09.17.17 - Small Group Discussion

Ruth - Step Boldly, Walk Faithfully

Main Point: Courage propels, Integrity protects.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What is something that you have personally anticipated and looked forward to?
   
• As a society, what are some of the things that we look forward to collectively?

Read: Ruth 3:1-9.

• Why do you think Naomi sent Ruth, instead of going herself?
   
• How did Naomi show courage in her actions and instructions?

Read: Ruth 3:10-18.

• In verse 11, Boaz states that the entire town knows Ruth is of noble character. What impact do you think her integrity has on her actions and Boaz’s response to them?
   
• Now that Naomi and Ruth have both acted with courage, Naomi says it is now time to wait for Boaz to act. How can we find the balance of when we are supposed to act and when we are to wait for others to act?
   
• What role does your integrity play in being able to take a step in courage? Is your integrity known well enough, like Ruth, that it will help you, or will it hinder you?
   
• Where can you take step forward with courage this week?

Prayer: Pray for courage to step out in faith and trust God. Pray that you keep your integrity as you act.

09.10.17 Small Group Discussion

Ruth - Expect the Unexpected

Main Point: Expect the Unexpected

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
•  
• What is an unexpected blessing that you have received? What was your response to that blessing?

Read: Ruth 2:1-12.

• Ruth going to glean required humility because it was a clear signal that she needed help. How do you approach a situation that you need help with?
   
• Why did Boaz help Ruth? How can we mirror Boaz’s actions in our own lives?
   
• Ruth specifically brings up that she is a foreigner when she asks why Boaz is helping her. How should we handle this question for those in our lives seeking help?

Read: Ruth 2:13-23.

• Ruth finds out the truth of who Boaz is when she speaks to Naomi. Do you feel like it was coincidence that Ruth went to Boaz’s field, or God showing his love and loyalty to Ruth and Naomi? How do you approach the issues of coincidence and God directing things?
   
• In ancient times, people associated everything with the actions of gods and whether or not the people are in the favor of their gods. How is this similar or different than how we currently view world events?
   
• What is the impact on our lives when we try to explain everything with knowledge, science, etc?
   
• God blesses us to bless others. How can you be an unexpected blessing to someone this week? Who is in your life that you could bless, but instead you talk yourself out of helping?

Prayer: Pray for God to give you the courage to be a blessing and see the people He has placed in your life to bless.

09.03.17 - Small Group Discussion

Ruth - Love and Loyalty

Main Point: Empathy is putting their hurt on my heart

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

• What is your typical response when faced with chaos?
   
• What are some of the sources of chaos in your life that you’re currently facing?

Read: Judges 21:25, Ruth 1:1-7.

• Nearly everything was stripped from Naomi. Have you ever felt like you were having everything stripped away? What helped you deal with the chaos?

Read: Ruth 1:8-18.

• How do you define sympathy and empathy? What are the differences?
   
• Do you find yourself more often exhibiting sympathy or empathy?
   
• Is Orpah’s response of going back to her homeland wrong? Why or why not?

Read: Ruth 1:19-22.

• The chapter ends referencing the harvest which shows God’s love and loyalty to his people. How has God shown love and loyalty to you?
   
• What do you think of the idea “We need to show Jesus because we can share Jesus?” How can we live that out?
   
• What will you specifically do to show empathy, not sympathy, to someone this week?

Prayer: Pray for God to show His love and loyalty to you this week, and that your heart would be a heart of empathy for your fellow men and women this week.

07.09.17 - Small Group Discussion

Fruitful - Life and Love

Main Point: The Fruit of Obedience is Love, Joy, and Friendship with God.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What bad habits have you seen develop very quickly compared to good habits that take time and discipline?
   
• Why do you think it is that it takes time and effort to cultivate anything that is worthwhile?

Read: John 15:9-17.

• How do we remain in Jesus’s love?
   
• Loving others leads to having joy. What is the impact of having joy in your life?
   
• We are called to love the way Jesus loves. How can we love those that seem “unlovable?”
   
• Since the greatest love is sacrificial love, what does that look like in a practical sense for loving the “unlovable?”
   
• What are the implications of being called God’s friend?
   
