Questions for week Dec 30th - Jan 5th

Maximizing the Moment

1) Did you make any resolutions at the beginning of 2012?  Did you succeed in keeping them? 

2) In what areas do you feel you have grown in this past year?  In what areas do you hope to grow in 2013?

3) What are some of the promises God has given you that have already come to fruition?  What do you feel was your “part of the job” in seeing them come to pass?

4) When thinking about your promises that you are still waiting for, of the six instructions listed below, which one is the easiest for you to do and which one is the hardest for you to do and why?

-Believe fearlessly

-Live intentionally

-Associate strategically

-Commit faithfully

-Embrace new opportunity

-Trust God completely

5) What are you looking forward to the most in 2013?

6) What are some of the things you as a Life Group can do together that you wanted to do in 2012 but never did?  Start planning those things today.

Don't forget to fill out the Life Group Leader Form found here.

Questions for week Dec 23rd-29th

Hark the Herald Angles Sing

1) When you were a kid did you believe in Santa Clause?  If so, what led to your revelation of who Santa really was?

2) What was the greatest gift you have ever received either as a child or an adult?  What was the greatest gift you were ever able to give?

3) What led to your spiritual birth? What has the gift of new life through Christ meant to you?

4) In what ways do you express your gratitude to Jesus for the new life He has given you?

5) Who in your life doesn’t yet realize the true reason for Jesus’ birth?  What can you do to share it with them this Holiday Season?

Don't forget to fill out your Life Group Leader Report form found here.

Questions for week Dec 16th-22nd

Away in a Manger

Regarding the Carol:

Away in a manger,

No crib for His bed,

The little Lord Jesus

Laid down His sweet head;

The stars in the heavens

Looked down where He lay,

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay.

1) In your opinion, how does this carol reflect the love of Christ?

2) What does this carol show you about our Lord at the beginning our His life here on earth?

3) Why do you think God chose for his son to be born in a manger instead of a birth fitting of royalty?

Regarding the Sermon:

1) What thoughts come to your mind when you hear the word surrender?  Do you feel the word is a negative word or a positive word and why?

2) In point #1, The Problem of the partially surrendered life, Pastor Mark posed these questions… What have I not fully surrendered to Christ? What area of my life do I still try to constantly control? What area do I consistently resist giving to God?  When pondering the answers to these questions concerning your own life, why do you feel is it difficult to fully surrender that area of your life?

3) God does not give us laws and instructions to bind and limit us.  He gives us these things to liberate us.  Share something in your life that you fully surrendered to God that resulted in you walking in true freedom.

True satisfaction is only found in full surrender to Christ.

Don't forget to fill out your Life Group Leader Form found here.

Questions for week Dec 9th-15th

O Come All Ye Faithful

1) It took the Wise Men an extraordinary amount of time and expense to get to where Jesus was so they could worship Him.  How have you too invested time and expense to worship God through giving of yourself?  What more would you like to do for God?  What do you feel is the greatest hindrance of accomplishing this?

2) Think of someone that you feel has a high appraisal of God.  What is evident about their life that allows you to draw this conclusion? 

3) It is possible to go to church each week and learn Bible verses and never truly serve God.  Church and Bible Study is great but it should lead you to deeper levels of worship, fellowship and relationship with God.  How has attending church and studying the Word of God deepened these areas in your life?

4) True worship confronts us with a pivotal question, Who is Lord?  Are you struggling with anything in your life that you haven’t allowed Christ to be the Lord over?  What do you feel holds you back from being able to allow God to be Lord over that area of your life?

5) We seem to have a greater hearts desire to worship God during the month of December more than any other time of the year.  What can you do to continue that same spirit of service, generosity and worship as you do during the holiday season?

God’s true value to us is reflected I our level of commitment to Him.  

Don't forget to fill out your Life Group Report Form found here.

Questions for week Dec 2nd-8th

O Holy Night

1) We learned Sunday that even in Bible times the world experienced weariness. Mary, for instance, traveled miles through the desert on the back of a donkey while 9 months pregnant. What do you think gave Mary hope in the weariness we know she had to experience throughout all her pregnancy?

What has given you hope and the ability to rejoice when weariness invades the landscape of life?

