WHY WORRY - 9.5.2010

READ IT: Matthew 6:24-34

THINK ABOUT IT: Reflect & Discuss

1. What do you find yourself worrying most about? Why do you think you worry most about that?

2. Can you remember a time when you worried intensely about something that now seems trivial? What was it? Why do you think it seemed so important at the time?

3. Andy makes a helpful distinction: The things we’re most devoted to determine what we worry about the most. How has this statement proven true in your life?

4. Jesus makes clear that (at the core) worrying about your life is a faith issue. There is a huge difference between knowing that God can provide for your life and believing that He will. Have you truly internalized God’s commitment to you? Do you really believe that God is faithful to provide for your life?

5. Andy says, We think our worries arise when our lives become uncertain, but the truth is, every moment of our lives is uncertain; we just become more aware of the uncertainty during certain seasons. How does it make you feel to know that your future has never certain? How does that further prove the fact that worrying is worthless? What practical steps can you begin taking today to begin living out a worry-free life in the midst of uncertainty?

DO IT: Daily Application

This week, when you find yourself getting attached or worrying about something, get off the “worry trial” and make the decision NOT to worry about it.

When you find that you’ve been responsible in the now – have done all that’s in your control – make the decision to trust God for tomorrow.

Is It Normal? Week 2- Is it normal to experience both clarity and cloudiness in our relationships with God?

Miss Sunday's Teaching Conversation? You can listen in with our PODCAST.

Scriptures From Sunday: Matthew 16:5-23, 6:11,31-33; Lk 24:36a, 44-48; Acts 2:14,22-24,32; 2Peter 3:14-16

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

What is you favorite kind of climate? What does the forecast for your ideal day look like?

What is the biggest swing in weather you’ve ever seen? Where have you encountered the thickest fog? Clearest water? Bluest sky?

Do you have more moments of clarity (where you have a good sense of what God is saying to you and is doing in your life) or cloudiness (where you aren’t so sure)?

What strikes you most about the swings between understanding and confusion described in Matthew 16?

Fred suggested some reasons why Peter and the other disciples may not have understood Jesus’ admonition to avoid the yeast of the Pharisees in Mt 16:5-12:

1. We don’t always think like Jesus.

2. We get distracted by the daily, mundane stuff.

3. We forget what God has done for and taught us in the past.

4. We forget that Jesus is with us.

Which of these do you see play out most often in your own journey?

When was the last time you had a significant moment of clarity in your walk with God? What did God reveal to you or help you understand? Did your feelings mirror what Jesus said about Peter in Mt. 6:18-19 (like you had a more solid foundation, your faith was being built up, something had gotten unlocked for you, ready to do spiritual battle)?

Peter heard some things from Jesus that he didn’t understand and didn’t like in Mt. 16:21-23. Has that ever happened to you? Have your beliefs ever opposed what God wanted to do in and through you?

How does Peter’s declaration in 2 Peter 3:14-16 that he doesn’t understand everything that Paul writes in scripture strike you?

Is knowledge and understanding God’s ultimate goal for us? If not, what is?

For Further Study: Read Acts 10. What does this story tell you about the need for continued growth in our understanding of God? Has God ever shown you that the way you were thinking about and living out some part of your faith was off course? Do you think we’ll ever have a complete and flawless understanding of God here on earth?

Is It Normal? Week 1- Is it normal to fluctuate between faith and doubt?

Miss Sunday's Teaching Conversation? You can listen in with our PODCAST.

Scriptures From Sunday: Matthew 14:22-32; 2 Timothy 2:11-14a

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

When is the last time you wondered if something you experienced (in any area of life) was normal- or if it was just you? When were you last able to re-assure someone else who had these kinds of questions?

Have you ever fluctuated between trusting Jesus and doubting? Feeling so confident in your faith and questioning? Being courageous and fearful? Why? What happened? How long did it last? How did it resolve?

Do you think of the story of Peter walking on the water as a story that is more about faith or doubt? Why?

What is there in/about this story that would lead you to believe that Peter showed great faith?

