07.19.20 - Small Group Discussion

Songs and Sayings - I’m Mad and I’m not Lyin’!

Liars pay a price. Anger has a cost.

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What are some things we consider to be “little white lies?” Are they harmless? Why or why not?

• Why is honesty so important?

Read: Lies: Proverbs 19:1, 5, 9, 22, 28

• Do you believe that being poor and honest is better than being rich and dishonest? Why or why not?

• What have lies cost you?

• What has telling the truth cost you?

Read: Anger: Proverbs 19:3, 11, 19

• What has your anger cost you?

• What has controlling your anger cost you?

• How do you direct anger where it’s supposed to go?

• How do we handle verse 19 regarding rescuing hot-tempered people?

Prayer: Pray that you can control your anger and speak the truth.

07.12.20 - Small Group Discussion

Songs and Sayings - What You Say Matters

Words are a scalpel: They can cure or cut.

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Share a time when someone’s words really brightened your day.

• What are the positives and negatives for the variety of ways we can communicate nowadays?

Read: Proverbs 12:5-6, 13-19, 22, 25-26

• Why do you think words are so powerful?

• Do you ever feel trapped by your words? What leads to that feeling?

• How do you stay calm in the midst of being insulted?

• How does our culture view and handle lies? How do you view and handle lies? What do you view as the biggest danger of lying?

• Frank mentions a few words (Please, Thank You, I’m Sorry, I Love You, and I’m Praying For You) that cure wounds. When did you last say each of them?

Prayer: Pray for wisdom in your choice of words.

07.05.20 - Small Group Discussion

Songs and Sayings - God Sees

 God Sees Everything

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Are you good at keeping secrets?

• Why do secrets have power?

Read: Proverbs 5:21

• Do you feel like God sees everything? Why or why not?

• How do you feel about God seeing your sins, even when they’re done in secret? Does it help you resist sin?Why or why not?

• If God sees the bad things done to us, why does it seem like justice doesn’t always happen?

• Does God seeing the bad things that are done to you feel liberating in regards to a need to get even? Why or why not?

• If we are not supposed to proclaim the things we do in order to get praise from people, how can we encourage people to do similar good things or to show people that they’re not alone during their hard times?

• When a person does something nice for us in secret, how can we show appreciation even when we don’t know who they are?

Prayer: Pray for forgiveness and give thanks for God watching over us.

06.28.20 - Small Group Discussion

Songs and Sayings - You Rescue Me

We fight the battle, but God ensures the victory.

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What takeaways have you had while reading through the Psalms this month?

• What are some of the struggles, or enemies, that you face (financial insecurity, family problems, etc.)?

Read: Psalm 140

• When faced with a fight or flight situation, what is your typical reaction?

• How or when has God rescued you in your life?

• How do you feel about David asking God to punish the enemies in his life? How does this impact how you handle your feelings? Was David right to ask for God to do this? Why or why not?

• Are there evil people? Why or why not? Are people the enemy? Why or why not?

• What helps you to humanize someone? Why is it important to remember that people were all created in God’s image?

Prayer: Pray for God to rescue you in your struggles.

06.21.20 Small Group Discussion

Songs and Sayings - You Forgive Me

Forgiveness is rooted in God, but blossoms in you.

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Who are some of your favorite heroes and villains in stories? Why?

• When you view heroes and villains as people with both good and bad qualities, how does that change the way you see them?

Read: Psalm 51

• How do you typically respond when someone points out a sin you committed?

• Frank points out that Bathsheba’s role is potentially uncertain. Does her role matter? Why or why not? What does your answer mean for when you make mistakes involving other people?

• What constitutes a good apology? Why?

• When you are given forgiveness, what is your typical response?

• Can we earn forgiveness? Why or why not?

Prayer: Pray for forgiveness without any qualifiers.

06.14.20 - Small Group Discussion

Songs and Sayings - You Provide for Me

Sheep trust the shepherd to supply them.

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What in nature reminds you of God’s creative character?

• What makes you feel like someone is in control?

• How do you focus on something in the midst of turbulence?

Read: Psalm 23

• What rejuvenates you when you’re weary?

• Have you experienced a time where it felt like verse 2, “he makes me lie down in green pastures?”

• How does it feel when your name is on the line? How does God leading on the right paths for his name’s sake make you feel?

• When you have walked through the darkest valley, have you felt God with you? Why or why not?

• What does it mean to you to fear no evil? How do we do that?

• How is God a host to us? What does that look like in our lives?

• What does hesed, or covenant loyalty, mean to you?

