01.26.25 - Small Group Discussion

Rooted In Your Purpose

You were made for more.

• Tell us about a time when you felt time slipping away from you. What did that make you want to do?

Read:  James 4:13-14

• How are you assessing your success or failure in life?

• How does this world turn your attention toward wealth?

Read:  James 4:15-17

• What are some important investments you’ve made?

• If you took a step back and looked at your life, what would you say you’ve invested the most into? Family? Career? Wealth? Church? Something else?

Read: Matthew 28:18-20

• How do you understand your purpose as a follower of Jesus?

• Who is God asking you to invest in this week?

Read: Colossians 4:2-6

• How can you prepare to “make the most of every opportunity”?

Pray: Ask God to bring someone to your attention who needs to hear the good news about Jesus. THEN, ask God for boldness to share!

01.19.25 - Small Group Discussion

A Rooted Church Small Group Video

A Rooted Church

Church is not something you go to. It’s something you are. 

• What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of church?

Read:  Colossians 2:6-7

• Based on our sermons last week and this week, how has your understanding of the term “rooted” changed?

• What does it look like to be “rooted and built up” in Christ?

Read:  Acts 2:42-47

• When have you confused the church building for the church?

• What would it change if we all understood that the definition of “church” was “gathering of believers”?

• Acts 2:42 has 4 primary practices of the church. What are they, and how are we – South Lansing Christian Church – doing at these?

• How can you live out your identity as “person-of-the-church” rather than “church-attender” this week?

Pray: Ask God to help you see yourself as part of the church, rather than church-attender.

01.12.25 - Small Group Discussion

Rooted-Identity Small Group Video

A Rooted Identity

When you’re rooted in Jesus, who you are is defined by him.

• What’s your favorite plant? Why?

• Share a story of when you struggled to figure out who you are.

Read:  Colossians 2:6-7

• What does it look like to be “rooted and built up” in Christ?

Read:  Ephesians 2:17-22

• How has God changed our identity, and when you become a Christian, what is your new identity?

• How does your identity affect your daily life?

Read: Ephesians 3:14-19

• What does it look like to be “rooted and established” in love?

On Sunday, Walter said that just like plant roots are in constant contact with the soil, to be rooted in Christ is to be in constant contact with him. At that point, he defines your identity.

• How close is your contact with Jesus?

• What’s one thing you can do this year to be more closely connected to him?

• How will that affect how you see yourself?

• How can your small group help you take that step?

Pray: Ask God to help you become rooted and built up in Christ, and established in his love in 2025.

12.29.24 - Small Group Discussion

Wisdom Looks Forward

Christmas reminds us to look forward

• How do you feel about taking down the decorations after Christmas? What’s your strategy?

• How does the post-Christmas season make you feel?

Read:  Matthew 2:1-8

• Are there any assumptions you’ve held about the wisemen that are out of step with this story?

• Herod and Jerusalem seem to be resistant to God’s work. How have you been resistant to God’s work in your life in 2024?

Read:  Matthew 2:9-12

• How does the story of the wisemen demonstrate that God is with us?

• How does Christmas remind us to look forward?

• What are you looking forward to in 2025?

• What do you think God wants to do in your heart and in your life in 2025? What “faith goals” might he want you to set?

• How will your life in 2025 proclaim that Jesus is king?

Pray: Ask for God to impress upon your hearts the steps he wants you to take in this new year.

12.22.24 - Small Group Discussion

Part of the Story

God is with us as we live out the story of Jesus.

• What was the greatest present you ever got as a little kid?  Why?

• What is one of your Christmas catastrophes?

Read:  Luke 1-2

• What are some ways God is involved in the story that jump out at you?  (Angels visiting, Virgin becoming pregnant, etc.) 

• How do you think you would react if God engaged with you that way now?

• What sacrifices did any of the characters make to live out God’s story?

Read:  Matthew 1

• How would you have reacted if you were Joseph in the story?

• How can you relate to Joesph’s story?  Share a time where God was “with you” and led you through a challenging time in your life.

• How do you feel when you realize you are a part of the story of Jesus?  (scared, overwhelmed, joy, excitement, etc.)?

• How have you done living out the story so far?

• How does you being a part of the story need to re-shape how you are living?  What are your next steps?

Pray:   Share with one another one or two things you need to change so you can live the story better.  Pray for one another!

12.08.24 - Small Group Discussion

The Long Wait

Even in the waiting, God is with us.

• What was it like to wait for Christmas when you were a kid?

Read:  Luke 2:21-24

• How do these verses demonstrate that God works on a different timeline, with different than we do, with different knowledge than we have?