“Moments of victory and faith are often followed by times of challenge and doubt.” Agree or disagree & explain. Has this played out in your life?

In your opinion, were Peter’s doubts and concerns while walking on the water unfounded or legitimate? What kinds of things are distracting you and making you take your eyes off of Jesus? Are they legitimate or unfounded?

How do you imagine Jesus responding to you when your faith fluctuates? What look do you picture on His face? What tone do you hear in His voice? Do you believe He would immediately close the gap to rescue you like He did Peter?

“You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?” Do you read these words of Jesus as an expression of His disappointment and our failure- or more as a statement about our untapped potential when it comes to trusting? Explain.

Do you think that there is any significance to the fact that the wind and waves that distracted Peter stopped after they get back in the boat- not immediately when Jesus rescued Him? What might we learn from this?

Where would you place yourself in this story? What in this text, teaching or debrief speaks most to where you are with Jesus right now? Where do you want to go from here with Him?

LOVE: Heart, Soul & Mind - 8/15/2010

Scripture From Sunday:
Matthew 22:36-38
Proverbs 4:23
Matthew 15:18-19
Psalm 51:10 (NIV & The Message)
Hebrews 4:12
Galations 2:19-20
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Psalm 131:1-2
Romans 12:2
Ephesians 5:15

Teaching Overview:
Jesus' statement in Matthew 22:36-38 is a widely known passage in the Bible: Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Most people could recite this verse, even people who are disconnected or uninterested in Christianity. These words are printed on mugs. Framed in art. Preached on countless times a year across the world.

But what does it really mean to love God with our heart, soul and mind? Jesus could have been very general here, but He wasn't. He didn't just command us to love Him with everything we are in a general sense; in this passage, He gives us three specifics as to how we love him with everything we are.

If you missed Sunday's message, you can check it out HERE. Below are a few questions for further reflection and discussion:

• How would you describe love in your own words? Is it an emotion or a decision? Why?
• When you think about your heart, what comes to mind?
  
• Read what King Solomon states about the heart in Proverbs 4:23. How does his caution cause you to rethink your thoughts on your heart?
• Jesus makes a strong statement in Matthew 15:18-19 that all unclean things come from the heart. How does Jesus' statement relate to King Solomon's?
• Do you ever find yourself living with a filter, trying desperately to monitor your behavior so nothing ungodly leaks out?
• Why do you think a filter conflicts with what God wants to do in your heart? Read Psalm 51:10 and consider how David's cry reflects God's focus - the heart; cleansing and purifying us at the source.
• Have you ever thought much about your soul? When you think of it, what comes to mind?
• Hebrews 4:12 refers to the Bible's ability to "divide soul and spirit" in us. In other words, the Bible has the capacity and power to make room in us for God to lead? Can you remember a time when this happened to you? Explain.
• In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul reminds his readers that Christians "were bought at a price" and are called to live for God's glory, not self-desires. How are you being intentional to make sure God has room to lead in your life? Explain a time when you made the decision to quiet your soul so that God could lead.
• The Bible tells us that loving God with our mind is more than just thinking good thoughts and rebuking bad ones. In fact, Paul states in Romans 12:2 that our mind needs to be renewed completely - rewired according to God's wisdom, which is completely different than the world's. Can you recall something specific in your worldview that God has been reshaping? Explain.
• Our thoughts influence our beliefs and our beliefs shape our actions. Do you agree? If so, how has this proven true in your own life?
  

Offerings Week 5- Less Have To, More Want To

Didn't get to hear the teaching conversation on Sunday?No problem, you can join in via our PODCAST.

Scriptures From Sunday: Acts 4:34-37, 5:1-6; 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, 9:6-8; Luke 21:1-4

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

What motivates you? (Ex. Success? Fear of failure? Praise? Criticism? Etc.)

Which do you think is more important & why- having good circumstances or a good attitude?

How would you describe your attitude about offering your time, talents and resources to God? How about your motivations to give?

What have you been taught about giving in church settings- both directly and indirectly?

Do you think believers have to give? Need to give? Should want to give? Some/all of the above? Which motivates you the most?

