11.17.19 Small Group Discussion

Sinful Insights - The Story of David’s sin with Bathsheba

God uses the Broken.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What’s your favorite over-the-top show? What do you like about it?

Read: 2 Samuel 11, 2 Samuel 12:1-14, 2 Samuel 12:15-25.

1st passage: When do you find yourself most susceptible to temptation? (hungry, tired, stressed, anxious, etc.)

• Obviously eating when you’re hungry or sleeping when you’re tired would help, but what else can you do to counteract that susceptibility?

• What are tangible ways you can keep yourself more focused on the things of God?

2nd passage: How do typically respond when someone confronts you?

• Should our response depend on the spirit that the person confronts you with? Why or why not?

• How can confrontation and rebuke be a blessing?

• Do you view it in that way? If not, what might that say about you?

3rd passage: As you read this section, do you find David’s reaction jarring?

• Do you tend to be someone who moves with the future or dwells in the past? Why?

• Do you think there is a time and a place for both?

• What does it mean to you that God can bring beauty out of brokenness?

• What does that even look like, tangibly?

Prayer: Pray for humility when confronted with your brokenness, and pray that you are loving to others in their brokenness.

11.10.19 - Small Group Discussion

Meeting Jesus - Blessing the Children

The least are made the greatest.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Have you had a discussion, or been the subject of a discussion, where a child’s view was disregarded simply because it was coming from a child?

• For those who work in the service industry, how do you feel treated? For those that don’t, how do you see and treat those who are?

Read: Matthew 18:1-6, 19:13-14.

• What does it mean to you to have a child-like faith?

• Jesus’ stance is that it would be better for anyone who causes a believer to stumble to be dead. Is the heavy weight of that statement kept in your mind when you teach and/or learn alongside other believers? Why or why not?

• Why do you think the disciples were trying to keep the children from Jesus?

• Why would Jesus say the kingdom of God belongs to such as these (children)? What does that mean?

• How can you take a low position and raise others up?

• Who specifically will you interact with this week that holds a lowly position in our culture? How will you encourage them?

Prayer: Pray for faith like a child.

11.03.19 - Small Group Discussion

Meeting Jesus - A Gentile’s Faith

Jesus is for all people.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Have you ever had a conversation go poorly because you can’t convey the tone correctly?

• What things are you possessive of? Why?

• Where do you see people being possessive when it comes to church, faith, etc.?

Read: Matthew 15:21-28.

• Can you think of a current-day parallel for the Canaanite woman? What would your response be to the person interrupting your time with Jesus?

• How do you respond when someone interrupts your downtime to ask something of you?

• When praying to God, do you try and explain a request, or do you just ask, “Lord, help me!”?

• Frank used the examples of Athens (philosophy), Rome (power), and Alexandria (learning) as significant places that Jesus did not go to. What would be the equivalent for today? What do you find significant about his choice of location?

• How do you imagine the conversation going between Jesus and the woman?

• What is the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian?

• Does being a Christian make us better than non-Christians? Why or why not?

• What is your response to the expectation that the best theology will be coming from South America and Asia in the coming decades?

• How can you live out the fact that Jesus is for all people?

Prayer: Pray that you realize you belong to Jesus, not the other way around.

10.27.19 - Small Group Discussion

Meeting Jesus - The Savior Servant

If you want to be like Jesus, you need to serve like Jesus.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What characteristics do you associate with leaders? What makes a good leader?

• What do you consider good service? How did you treat the last person who served you?

• What or who do you think of when you think of a servant?

Read: John 13:1-17.

• What does serving mean to you?

• How are love and service connected?

• How do you take Jesus’ words, “Unless I wash you, you have no part of me”?

• What gets in the way of serving?

• Are there right or wrong ways to serve? Why or why not?

• Jesus washed Judas’ feet. How does that inform how you are called to serve?

• How do you currently serve? How will you serve this week?

Prayer: Pray for the humility to serve.

10.20.19 - Small Group Discussion

Meeting Jesus - Grace Reminder

People are quick to condemn; Jesus is quick to forgive.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Do you lean towards forgiveness or condemning? What factors play a part in your choice (sleepy, hungry, driving, etc.)?

Read: John 7:53-8:11, Leviticus 20:10.

• How do you feel about this passage of John not being included in the earliest manuscripts? Why?

• What do you imagine Jesus wrote in the dirt?

• The religious leaders were just using the woman to trap Jesus. Do intentions matter for the choices we make? Why or why not?

• Nowhere in this story does the woman ask for forgiveness, yet Jesus forgives her. How does this impact how we should approach forgiving people?

• What makes someone’s forgiveness feel genuine? Why?

