10.15.23 - Small Group Discussion

Ever Present Grace Small Group Video

Ever-Present Grace

You’re never too far gone for God to be your Ever-Present Help.

  • What stood out to you from your reading this week, or from Sunday’s message?

Read: Exodus 23:20-26

  • What all was God promising to do for the Israelites?

  • How does verse 21 strike you?

Read: Exodus 4:3-7

  • What did the Israelites promise to do? How’d that turn out for them?

Read Exodus 32:1-5

  • Israel transgressed in the worst possible way here. Taking a big view of Scripture, why do you think God chose to withhold destruction from his people?

Leaders: Compare your group’s answers with Romans 3:25-26.

  • Have you ever felt “too far gone,” unredeemable, or that you’ve messed up too badly to turn to God? If you are willing to share, tell us about that time.

  • On Sunday, Walter shared that its “only when you understand the severity of your own sin, can you truly understand the gift of God’s grace.”

  • When have you come face to face with the magnitude of your own sin?

  • At what points in your life have experienced the reality of God’s grace?

Read Romans 3:23-26

  • What is God saying to you through these verses?

Pray: Spend some time thanking God for his indescribably good gift of grace.

10.08.23 - Small Group Discussion

Rescue Small Groups Video

Rescue

When God calls, he is an Ever-Present Help

  • What stood out to you from your reading this week, or from Sunday’s message?

Read: Exodus 3:1-10

  • God got Moses’ attention with a burning bush. What has he used to get your attention?

Read: Exodus 3:11-12

  • What is God’s answer to Moses’ first question? What are the implications of that?

  • When have you heard God’s call in the past? How did you respond?

Read Exodus 3:13-16

  • How would you characterize God’s response to Moses’ second question?

Read Exodus 4:1

  • This is Moses’ third question of God. Does it seem reasonable to you?

Read Exodus 4:10-12

  • What does God promise to do, and what does he not promise to do in response to Moses’ fourth question.

Read Exodus 4:13-14

  • Why did God become angry with Moses after this fifth response?

  • What has God been calling you to do recently? How willing are you?

Pray: For boldness in answering God’s call.

10.01.23 - Small Group Discussion

Confidence Small Group Video

Confidence

God has the power, and he is your ever-present help.

  • What stood out to you from your reading this week, or from Sunday’s message?

Read: Psalm 46:1-11

  • Which statements in this psalm show confidence?

  • Who is someone you know who displays confidence in God. What does that look like?

Read: Genesis 41:1-7

  • (Have someone in your group who knows the story of Joseph recap what happened in his life up to this point.)

Read Genesis 41:8-15

  • In what ways had God helped Joseph up to this point? In what ways might Joseph have felt forgotten by God?

  • Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes: how confident would you have been in God if you were him?

Read Genesis 41:16

  • What does this verse tell us about Joseph? What does it say about God?

Read Genesis 41:40

  • How many times does Joseph mention God in this chapter?

  • What reasons did Joseph have to trust God so deeply?

Pray: Name an area in your life in which you’re struggling to trust God. Now go around the group and pray that each person grows to confidently trust God in that specific area.

09.24.23 - Small Group Discussion

Unstoppable Story Small Group Video

UNSTOPPABLE STORY

Looking backward helps us to move forward.

  • How far back do you know your own family history? Where did you get your stories from?

  • How does the thought of being forgotten make you feel?

Read: Genesis 25:19-34

  • Are you more of an outdoors person or a stay inside person? Why?

  • What kind of tension do you think there is between the brothers leading up to the birthright/stew interaction? Did they get along? Why or why not?

Read: Genesis 28:10-32

  • Which part of God’s blessing of Jacob (and Abraham) do you resonate with most? People, Place, Privilege, and Purpose?

  • Why is it important for God to set Jacob’s course, and not Jacob doing it on his own?

  • What is Jacob’s response?

Read: Genesis 32:24-32

  • Why do you think Jacob wrestles with God? Why won’t he let him go?

  • What is the significance of God changing Jacob’s name to Israel?

  • How would you feel if God rewrote part of who you were?

  • What parts of Jacob’s story do you relate with the most? Why do you think God uses imperfect people?

  • What parts of your life are defined by other things? How do you need to change to allow God’s story to define you?

Pray: Share an area where you need to change because of God’s Unstoppable Story. Pray for each other.

09.17.23 - Small Group Discussion

God Sees Small Group Video

God Sees

When you can’t see the way forward, God is an ever-present help. 

  • What stood out to you from your reading this week, and from Sunday’s message?

Read: Genesis 16:1-6

  • Abraham and Sarah are listed in the “heroes of faith” chapter of Hebrews in the New Testament. How could they have behaved like this?