What is your reaction to the story of Ananias & Sapphira? What do you think the differences were between their and Barnabas’ offerings?

What kind of pressures might Ananias & Sapphira felt that prompted them to give an offering their hearts weren’t behind?

Read 2 Cor. 8:1-5. What strikes you most about the way these believers gave? What, if anything, would you hope to emulate in your own life & giving?

Have you ever been guilted into giving? What happened? Do you think God was honored by that?

What strikes you most about the story of the widow who gave all she had in Luke 21:1-4? What do you think Jesus would call us to emulate about her offering?

When is the last time you gave an offering that required faith on your part? What happened?

Which would most represent a next step of growth for you- giving joyfully, generously or from faith? Which motivation do you long to leave behind the most- giving from pressure, obligation or guilt?

Offerings Week 4- We're Going To Need A Bigger Bucket

Didn't get to hear the teaching conversation on Sunday? No problem, you can join in via our PODCAST.

Scriptures From Sunday: Romans 12:1-2, 6:1-13; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Matthew 11:28-30, 10:37-39

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

Talk about some times when you found yourself in situations that were bigger/more involved than you expected. Give both a positive and a negative example if you can.

Have you ever had moments like this with God? When have you realized that your pictures and perceptions of Him & what He wants for you have been way too small?

When was the last time you needed some guidance on what was “appropriate”? What was the setting/occasion?

If you were mentoring a newer follower of Jesus, how would you describe an “appropriate offering” to them?

Spend time in the Romans 12 & 6 passages above. Based on what you read there, how would you describe the offerings and response God is looking for from us? How does this mesh with your ideas about giving?

Do you consistently see/think of yourself as a temple where God lives and a priest who offers him/herself as a living sacrifice (1 Peter 2:4-5)? How can we maintain this kind of focus? What impact might this perspective have on the way we go throughout our day?

Have you ever offered someone something you thought was significant (a gift, your love or friendship, etc.) and gotten a disproportionate response back? How did that feel?

Do you think we can fully receive the life Jesus offers us without offering all of ourselves to Him? Does this shed any light for you on some of Jesus’ difficult and extreme statements? (See Mt. 10:37-39)

When you read things in the Bible like, “offer yourselves as living sacrifices” do you long for more “how-to” specifics? Does what Jesus says in Matthew 11:28—30 give you any insight into where/how we are to learn more about the parts of our faith that aren’t clearly spelled out?

When was the last time you “offered” God some part of your day or life that wasn’t overtly religious (ex. church, Bible reading) or where you didn’t feel a great need for His help? Do you believe that God can take pleasure in all the parts of your life? Are there any parts of yourself that you have been withholding from Him or offering in the other direction?

Offerings Week 3- God Passes The Plate For Us

Didn't get to hear the teaching conversation on Sunday? No problem, you can join in via our PODCAST.

Scriptures From Sunday: James 1:16-17; John 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Colossians 1:19-20; Romans 5:6-9; Hebrews 9:9-15, 10:1-4; Matthew 11:28-30

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

Would you describe yourself as an initiator? Why/Not? What are some situations where you’d volunteer to go first? Others where you’d prefer that someone else take the first turn?

Agree/Disagree & Explain: When we give, we’re simply responding to God’s initiative to give first.

Spend some time with John 3:16-17. What do these verses tell you about God’s willingness to make the first move? About his intentions and motivations toward us?

We’re told in Hebrews 9 & 10 that he Old Covenant sacrifices of animals and produce didn’t really take away sin. So, why did God instruct His people to offer them in the first place? What kinds of things have you “offered” to try and make yourself right with God that didn’t really work either?

Is there any resistance in you to the idea of Jesus sacrificing Himself for your mistakes? If so, can you name what is behind it?

List as many appropriate answers as you can to the question: What did Jesus come to offer us? When you are done, take a shot at summarizing everything you’ve got in a sentence or less.

After all the answers you’ve come up with to the last question, why do you think some people focus solely on Jesus offerings us forgiveness and heaven? While those are certainly crucial, do they fully capture what Jesus Himself and the rest of the scriptures say Jesus offers us?