• If comfortable, share what you’ve been carrying around that you need to let Jesus forgive you for.

• Think about someone you need to forgive. What makes it hard to forgive them? How can you show forgiveness to them this week?

Prayer: Pray that you are quick to forgive, not condemn. Pray for the other people in your group that they accept Jesus’ forgiveness.

10.13.19 - Small Group Discussion

Meeting Jesus - Two Messes

Jesus isn’t afraid of cooties.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What makes you avoid people?

Read: Mark 5:21-43.

• Why do you avoid “messy” people?

• Do you feel like the Church is a place for messy people? Do you feel that you are welcoming to messy people? Do you feel that the Church has been welcoming to you with your messiness? Why or why not?

• Jairus was a synagogue leader. Does his position have an impact on the situation or the fact that he went to Jesus?

• The woman who was bleeding did not have a high position like Jairus, but Jesus still waded into her mess. What can we learn from the woman and Jairus regarding who we should be engaging with?

• What does Jesus’ willingness to be ceremonially unclean mean for how we need to be for people? Was there anything wrong with being ceremonially unclean? Why or why not?

• How would things be different if we were willing to wade into more messy situations?

Prayer: Pray for courage when confronted with messy situations so that you will engage with the situation instead of avoiding it.

10.06.19 - Small Group Discussion

Meeting Jesus - Calling Matthew

Acceptance does not equal approval.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What are some of the ways you interact with and affect people?

• Tax collectors were hated for collaborating with the occupying nation and stealing from the people to become rich. Can you think of what a similarly hated occupation might be today?

• Why do we often equate acceptance with approval?

Read: Matthew 9:9-13.

• To accept others the way Jesus does, we need to leave our place of comfort. What keeps you from doing so?

• Frank presents three primary reasons that Christians are sometimes hesitant to interact with non-Christians (They confuse acceptance with approval, they’re afraid the sin will “rub off,” or they’re apathetic about Hell). Do you see yourself in one of these categories? How so? Or, if you don’t, what keeps you from interacting with non-Christians?

• Why does Jesus desire mercy, not sacrifice?

• How can you be accepting to those whose actions or life choices are ones you don’t approve of? What does it look like?

Prayer: Pray that you are accepting and loving to those around you.

09.29.19 - Small Group Discussion

Grumpy Old Men - Micah

Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• When have you experienced denial? What helps shake you out of it?

• How does denial prevent you from moving forward?

Read: Micah 1:2-5, 3:1-4, 5:2, 4-5, 6:1-4, 8.

• Micah 1 addresses the punishment coming due to the people’s sins. How do you handle situations where you are told a punishment is coming?

• Micah 3 addresses the leaders. Why are leaders held to a higher standard? Does a leader’s poor leadership absolve their followers of their sins? Why or why not?

• We are told to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. Why?

• What does justice mean to you? How can you seek it?

• What does mercy mean? What does it look like to love mercy?

• What does humility mean to you? How do we walk humbly?

• Which of these three instructions is hardest for you? Why?

• For the two principles presented (prophecy is more important for what it reveals about God than what it reveals about the future, and prophecy wasn’t necessarily written to us, but it was definitely preserved for us), what do Micah’s words reveal about God and why were these words preserved for us?

Prayer: Pray that you be shown how to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.

09.22.19 - Small Group Discussion

Grumpy Old Men - Amos

God wants you to have eternal life; He also wants you to have abundant living.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What experiences have you had with a good or bad foundation?

Read: Amos 7:7-9, 2:6-7, Deuteronomy 25:9-10

• Amos 7 discusses a plumb line. Do you compare your actions to others’ actions to determine if something is ok? Why or why not? Is this a good thing to do? Why or why not?

• Amos 2 deals with injustice and oppression. What are some examples of injustice and oppression that you’re aware of in our current culture?

• In what ways do you contribute, intentionally or not, to the injustice and/or oppression in our culture?

• For the two principles presented (prophecy is more important for what it reveals about God than what it reveals about the future, and prophecy wasn’t necessarily written to us, but it was definitely preserved for us), what do Amos’s words reveal about God and why were these words preserved for us?

• What are you doing to right the wrongs of injustice and oppression in our world?

Prayer: Pray that you reject partaking in injustice and oppression, and that the only guidance you follow for right and wrong is God’s direction.

09.15.19 - Small Group Discussion

Grumpy Old Men - Hosea

God loves you enough to discipline you and too much to discard you.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• How has your view of discipline changed over time?

• Why is discipline important?

Read: Hosea 1:2-12, 2:6-8, 3:1, Romans, 5:6-8, Hebrews 12:7, 11

• What have you been taught previously about God and discipline? Do these verses match that? Why or why not?

