02.06.22 - Small Group Discussion

RESET - Take This Job and Love It

Whomever is your employer, Jesus is your master.

ICEBREAKER: Share where/for whom you work and the challenges you face as a Christian in that work environment.

Read: Matthew 6:33

  • What things do you worry about as an employee of wherever you work?

  • What are the struggles you face in balancing work / life / spiritual life?  

Read: Colossians 3:23-24

  • How are you learning to apply this principle to your work?

  • Frank suggested one way we can live out this verse: by not grumbling and arguing (Philippians 2:14-15). What other changes could you make as a worker that would reflect well on Jesus’ influence in your life?

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:20

  • What are some ways God has used you as him ambassador in the places you live, work and go to school?

  • Who are some people you think God might want to use you to help take steps closer to him?

Prayer: As a group, make a list of people in the places you live, work and go to school that you could be used to become reconciled to God. Pray for those people in your group. Make this an ongoing list that you return to, sharing your answers to those prayers, and adding names as God grows your influence as his ambassador.

01.30.22 - Small Group Discussion

RESET - Space For God

Rhythm matters most when life picks up speed.

ICEBREAKER: What metaphor best describes the speed / pace of your life right now and why?

Read: Genesis 2:1-3

  • Why do you think God made a day of rest part of the creation narrative?

  • What are the implications of a rhythmic day of rest being built into creation?

Read: Exodus 20:8-11

  • There are ten commandments. Eight are “don’t-do-this” commandments? Only two are “do-this” commandments, including the commandment to keep the Sabbath. Sabbath is more than “don’t work.” What else is it?

  • The fourth commandment is also the longest one. Moses used more words to make this command than any other. Why do think that might be?

Read: Exodus 20:8-11

  • What are some ways you can do better at immersing yourself and/or your family in spiritual rhythms?

Read: Hebrews 10:24-25

  • How can you “encourage one another” to continue meeting in spite of all the distractions and hectic pace of life?

Prayer: Pray that God will give you the conviction and discipline necessary to practice the spiritual disciplines of spending time in his word, prayer, meditation and journaling.

01.23.22 - Small Group Discussion

RESET - What’s In Your Wallet? (1.23.22)

Jesus is Lord – even over your finances 

  • Share a story of malfunctioning tech in your life. Did a reset fix the problem?

  • What do you do to plan ahead in your finances? Have they ever needed a reset?

Read: Matthew 6:1-4 and Mark 12:13-17

  • What are Jesus’ expectations for his followers when it comes to giving?

  • What does it mean to make Jesus “Lord of your life?” How does this play out on a daily basis?

  • What are some of the reasons you’ve heard for people not giving to the church? How would you respond to those issues?

Read: Matthew 6:19-21

  • What does it look like to store up for yourself treasures in heaven?

  • Would you say you’re storing up more treasure in heaven or on earth?

  • How can you give Jesus Lordship over your finances in 2022?

Prayer: Pray that God will clearly lead each person in your group to the next step you all need to take in making him Lord over your money.

01.16.22 - Small Group Discussion

RESET - Lean In

The direction you lean determines the direction you go.

ICEBREAKER: Break into two teams and see which one can come up with the most phrases and/or idioms that use the word lean.

Read: Philippians 3:1-6

  • Frank mentioned several wrong things on which some early Christians were leaning (tradition, their own righteousness, religious heritage). What are some wrong leanings that we have that, although they might appear good, are not?

  • What is the difference between knowing Jesus and knowing about Jesus?

  • What are some of the indicators that we can be aware of that let us know whether we truly know Jesus, or just know about Jesus?

  • What are some changes you need to make in 2022 in order to really lean in where your faith is concerned?

Read: 2 Chronicles 11:13-16

  • This text seems pretty straightforward and unemotional. But what do you imagine were the consequences (emotional, financial, social, etc.) of the Israelites deciding to abandon their homes and move to Judah?

  • What outcomes (positive and negative) do you imagine you might experience if you intentionally and persistently lean in to Jesus?

  • So is leaning in simply a matter of evaluating the risk versus reward, or is there more to it than that?

Prayer: Pray that God will give you the courage and conviction necessary to consistently lean in to him in 2022.

01.09.22 - Small Group Discussion

RESET - Your Story

When Jesus is at the center of your life, you will experience balance. 

  • How can you tell when you’re in a season that is out of balance?

  • What are your “symptoms?”

Read: Psalm 24:1-6

  • Frank said that acknowledging God as creator means more than just accepting that he created everything. It means recognizing his divine authority in our lives. It means accepting that he is in control and we are not. Why do we struggle with acknowledging God as our final authority?