2) Everyone would probably agree that there's a big difference between what we need and what we want. Describe a time when you were dealing with weariness that God gave you just what needed instead of what you really wanted.  How did you respond?  And did you discover that what God gave turned out to be even greater than you thought it could? Please explain.

3) Read Hebrews 10:23 in a couple different translations. How does that verse of scripture land on you?

4) What was your main take-a-way, or what ministered to you the most, from Sunday's sermon? 

Don't forget to fill out your Leader Report Form found here.

Questions for week Nov 25th - Dec 1st

Seasons of Change

1) Share a great adventure or journey you have taken in your life? Or share a great adventure you dream of taking one day?

2) At some point in our journey with God He will call us to a great adventure. If you have already experienced this, what about your journey has brought you great joy? What about your journey has brought you great uncertainty?

3) Every step on your journey God has been with you. How have you experienced God's presence as you have journeyed where He has led you?

4) Our journey with God will cause us to grow and that growth will then eventually cause us to change. What has been some of the most significant changes you have noticed in your life due to your growth?

5) God did not bless Abraham just so Abraham could live a blessed life. He blessed Abraham so Abraham could be a blessing to someone else. Same with CCA, God is blessing us so we can be a blessing for others.  Share how CCA has been a blessing to you.  What can you do, and/or what are you doing, to be a blessing to others?

Don't forget to fill out your Life Group Leader Report form found here. 

Questions for week Nov 18th-24th

Frustrated in the Wilderness

1) One of the exciting parts of Thanksgiving are the traditions. What are some traditions you and your family have to celebrate Thanksgiving?

2) Telling others what we are thankful for is one of the great parts of Thanksgiving. What’s something you’re thankful for from this past year? Month? Day? 

3) The Exodus journey was not a smooth one, but over and over again God showed the Israelites he was there for them. How have you struggled to remember God is there for you? How has God reminded you that he is always there for you?

4) The Exodus experience reflects so much of our human journey. What part of you do you see in it?

5) Pastor Jay shared some reflections on the The Exodus story which included:

-Thankfulness is a journey you choose. Exodus 15: 23-25

-Distrust destroys thankfulness. Exodus 16:1-4

-Thankfulness is a lifestyle. Exodus 32

Which on of these points impacted you the most? Which one do you struggle with the most?

6) How do feel we can truly choose thankfulness?

How has distrust destroyed your thankfulness in the past?

How can we truly choose thankfulness as a lifestyle? What does that kind of lifestyle look like?

7) Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 as a group. What do you think this means for us as follower of Jesus. 

8) How can you give thanks in all circumstances?

Take a few minutes and reflect on how good God is by spending some time discussing all that you are thankful for as a group. Also, spend some time together in prayer thanking God for all he has done for you and your family.

Don't forget to fill out your LIfe Group Leader Report here.

Questions for week Nov 11th-17th

Hungry for Purpose

1) Read Proverbs 3:5-6 in a couple different translations. Discuss what these verses mean to you. 

2) Proverbs 5 opens up saying, "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart..." Why does it seem difficult at times for us to do that?

3) People's primary problem who do not honor God's word and walk in obedience to Him is not a rebellion problem, it is a relationship problem.  How would you instruct others in ways to cultivate their relationship with God allowing them to honor God and walk in His obedience?

4) At what point in your life do you remember first wanting to know your purpose in life?

5) God's Word will give you direction. Share a verse that God's given you that gave you clear direction or conformation of a direction you already felt God leading to. 

6) Do you feel you have a good understanding of what God's purpose is for you?  If not, what steps will you take to begin discovering your purpose?  

Don't forget to fill out your Life Group Leader Report Form here.

Questions for week Oct 28th - Nov 3rd

Breaking the Spirit of Fear

1) What do you think is something God would like you to do in the next year? What are some of the fears you will face if you try to do this?

2) Fear literally has the power to cause you to be physically ill.  When you are dealing with fear, what have been some of your physical symptoms? (high heart rate, loss of appetite, etc.)  What advice would you give someone dealing with those same symptoms?

3) What are some Bible passages you could use to encourage someone who is dealing with paralyzing fear?

4) Read 2 Timothy 1:7 in a couple different translations.  How does that verse land on you?

5) What has been the greatest lesson you have learned from dealing with and overcoming fear in your life?  

Don't forget to fill out the Life Group Leader Report Form here.