  • In what areas of your life do you have trouble trusting God?

Read: Genesis 16:7-13

  • In what ways did God help Hagar in this story?

Read: Genesis 21:8-14

  • What would you have done if you were in Abraham’s shoes?

Read Genesis 21:15-16

  • Share a time when you felt completely hopeless.

Read Genesis 21:17-21

  • God helped Hagar for a second time here. How has God stepped into your moments of hopelessness and desperation?

  • What Scriptures dovimeo you turn to when you are feeling hopeless?

Pray: Share an area in which you have trouble finding hope, and then pray for the patience to trust God.

09.10.23 - Small Group Discussion

Unexpected Help

When life doesn’t make sense, God is an ever-present help. 

  • What stood out to you from your reading this week, and from Sunday’s message?

Read: Genesis 2:15-25

  • What do you now understand better about this passage of Scripture?

  • What was Adam’s problem? How did God resolve it for him?

Read: Psalm 46:1-3

  • Share examples from Scripture of when God showed up as a help for his people.

  • Share a story of when you clearly felt God’s presence.

  • Think about the struggles in your own life. Where have you experienced God’s help?

Read Acts 17:24-29

  • How does God satisfy our needs, and in what ways has he been close – “not far off” to you?

Pray: Have group members share 1 specific area in which they need God’s help, and then pray for one another.

08.27.23 - Small Group Discussion

Enough Small Group Discussion

Enough

God is enough. 

  • What stood out to you from Sunday’s message?

Read: Exodus 20:17

  • Think about coveting in your own life. What comes to mind?

  • Why does God get so specific in this commandment, especially with compared to the few preceding it?

  • How does American culture push you toward coveting?

Read: James 1:14-15

  • How do these verses describe the process of coveting? What is the result of allowing sin to grow? How have you witnessed those results?

  • What is “holy dissatisfaction,” and how can you practice that instead of coveting?

  • In what ways is God actually enough?

Read: Exodus 20:18-19 & I Timothy 2:5-6

  • What do you think of the Israelite’s reaction? Would you have been the same as them?

  • How does Moses fulfil a similar role for the Israelites, that Jesus fulfils for you?

Pray: Partner up and share with each other where you’re struggling against coveting this week. Then pray for contentment. Then check in mid-week with your partner to see how they’re doing.

08.20.23 - Small Group Discussion

The Truth Will Set You Free Small Group Video

The Truth Will Set You Free

Lies distort community. 

  • What caught your attention from Sunday’s message?

  • How do you react when you find out that someone has lied to you? Why do you feel that way?

Read: Exodus 20:1-2

  • How do these two verses set the stage for the rest of the 10 Commandments?

Read: Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 17:6-7, 19:15-19

  • What did “false testimony” mean to the Israelites in Moses’ day?

  • What does this commandment mean for us today?

Read: James 3:13-18

  • In what ways do our words have power?

  • What does it look like to be “false to the truth?” (v. 14)

  • How would dishonesty have distorted community for the Israelites, and how can it distort community for us today? 

Pray: Ask God to help you identify where you struggle with theft. Then, ask him for the boldness to deal with that sin in your life.

08.13.23 - Small Group Discussion

The Little Things

The Little Things Small Group Video

Theft begins in the heart. 

  • Share a time when something was taken from you without your consent. How did you deal with that situation?

  • How have you struggled with the temptation to steal?

Read: Exodus 20:1-2

  • Why is it important to note that the 10 Commandments were given to people who already belonged to God? What does this mean for how we use them today?

Read: Exodus 20:15

  • Why does God oppose theft?

  • What is the connection between theft, selfishness, and the way we value or devalue others?

Read: Romans 13:8-10

  • In what ways does love “fulfill the requirements of the law”?

  • What do you need to do to acknowledge God as the source of all possessions?

  • What do you need to do to choose love?

Pray: Ask God to help you identify where you struggle with theft. Then, ask him for the boldness to deal with that sin in your life.

08.06.23 - Small Group Discussion

Faithful

Faithful Small Groups Video

God defines our sexuality.  Be faithful!

  • What was the weirdest rule your parents had for you when you were growing up?

  • Why did we fight our parents rules when we were growing up?

Read: Exodus 20:1-17

  • Which is the easiest command for you to follow?

  • What’s the hardest?  Why?

  • If we were to expand verse 14, what would you include?

Read: Matthew 5:27-30

  • Why do you think Jesus was so drastic in his statements about sex here?

  • If Jesus is so direct and drastic, why is sexual sin such a problem within the church?

  • What things can we do to flee from the world’s saturation of unhealthy sexuality?