• Is it difficult to reconcile the way God is with Hosea and his family with your view of God? Why or why not?

• Do you find encouragement in these passages? Why or why not?

• What does it mean to you that God’s love is unreasonable? What about that His love is tough and that His love is unconditional?

• Do you believe these (His love is unreasonable, tough, and unconditional) to be true? Why or why not?

• What has God done that makes you feel loved?

• For the two principles presented last week (prophecy is more important for what it reveals about God than what it reveals about the future, and prophecy wasn’t necessarily written to us, but it was definitely preserved for us), what did Hosea’s words reveal about God and why were these words preserved for us?

Prayer: Pray that you receive discipline well and change in accordance to it.

09.08.19 - Small Group Discussion

Grumpy Old Men - Joel

Either you kill sin, or sin kills you.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What is your initial impression or attitudes towards the books of prophecy in the Old Testament? Why?

• When you hear the word “prophecy,” what comes to mind?

• How do the two principles Frank presented impact your view on prophecy? (prophecy is more important for what it reveals about God than what it reveals about the future, and prophecy wasn’t necessarily written to us, but it was definitely preserved for us)

Read: Joel 1:1-14, 2:12-13

• Like the destruction the locusts bring, sin will destroy us and our lives. How can we acknowledge the cost of sin? What keeps us from acknowledging the cost? Why is acknowledging the cost important?

• What does it mean to genuinely mourn your sin? Why is this important to do?

• What does repenting mean to you and what does it look like in your life?

• Joel speaks to God’s character in 2:13. Have you found his descriptions to be accurate? Why or why not?

• For the two principles presented previously, what did Joel’s words reveal about God and why were these words preserved for us?

Prayer: Pray a pray of thanks for God’s forgiveness and ask for help in counting the cost, mourning the sin, and repenting of the sin.

08.25.19 - Small Group Discussion

Summer of Love - Final Instructions

We’re in this together.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Can you think of any opening or closing words that you’ve heard from a speaker that have stuck with you? What were they? Why did they stick with you?

Read: 1 John 5:13-21

• What does eternal life mean to you? How does it impact the way you live/think/act/view the world? Do you live like you have eternal life? How or how not?

• Do you believe that God hears you when you pray? Why or why not?

• What is your approach to handling a situation when a fellow believer is sinning?

• What does it mean to you to be a child of God?

• How are we able to know God? How does this impact how we live?

• If you were able to know what your last words were going to be, what would they be and who would you share them with?

Prayer: Pray for God’s will to be done.

08.18.19 - Small Group Discussion

Summer of Love - Water, Blood, and Spirit 

The water, the blood, and the Spirit all come through baptism.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What does your last name mean to you?

• Have you ever had a change in who your family is (adoption, birth, marriage, etc.)? What was that like to either be brought into a family or bring someone else into a family?

Read: 1 John 5:6-12, Matthew 3:15-17, and Romans 6:3-4

• How do you imagine you would have reacted if you had been there the day Jesus was baptized?

• What does baptism mean to you? Have you been baptized? Why or why not?

• If you are baptized, does your life reflect someone who has died to your old self and now lives for Christ? Why or why not?

• Do you ever feel like God is a liar? Why or why not?

• What are some of the reasons you have had, or have heard from others, for not getting baptized? How do you approach those reasons?

• As a Christian, do you feel like part of a family? Why or why not?

• How can you help others be part of the family of God?

Prayer: Pray for faith in Christ.

08.11.19 - Small Group Discussion

Summer of Love - Winning the Battle

Belief in God means obeying the Father and loving your siblings.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• In what ways have your parents shaped your view of God?

• How can you both love and fear God? Where do you fall on the scale between “All powerful being to be feared” and “buddy Jesus”?

Read: 1 John 5:1-5

• Why is keeping God’s commandments a sign that we love Him?

• What would a relationship look like if you liked the adults but hated their children, talked badly about the children, or mistreated them?

• What helps you or hinders you from seeing others as your siblings and recognizing them to be children of God?

•  John says that every child of God overcomes the world. Do you feel like you’re overcoming the world? Why or why not?

• Do you face your struggles alone or with faith? Why?

• What does it mean to overcome struggles by faith?

Prayer: Pray that you will love your siblings and obey God’s commands.

08.04.19 - Small Group Discussion

Summer of Love - Love Another

When you get how much God loves you, loving others goes from ought-to to automatic.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What makes you feel loved?

• What makes it easier for you to show love to people? What makes it harder? Why?

Read: 1 John 4:7-21

• What is your response to loving others being a command?

• How do our actions of showing love to others make it so they can see God?