Read:  Luke 2:25-35

• How does waiting on God require readiness and expectancy?

Read:   Luke 2:36-40

• How do Simeon and Anna’s stories show that God is with his people?

• Tell us about a time when you had difficulty waiting for God, and then he showed up.

Read: Psalm 40:1-3

• Where are you noticing that God is with us this December?

• Where are you struggling to wait on God now?

• What can you do while you wait?

Pray: Ask for God’s Holy Spirit to grow patience in you, and to help you wait on him with expectancy.

12.01.24 - Small Group Discussion

John The Baptist

You can do hard things because Jesus came to be with us.

• What about Christmas or the Christmas season stand out makes it meaningful to you? (Aside from Jesus)

• What do you think is/was the hardest part for of John’s way of living?

• Why do you think it is so significant that God came to be with us?

• What’s a hard thing in your life that is hard to deal with right now?

• How does Jesus coming to be with us affect that thing/circumstance or how you respond to it?

• What is something that you believe God is calling you to right now?

• What is holding you back from accomplishing what God is calling you to do?

• How can your small group help you to achieve or take a step toward accomplishing what God has called you to do?

11.24.24 - Small Group Discussion

You Have Been Measured

The only dependable measure of your life is how you walked with God. 

• How’s your reading been going? What’s been surprising or encouraging to you? (Leaders Note: We read I Kings 21-II Kings 12 this week.)

• Share a big goal or a dream you have for your life.

• If you had to rate yourself on how you’ve lived life up to now, what would your score be? What would you use to make that rating?

Read:  II Kings 18:1-3 & 21:1-2

• How does Scripture assess the reigns of Hezekiah and his son Manasseh? What standard is used?

Read:  Micah 6:6-8

• What is God looking for in the lives of his people?

Read:   Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

• Put these two verses in your own words. What do they mean?

• What are some of standards this world uses to measure a life?

• Which one of those false standards are you tempted to use?

• When you get to the end of your life, will people be able to say that you “walked with God”?

•  If so, why?

• If not, what do you need to change to make that so?

Pray: Ask for God’s help in keeping your eyes on him and in knowing what does and doesn’t matter in this life.

11.17.24 - Small Group Discussions

Godly Correction

When we Reject Godly Correction, we accept the consequences. 

• Talk about how the reading has impacted you this week. What are some observations you made throughout the week? (Leaders Note: We read 1 Kings 7-1 Kings 20.)

• Tell us about a time when you were corrected in some way.

Read:  I Kings 22:5-8

• Think of a time when somebody never said anything good about you. How would you react to them?

Read:  I Kings 22:15-18

• Talk about a time when you wanted to be proved right. If you were proved right, how did that make you feel?

Read:   I Kings 22:19-28

• How would you react if somebody corrected you?

• Zedekiah slapped Micaiah on the cheek when he was corrected. Ahab sent Micaiah to prison for his prophetic word. How would you have responded in this scenario?

On Sunday, Todd shared two things to consider doing this week: Creating a heart to receive correction and criticism, and finding three kinds of people to hold you accountable (Spiritual guide, Life guide, and Emotional guide)

• In what ways have you seen God transforming your heart?

• Who are some people in your life that might act as a spiritual guide? Life guide? Emotional guide?

Pray: Ask God to give you a heart to receive His Word with humility and to find people to hold you accountable to what He has called you to.

11.10.24 - Small Group Discussion

Royal Decisions

The decisions you make today can impact your forever.

• How’s your reading been going? What’s been surprising or encouraging to you? (Leaders Note: We read II Samuel 17-I Kings 5 this week.)

• Tell us about the best decision you ever made.

Read:  I Kings 12:1-5

• If you had been Rehoboam, how would you have gone about making this decision?

Read:  I Kings 12:6-11

• When you’re faced with a difficult choice, how do you know whose advice to take and whose you should ignore?

Read:   I Kings 12:12-17

• Tell us about something you decided that blew up in your face. Why did that happen?

On Sunday, Walter shared that God speaks to us in a few different ways: through creation, through the Bible, through other people, through circumstances, and sometimes even directly and audibly.

• Share an example from Scripture of God speaking in each of these ways.

• What can you do to hear God’s wisdom concerning a decision you’re trying to figure out?

Pray: Share a decision you’re trying to make, and then as a group, pray for each other to hear God’s wisdom in the decision-making process.

11.03.24 - Small Group Lesson

Yes I Will

You can win everything in this life, and still lose it all. 

• How’s your reading been going? What’s been surprising or encouraging to you? (Leaders Note: We read II Samuel 3-16 this week.)

• Name someone successful whom you look up to. What makes them so in your eyes?