  • What God things can we do to keep our eyes/hands/heart focused on God’s Kingdom rather than the world?

  • Being faithful to God’s view of sex is a team effort.  Who are the Nathans in your life?  Who could be the Nathans in your life?

Read: Psalm 51

  • How does it make you feel to know that God views each of us as a person of deep worth?

  • Even knowing this, why is it hard to deal with our sin?  How can we help one another>

Pray: Ask God for humility in your life so you will do the right thing and flee from the sexual sin in your life.

07.30.23 - Small Group Questions

Life

Life Small Groups Video

Life belongs to God.

  • What’s something that you wish people had more common sense about?

  • Do you believe people are generally good or generally evil? Why?

Read: Exodus 20:8-12

  • Do you practice either of these commandments? What does that look like for you?

Read: Exodus 20:13

  • Why did God have to say this? Would you put this commandment in the category of “common sense?” Why?

Read: Genesis 4:1-10

  • Can you imagine being Cain? Murder had never been committed until this time. How do you imagine the fallout of this decision affected him into the future?

  • Should Cain have known that murder was wrong?

Read: Matthew 5:21-22

  • In what ways are you guilty of breaking Jesus’ teaching here?

  • What can you do to seek life this week?

Pray: Ask God to show you where you are breaking his commandments, and to help you seek life.

07.23.23 Small Group Discussion

Original Sin

Original Sin Small Groups Video

The first sin is to reject God. 

  • What do you know about the Ten Commandments?

Read: Exodus 20:1-3

  • How easy do you find it to be to worship only God?

  • What are you giving the most attention to in your life?

Read: Genesis 3:1-6

  • Adam and Eve were un-convinced that God’s way was best, and were convinced to take the forbidden fruit. In what areas of life do you struggle to be convinced that God’s way is best?

Read: Exodus 20:4-6

  • What idols have you created in your life?

Read: Exodus 1:7

  • In what ways are you guilty of breaking this commandment?

  • What do you need to do this week to submit yourself to God and to worship him alone?

  • How does worshipping God instead of ourselves help mend human relationships?

 

Pray: Ask God to reveal ways in which you are not living up to the standard of the first three commandments, and to help you make changes so that you worship God alone and treat him as holy.

 

07.16.23 - Small Group Discussion

SERVE

SERVE Small Group Video

Faith demands action.

  • Share your favorite memory of serving with the church.

  • Does serving come naturally to you, or is it difficult to make yourself serve?

Read: Matthew 7:13-14

  • What does the wide path look like today? How about the narrow path?

Read: Matthew 7:25-20

  • What kind of fruit do you see your faith producing?

Read: Matthew 7:21-23

  • How can you take this warning to heart?

  • How is faith more than just belief or cognitive assent?

Read: Matthew 7:24-29

  • What do you need to do this week to put Jesus’ words into practice?

  • How can you be more aware of the needs in our congregation?

  • How can serving provide you an opportunity to practice other spiritual disciplines?

Pray: Ask God for opportunities to servse, and willingness to step up!

07.09.23 - Small Group Discussion

REST

Rest Small Group Video

Rest is the antidote to worry. 

  • When was the last time you felt fully rested?

  • On a scale from too busy to too relaxed, what’s life like for you right now?

Read: Genesis 2:1-3

  • Why did God rest?

Read: Matthew 6:25-27

  • What do you worry about?

Read: Matthew 6:28-30

  • How is trust the opposite of worry?

Read: Matthew 6:31-34

  • How can rest be the antidote to worry?

  • How easy is it for you to rest?

  • What does rest look like for you?

  • What can you do this week to seek rest?

Pray: Pray for your group members to be bold enough to choose rest over busyness.

07.02.23 - Small Group Discussion

PERSONAL WORSHIP 

Personal Worship Small Group Video

God wants our full attention. God wants us to REVERE Him.

  • If you had nothing to do for the rest of the day, what would you o/

  • In life, what do you get distracted by most?

Read: Matthew 6:22-24

  • What is described as the lamp of the body?  Why?

  • What is the result of good eyes?

  • What distracts you from God the most throughout the week?

Read: Deuteronomy 6:4-8

  • Which is harder for you—to love God with your heart, soul, or strength

  • How can you follow the commands of verses 4-9 today?  What are some specifics you can do with the next generation?

Read: Matthew 5:13-16

  • In light of Matthew 6:22-23, what are some specific actions you can do this week to lessen or eliminate these distractions from your life?

  • As you create space for God by limiting distractions, what are some things you can do this week to revere/worship God more?

  • Why is it so important for us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world?

  • How are you going to REVERE God in this week’s 168 hours?

Pray: Pray that your will allow God to draw your attention to Him this week.  Pray that you will limit the distractions and be able to REVERE God.

