For A Change Week 1- Want to change? You have to die.

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

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

John 11:1-16, Colossians 3:1-10, Romans 6:3-7

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

· Think of a time when you experienced a positive change that happened as the result of a loss or disappointment. Was it worth it? Would you have gotten there without the pain?

· Outside of church, where have you heard the word “resurrection”? What kinds of changes is that word usually associated with?

· How do you feel about the idea that Jesus allowed Lazarus to die (and his family to grieve) to bring about transformation for Lazarus and many others?

· What do you think might have changed for Lazarus after he was dead for 4 days and came back to life? Do you think he lived life exactly the same as he had before he died?

· Have you ever tried to do spiritual “kaizen” in your relationship with Jesus- making small tweaks hoping to bring about radical transformation? Has it worked? Do you think it can? Why do you think we want to take this approach?

· As you understand it, why is it so important that we die with Jesus? Have you?

· Is dying with Jesus a 1x thing? An everyday thing? Both? Explain.

· What do you need to “put to death” in your life right now that is leading you away from God? How can you start?

Stand Alone Teaching- Fruitcake & Ice Cream 3/21/10

This Sunday's teaching came via a DVD called "Fruitcake & Ice Cream". Since it is copyrighted material, we aren't offering it as a pod cast. You can find the DVD for purchase widely on the web.

If you were able to be a part of our gathering this week, use the questions below for discussion and/or further reflection.

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

2 Corinthians 5:13-21

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

· This teaching defined grace as “God at work, doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves”. How does that compare to your understanding of grace? Based on this explanation, how have you experienced grace lately?

· Share your thoughts/feelings about the following statements from this teaching: “Grace is the thing that sets our (the Christian) story apart from others (religions).” “When you get grace, it will get you.”

· What do you think the difference is between Louie’s picture of Jesus signing or stamping our cards to get us into heave vs. Jesus becoming our sins and paying for them on the cross?

· Do you think of yourself as being “the righteousness of God” (vs. 21)? Why/why not? How would your life change if you did?

· Do you ever “lose your mind for God” (vs. 13a) when you think about God’s goodness? If so, when? How?

· Have you ever contained your excitement about God and “stayed in your right mind” (vs. 13b) so that your friends who don’t know God’s grace will get it? When/how?

· What do you think about the statement: “If you never live in the tension of being excited about God and yet restraining your excitement for God to help others come close to the cross- then maybe you don’t get grace.”

· Did God use someone like “fruitcake” to show and tell you about His grace? Are you someone’s “fruitcake” right now? If so, what is the “ice cream” you use as a common point of friendship and connection?

· Who do you know who needs grace? Have you been praying for them regularly? If not, will you start?

NEXT WEEK: New series starts! "For a Change- How Spiritual Transformation Happens"

86ing Jesus?? Week 5- Jesus Opened The Door For Us

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

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

1 Peter 2:24-25; Exodus 25:8-9; 1 Chronicles 7:1-2; Hebrews 9:7, 11-12; 8:6-13; Matthew 27:50-51; Titus 3:4-6; 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:20-22, 8-10; Romans 7:4-6, 6:11-13

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

· What are you looking forward to most about spring’s arrival? What will you do with the extra hour of daylight in the evening now that Daylight Saving Time is here?

· Agree or disagree & explain: Better questions can take us farther in our relationship with God than good answers.

· Have you ever been exposed to a version of Jesus’ story that stopped with or focused mostly on Jesus dying so that we can go to heaven? If so, explain the context and the way it may have shaped the faith of those who heard it.

· How does today’s suggestion that “Jesus came to open the door to an ‘integrated’ way of living with God” sit with you? Mean to you?

· How often do you think about the Holy Spirit living in you? Of yourself as a temple of God? How might focusing on these realities more change your daily relationship with God?

· Do you think we’re more comfortable with God in a building/box or with God living in us? Explain your response.

· Do you focus more on not screwing up with God or on living positively with/for Him? If the former, how could you make a shift to the latter?

· Titus 2:11-14 and Ephesians 2:8-10 suggest that God saved us to do good things on earth and that He even has good things prepared for us to do. What specific good things do you think God has for you to do right now?

· Jesus offered a sacrifice to pay for our sins once and for all so that we can offer every part of our lives as sacrifices to please God all of the time (See Heb 9/Rom 6). Name some parts of your life that you don’t usually think about offering to God. How could you offer these to Him in a way that honors Him?

86ing Jesus?? Week 4- Jesus Died For Us

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

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

Hebrews 2:14-15, 9:1-2, 9-12, 10:1-4; Ephesians 1:7-10; Colossians 1:13-14; Galatians 3:10, 13, 19, 22-26; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; Isaiah 53; Acts 17:1-3

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

· When have you felt truly free & why?

· Agree/Disagree & Explain: Jesus is best known for dying.

· Read through Isaiah 53. What is your response to hearing that everything Jesus experienced as described in this chapter was “God’s Will”?

· How would you explain to someone else why Jesus’ death is vital to humanity? Different from anyone else’s?

· How would you complete this sentence? Take Jesus’ death out of the story between man & God and we’d be missing _____________________.

· What attempts have you made to deal with your own mistakes/sins in light of what happens after this life- relativism, karma, balancing the scales, keeping the law, something else? Did any of them take away your fear or guilt and leave you w/freedom?

· According to the passages above, why did God give people the OT law and sacrificial system if it couldn’t really set them free?

· What do you think/feel when you read that Jesus died for ALL people in EVERY era? (Hebrews 9:12, 1 Timothy 10:1-4)

· Have you grabbed hold of the freedom Jesus offers you? If not, what is standing in your way? If so, are you living like you are truly free?

NEXT WEEK: “Jesus Lives For Us”

86ing Jesus?? Week 3- Jesus Taught Us

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

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

Matthew 5, 22:33; Mark 1:21-27, 6:1-3; Luke 2:41-50; John 12:49-50, 14:24, 10:30-33, 1:14, 16-18; Hebrews 2:14, 18

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

· What settings or modes of teaching help you learn best?

· Would you agree that Jesus is a great teacher? If so, what makes Him one?

· What was your reaction to hearing about the way the Jews committed themselves to studying the scripture- memorizing the Torah by age 10 and the whole OT by 14?

· Where did Jesus say He got the insights that amazed people and the authority with which He spoke? How would this mesh in your mind with the view that Jesus was a great teacher, but not the Son of God?

· Which is more comforting to you & why: Jesus showing us God’s power, Jesus showing us God’s kindness & truth, or Jesus showing us that He understands firsthand our troubles and struggles?

· Are you taking advantage of the chance to learn from Jesus? How are you trying to live what you learn from Him?

NEXT WEEK: “Jesus Died For Us”