Read:  I Kings 3:1-5

• If God gave you a chance like this, what would you ask him for?

• Name some blessings God has already given you.

Read:  I Kings 3:6-15

• Why do you think Solomon chose wisdom?

Read:   I Kings 11:9-11

• Solomon – the wisest man who has ever lived – strayed far from God. What would you point to as the causes?

• (Leaders Note: You can reference Deuteronomy 17:14-20, and I Kings 4-10 for specific examples)

• What are you tempted to trust instead of God?

• How does envy corrupt your heart?

Read:   Matthew 16:24-26

• How can you actually live out these words of Jesus?

Pray: Break out into groups of two or three. Share something that draws your attention and devotion away from God, and then pray for one another.

10.27.24 - Small Group Discussion

Living Out God’s Heart

We can have a heart for God or a heart for ourselves. Our actions show where our heart is. 

• How’s your reading been going? What’s been surprising or encouraging to you?
  (Leaders Note: We read 2 Samuel 3-16 this week.)

• Share about a time when you did something you weren’t supposed do.  Did you get in trouble?

Read:  I Samuel 9 and 11/12

• How does the way David acts in each story impact the others in the story?

• Which story do you most resonate with?  Why?

• Why do we struggle with selfishness so much?

Our actions from Sunday:

1. Flee from sin and repent

2. Put God first (get close)

3. Find a Nathan

4. Die to ourselves and live the Kingdom of God

• Which of the first three would be most beneficial for you?  Why?

• Which is the hardest for you? Why?

• How are you going to take action this week with these steps?

Pray: Be honest and share with one another about where you need growth to write the next chapter of your faith story. Pray for one another.

10.20.24 - Small Group Discussion

Yes I Will Small Group Video

Yes I Will

Faith means submitting your will to the will of God. 

• How’s your reading been going? What’s been surprising or encouraging to you? (Leaders Note: We read I Samuel 8-20 this week.)

• Share a time when a human leader let you down.

Read:  I Samuel 24:1-4

• What would you have done if you were David in this situation?

Read:  I Samuel 24:5-9

• Why was David so conscience-stricken?

•  Tell us about a time when you took matters into your own hand and tried to solve a problem, only for it to blow up on you.

• Share a situation in which you’re tempted to do things your way, despite what God may say in the Bible or through the leading of his Holy Spirit.

Read:   I Samuel 24:12-15

• Where do you need the LORD to step in and be your judge and advocate?

• When have you chosen to submit your will to God’s will?

• Where in your life do you need to submit your will to God’s will?

• What steps will you take this week to do just that?

Pray: Break into groups of two or three and share where you feel God calling you to submit, and then pray about that with each other.

10.13.24 - Small Group Discussion

King of Myself

It doesn’t turn out well when you make yourself king.

• How’s your reading been going? What’s been surprising or encouraging to you?
  (Leaders Note: We read I Samuel 1-7 this week.)

Read:  Matthew 20:25-27

• Be honest: would you rather be served or serve? What makes you say that?

Read: I Samuel 15:10-11

•  Share what you know about the story of Saul. Why was God so upset about Saul?

• Share examples of when Saul did things his own way, instead of waiting on God’s timing and following his plan. (Leaders Note: you can find these in I Samuel 10-15.)

Read:  I Samuel 15:12-15

• What are a couple indicators that Saul’s pride was out of control?

• Where do you see pride taking hold in your own life?

Read: I Samuel 15:16-23

• How can insecurity and false humility just be pride in disguise?

• How does your pride get in the way of you submitting to King Jesus?

• What is one area in which you need to obey God and submit to him?

Pray: For God to make you aware of the pride in your life, and for his Spirit to help you grow in obedience and humility.

10.06.24 - Small Group Discussion

Sovereign Small Group Video

Sovereign

God is the only sovereign. 

• Tell us about your Bible reading this week. What surprised you? What challenged you?

• Who is your favorite king or queen from history? Why?

Read:  I Samuel 2:1-5

• Share a summary of the Hannah story. How was God at work in it?

Read: I Samuel 2:6-8

• How have you personally witnessed the power of God?

Read: I Samuel 2:9-10

• What’s your general mood been during this political season?

• When have been tempted to give humans more influence or power in your life than they deserve?

• In what ways do you see God working in world politics? In what ways do you wish his actions were more evident?

• How can you be a person of peace in the run up to November’s election?

• What do you need to do to remind yourself that God is the only sovereign?

Pray: Pray for one another and ask God to help you trust him and his power over the next couple months.

09.29.24 - Small Group Discussion

Finding Your Place

Outsiders come to belong among God’s people

• Tell us about a time someone went out of their way to include you. What was that like? How’d it make you feel?