What does God’s willingness to go first when it comes to giving and sacrifice Jesus for us so that He can offer life to us mean to you emotionally? Does it affect your feelings about giving to God?

Offerings Week 2- (More Than) A Little Structure

Didn't get to hear the teaching conversation on Sunday? No problem, you can join in via our PODCAST.

Scriptures From Sunday: Deuteronomy 12:6, 14:22-29, 8:7-18; Leviticus 5:5-7, 11a; Exodus 22:29-30, 23:19a; James 2:14-26

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

• How do you feel about structure and complexity? Do you need them? Crave them? Avoid them? Do they give you life- or sap it from you?

• Have you ever felt/thought that God’s commands are burdensome or heavy handed? Like Daniel in The Karate Kid wrestling with Mr. Miayagi’s training methods, have you ever wondered if God is using you or trying to take things FROM you?

• What could/has a shift toward seeing God’s instructions and commands as an expression of what He wants FOR you mean for your relationship with your Maker?

• Why do you think God gave the nation of Israel such a complex and detailed system of offerings as they began their relationship with Him?

• What are your experiences with and perceptions of tithing? Have you ever thought of percentage based giving as a way for God to level the playing field and allow everyone to participate?

• God commands Israel to give him the first and best of their produce, the firstborn of their livestock, their best wine, etc. Do you think God wants this idea of priority giving to translate to us today? If so, how can we give God our first and best if we don’t bring offerings of food and drink?

• Think/Talk about a time in your life when a hands-on experience really helped you grab hold of an idea you already “believed in”. Do you think more words on the topic would have had the same impact?

• Read Deuteronomy 8:7-18. Do you think we face the same temptation God warns the Israelites about in this passage? If so, how can giving help mitigate it?

• Take a look at James 2:14-26. How do you feel about/respond to the ideas in this passage? Does what you are offering God today (think $ and beyond) require any faith on your part? If so, what would?

• The Sunday teaching focused on a few key emphases that seem to run throughout the complexities of the OT sacrificial system: PARTICIPATION, PRIORITY, and PRACTICE. Which of these would God have you to focus on most now as you learn to offer yourself more wholly to Him?

Offerings Week 1- The 4th Big Story

Didn't get to hear the teaching conversation on Sunday? No problem, you can join in via our PODCAST.

Scriptures From Sunday: Genesis 4:1-8, Matthew 6:19-24

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

What do you go all out for? Who gets your best in life?

What are your feelings about churches talking about offerings and giving? What kinds of experiences have you had with this?

Why do you think most faiths include some element of giving to God? Why did Cain and Abel bring offerings to God?

Cain and Abel saw the world a bit differently than we do. What were some things they “knew” that might have prompted them to give offerings?

Can we ever give God something that doesn’t already belong to him? If not- what’s the point of giving Him anything?

Cain and Abel brought offerings from what they had. Do you think God expects us to give Him things we don’t have/can’t afford?

God was pleased with one offering and not with the other. What do you think made the difference?

Abel brought the best and first part of what He had to God. Cain didn’t. What do you think Cain did with his best and first instead? Does that give you any insight into who or what Cain valued the most highly?

What would this story say to the idea that God just wants us to give SOMETHING- and that the specifics of the gift don’t matter?

In light of what Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-24, do you think God can fully have our hearts if we hold back our money and things from Him? Is it possible to separate the two?

Cain’s offering prompted God to warn him about the direction his heart was heading. What would God say to you about the direction you are heading lately?

God wanted Cain to “do well and be accepted”. Do you believe He wants the same for you? Why/Not?

Do your offerings to God match the place and priority you say you want Him to have in your life? If not, what can you do to bring them more in alignment?

Taking Responsibility For Your Life- Week 4

This month we're learning from an outstanding teaching series from Northpoint Church called Taking Responsibility For Your Life.

We're taking in this teaching via DVD and won't be recording it for our podcast like we usually do. However, if you miss a teaching, you can grab the audio or video online directly from Northpoint. Here's how:

Follow this link: http://www.northpoint.org/messages.