Prayer: Pray that you will trust in God’s provisions.

06.07.20 - Small Group Discussion

Songs and Sayings - You Protect Me

No matter the foe, God is the deliverer.

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Who or what do people look to for deliverance? Why do we do that?

• How do you imagine someone who, if they were attacked, it would be viewed as an attack on God, too?

• Have you spent much time in the Psalms before? Why or why not? Do you have a favorite Psalm?

Read: Psalm 3

• Have you ever been told that God would not save you from something? What was that like?

• David says he wakes up because God sustains him. Take a moment to breathe in and breathe out slowly, thinking of God giving breath to Adam. Any thoughts come to mind as you focus on your breath?

• How can we not be afraid despite the countless enemies in the world?

• Was David right to pray verse 7 asking God to strike his enemies? Why or why not?

• What does it look like for God to provide deliverance?

Prayer: Pray for the confidence to rely on God’s protection.

05.31.20 - Small Group Discussion

Graduation Sunday

Make a plan now to honor God with your future.

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What do you see life being like after graduation (or how did you picture it)?

• What works as a reminder for you in your life (such as a wedding ring, etc.)?

• When have you started something with good intentions and then failed to follow through?

• Is it worth starting something, even if you fail? Why or why not?

Read: Joshua 24:14-26, Judges 2:10-11, Micah 6:8

• Like the Israelites entering the Promised Land, there are unique turning points in each of our lives where a direction has been chosen. What have been some of those points for you?

• How does a generation rise up to be like the one in Judges 2?

• What does it look like to act justly? To love mercy? To walk humbly with God?

• How can you choose now to honor God with your future?

Prayer: Pray that you are able to find peace in Jesus.

05.24.20 - Small Group Discussion

Life Interrupted - God’s Ultimate Interruption

God will use your interruption to form something beautiful out of the painful.

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What gives you peace?

• Where have you seen beauty come from pain in your life?

• What pain are you still hoping to see beauty come from?

Read: John 16:32-33

• Where and how have you found peace during this time of isolation?

• Have you felt like God has been with you through this? Why or why not?

• Jesus promises that we will have trouble in this world. Do you find comfort in this statement? Why or why not?

• Do you believe that Jesus has overcome the world? Do you live like he has? What, if anything, makes it difficult to believe that he has overcome the world?

• What is your plan for how to find peace in Jesus this week?

Prayer: Pray that you are able to find peace in Jesus.

05.17.20 Small Group Discussion

Life Interrupted - Christ Alone

Where we see an interruption, God sees an intermission.

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Have you ever thought about “what-might-have-happened” for your life?

Read: Acts 7:54-58, 8:1-3, 9:15-16, Philippians 3:4-8.

• What can we learn from Paul’s time between his encounter with Jesus to when he went on his first missionary journey 10+ years later?

• Think of the credentials that Paul presents in Philippians. What are current day equivalents that people claim for themselves to sound better than others? What credentials do we use to pretend we’re better than others?

• Frank states that with an interruption, there’s a pause and then things pick back up where they were, and with an intermission, things are different when they resume. How do we change our perspective from looking at an event as an interruption to looking at it as an intermission?

• What ‘intermissions’ have you experienced that changed the direction of your life?

• How can this current time of COVID-19 be an intermission for you to change direction and do things differently?

Prayer: Pray that you are able to take this time to make a change for the better going forward.

05.10.20 - Small Group Discussion

Life Interrupted - A Question of Timing

God is more concerned about my character, than my comfort.

• What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Have you had an experience where the timing seemed wrong at the time, but looking back, you were able to see that it went exactly how it should?

Read: John 11:1-27, 41-44.

• What can we learn from Thomas’s statement regarding going with Jesus?

• Jesus says that what happens to Lazarus is for God’s glory. How does that make you feel about how God does things?

• What is hard about waiting for God’s timing? Why?

• Earlier a question asked about being able to look back and see the value of the timing. What about the times where the timing never makes sense? How do we handle those?

• What, if any, is the connection between God’s love and God saving us from pain according to the story of Lazarus? Why?

• Why is God more concerned about our character than our comfort?

Prayer: Pray that you are able to wait for God’s timing.

05.03.20 - Small Group Discussion

Life Interrupted - God is with You

When you can’t understand God’s activity, you can still trust His identity.

• What are some curveballs you’ve had thrown at you in life?

• How do you typically react when life throws a curveball at you?

