Sunday, January 24, 2010

Do This - Not That (Week 4): Do Something- Don't Just Nod

Weren't able to hear the teaching conversation in person this weekend? Catch up with OUR PODCAST.


SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

Matthew 7:21-29, 11:28-30; Luke 6:46-49

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

· Name a few things you believe (ex. flossing is important) but don’t do yourself. Why don’t you do these things?

· What’s the scariest situation you’ve ever been in? Did/could you prepare for it ahead of time? What got you through it?

· Have you ever found yourself more interested in hearing and discussing Jesus’ words than doing them? Why do you think that was?

· In Luke’s description of Jesus’ words, he talks about a person who did the hard work of excavating dirt (by hand) to reach the bedrock. Is that a good picture of the effort that is sometimes required for us to follow Jesus?

· What similarities do you see between the two builders/houses in Jesus’ simile? How about differences?

· How do you think we can stay focused on Jesus’ call to obey and follow His ways without slipping into rule-keeping or counting on our doing things to earn God’s love and favor?

· Which comes first in your opinion- believing in Jesus or doing what He taught? Is it possible that they can be inverted for some people? Feed each other?

· What can you do today to build your life on Jesus’ ways? Where do you sense Him calling you to do something that He taught?

Read Matthew chapters 5-7 this week.

Next Week:
“STAY PASSIONATE – DON’T GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS”

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Do This - Not That (Week 3): De-Clutter, Don't Get Choked

Weren't able to hear the teaching conversation in person this weekend? Catch up with OUR PODCAST.


SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:
Mark 4:1-20 (esp. vv. 18-20); Hebrews 12:1-2; Psalm 139:23-24

REFLECT/DISCUSS:
When was the last time you cleaned out some physical clutter? What motivated you to do it? How did you feel during? After?

Have you ever felt choked or slowed down in your relationship with God before? Were you able to identify what was limiting you?

What do you think of the picture of sin as an “entanglement”?

Can you think of a time where something that was good or neutral (not inherently sinful) became unhealthy spiritual clutter for you and took your focus off of Jesus?

Which is harder for you- identifying spiritual clutter or doing something about it?

Is there anything in your life right now that is choking God’s work in you or slowing down your pursuit of Jesus?

Next Week:
“DO SOMETHING – DON’T JUST NOD”

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Do This Not That (Week 2) - Go Deeper, Don't Wither

Weren't able to hear the teaching conversation in person this weekend? Catch up with OUR PODCAST.

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:
Mark 4:1-20; Ephesians 4:11-15; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Colossians 2:6-7; Acts 2:40-47;

REFLECT/DISCUSS:
Q: What do you think of when you think of your “roots”?

Q: What do roots do for a plant? Do you see any spiritual //’s?

Q: Have you ever heard a version of Christianity that says that God just wants a 1x response from you (i.e. get saved)? How does that track with the 2nd & good soils in Jesus’ story?

Q: Who do you think is responsible for developing our spiritual roots and depth? God? Us? Both? If we have some responsibility, what is it?

Q: What strikes you most about the multiple roots that the disciples in Acts 2 put down? Is your root system that diversified? Which of these come naturally to you? Feel like a stretch?

Q: What role do you think consistency plays in developing spiritual depth? Do you think it is likely that we will develop a thriving root system if we only seek God every now and then?

Q: If God were to draw a picture of your life with Him with a line in the middle of the page- a plant on top and roots on the bottom- what would your picture look like?

Next Week:
“De-Clutter, Don't Get Distracted”

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Do This Not That (Week 1)

Weren't able to hear the teaching conversation in person this weekend? Catch up with OUR PODCAST.

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

Mark 4:1-20, 6:45-52; Zechariah 7:9-12; Psalm 65:9-11; James 1:21

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

Q: If you had to describe yourself as one or the other, would you say you are more open or closed to God right now? Why?

Q: Which are you more likely to succumb to- blatantly hardening your heart toward God (like in the Zechariah passage)? Or following Jesus, but being kind of dense and lacking faith or understanding (like the disciples in Mark 6)?

Q: When is the last time you said, “I know what God would say, BUT……”?

Q: Have you ever asked God to soften and open up the hard places in your heart? Identify any experiences or beliefs that have left you a bit crusty and ask for God’s help healing them and being more open to Him.

Q: Do you expect to be challenged and stretched when you explore Jesus’ ways? Does this expectation lead you to seek Him more or less?

Q: What will you do to take in God’s Word this week? If you don’t have a plan, check out You Version (www.youversion.com)

Next Week:
“GO DEEPER – DON’T WITHER”