• A fruitful life and love are inseparable. What is demanded of us then, as Christians?
   
• Share with your group what you will start cultivating in order to remain in God better.

Prayer: Pray for the discipline to stay connected with Jesus.

07.02.17 - Small Group Discussion

Fruitful - Disciples Bear Fruit

Main Point: If you disconnect, you die.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• Have you ever felt disconnected? What do you think caused it and how did you feel?
   
• For relationships that have faded over time, like old friends from high school, what caused the relationship to fade?
   
• What efforts do you make to maintain and improve friendships or family relationships that you find valuable?
   
• When have you felt growth in your faith? What do you think contributed to the growth? How about when have felt your faith plateau or decline?

Read: John 15:5-8.

• What is the significance and meaning to Jesus saying that we can do nothing apart from him? Does that statement fit with what we think we are capable of? Why or why not?
   
• Is there a difference between the branches that don’t produce fruit and are pruned off, and those that are dead from not being connected anymore to the vine and are thrown into the fire? Why or why not?
   
• How can Jesus’s words in verse 7 be true that we “can ask whatever we wish and it will be done for you?”
   
• Being fruitful isn’t about doing things and producing. It is about being present and connected to Jesus. How are you going to intentionally connect with Jesus this week?

Prayer: Pray for the discipline to stay connected with Jesus.

06.25.17 - Small Group Discussion

Fruitful - Living a Life Connected with Jesus

Main Point: Connection + Cultivation = Fruitfulness.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What have you ever spent time growing/gardening/developing, etc.? What pruning was involved?
   
• What pruning have you had to experience in your life? What happened as a result?

Read: John 15:1-4.

• Is the idea of God cutting off the branches that don’t produce fruit scary to you? Why or why not?
   
• If God prunes us to make us better, does that mean that He causes all the bad things we endure? Why or why not?
   
• Can there be pruning that doesn’t hurt? Why or why not?
   
• The word used for “to prune” also means “to cleanse.” What do you think Jesus means in verse 3 when He tells the disciples they “are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you?”
   
• God wants us to be fruitful in all aspects of life. How do you try to be more fruitful? Are you ever frustrated when it doesn’t seem to work?
   
• The key to being fruitful is to remain in Jesus. How are you going to remain connected to God this week?

Prayer: Pray for the discipline to stay connected with Jesus.

06.18.17 Small Group Discussion

My Awkward Family - The Dad You Wish You

Main Point: Presence is more important than Perfection.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• Who is your favorite TV/book/movie dad? Why?
   
• What is/was your father like? What, if any, impact has he had on your life?
   
• Where does showing up and being present rank in importance with your family? Why?
   
• When was a time in your life that a father figure’s presence was more important than him being perfect?

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12.

• What is the value to you of being treated as an individual?
   
• How can a father properly encourage his kids?
   
• What does a father’s comfort look like?
   
• How can a father urge his children to live lives worthy of God?
   
• What keeps us from being present in our families’ lives? How can we be more focused on being present?
   
• What is the value of being present?

Prayer: Pray for the fathers of the congregation to be examples of Christ’s love and support.

06.11.17 Small Group Discussion

My Awkward Family - Gray Haired Glory

Main Point: The best thing you can do for your grandchildren is to finish well.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• When a story has a bad ending, how does that impact the story as a whole?
   
• What were your grandparents like? What impact, If any, did they have on your life?
   
• What do you think the role of a grandparent is? Why?

Read: Deuteronomy 4:9.

• What do you do to help yourself remember what God does for you?
   
• What are the dangers of a generation forgetting what God has done?
   
•  When was the last time you shared what God is doing in your life to someone younger than you (child, grandchild, spiritually younger fellow Christian, etc)? Now as practice, share with your small group something that God has done for you.

Read: Psalm 92:10-15.

• What task(s) could you see God electing you for as a grandparent or as a grandparent in God’s family?
   
• What are some of the “enemies of your youth” that you want God to defeat in your later years? (Or, what are some of the “enemies of your youth” that God has defeated in your later years?)

Prayer: Pray for the elderly generations to be the positive examples we need them to be.

06.04.17 - Small Group Discussion

My Awkward Family - Your Forever Family

Main Point: The family of God isn’t like a family. It is a family.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What does family mean to you?
   
