your concept of God to the truth of who God really is?
5) Why do you suppose Satan’s first line of attack in a crisis is to cast doubt on God’s character?
6) Read Genesis 1:31, Psalm, 119:68 and Romans 12:2. How does God’s character affect what God does?
7) How would your life be different if you truly trusted in the character and nature or God

Psalm 88

by | September 13, 2020 | LifeGroups | 0 Comments

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Psalm 88

Summary

The TRF pastoral team shared hopeful thoughts from the Psalms regarding the fires. Bill shared from Psalm 88. How has this fire and the devastation affected you?

Focus

One Old Testament theologian describes this Psalm as a “difficult conversation”
with God. We’ll talk about how this Psalm lines up or not lines up with your thinking about prayer.

Discussion Questions

 

1. What points from the service  were helpful to you?
2. Read Psalm 88.  What are some reasons that God put passages like Psalm 88 in the Bible?
3. Have you ever felt like the writer of Psalm 88 (lonely, betrayed, chronic pain, helpless, feeling like God has placed you in a pit and forgotten about you?) What helped you through those moments?
4.How does this psalm of lament free us to be real with God, and to have a “difficult
conversation” with him when we find ourselves in the midst of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad seasons of life?
5. Pray: Take time to share some struggles and disappointments that are in your life now. They may be more long-term and in the backdrop of your life, but they still weigh on you or, they maybe  the central focus of your life. Bring some of these before your group and pray for each other. Also, thank God that he has cared for his people in these moments in past generations, and that we have some of their accounts to know that he has proven faithful.