05.22 Small Group Discussion

Regrets - Launching Out

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• Have you ever made something and then got frustrated when it didn’t function or behave the way you intended?

Read: Titus 3:8 and Ephesians 2:8-10.

• Why should we do good?
   
• What keeps us from doing good?
   
• There is a saying, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
   
• Does the fact that God has prepared works for us to do encourage you in doing good, or does it make it more daunting when trying to figure out what to do? Why?
   
• Does doing good always look nice/friendly? Why or why not?
   
• In what ways are you already doing good?
   
• What are some of the ways the Church can improve in doing good?
   
• How will you do good this week?

Prayer: Pray that we will be brave in doing good.

05.15 Small Group Discussion

Regret - Letting Go

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• If you were a prince or princess for a day, what would you do?
   
• When something you regret ends up having a silver lining, how does that make you feel?

Read: Titus 3:4-7.

• Verse 5 states that we were saved because of God’s love and mercy, not from righteous things we have done. Why do you think people still struggle with a “works save” mentality?
   
• What does it mean to you to have the Holy Spirit?
   
• Verse 7 states that we can become heirs (some translations may say that we became righteous) due to God’s grace. What does it mean to you to become an heir to God?
   
• Because of God’s grace, our regrets can be repurposed, or redeemed. What are some ways that our regrets can be redeemed?
   
• How does having the hope of eternal life impact our daily living?
   
• Is having our regret redeemed the same as finding a silver lining in that regret? Why or why not?
   
• Jesus was the only one to live a perfect life without regret. Does that mean we shouldn’t feel bad about making mistakes, because after all, we’re not Jesus? Because God redeems us, does that feel we shouldn’t feel bad about making mistakes? Why or why not?
   
• How does God’s redemption of our regrets through grace impact how we handle other people and their mistakes?

Prayer: Pray that we accept God’s grace and live acknowledging that His grace is what redeems us, not our works.

05.08 Small Group Discussion

Regret - Looking Back

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What does “regret” mean to you?
   
• On your deathbed, what is something you want to have as part of your life’s story (a particular item, vacation, relationship, etc.) so that you can say you don’t regret not having it when your time comes?
   
• What do you think of the thought, “I regret nothing, because the events of my life have made me who I am.”?

Read: Titus 3:3-7 and Ephesians 2:1-6.
 

• Why do you think we struggle to see ourselves as redeemed more often than as the sinful beings we used to be?
   
• When we are baptized, we are born again. The Greek for “born again” literally means that we come into being again. What we are after baptism is a completely new creation that did not exist before we entered the water. How does this view affect how you see yourself as a Christ-follower?
   
• How can our mistakes, the things we regret, be used for good?
   
• If you’re comfortable, please share something from your past that God has redeemed for His glory.
   
• Both of the passages mention that we were sinful before being redeemed. How can this truth help us interact with others coming to terms with their own regrets and sinfulness?

Prayer: Pray that we will allow God to use the mistakes in our lives for His glory.

05.01 Small Group Discussion

Self Serve - Fourth: Overcome Evil

• If you haven’t had the chance yet, take a moment to discuss the Love My City event. What did you do? What were your takeaways from participating? What are some potential ideas you would like to see done in the future?
   
• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• How are you doing with memorizing Romans 12?
   
• When faced with a conflict, what are your typical responses?
   
• Does your way of handling conflict change depending on who your conflict is with? Why or why not? If yes, how so?

Read: Romans 12:17-21.

• If someone has ever repaid your evil with good, please share. How did it make you feel? How did it impact you?
   
• Based on verse 18, can we live at peace with everyone? Why or why not?
   
• How does that affect how you interact with others and how you respond when the other person simply isn’t willing to strive for peace?
   
• Regardless of our political preferences, how does this passage impact how we handle others’ political views and what our response is towards the person who ends up in the White House?
   
• Target has been in the news a lot lately for announcing that they are allowing transgender people to use the bathroom that matches the gender they identify with, and maybe people have strong feelings on how Christians should or should not react. How does this passage help to structure what our response should be?
   
• How can we overcome evil with good?

Prayer: Pray that we can face the numerous conflicts surrounding us with love.

04.17 Small Group Discussion

Self Serve - Step Three: The Choice is Yours

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• How are you doing with memorizing Romans 12?
   
• How does the world define love?
   
• How do you define love?

Read: Romans 12:9-16.

•  Do you think sincere love is common? Why or why not?
   
• What are some ways that people can hate what is evil and cling to what is good?
   
• What does it mean to be devoted to one another in love?
   
• Do you practice hospitality? If so, how? If not, why?
   
• How can we bless those who persecute us?
   
• Share a time that someone either rejoiced with you or mourned with you? How did that make you feel?
   