• Do you have, or have you had, any “voluntary kin” in your life, meaning people who are not blood-related but are considered family? Share about those relationships?

Read: 1 Timothy 1:2, Colossians 1:2, and 1 John 3:2.

• Why do you think the authors use family terms to refer to their readers?
   
• Do you think of your fellow Christians as brothers and sisters? Why or why not?

Read: Matthew 12:46-50, Luke 14:26, and Mark 10:29-30.

• How does becoming a Christian make you a member of the family of God?
   
• Since our fellow Christians are our family, how does that impact how we interact with them? Why?
   
• Where is the balance between prioritizing the family of God and other family? What are the positives and negatives of focusing on each of them?
   
• Which family comes first? Why?

Prayer: Pray for your family.

05.28.17 - Small Group Discussion

My Awkward Family - Advice for Children

Main Point: Be the kind of child you hope to one day have.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What were you like as a child (quiet or loud, obedient or disobedient, etc.)?
   
• How has your role as a child changed over the years?
   
• What are some of the lessons that you were taught as a child, but ignored until you saw the value at an older age? How do you think those lessons could have been conveyed in order for you to take advantage of them sooner?

Read: Psalms 119:9-16.

• What are the differences between how this passage suggests you spend your youth and how the world suggests you spend it?
   
• What are some of the lessons you learned in your youth that have had the greatest impact on shaping who you are? Why do you think they impacted you so much?

Read: Proverbs 23:22-25.

• Why are we supposed to listen to our parents?
   
• The chances are good that either you or someone you know has had neglectful parents. How can we learn positive lessons from our parents, even if they are absent, abusive, etc.?

Read: Ecclesiastes 11:9-10.

• What similarities/differences do you see between this passage’s views about how to spend your youth and how the Psalms passage suggests you spend it?
   
• Youth is fleeting. What helps you to see the bigger picture, instead of focusing solely on the here and now?

Prayer: Pray that you will be the child God wants you to be.

05.21.17 - Small Group Discussion

My Awkward Family - Incubating Grace

Main Point: God Put You in a Family to Help You Learn Grace.

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

• What are your relationships with your siblings like? If you don’t have siblings, what about parents, cousins, etc?
   
• Why do you think the Bible contains so many stories of dysfunctional family and sibling relationships?
   
• How does being in a family teach us grace?

Read: Hebrews 12:14-17.

• What does Peace mean to you?
   
• What does Grace mean to you?
   
• Is living in peace with others easy? Why or why not?
   
• How is living a holy life connected to living in peace with others?
   
• Does the way you talk about, and interact with, your family point people towards Jesus, or away from Jesus?
   
• Is there a balance at times between giving grace and protecting your heart? Why or why not?
   
• What role does accepting grace play in you being able to give grace?
   
• How can we prevent bitterness from growing in our hearts?
   
• What are we supposed to do in the situations where reconciliation is not possible, despite our efforts to live in peace?

Prayer: Pray that you will both give and accept grace.

05.14.17 - Small Group Discussion

My Awkward Family - A Mother’s Prayer

Main Point: Pray and present your child back to God.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What are the when, where, and to whom of your birth?
   
• Share about your mother, if you’re comfortable, and about what impact she has had on your life.
   
• Are you comfortable with the fact that God put you in the family He wanted? Why or why not?

Read: 1 Samuel 1:11, 27-28.

• Why was it important for Hannah to pray, instead of just relying on her husband’s love?
   
• When you are hurting, where do you turn?
   
• Hannah asked for a son and promised to give him back to God. Have you ever promised to handle God’s answer in a specific way?
   
• What is the longest period of time that you kept asking God for an answer? Did His answer ever change? Why did you continue to ask?
   
• For those with children, how can you “give your children back to God”? What does that look like? For those without children, what has God given you that you can give back to Him and what does that look like?

Prayer: Pray continually. Don’t stop asking for what’s in your heart. Always use His answer to give glory back to Him.

05.07.17 - Small Group Discussion

All Access - Uniquely Created to Love

Main Point: Do good; give God the Glory.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• How do you like to go about making plans? Or, are you not much of a plan person?
   