Scroll to the right through the message series icons until you come to "Taking Responsibility For Your Life" (about the 10th series).

Double click on that and you'll be shown the 4 diff messages and be given the option to either listen to the audio or watch them on video.

We will be creating and posting our 2nd Helpings Info as we usually do. You can find them as a pdf on our PODCAST SITE or as text below.

Scriptures From Sunday: Matthew 25:14-30

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

What’s one of your hidden or unusual talents?

Which is easier for you to see- all that others have going for them or all that you have going for you? Why do you think that is?

When was the last time you said/felt “Life isn’t fair”?

Parables were given to make one point in a big, clear way. What idea did Jesus want to convey in the parable of the talents in Mt. 25:13-40?

How would you summarize God’s perspective on the unevenness of life? How does this compare to our view?

If you had to honestly place yourself in the story Jesus told based on the opportunities you’ve been given and all that you’ve got going for you- would you say that you are a 1, 2 or 5 bag person? What would others say about you?

Giving an account to the master for how they used what He gave them was exciting for the 2 & 5 bag people in the story and dreadful for the 1 bag person. Which would you feel about giving an account to God for how you’ve used what He’s given you so far?

What do you feel about/think of this statement: “Your self is too small for you to waste your entire life on”?

What could a shift away from lamenting the unevenness of life and toward embracing and maximizing the opportunities God has given you mean for you? Those you are connected to? The world?

Which of these temptations are you most prone to when it comes to your “talents”: Taking them for granted? Being irresponsible with your excess? Lamenting what others have that you don’t? Using them only for yourself?

Assignment:

• Make a list of all the opportunities and advantages that God has given you to leverage for His Kingdom/something greater than yourself.

• Which are you currently taking responsibility for? Where do you need to step it up?

This Is Not The Time To Pray - 6.27.10

Last week we continued with our Taking Responsibility For Your Life series with a powerful message called This Is Not The Time To Pray. If you missed it, you can watch or listen to it HERE.

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 7

REFLECT & DISCUSS:

1. Andy’s message doesn’t undermine the importance of prayer, but rather that prayer should lead to action, not serve as an excuse to be inactive. Do you agree with that?

2. Can you remember a time when your prayers led you to action? What happened? How did that experience encourage you in your relationship with Christ?

3. Are there areas of your life where you’re using prayer as an excuse not to do what God has already made clear? Has God been saying, “Stand up!” to you lately? If so, how can you begin taking steps of action today?

4. “Our irresponsibility eventually becomes someone else’s responsibility” has become a reoccurring theme in this series. In Joshua 7:1, how does Achan’s actions support Andy’s statement?

5. Like Achan, are there areas of your life where you have enriched yourself with the “devoted things” that God told you not to? If so, how can you begin putting verse 13 into practice by removing those things?

6. Are there irresponsible people you are connected to that you are afraid to confront? Why? Read Matthew 18:15-20 and ask God to give you the strength to act (in love).

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Identify areas of your life where you need to stop (only) praying about and start acting on. Uses these ideas as a filter:

Has God already covered in it Scripture? If so, stop praying and act.

Have you behaved your way into a situation? Don’t try to pray your way out of it - get up and act. Prayer must lead to action.

Would people in your life say to you, “Great, I’m glad you’re praying about this, but I don’t see you making any effect to change”?

Taking Responsibility For Your Life- Week 2

This month we're learning from an outstanding teaching series from Northpoint Church called Taking Responsibility For Your Life.

We're taking in this teaching via DVD and won't be recording it for our podcast like we usually do. However, if you miss a teaching, you can grab the audio or video online directly from Northpoint. Here's how:

Follow this link: http://www.northpoint.org/messages.

Scroll to the right through the message series icons until you come to "Taking Responsibility For Your Life" (about the 10th series).

Double click on that and you'll be shown the 4 diff messages and be given the option to either listen to the audio or watch them on video.

We will be creating and posting our 2nd Helpings Info as we usually do. You can find them as a pdf on our PODCAST SITE or as text below.