Read:  Ruth 1:1-5

• Put yourself in Naomi’s shoes. What would you have felt in this moment?

Read: Ruth 1:6-15

• Put yourself in Ruth’s shoes. What would you have felt if you were her?

Read: Ruth 1:16-18

• What were the risks for Ruth in going with Naomi? In what was would she be considered an outsider? (Leaders Note: Read Deuteronomy 23:3-6 for context)

Read: Matthew 1:1-5

• What is the significance of Ruth’s name being here in Jesus’ genealogy? In what ways should it have been an embarrassment?

• Ruth found belonging among God’s people: what part did she play? What part did the Israelites around her play? What part did God play?

• For people to belong at South Lansing Christian Church, what part do you need to play?

Pray: Pray for opportunities this week to help people belong at church. Pray for eyes to see those opportunities, and for the willingness to act!

09.22.24 - Small Group Discussion

The Price of Belonging

Belonging comes at a cost.

• Have you ever belonged to a club or a team? What did it take to join and to be a member in good standing?

• What stood out to you in your reading this week?

Read:  Judges 2:6-10

• In your opinion, why would this happen? What could cause an entire generation to abandon God?

• If you are a Christian, what does your responsibility to the next generation look like, and how are you living up to it?

Read: Judges 2:11-15

• How would you have felt if you were an Israelite in these days?

• What was God’s purpose in fighting against his own people?

Read: Judges 2:16-19

• Explain how these verses demonstrate God’s grace.

• How have you experienced God’s grace in your own life?

• What cost was there for an Israelite to belong to the people of God? (Aka, what were God’s expectations?)

• What cost is there for you to belong to the people of God? (Aka, what steps do you need to take to truly belong at South Lansing Christian Church?)

Pray: Pray for God to open your eyes to steps you need to take to belong, and to move your heart to willingly take those steps.

09.15.24 - Small Group Discussion

The Cost of Community SG Video

The Cost of Community

Community depends on loyalty and commitment.

• Tell us about a place you know you belong. What makes you feel that way?

• What’s stood out to you in your reading this week?

Read:  Joshua 24:1-13

• God was the one bringing success in each of these episodes of Israelite history. In what episodes of your life have you seen God at work?

Read: Joshua 24:14-18

• What does it mean to “fear the Lord”?

• How loyal to God would you say you are? What makes you say that?

Read: Joshua 24:19-25

• Tell us about a time you were called out for your behavior or thinking by a fellow believer.

• Who is someone in the church that can hold your feet to the fire when it comes to faith?

• How can you increase your commitment to God’s people, so that even when you’re facing correction or conflict, you’re willing to stay?

Pray: Pray for each other in groups of two – ask God to grow the other person’s loyalty to God and commitment to his church.

09.08.24 - Small Group Discussion

One for All SG Video

One for All

The actions of one affect the well-being of all. 

• Share a time when someone else’s actions impacted you in a positive way.

Read:  Joshua 7:1-5

• We’re reading Joshua-Kings this fall. What has surprised you about the story in Joshua thus far?

Read: Joshua 7:6-12

• What do you think of God’s words here? How could he blame the entire nation for the sin of one man?

• Can you point to an example of God working the same way today?

• On the flip side, how have you seen God using the actions of one or two people to bless his entire church?

Read: Romans 5:17-19

• Discuss the implications of this passage.

• How hospitable do you feel our church is? What could make it better?

• What do you yourself need to do to help SLCC become a place where people can belong?

Pray: Ask God to help you identify one thing you need to stop doing and one thing you need to start doing this week, so that our church can be a place of belonging.

08.25.24 - Small Group Discussion

Signs of Approval

Approval in God’s Kingdom is found only through Jesus. 

• Tell us about something you assumed was common sense that didn’t turn out to be so common.

Read:   2 Timothy 4:3-4

• In what ways have you assumed – consciously or subconsciously – that wealth or status were signs of God’s blessing?

• Describe your method for studying Scripture. How would you find out what God thinks about a particular topic?

Read:  James 5:1-6

• Sum up what James says to wealthy people here.

• What’s the takeaway for us today?

Read:  1 Corinthians 1:26-31, I Timothy 6:9-10, Matthew 19:23-24, Matthew 20:26-27

• Summarize what each passage says about wealth or status.

• Share any other verses you know of that might add to the conversation.

• What are the dangers of wealth and power for a follower of Jesus? What are the benefits?

• What can you do this week to wisely steward what you’ve been given.

• How can you resist envy of and/or favoritism toward those who have more than you?

Pray:  For wisdom to spot lies and for knowledge of how to carefully compare the to the truth of Scripture.