  • What is the evidence in our lives that we do acknowledge God as creator?

  • Putting God at the center of your life means intentionally seeking him. How do you seek God in your life?

  • Frank said that centering your life on Jesus means adding, subtracting, and multiplying. The thing he suggested you add is journaling. He suggested you subtract things that distract you. Multiplying means repeating what you’re doing. How is that all going? What are you finding successful? Where are you struggling? How can your group help?

Read: Romans 11:36 and Acts 17:28

  • What do these two texts say about the Christ-centered life?

  • How can you – through the add, subtract, multiply formula above – make these two verses a reality in your own life?

Talk: How can you and the other people in your small group help each other be successful journaling?

Prayer: Pray that each of you will have the wisdom and discipline to add journaling, subtract distractions, and multiply (repeat) your efforts to center your life on Jesus.

12.19.21 Small Group Discussion

Christmas Hope - Hope, Unexpected

Christmas shows that when we least expect it, God shows up. 

  • Share a time when someone has unexpectedly shown up for you. How did that make you feel?

Read The Balaam Story in either form:

The full story:  Numbers 22-24

The condensed story: Numbers 22:1-6, 23:1-8, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27, 24:1-5, 10-11, 15-17

  • Have you encountered this story before? What is your reaction to it?

  • In what ways did God show up to protect the Israelites?  

Read: Numbers 24:17

  • Prophecies in Scripture often have multiple levels. In what ways do you see this verse fulfilled at different times in Scripture?

  • How does this verse point to Jesus?

 Read: Matthew 2:1-2

  • Even though there are echoes of Numbers 24:17 in the worlds of the Magi, Herod and all of Jerusalem were surprised and troubled that a king had been born in their city. God had shown up unexpectedly.

  • When has God shown up unexpectedly for you?

  • How can you adopt a posture of gratitude in your daily life?

Prayer: Pray that God will open your eyes to the ways in which He is unexpectedly at work around you, and thank Him for what he is doing!

12.12.21 - Small Group Discussion

Christmas Hope - The Blessing

We are part of God’s Blessing, we are bearers of the Light. 

  • Were you a cute baby?

  • Do you know your family history?  How far back to you know?

Read: Matthew 1:1-16

  • What is the most shocking thing in this genealogy to you?

  • Do you think it is odd that Matthew starts his gospel this way? Why or why not?

  • Is the fact that the genealogy is “messy” concerning or comforting to you?  Why?

Read: Genesis 11:27-12:5

  • What do we learn about Abraham and Sara?  Are they able to have children?

  • What is your response to God if you are Abraham?  Would you be able to leave everything to go do something new?

  • Would you be able to trust God, who is asking so much of Abraham, knowing you are old and unable to have kids—thus sort of negating the “great nation” promise that God gives to Abraham?

Read: Matthew 5:14-16

  • Do the words of Jesus give you motivation to live the light or does it simply make you feel guilty that you haven’t been a good light?  Why?

  • What are some ways you can live the light to your family?  Friends?  Work?

Prayer: God, empower us to live the light, to be your blessing to the world that you started with Abraham and culminated in Jesus, our Savior.

12.05.21 - Small Group Discussion

Christmas Hope - Your Story

When God is fully present in your life, it frees you to be fully present to others. 

  • What does it mean to be fully present to someone? How can you know when someone is fully present or only partly there?

Read: Genesis 3:8 and Genesis 3:23-24

  • What do you suppose it was like when God walked with Adam and Eve? What did they experience?

  • What does the fact that God was present in the Garden say about his character?

  • We know the impact that being cast out of the Garden had on Adam and Eve, but what do you suppose the impact was on the Father?

Read: Ezekiel 37:27-28 and John 1:14

  • God promised to once again make his dwelling place with His children. The “near” fulfillment of that prophecy took place when Jesus became God in the flesh as a baby boy. Why do we celebrate that event?

  • The “far” fulfillment of that prophecy will take place when Christ returns. What will be the impact of God making His sanctuary among his people forever?

Read: Revelation 21:3

  • What do you think it will be like when Christ returns and God once again dwells among his people?

  • What can you do as we await Christ’s return to be fully present to God and fully present to the people He puts in your path?

Prayer: Pray that God will enable you to develop the discipline and focus to be fully present in every circumstance of your life.

11.28.21 - Small Group Discussion

Christmas Hope - Your Story

Jesus is the Hope of the World!

  • Do you decorate for Christmas early, or are you a strict not-until-after-Thanksgiving person? Defend your decision!

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7

  • What are the evidences that our world desperately needs of hope?