• What comes to your mind if you hear that God has a plan for your life?
   
• Do you feel confident or comfortable with the idea that God has a plan for your life? Why or why not?
   
• How can we know God’s plans?

Read: Hebrews 13:20-21.

• Why is it important that these verses start with the statement that God brought Jesus back to life?
   
• Do you feel like God has equipped you with everything you need to do His will? Why or why not?
   
• How can you give glory to God when you do good?
   
• What has God equipped you with to do good?
   
• How can you do good and give God the glory this week?
   
• What would be different if the Church would simply focus on doing good and giving God the glory for it?

Prayer: Pray for the courage to do good, and the humility to give God the glory.

04.23.17 Small Group Discussion

All Access - Access to Power

Main Point: When Your Will Power Runs Out, You Have Access to His.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What is something you had to wait for, but you gave in to the temptation and had it when you shouldn’t have? How about something you waited until the right time for? Which was more satisfying? Why?
   
• What are some of the excuses we give to ourselves when we are tempted, so we can try and lessen the guilt? Why doesn’t knowledge of the consequences always stop us from sinning?

Read: Hebrews 4:14-16.

• Jesus was tempted in every way that we are. Think about the temptations you struggle with. Which ones do you have a hard time believing Jesus was tempted by? Why?
   
• What difference, if any, does it make that Jesus empathizes and understands our temptations?

Read: Romans 8:11.

• What does it mean to have the Spirit of God living in you?
   
• If we have the Holy Spirit, which is God, and Jesus, who is God, did not sin, what is the hope then for what we can do?
   
• When we fail, how can we approach God with Jesus as our high priest?
   
• When your will power is weak, how can you tap into His?

Prayer: Pray that you rely on Jesus’ will power instead of trying to go it alone.

04.16.17 - Small Group Discussion

All Access - No More Rope Line

Main Point: Jesus Gives You All-Access to God

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• What were the best tickets or access you have ever had to an event?
   
• Share a time when the phrase “It’s all about who you know” applied.
   
• Why do we feel like others sometimes have better access to God?
   
• What are some of the reasons that we feel like we don’t have access to God?

Read: Hebrews 10:19-22.

• How is the access described in this passage different than what was previously in place? What happened that caused the change?
   
• The Jews grew up with the mentality that only the High Priest can enter the Most Holy Place, and he could only do it once a year. When this passage states that Jesus provides everyone access to God, it was a massive change in their worldview. Have you ever had a major shift in your world view? How did you handle that change?
   
• How do you try to gain access to God?
   
• Do you feel like you have access to God? Why or why not?
   
• What makes you feel closer to God?
   
• What barriers can the Church remove, or what could the Church do differently, to help people feel/know that they have access to God?

Prayer: Praise God for granting us access to Him.

04.09.17 - Small Group Discussion

Thriving In Babylon - Finishing Well

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

• When was a time you didn’t finish well (a race, a class, a trip, etc.)?

• Have you ever watched a movie or TV show or read a book, and you loved it right up until the end, but the ending was horrible? How did the ending impact your feelings about the whole story?

Read: Daniel 6:1-10.

• Do you know anyone whose legacy is one that says, “The only way we can get them in trouble is if we make a law that conflicts with their faith?”
   
• When you look at the legacy you will leave behind, what are somethings that you could get tripped up on? Would the same claim that was made about Daniel apply to you?
   
• What Is Daniel’s response to the law that is passed? How does his response help to inform our decisions when laws conflict with our faith?

Read: Daniel 6:16-28.

• Daniel had peace because he knew his identity was a follower of God, no matter what his circumstances were. How can that identity help you to finish well?
   
• What was the immediate impact of Daniel’s enduring faith?
   
• Who are some of the examples in your life that have either finished well, or not so well? How did the way they finished affect your opinion of them?
   
• Does the way you finish frame your entire faith story? Why or why not?
   
• Who do you have in your life now that will be impacted by whether or not you finish well? Are you currently living in a way that will help you finish well?

Prayer: Pray for endurance to run the race of life faithfully and to finish well.

04.02.17 - Small Group Discussion

Thriving in Babylon - Lower the Proud, Exalt the Humble

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• When was a time that you exhibited too much pride?
   