• Why does love drive out the fear of the day of judgment?

•  Why is someone a liar if they say they love God, but hate a person?

• What does this passage say about loving people of different political opinions?

• What does it say about loving people of different ethnicities?

• What does it say about loving people of different gender identities or who have different sexual preferences?

• How are we supposed to treat other people? Why?

• What gets in the way of you loving people? Why?

• What does it mean to you to love people?

Prayer: Pray that you will realize how much God loves you, so you can show that same love to others.

07.28.19 - Small Group Discussion

Summer of Love - Test the Spirits

What to know if a teacher is true or not? What does the Book say?

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• Do you tend to trust your gut when things feel off? Why or why not?

• Has anyone ever tried to convince you of something you knew wasn’t true? How did you handle it?

Read: 1 John 4:1-6

• How do you feel about John’s words that there are spirits acting against the Church?

• What do you do if two people, both claiming Christianity, teach two opposing things?

• Can someone teach both true and false things? Why or why not?

• How can we focus on the Holy Spirit’s leading when sorting through teachings?

• Should we be suspicious of teachings that are popular with the world? Why or why not?

• Do you think our culture rejects truth? Why or why not?

• Why do you think people read the Bible less in today’s culture?

• How often do you read the Bible?

Prayer: Pray that you will listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading for truth.

07.21.19 - Small Group Discussion

Summer of Love - Love One Another

Belief in Jesus, plus loving each other, secures fellowship with God.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What’s your favorite story of a character sacrificing their life for someone? Why do you think those stories resonate with us?

• How has someone’s actions towards someone you care about impacted what you think of that person?

Read: 1 John 3:11-24.

• Do you think it is harder to show love by dying for someone or by living for someone? Why?

• In what ways can the world hate Christians?

• Anyone who hates is a murderer. How does this impact your feelings towards people? Is there someone you need to work on changing your feelings about?

• How would the world be different if we showed compassion to those in need?

• How can the love of God be in us if we don’t share what we have with those in need?

• What is the hardest thing for you in regards to the command of believing in Jesus and loving one another? Does one part of that command come easier than the other? Does one ever seem to conflict with the other?

• How will you be loving this week?

Prayer: Pray that you will see others as God sees them and show them love.

07.14.19 Small Group Discussion

Summer of Love - Children of God

God’s children resemble their father.

• What is one thing that spoke to you from Frank’s message?

• In what way do you resemble your parents? In what way do your kid(s) resemble you?

Read: 1 John 2:28-3:10

• How should the expectation of Jesus’ return affect the way we live?

• Frank said, “We do not become God’s children by being righteous. We become righteous by being God’s children.” Why do we so easily mix those two up? If we get that right, how will it change us?

• If becoming like the Father is the result of spending time with Him, what stands in the way of you spending time with God and how can you overcome whatever barriers keep you from doing so?

Prayer: Pray that God will help you establish a routine of spending time in His word. Pray that he will protect our church from the kind of conflict that can cause disunity.

07.07.19 - Small Group Discussion

Summer of Love - All You Need

People can – and do – fall away. Don’t be one of them.

• What is one thing that spoke to you from Frank’s message?

• Frank talked about church splits. Have you ever been involved in church conflict? What made it difficult?

Read: 1 John 2:18-27

• John wrote that “Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either.” Why do people struggle with the exclusive claim of Jesus? (See John 14:6)

• John wrote that we don’t need teachers; all we need is the Holy Spirit (v. 27). Yet John was a teacher. Jesus commanded his people to teach (Matt. 28:20). How do we reconcile those two ideas?

• What are some doctrinal or theological issues at work in our world that threaten the unity of Christ’s church?

• How can we prepare to meet them?

Prayer: Pray that God will help you establish a routine of spending time in His word. Pray that he will protect our church from the kind of conflict that can cause disunity.

06.30.19 - Small Group Discussion

Summer of Love - Competing Allegiance 

Attachments are for eternal things; not for temporary things.

• What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?

• What’s your favorite thing in your home? Why?

• If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?

• Have you ever had a time when you’ve been able to completely disconnect from your normal environment, activities, and attachments? What was it like?

Read: 1 John 2:15-17, 1 Corinthians 7:31, and Matthew 6:19-20.

• Why is loving the world (things, not people) a sign of not having God’s love in you?

• Why can being attached to things be a problem?

• How would believing or not believing in eternity impact our view on attachments?

• What would be your hardest thing to give up? Why?

• Why do we struggle with being attached to things and not people?

• Between denying yourself physical pleasure, such as fasting, or limiting what you look at, or stopping talking about your achievements and possessions, what can you work on this week?

Prayer: Pray for the proper priorities.