  • How can hopelessness can rob one of his or her identity?

  • Where do you see hope in these seven verses?

Action: Take the rest of your time as a small group and make a plan for your group to develop a plan to provide hope for someone this Christmas.

  • Identify someone who is struggling with hopelessness. This can be someone inside your group, or someone a person in your group knows.

  • What is contributing to that person’s hopelessness?

  • What can your group do to shine the light of hope in that person’s life, so their gloom is dispelled.

  • Make your plan specific, realistic and actionable.

  • Assign roles and deadlines so you’re certain to follow through, then …

Prayer: Pray that God will give you the conviction and energy to carry out your plan, and that it will provide hope in a real and tangible way to someone who has become hopeless.

09.26.21 - Small Group Discussion

Friend or Foe? - Allies sit on the same side of the table.

ICE BREAKER: Who is that one person in your life who is your biggest ally? Why do you think of them that way?

Read: 1 Peter 5:8-9

  • What does resisting the devil look like?

Read: Galatians 5:15

  • What are ways Christians bite and devour each other? Why do you think Christians do that?

Read: Colossians 3:11-15

  • What do you read in this text that would make a significant difference among Christians if they could practice it consistently?

  • Which of the instructions in this text do you need the most improvement in, and what change(s) will you make to move in the right direction?

  • Re-read verse 13 in the New Living Translation. Which is more difficult: making allowances for others’ faults or forgiving others? Why?

  • Frank talked about getting on the same side of the table and together facing whatever causes conflict between you and your fellow believer. Explore that metaphor as a group. What does that look like, practically speaking? How can that be helpful?

Prayer: Ask God to help you clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and love so that, in all your interactions with fellow believers and people who are far from God, you reflect Jesus.

09.19.21 Small Group Discussion

Friend or Foe? - People are not the enemy.

ICE BREAKER: Is there someone in your life who has been your nemesis? Tell us about it.

Read: 1 Peter 5:8-9

  • There are a lot of people Peter could have cast in the role of villain in this letter. Flipping back through the first five chapters who are some of them?

  • Why didn’t Peter identify people as the enemy?

  • What makes the devil such a sinister enemy?

  • Peter’s advice for defending against the devil is to “Stay alert! Watch out…” What does that look like in practical terms?

Read: Ephesians 6:10-12

  • Verse twelve gives a colorful description of our enemies. To whom or what is Paul referring?

  • How do we fight against such unconventional enemies?

  • What is the role of allies in battling the enemies we encounter in spiritual warfare?

Read: Ephesians 6:13-20

  • What weapon or weapons in this list you need to master?

Prayer: Ask God to help you identify the real enemy, the devil. Ask God to help you avoid seeing the person or people you identified in the ice breaker above as enemies.

08.29.21 - Small Group Discussion

Face the Mirror - James 5:13-20

It’s always the right time to pray. 

ICE BREAKER: Are you someone for whom prayer comes naturally, or do you struggle? Either way, why do you think that is the case?

Read: James 5:13.

  • James said to pray when we’re happy and when we’re troubled. Which is easier for you, and why?

  • Share a time when prayer helped alleviate your suffering, or when it enhanced your happiness.

Read: James 5:14-16

  • James says to pray when we’re sick, and to pray when we sin. Why do you think James draws a connection between sickness and sin?

  • James urges us to pray in community, and confess our sin to each other. How has your group lived this out? How have you struggled?

Read: James 5:17-18

  • What’s your favorite answered-prayer story from the Bible? Why?

Read: James 5:19-20

  • How consistently do you pray for people who are far from God? What can you do to become more consistent in doing so?

Memory Verse: James 5:13 

Prayer: Ask God to help your group develop the trust and community necessary to pray deeply for each other.

08.22.21 - Small Group Discussion

Face the Mirror - James 5:7-12 (8.22.21)

Patience is hope, lived out. 

ICE BREAKER: When was the most impatient you’ve ever been as you waited for something good to happen?

Read: James 5:7-12 together as a group. Now read just verse 7.

  • Have you ever planted a garden or some other kind of crop? How did it go for you?

  • Where do you see the connection between patience and hope?

Read: James 5:8

  • How does Jesus’ future return give us hope? What hopes do you have about that day?

Read: James 5:9

  • Is grumbling something you struggle with? What tends to trigger your grumbling or complaining?

Read: James 5:10-12

  • Which prophets are you familiar with? How should their stories encourage our patience?

  • What about Job? What can his story teach us about patience through adversity?

  • How does hope lead to patience?

Prayer: Thank Jesus for his coming return, and ask for your hope in him to be strengthened.

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