Scriptures From Sunday: Galatians 6:3-9

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

When have you seen someone step up and take responsibility for a mistake or failure? What happened afterward?

One of the things we’re prone to do instead of taking responsibility is to compare ourselves to others. Read Gal 6:3-5. Why does God discourage us from doing this? How can comparisons lead us to fooling or deceiving ourselves?

Do you agree or disagree w/ this statement? “As long as I compare myself to other people, I’ll make excuses. When I compare myself to myself, I’ll make progress.”

Gal. 6:5 urges us to “carry our own load”. What does that look like for you right now? What are you responsible for?

Another “out” for us when it comes to taking responsibility is to try and dodge the consequences of our irresponsibility. Is this really and fully possible? Why do you think Gal. 6:7 describes this as “mocking God”?

Were you ever able to “put one over” on your parents, teachers or bosses and get away with being irresponsible? Is it possible do the same thing w/God? Do you ever find yourself looking for a loophole or treating God like He’s not very bright?

Where have you experienced the principle of reaping and sowing in your life? Was it positive or negative?

What do you think of Andy’s assessment that we reap “later and greater”? Have you seen this play out before?

What are some parts of your life where you are sowing responsibly right now? Where might you be sowing irresponsibly?

Do you think life’s predictable principles (ex. gravity, buoyancy, sowing/reaping) are gifts from God? Why/Not?

Assignment: If there is an area of your life where you aren’t where you want to be:

1. Honestly assess- where have I sowed irresponsibly? What’s my piece of the pie? What’s my load to carry?

2. Identify and start doing the things you should have been doing all along.

Taking Responsibility For Your Life Week 1

Over the next month we'll be learning from an outstanding teaching series from Northpoint Church called Taking Responsibility For Your Life.

In a culture that seems to encourage and at times even reward irresponsibility, it's easy for us to notice others who aren't pulling their weight.

But what about us? Are we taking responsibility for the things we are on the hook for?

We'll be taking in this teaching via DVD and won't be recording it for our podcast like we usually do. However, if you miss a teaching, you can grab the audio or video online directly from Northpoint. Here's how:

Follow this link: http://www.northpoint.org/messages.

Scroll to the right through the message series icons until you come to "Taking Responsibility For Your Life" (about the 9th series).

Double click on that and you'll be shown the 4 diff messages and be given the option to either listen to the audio or watch them on video.

We will be creating and posting our 2nd Helpings Info as we usually do. You can find them as a pdf on our PODCAST SITE or as text below.

2ND HELPINGS:

Scriptures From Sunday: Genesis 1:27-29, 3:8-13

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

Who is the most responsible person you know & why? The least responsible?

Agree/Disagree & Explain: “Our culture is becoming less and less responsible and in some ways rewards & celebrates irresponsibility.”

“Irresponsibility is much easier to see through the window than in the mirror.” Is this true? If so, why do you think this is?

Can you think of a time when someone else’s irresponsibility impacted you? When your failure to live up to your responsibilities affected others?

Do you agree that when we fail to “pick our towels up off of the floor” (i.e. taking care of our responsibilities) we are by default asking someone else to come clean up our mess?

How would things change in your life/family/workplace/church/etc. if each time we saw each other shirking our responsibilities we followed Andy’s lead w/his kids and said, “I want you to ASK me to take care of what you aren’t willing to care of instead of just leaving it for me to do”?

Respond to/discuss this statement: “Christians should be the most responsible people on the planet.”

In the beginning, humans are given huge amounts of responsibility (Gen 1). How do you feel when you shoulder your responsibilities well? When you don’t?

Do you ever find yourself admiring people who are great at blaming others? Why/Not?

Blame and the conflict and shame it produces are deeply rooted in our story (Gen 3). Do you think we can we get past it? How?

Assignments:

1. Listen to the blame conversations in your life- both the ones you have out loud and in your own head. What parts of your life are trying to shift responsibility to others?

2. As you experience relational conflict, ask yourself, “What is in my slice of the pie?”

U+ I = WE Week 6: Exponential Impact

Miss this week's teaching conversation? You can listen in and download the message slides and a pdf of the info below on our POD CAST SITE.