Read: Genesis 37:2-5, 23-28, 39:2, 21

• We can see Joseph’s complete story. What do you imagine his perspective was like at each of the spots in the verses we just read?

• Why is it easier to see God being with Joseph than it is to see the God is with us?

• What is God’s identity? How do you define God’s main characteristics?

• What does it mean to trust in God’s identity? Why is that different than trusting in His activity? How do we do it?

Read: Deuteronomy 31:6.

• This verse promises that God will not abandon us. Do you feel that to be true in your life? Why or why not?

• How have you, or how have you not, been trusting in God throughout this pandemic?

Prayer: Pray that you trust in who God is during uncertain times.

04.26.20 - Small Group Discussions

Life Interrupted - Control is an Illusion

Even when life seems out of control, God is still in control.

• What are some minor interruptions that annoy you?

• What do you do when life seems out of control?

Read: 1 Samuel 21:1-9, 22:6-10, 23:1-4

• David ran when his life was in danger, instead of inquiring of God. How does David’s approach in such an extreme situation inform how we should handle ourselves when our lives our interrupted?

• Was David wrong in what he did? Why or why not?

• What reminds you that God is in control?

• What is the difference between you being in control and God being in control?

• How have you been dealing with the interruptions that Covid-19 has brought to your life?

• How are you helping others during this period of interruption?

Prayer: Pray that in the middle of life spiraling out of control that you find peace in knowing that God is in control.

04.19.20 - Small Group Discussion

Immerse: Messiah - Heaven

We’re not going to Heaven. The new Jerusalem will come to the new earth.

Prayer: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we pray, that we might be grounded and settled in your truth by the coming of your Holy Spirit into our hearts. What we do not know, reveal to us; what is lacking within us, make complete; that which we do know, confirm in us; and keep us blameless in your service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

• What stood out to you this week?

• Was there anything confusing or troubling?

• Did anything make you think differently about God?

• How might this change the way we live?

Memorize: Revelation 21:1-3: Then I saw ’a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Leaders: For memorizing the verse, discuss with your group the idea of repeating the verse together and/or each taking turns repeating it. Feel free to work on memorizing at the beginning and end of your time together.

Read: Revelation 21:1-4, Philippians 3:20-21

• How has your perspective of the afterlife changed over time?

• What are you most excited about when the new Jerusalem comes to the new earth? Why?

• What does it mean to you to be a citizen of Heaven?

• How can the afterlife encourage you and how can you talk about it in a way that encourages others?

04.12.20 - Small Group Discussion

Immerse: Messiah - The Resurrection

Jesus is both the means and the model of resurrection.

Prayer: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we pray, that we might be grounded and settled in your truth by the coming of your Holy Spirit into our hearts. What we do not know, reveal to us; what is lacking within us, make complete; that which we do know, confirm in us; and keep us blameless in your service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

• What stood out to you this week?

• Was there anything confusing or troubling?

• Did anything make you think differently about God?

• How might this change the way we live?

Memorize: 1 Corinthians 15:24: And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

Leaders: For memorizing the verse, discuss with your group the idea of repeating the verse together and/or each taking turns repeating it. Feel free to work on memorizing at the beginning and end of your time together.

Read: John 1:14, 20:26-29, Romans 10:8-9, Philippians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 15:52-53, 57-58

• Frank presented that our bodies peak in different ways at different times. Who do you want to know at their peak? Why?

• What was your Easter like? How did you keep a focus on Christ’s resurrection?

• Why is Jesus’ resurrection the key to our faith?

• The apostles were able to see Jesus after he came back to life, and that was critical for their belief. We obviously don’t have that possibility. So, if you do believe, why? If you don’t, why?

04.05.20 - Small Group Discussion

Immerse: Messiah - The Cross

You can’t be killed if you’re already dead.

Prayer: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we pray, that we might be grounded and settled in your truth by the coming of your Holy Spirit into our hearts. What we do not know, reveal to us; what is lacking within us, make complete; that which we do know, confirm in us; and keep us blameless in your service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

• What stood out to you this week?

• Was there anything confusing or troubling?

• Did anything make you think differently about God?

• How might this change the way we live?

Memorize: Matthew 16:24: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Leaders: For memorizing the verse, discuss with your group the idea of repeating the verse together and/or each taking turns repeating it. Feel free to work on memorizing at the beginning and end of your time together.

Read: Matthew 16:21-25

• How will you make the most out of Easter this year?

• Do you have an example of changing Jesus’ words to fit your understanding, instead of letting his words change your understanding?