06.25.23 - Small Group Discussion

FAST

FASTING Small Groups Video

Fasting focuses our faith. 

  • What’s your least favorite tool to use? Why?

  • Have you ever fasted? Why were you fasting? How did it go? What were the results?

  • What do you know about fasting from Scripture?

Read: Matthew 6:1

  • How much do you struggle with wanting to do your good deeds “publicly, to be admired by others?”

Read: Matthew 6:16-18

  • What is the point of Jesus’ instructions here?

Read: Acts 9:3-9

  • Why did Paul fast in this situation?

Read: Acts 13:3 and 14:23

  • Why did the earliest Christians fast in these two situations?

  • Should Christians fast? What’s your Biblical evidence, and what would be the purpose of that fasting?

Pray: Pray that your group members will be practicing their faith to please God and not to please others.

06.18.23 - Small Group Discussion

PRAY

PRAY Small Groups Video

Prayer has purpose. 

  • Tell us about a time you used a hammer. How’d it go? What did you hit?

  • How effective do you feel your prayer life has been recently? What does a typical prayer look like for you?

Read: Matthew 7:7-8

  • Share a time when you were continually “seeking,” “asking,” and “knocking.”

  • Be honest: how much of your prayer life is simply making requests of God?

Read: Matthew 6:5-8

  • According to Jesus, what are incorrect ways to pray? What makes them wrong?

Read: Matthew 6:9-15

  • What are the different movements of this prayer that Jesus taught his disciples?

  • On Sunday, Walter said that prayer’s purpose is to commune with God. Do you agree or disagree, and why?

  • What can you do this week to move beyond only making requests in your prayers?

Pray: As a group, pray the Lord’s Prayer together!

06.11.23 - Small Group Discussion

STUDY

STUDY Small Groups Video

Studying reveals the standard. 

  • Who in your life is someone who really knows Scripture? What are they like? How do they use that knowledge? How do you think they gained that knowledge?

  • When you want to study the Bible, what do you do? What’s your process?

Read: Read Matthew 5:1-2

  • What do you know about the Sermon on the Mount? Are there any verses in these three chapters that you have memorized?

Read: Read Matthew 5:17-20

  • Have you ever felt like you were ignoring God’s law?

  • What’s your reaction to verse 18?

  • How can your righteousness be better than that of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees?

  • Why should we study the Bible? How can studying help you?

  • From the four parts of the SOAP method of Bible study, which one comes most naturally to you? Which is most difficult?

  • What do you need to do this week to grow in your study of Scripture?

Pray: Ask God to grow a desire in you to more deeply study the Bible.

06.04.23 - Small Group Discussion

We are beginning something new with this series. We will provide a short video with three or four questions for you to use with your group. You can send it ahead of time to your group members so they can prepare for your group time. Or, you could use it during your your group meeting. We will also provide more written questions below the video.

GIVE Small Group Video

GIVE

God’s Expectation for His people is generosity 

  • Who is someone you know who is crazy generous?  How do they live out generosity?  Why?

  • If you had all the money in the world, who would you bless?

Read: Read Matthew 6:1-4

  • What happens to givers who give with impure motives?

  • What style of giving does Jesus tell us to do?

  • What do you think he is saying when he states, “don’t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing….”?

Read: Read Matthew 6:19-24

  • What are ways that we “treasure up treasures” here on earth?

  • What are ways we can “treasure up treasures” in heaven?

  • Who is someone who could keep you accountable to have “healthy eyes”?  How would you ask them to keep you accountable?

  • At the end of his message, Wally read the story of the rich young ruler and the widow’s offering.  Which story did you relate to more?  How do they challenge your perspective of giving?

  • How does God’s expectation that we give challenge you? What is one way God is calling you to give sacrificially?

Pray: Pray for God to challenge you this week to paint (give).  Pray that he helps you to turn away from the thing which distract you from being generous with God’s blessing.

05.28.23 - Small Group Discussion

Table of Fellowship

Jesus is revealed at The Table.

  • Who from church have you shared a meal with this week?

  • Tell us about a time when you gathered with close friends around a table.

  • Where have you experienced deep community and connection at our church?

Read: Luke 24:13-34

  • How would you have felt if you were one of these two disciples?

  • Why do you think God chose to open their eyes at the table?

Read: Acts 2:42-47

  • What does it look like to be devoted to fellowship?

  • What’s your biggest takeaway from this entire sermon series on The Table?

  • What can you do this week to devote yourself to fellowship?

Pray: Pray for opportunities to practice hospitality this week, and for energy to devote yourselves to fellowship!

Seek | Study | Serve