Scriptures From Sunday: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Isaiah 9:6-7; John 13:34-35; Philippians 2:3-5, 12-16a; Acts 1:6-8, 8:1, 3-4; Matthew 28:18-20

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

How have you experienced synergy- where people combined their efforts and got more done faster than they would have on their own? With family? Friends? At work? In your neighborhood? In a faith community?

Agree/Disagree & Explain: Jesus wants to have an exponential, ever expanding impact in this world and He plans to use us to accomplish it.

What do you know how to authenticate? What hallmarks do you look for?

According to John 13:35, what did Jesus think would mark His followers and His message for the world to see? In your opinion, do we take these words seriously enough? Do we equate them with our chance to show the truth and beauty of Jesus’ message to the people around us?

Think/talk about a time where your mental picture of someone/thing was quite different from the actual person/thing.

How do you think our pictures of “church” and “mission” might differ from what Jesus has in mind for us?

In your mind, where and when does the ministry of Connections Church (or your church community) happen?

Where/to whom does God send you on a daily basis? Do you think of that as your “mission field”? If not, why not? If so, how do you stay focused on what God might do through you while you do your job, sip your coffee, chat with neighbors, etc.?

PRAY: Pray that God will work in and through us as a faith community to make the impact He desires on the Triangle and beyond.

U+ I = WE Week 5: Identical is not Ideal

Miss this week's teaching conversation? You can listen in and download the message slides and a pdf of the info below on our POD CAST SITE.

Scriptures From Sunday: Psalm 133; Ephesians 4:1-7; Romans 14:1-8, 12:3-8

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

What makes a great vacation for you? What’s the right blend of rest vs. activity, travel vs. staying put, socializing vs. solitude?

Read Psalm 133. Have you ever experienced the “living in harmony” thing? Why/how do you think that happened?

In your opinion, which is harder- staying focused on what we share in common or allowing for and celebrating our differences? Which is more important? Why?

What relationships in your life are struggling right now? What is the common focus you could appeal to?

Think of a time when you experienced relational conflict over a difference of opinion about the “right’ way to do things? Did you resolve it? If so, how? In reality, was there only one right way?

How do you feel about/respond to the idea in Romans 14 that there isn’t one “right” way for followers of Jesus to honor God? Can you think of a way you’ve seen this play out in a community of faith you are/have been a part of?

Why do you think Christians are driven to convince others that their attempts to honor God (w/diet, schedule, devotional life, etc.) are the right/best ways?

Can you think of a time where someone being very different from you has been a blessing?

Where would you fit into the Romans 12:3-8 n terms of your gifts? If it isn’t listed there, how would you describe the part you think God has for you to play in His body?

PRAY: Lord, give me the humility and determination to maintain the unity Your Spirit gives in my relationships.

U+ I = WE Week 4: Clearing Relational Clutter

Miss this week's teaching conversation? You can listen in and download the message slides and a pdf of the info below on our POD CAST SITE.

Scriptures From Sunday: Galatians 5:13-26, 6:1-2; 1 Peter 5:8; Romans 7:21-24; James 4:11-12, 5:9; Psalms 15:1-3

Other Texts: 1Peter 2:1-3, 3:8-12; 2 Corinthians 12:20-21; Romans 1:28-32

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

How do you deal with clutter? What prompts you to finally get rid of “excess baggage”? How do you feel afterward? What would you like to purge from your life right now?

Galatians 5:15 advises us not to “bite” each other. Talk/think specifically about some ways that we do this in our relationships (ex. gossip).

Have you ever seen a relationship “devoured”- i.e. ruined- by negativity and divisive behavior? What happened? How might it have been prevented?

Do you resonate with the struggle described in Gal. 5:16-17 & Rom 7:21-24? How have you seen this manifest in your life? Which part of your nature are you listening to and living through most of the time? How do you know?

What stands out to you about “the effects of the corrupt nature” listed in Gal. 5:19-21? In your experience, do Jesus’ followers treat all of these things the same? Should we?

