1.14.24

DISCUSSION GUIDE /1.14.24

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

Share one thing you're grateful for from the past year and one hope or goal you have for this new year.

LUKE 12:4-34

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

  • Fear and Confession:

    • In Luke 12:4-7, Jesus speaks about not fearing those who can harm the body but fearing God. How can we overcome fear and openly confess our faith in various life situations?

  • Stewardship and Generosity:

    • The parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21 highlights the dangers of greed. How can we practice good stewardship and cultivate a spirit of generosity in our lives, considering the possessions and resources we have?

  • Confidence in God's Knowledge:

    • In Luke 12:22-30, Jesus addresses worry about material needs. How can we build confidence in God's knowledge of our needs and trust in His provision, especially in times of uncertainty?

  • Trust in God's Provision:

    • In Luke 12:22-34, Jesus speaks about not worrying and trusting in God's provision. How can we apply this teaching to our lives today, especially in the midst of challenges and uncertainties?

  • Prioritizing the Kingdom:

    • Jesus emphasizes seeking God's kingdom first in Luke 12:31-34. How can we practically prioritize the kingdom of God in our daily lives and decisions? What might need to shift in our priorities?

  • How can we pray for you?

1.7.24

DISCUSSION GUIDE /1.7.24

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

Did you make any new year’s resolutions?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Luke 10:25-37

  • Why is the lawyer asking “who is my neighbor”? What do you think he is hoping Jesus will say?

  • Why do you think the priest and the Levite passed by the man?

  • Do you think you' are ever too preoccupied with other things to make time for people in need? How can we change this as Christians?

  • The Samaritan not only cared for the man’s wounds but he provided for him until he recovered and he also returned to check on him. Why is a long term relationship better than simply handing someone money? What makes the long term relationship more of a challenge?

  • What are some ways we can “go and do likewise” and show others mercy this week?

  • How can we pray for you?

Fresh Fire - Week 1

DISCUSSION GUIDE /11.12.23

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

Favorite thanksgiving food?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -


10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:10-12

  • Do you regularly ask God to “clean your heart”? Why is this an important practice to consider?

  • What are some ways you renew your mind as a Christian?

  • When is the last time you were intentional about getting into the Lord’s presence? What was that experience like? Why was David afraid to be away from God? Why did the acknoledgement of his sin cause him to run to God instead of away from him?

  • If the Holy Spirit left your life, would you notice? What would be different?

  • Share your 30 second testimony of when you decided to follow Jesus. Do you still have that same joy you had back then?

  • Are you wholehearted in following Jesus? If not, what changes do you need to make? How can we as a life group support you in your walk with God?

  • How can we pray for you?

Missions Focus week 3

Most churches in the developing world are house churches. Meeting together like this. Sharing a meal, opening up scripture, and praying for one another. If you can invite people to a life group and facilitate biblical discussion, pray for the needs of others, and live a life that honors God then you can be an effective Christian in any context. Do you believe you could be a missionary and lead a meeting like this one? Why or why not?


Do you think you could start a new life group and reach new people who are not currently active in a life group? Why or why not?


Why do you think we choose what’s familiar and comfortable instead of embracing what God is calling us to do?


Do you believe you would have the support you would need from the church and other mentors?


Each person share a verse that you read this week and what it meant to you.


How can we pray for you?


LIFE GROUP LEADERS - BASED ON DISCUSSION TONIGHT PLEASE SUBMIT THE FORM BELOW


Missions Focus - Walk by Faith

DISCUSSION GUIDE /10.22.23

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

Batman or Superman?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

Genesis 22:1-16

  • How have you been tested in your life? Give an example.

  • Were you trusting God and obedient to Him during that testing? Why or why not?

  • How has God provided for you? Give an example.

  • How has God multiplied blessings in your life?

  • How can we pray for you?