• Reread verse 16. How does this connect back to the previous sections we have studied? How does verse 16 help us to love others?

Prayer: Pray that we will love others sincerely, placing their needs above our own.

04.10 Small Group Discussion

Self Serve - Step Two: Go All In 

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• How are you doing with memorizing Romans 12? What can be done to encourage you to continue, or to start if you haven’t yet?
   
• What are some things that people say you are good at? What are some things that you think you are good at?
   
• What are some of your hobbies?

Read: Romans 12:3-8.

• In verse 1, we are told to be a living sacrifice. How do verses 3-5 help us to become living sacrifices?
   
• Why do we hold on to the prideful idea that our role is more important than anyone else’s, whether it be within the Church, work, etc.?
   
• What does it mean that each of us (each member of the Church) belongs to all the others? How does that impact how we interact with fellow Christians?
   
• Do you feel that the list of gifts in verses 6-8 is a list of all the gifts that God gives, or are those merely examples? Why?
   
• Verse 6 states that we all have different gifts according to the grace that God has given us. Does this leave any room for the possibility that any of us is without a gift from God? Why or why not?
   
• Do you feel like you have a handle on what any of your spiritual gifts are?
   
• How do you think you can learn about your gifts or develop them farther?

Prayer: Pray that we be humble in regards to our gifts and glorify God with them, instead of ourselves.

04.03 Small Group Discussion

Self Serve - Step One: Die

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What does the world say you should be?

• What does the Church say you should be?
   
• What is something that you have hidden about yourself in order to feel like you belong?

Read Romans 12:1-2.

• Why should we offer ourselves as living sacrifices?
   
• What does being a living sacrifice mean?
   
• How can we be transformed by the renewing of our minds? What do you think that means?
   
• How can we understand what God wants for us?
   
• Is the Church better at self-service or serving others? Why?
   
• What are some of the things that prevent you from dying to yourself and living for others?
   
• What are some of the things, or who are some of the people, who help you live for others?
   
• How can you help others to learn to live for others?

Prayer: Pray that we will move towards putting others before ourselves.

03.27 Small Group Discussion

#nofilter - The Road to Emmaus

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• Share a time when you were glad someone else was able to verify your story, or that you wish there had been someone else there to verify your story.

Read Luke 24:13-35.

• Why do you think Jesus asked the two what had been happening in Jerusalem over the last few days?
   
• Is there significance to the followers referring to Jesus as a prophet, as opposed to anything else? Why or why not?.
   
• The followers say their hearts were burning while Jesus was talking to them. What do you think they meant? Have you ever had something similar?
   
• Do you think they would have realized who Jesus was if they hadn’t invited him to stay with them? Why or why not?
   
• The followers traveled together and encountered Jesus. What is the importance of traveling together?
   
• Is there someone that you’re bringing along the road to encounter Jesus?

Prayer: Pray that we will walk alongside one another and bring others with us.

03.20 Small Group Discussion

#nofilter - The Power and the Powerless

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What comes to mind when you hear the words powerful and powerless?

Read Mark 15:38-39, Luke 23:33-43, and John 19:25-27.

• The centurion is changed by watching Jesus. The thief and Mary are changed through words. Do you lean towards words or actions when trying to impact others? Why?
   
• In these three passages, Jesus impacts the powerful (the centurion), the powerless (the thief), and family (his mother). In your life, which of these three groups do you find yourself trying to impact most often?
   
• Which of these groups do you feel is the easiest and the hardest to impact? Why?
   
• Do we actually impact others or is it God? Why?
   
• Even while hanging on the cross, Jesus changed people. What does that mean for us in regards to when we need to be open to being used by God?
   
• What filters do you use that prevent you from being used to reach the powerful, the powerless, and family?
   
• Jesus looked at others through the lens of love and demonstrated radical forgiveness and an astonishing level of selflessness. Does the Church properly reflect that same attitude? Why or why not?
   
• Do you demonstrate that forgiveness and selflessness? What can you do to continuing growing in those areas?

Prayer: Pray that we are open to Christ using us to impact others, regardless of their status in the world.

03.13 Small Group Discussion

#nofilter - 10 Lepers

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Share a time that someone expressed genuine gratitude to you. How did that make you feel?

• Likewise, how have you felt during times when people have not shown gratitude?

• Think of a time that you showed genuine gratitude to someone. What was it that made you express your gratitude?

Read Luke 17:11-19.

• Why do you think the other nine people didn’t return to thank Jesus?
   
• What is the significance of the fact that the one person who returned was a Samaritan?
   
• If you’re Jesus in this situation and you know nine out of ten will not thank you, does that impact how you handle the situation?

Read Romans 5:6-8.

• How does this passage detail the love Jesus has for us?
   