Agree or Disagree & Explain: We can tell a lot about our relationship with God by how we treat other people? How do the passages above speak to your answer?

Look at the things that grow in us when we listen to and live into our spiritual nature (Gal. 5:22-23). What stands out to you about these things? In your opinion, do Jesus’ followers focus on these qualities enough? Can we be spiritually mature without them?

Read Galatians 5:24-26. Where does the power for us to live into our spiritual nature- and clear out negative relational clutter- come from? Can we do this on our own? Is it all God’s doing? Is our will and focus involved as well?

REFLECT: What negative and divisive clutter do I need to clear out of my relationships? Is there anyone in my life I need to apologize to for the way I’ve treated them?

U+ I = WE Week 3: Adding Value to Each Others Lives

Miss this week's teaching conversation? You can listen in and download the message slides and a pdf of the info below on our POD CAST SITE.

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY: Hebrews 10:19-25, 3:12-19; 1Thess 5:9-15;

OTHER PASSAGES: 1Thess 4:18; 1Cor 14:26; Gal 5:13, 6:1-2; Rom 14:19

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

Think of 3 people in your life you love to spend time with. What do they have in common? Would it be fair to say that they bring good things into your life?

Both the Hebrews 10 and the 1 Thess. 5 passages about encouragement start with retellings of the good things Jesus has brought into our lives. How often do you stop to remind yourself of those things? Talk w/God about them? Read Heb. 10:19-22 and 1 Thess. 5:9-11 out loud and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for Jesus’ work in your life.

Have you ever thought that the spiritual encouragement you get from others might be the only thing that stands between you and a hard, unbelieving heart? Or that your encouragement might be all that keeps someone else on course with Jesus? How do you feel about the idea that mutual encouragement is a spiritual necessity?

Would you agree that hard heartedness, spiritual deception and turning away from Jesus is a process that happens over time? If so, what are some signs that we might be headed in those directions?

What ties do you see between the calls to keep encouraging each other and to continue hanging out with other believers (Heb. 3:12-13, 10:24-25)? In your opinion, is attending a weekly church service all God has in mind for us in these passages? If not, what else might He be urging us toward?

If encouragement is supposed to speak specifically to our current needs and situations (1 Thess. 5:14-15), what would give you a boost in your walk with Jesus right now?

Who are you close enough to (both in proximity and trust) to be able to specifically encourage- including lovingly sharing the last 10% of the truth? If the answer is no one- what could you do this week to build those relationships?

PRAY: Who can I encourage this week? What will add value to their pursuit of Jesus?

U+ I = WE Week 2: Pointing the Alligator's Mouth in the Right Direction

Miss this week's teaching conversation? You can listen in and download the message slides and a pdf of the info below on our POD CAST SITE.

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY: Philippians 2:1-8, John 13:1-5, 12-17

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

Think of a time when you had to choose between two good things. (Ex. Buying new TV vs. Putting $ in savings; Vacationing to see your family vs. Taking trip w/friends) How did you decide which had the greater value to you?

What symbol (>, <, =) would most people put in the middle of this equation: U __ I ? How do you usually answer it? Whose needs do you regularly put ahead of your own?

Based on what we read in Phil 2:1-2 and John 13:13-16, how important do you think it is to God that we follow Jesus’ example of putting others before ourselves?

Does considering others to be more important than ourselves mean that we can’t have any power, authority or a healthy sense of self-worth? How does your answer compare to what we read about Jesus in Philippians 2 and John 13 above?

What might it look like to put the needs of a stranger ahead of your own? A co-worker? A neighbor? A friend? Someone in your faith community? A family member?

If we put others first, how are our needs supposed to get met? (Hint see John 13:14.) Which is more rewarding & why- getting what you want/need or helping others get what they want/need?

In our culture “winners” focus on their own goals and create their own success. Look at the Luke 22 and Mark 9 passages above. Would Jesus offer us a different definition of greatness? If so, how would He describe the “winners”?

According to John 13:17- what brings God’s blessing in our lives? How does this compare to what we normally do with Jesus’ words?

ACT: Who will you put ahead of yourself this week? How will you do it?