• Peter meant well with his words, but Jesus pointed out his error in not seeing things through God’s perspective. Have you been in Peter’s position or been the recipient of words from someone acting like Peter?

• How can you see things through God’s perspective instead of a human perspective?

• What’s different for you when your response is, “I’m already dead?”

03.29.20 - Small Group Discussion

Immerse: Messiah - Good News

Mark wrote an introduction. We’re still writing the story.

Prayer: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we pray, that we might be grounded and settled in your truth by the coming of your Holy Spirit into our hearts. What we do not know, reveal to us; what is lacking within us, make complete; that which we do know, confirm in us; and keep us blameless in your service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

• What stood out to you this week?

• Was there anything confusing or troubling?

• Did anything make you think differently about God?

• How might this change the way we live?

Memorize: Mark 1:1:.This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

Leaders: For memorizing the verse, discuss with your group the idea of repeating the verse together and/or each taking turns repeating it. Feel free to work on memorizing at the beginning and end of your time together.

Read: Mark 1:1, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 9:16

• What good have you seen in the last few weeks?

• How is Jesus good news?

• In Romans, Paul writes that he’s not ashamed of the gospel. Have you ever been ashamed of the gospel? Why or why not?

• If the Church looks back at us in 100 years, what do you want them to say?

• How do you explain the gospel to someone?

03.22.20 - Small Group Discussion

Immerse: Messiah - Radical Change (3.22.20)

To change your surroundings, you have to choose your surroundings.

Prayer: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we pray, that we might be grounded and settled in your truth by the coming of your Holy Spirit into our hearts. What we do not know, reveal to us; what is lacking within us, make complete; that which we do know, confirm in us; and keep us blameless in your service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

• What stood out to you this week?

• Was there anything confusing or troubling?

• Did anything make you think differently about God?

• How might this change the way we live?

Memorize: Romans 12:2: Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Leaders: For memorizing the verse, discuss with your group the idea of repeating the verse together and/or each taking turns repeating it. Feel free to work on memorizing at the beginning and end of your time together.

Read: Romans 3:23, 6:23, 8:1, 38-39, and 12:1-2.

• What are some examples where you’ve been shaped, for good or bad, by the people or situations around you?

• Who or what do you surround yourself with when you need some encouragement or to escape the difficulties around us?

• How are you shaping the people around you, especially during this time of quarantine?

What does it mean to you be a living sacrifice, as mentioned in Romans 12:1?

03.15.20 - Freedom

Immerse: Messiah - Freedom

You have been freed. Now choose to follow.

Prayer: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we pray, that we might be grounded and settled in your truth by the coming of your Holy Spirit into our hearts. What we do not know, reveal to us; what is lacking within us, make complete; that which we do know, confirm in us; and keep us blameless in your service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

• What stood out to you this week?

• Was there anything confusing or troubling?

• Did anything make you think differently about God?

• How might this change the way we live?

Memorize: Romans 8:1 – So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Leaders: For memorizing the verse, discuss with your group the idea of repeating the verse together and/or each taking turns repeating it. Feel free to work on memorizing at the beginning and end of your time together.

Read: Romans 7:14-8:4.

• Where, or in what ways, do you feel tension between living in the Kingdom of God that has come, but still waiting for the fullness of the Kingdom to come?

• What is different between you as a follower of Christ and you as not a follower?

• Do you feel like you’ve been freed from your sinful nature? Why or why not?

• What does it mean to “choose to follow?”

• Where is your focus? Does that enable you to follow God?

03.08.20 - Small Group Discussion

Immerse: Messiah - God’s Solution to Racism

I have more in common with Christians who don’t share my racial identity than I do with non-Christians who do.

Prayer: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we pray, that we might be grounded and settled in your truth by the coming of your Holy Spirit into our hearts. What we do not know, reveal to us; what is lacking within us, make complete; that which we do know, confirm in us; and keep us blameless in your service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

• What stood out to you this week?

• Was there anything confusing or troubling?

• Did anything make you think differently about God?

• How might this change the way we live?

Memorize: Acts 17:26: From one man He created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

Leaders: For memorizing the verse, discuss with your group the idea of repeating the verse together and/or each taking turns repeating it. Feel free to work on memorizing at the beginning and end of your time together.

Read: Acts 1:8, 6:1, 8:14, 25, 9:43, 10:34-36, 17:26.

• Why is racism an issue for the Church?

• What do you feel like is the base cause of racism? How can that be combatted?

• How does aligning under a larger cause help fight racism?

• What are you going to do this week to combat racism, whether that be in your life or the lives of others?