• Why do we often want to attach strings to our acts of service and kindness? Why is it that we struggle to love and serve when there is no hope of being thanked for doing so?
   
• Does the Church do a good job of serving and loving with no expectation of gratitude? Why or why not?
   
• What filters prevent you from serving and loving when there’s no chance of gratitude?

Prayer: Pray that we will give of ourselves the way Jesus gave of himself.

03.06 Small Group Discussion

nofilter - Zacchaeus

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• Have you ever met someone that completely changed your life? What was that like?

Read Luke 19:1-10.

• Why did Zacchaeus change?
   
• The crowd saw Zacchaeus as a sinner, but Jesus saw him as a son of Abraham. What are some of the filters that keep us from seeing people as sons and daughters of God?
   
• Why do we expect people to change before they decide to follow Christ?
   
• How does the Church do at allowing and assisting others to change after they’ve decided to follow Christ? How can the Church improve?
   
• In your interactions with non-Christians, do you typically push for change before they’ve actually committed to following God? Why or why not?
   
• Can we change people the way Jesus did? Why or why not?
   
• The love of Jesus accepts people as they are, but doesn’t let them stay that way. How does the idea impact your interactions with people?

Prayer: Pray that we are full of love and patience to help people find their way to God so that they can be changed by the Holy Spirit.

02.18 Small Group Discussion

#nofilter - Temple Confrontations

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• Share a time when you were caught red-handed as a child. How did the people around you respond and how did it make you feel?

Read  John 8:2-11.

• If Moses’s law declared stoning as the punishment for adultery, why didn’t Jesus allow the woman to be stoned?
   
• Why do you think the oldest people turned away first?
   
• The teachers and Pharisees acknowledge that they have sin when they walk away. Why do you think they felt they had the right to punish the woman?
   
• Does Jesus condone the woman’s actions? Why or why not?
   
• Does Jesus condemn the teachers and Pharisees? Why or why not?
   
• Why do we look at others through the filter of comparison, feeling that our sins are either less than or greater than the sins of others?
   
• Whether in yourself or with others, which issue do you encounter more often: The feeling that one’s sins are greater than others or that one’s sins are lesser than others? How can you address each of those situations?
   
• How does the Church do at not condemning people in the midst of their sin?
   
• How can the Church, and how can you, improve at not condemning people?

Prayer: Pray that we will see ourselves as needing just as much grace as everyone else, and that we will be able to love others accordingly.

02.21 Small Group Discussion

#nofilter - The Rich Young Ruler

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What are some of the filters you struggle with seeing people through the most? What are some of the negative filters you have been seen through before?

Read Mark 10:17-31 and John 1:14.

• Why do you think Jesus loved the rich man?
   
• Why do you think being rich is such a hindrance to entering the Kingdom?
   
• When the rich man turns away, Jesus does not pursue him. How is this similar or different from how you handle those that reject Jesus’ teachings?
   
• Jesus ends the passage in Mark saying, “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” What impact does that have on how you view people?
   
• The verse in John describes Jesus as being full of grace and truth. Why didn’t Jesus ignore the truth of the situation and just love the rich man?
   
• How can we be full of both grace and truth?
   
• How do filters impact your ability to love?
   
• What are some of the most prevalent filters the Church sees the world through? How can we make progress ridding the Church of those filters?

Prayer: Pray that you will speak the truth in love.

02.14 Small Group Discussion

#nofilter - Extra-ordinary Men

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• Has anyone ever said they see something special in you or said they believe in you? How did that make you feel?

Read Ephesians 2:10, Matthew 16:18, and John 1:47.

• What does it mean to you that God has created you with good works to accomplish?
   
• How would you respond if God declared that He had such large plans for you as he does for Peter, or honored you in the way that he honors Nathanael?
   
• Do you believe you can have as a big of an impact on history as Peter did? Why or why not?

Read John 13:29 and 20:25.

• Jesus knew and experienced Judas’s betrayal and Thomas’s doubt, but he still spent three years investing in them. How does that impact how you see others?
   
• How does the church do at recognizing the masterpiece, and not just the mud? What does it do well and what does it do poorly? How can you improve how the church sees people?
   
• How can you personally take steps to see people the way God sees them?

Prayer: Pray that you will see others, and yourself, as God’s masterpiece.

02.07 Small Group Discussion

#nofilter - The Saint and the Sinner

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What are some of the ways that we view and judge people?

Read Isaiah 53:2-3.

•  If Jesus grew up in our current culture, how do you think he would look?

Read Isaiah 53:4-6.

• Do we have any right to judge others? Why or why not?

Read Luke 7:36-50.

• Is there any significance to our lives that Jesus interacts with both the sinful woman and the Pharisee? Why or why not?
   
• Why did Jesus and Simon view the woman differently?
   