• What are the positives and negatives of pride?
   
• How is God lowering the proud an act of love?

Read: Daniel 4:1-3, 19, and 24-25.

• Nebuchadnezzar’s attitude is very different now than when we last left him. How well do you do at believing people have changed when they present a new worldview?
   
• Why do you think Daniel was hesitant to tell the king what the dream meant?
   
• Daniel tells the king that he will receive back his kingdom when he learns that Heaven rules. Have you experienced anything similar where the pieces of your life are put back in place only when you acknowledge God’s rule?

Read: Daniel 5:20-30.

• What is the difference between Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar?
   
• What is your pride getting in the way of?
   
• When has your humility allowed you to see God act?
   
• How would things be different if the Church was known to be a place of humble people? How could we make a difference?

Prayer: Pray for humility

03.26.17 - Small Group Discussion

Thriving in Babylon - They Wouldn't Bend or Bow, They Didn't Burn

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
•  
• Who were you always spending time with when you were growing up? Did people have a name for your group, like Frank’s being known as The Garrett Boys?
•  
• Do you find yourself making more mistakes when you are by yourself or with others? What is the impact of having others around?

Read: Daniel 3:1-3.

• Throughout history, people have erected monuments, such as Egypt’s pyramids. What is it about the human spirit that causes us to do this?

Read: Daniel 3:12-15.

• Do you ever feel caught between your obedience to God and some earthly authority?
•  
• Who or what helps you choose God?

Read: Daniel 3:16-18.

• What stands out most to you about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s response?
•  
• How do you think you would have responded in their situation?
•  
• What do you find significant about the fact that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are always mentioned together, and never separately?

Read: Hebrews 10:24-25.

• What have been the biggest benefits of having community in your life?

Prayer: Give thanks for the strong relationships in your life.

03.19.17 - Small Group Dicussion

Thriving in Babylon - Faith Overcomes Fear

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

• Share a time or situation that you had no control over what happened.

• When life spins out of control, what is your first reaction?

Read: Daniel 2:1-11.

• God uses this situation for the Babylonian wise men to declare that only a god can accomplish what the king is asking, therefore starting to pave the way for God to be glorified. Have you experienced a time when God uses non-believers to display His glory?

Read: Daniel 2:12-28

• When the soldiers come for Daniel, he asks for time and prays. How do you imagine yourself responding in such a situation?
   
• God answers Daniel’s prayer and reveals the dream and interpretation to him. Share a time that God answered your prayer.

Read: Daniel 2:46-47.

• Even after God gave Daniel the answer, he still needed to be brave enough to go and tell the king. Nebuchadnezzar responded favorably to Daniel’s words and bowed to God. If the king had not responded well to Daniel, would it still have been the right thing for Daniel to do?
   
• Have you allowed fear to prevent you from doing what is right?

Read: Romans 13:1.

• God places authorities where He wants them, but He is still Sovereign. When was the last time that you prayed for those in authority, instead of just complained about them?

Prayer: Pray for those God has placed in authority positions, and pray that we remain faithful to God and allow Him to show us the way to act towards them.

03.12.17 Small Group Discussion

Thriving in Babylon - Who You Are and Where You're From

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
   
• Describe yourself. Who are you?
   
• Where are you from? What do you know of your heritage?
   
•  Have you ever allowed yourself (hobbies, attitudes, clothes, etc.) to be defined by someone or something else?

Read: Daniel 1.

• What allowed Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to remain true to their identity?
   
• How did God respond to their faith?
   
• All the other Israelites that were taken to Babylon are nameless in this book. Why?
   
• All the others chose to sacrifice their identity in order to belong in their new circumstances.  What have you changed about yourself, or given up, in order to belong?
   
• Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are given new names. If you have changed your name, whether a last name due to marriage, choosing a nickname, or some other circumstance, what was that like to have a different name? Did it change who you are?
   
• What circumstances have changed in your life that have made you re-evaluate your identity?
   
• When or how have you found peace in your identity?
   
• What is the perceived identity of the Church and of Christians?
   
• How can we show the world our true identity?
   
• What would change if Christians lived as Christians first, before any other identifier?

Prayer: Pray for courage to hold to our identity as Christian before anything else.