• Do you see people more often through Jesus’ eyes or through the eyes of a Pharisee?


• When we see people the way God sees them, is there any room for us to feel a sense of satisfaction, or a sense of “they got what they deserved,” when bad things befall them? Why or why not?
   
• Does the Church do a good job of seeing through Jesus’s eyes? Why or why not?
   
• How can we do better at seeing all people as God’s beloved children?

Prayer : Pray that you will see others through the filter of love.

01.31 Small Groups Discussion

The Core - Gathering

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What is one of your favorite times to get together with others? Why is it important and what makes it special?
   
• If there is a cost to become part of a group, does that cost impact your commitment to that group? Why or why not?

Read Luke 4:16, Acts 20:7, and Hebrews 10:19-25

• Do you think it is important for believers to get together regularly? Why or why not?
   
• The Hebrews passage instructs us not to give up gathering together. Does that make missing church a sin? Why or why not?
   
• What are some reasons, or excuses, that you give when missing church?
   
• What are some of the benefits to getting together regularly with other believers?
   
• To you, what does it mean for believers to gather together?
   
• In The Core series, we looked at Praying, Fasting, Giving, and Gathering. Which of these do you feel like is your strongest, your weakest, and the most valuable to learn about during this series? Why?
   
• How can the Church come alongside you and assist in developing or strengthening these Core beliefs?

Prayer: Pray that you will be committed to gathering together.

01.24 Small Group Discussion

The Core - Giving

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?


• Have you ever entrusted something to someone that they then mishandled? How did that make you feel?

Read Psalm 24:1, 50:7-15, Luke 16:1-2 and 10-13, and 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.

• If God owns everything, why should we give to God?
   
• In the Luke passage, the manager is called to account for how he’s handled things. Does the idea of being called to account by God for how you’ve managed His money concern you? Why or why not?
   
• Paul orders the Corinthians to set aside a portion of their income. Is this a command that you follow? Why or why not?
   
• Other than money, what are some things that you view as yours, when in reality you should view it as God’s and manage it accordingly?
   
• For you, what is the hardest blessing from God to manage properly?
   
• How can you take steps towards viewing everything rightly as God’s?

Prayer: Pray that you will let go of the belief that you own anything and realize that it all belongs to God.

01.17 Small Group Discussion

The Core - Fasting

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• When you feel overwhelmed, what do you do or where do you turn to re-center yourself?
   
• When you feel far from God, what do you do to draw closer?

Read Matthew 6:16-18, Zechariah 7:4-10, and Acts 13:1-3 and 14:23.

•  What does fasting mean to you?
   
• Does fasting always involve food? Why or why not?
   
• Have you ever fasted before? What was it like? If you haven’t fasted before, why haven’t you?
   
• When you fast, you refrain from something to make more time to seek God. What is something that regularly takes too much time away from you being able to seek God?
   
• When people fast, God acts. Does fasting guarantee God will answer your prayers in the way you want Him to? Why or why not?
   
• How will you fast this week?

Prayer: Pray for the dedication to fast to seek God more fully.

01.10 Small Group Discussion

The Core - Prayer

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• Have you ever had a situation where someone in authority over you leaves you without any directions? Is that beneficial? Why or why not?

Read Philippians 4:9, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Timothy 2:8, and Ephesians 6:18-20.

• When you think of prayer, what comes to mind?
   
• What does peace mean to you?
   
• Is peace something you feel like you have in life or no? Why or why not?
   
• How often do you pray?
   
• What encourages you to pray and what keeps you from praying?
   
• When you pray, how often are you praying for yourself versus others? How often are you thanking God versus asking for things?
   
• How do you think the Church does at being prayerfully-lead?

Prayer: Pray that you would regularly talk to God to receive both His instruction and His peace.

01.03 Small Group Discussion

The Core - Jesus Is Lord

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What do you think of the statement, “What you believe should change how you behave, but how you behave always reveals what you believe?”

Read John 1:49, 6:69, 11:27, 20:18, 25, and 28, and John 21:7.

• Why do you think John shows a progression in the titles given to Jesus?

• The Romans said, “Caesar is Lord.” Christians should say, “Jesus is Lord.” Fill in the blank “____ is Lord” for what keeps you from keeping Jesus in His proper place.

• How have you done this week with the challenge of asking, “Does this please my Master?” when you make your choices?

Read Philippians 2:5-11.

• What can we learn from this passage in how to live out our lives?

• How do you feel you do in respect to living out “Jesus is Lord?”

• How do you feel the Church does living out “Jesus is Lord?” What does the Church do well? What can be improved?

• What are some dangers of extremism in behavior that can come from the living out “Jesus is Lord,” if any?

Prayer: Pray that you will focus on keeping “Jesus is Lord” at the Core of how you live.