Questions for week April 26th - May 2nd

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
Baptism Sunday


1) Just for fun: What is one food you never want to taste again?

2) Misconceptions about baptism are common in church. Have any of these misconceptions about baptism been a part of your thinking? And was there something in your past that led you to think that way?

• Baptism as a way to wash away sin.
• Baptism administered to infants.
• Baptism as a means of salvation.
• Baptism by some other method than immersion.
• Baptism prior to genuine conversion.
• Baptism for the dead.
• Baptism is not very significant. 

3) Read Matthew 28:18-20. 

• Why do you think baptism is part of our mandate to make disciples and teach them to observe Jesus’ commandments? 
• What would you say to someone who claims to be a follower of Christ yet has no intension of being baptized? 

4) Read Rom. 6:3-11. 

• How many times do these verses reference “death”? 
• Who’s death? How is dying symbolic of our conversion to Christ? 
• What dies when we are saved? What do you do with an old man who dies? 
• How does baptism picture this process? 

5) If you have been baptized, share your baptism story. (If someone has never been baptized, encourage them to pray about taking part in our next Baptism Service in September.)

Thank you for filling out your Life Group Leader Report form here.

Questions for week April 19th - 25th

Come As You Are
Part 3
Rock Solid

1) Just for fun: How many cities have you lived in and where were they?

Along with the questions below, you can go over the questions from Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

2) At times people have a real fear of the word obedience. They feel like it is a form of God manipulating us. But God doesn't operate that way. We have a free will that has been given to us by God. Knowing this, how does it help you to obey his words, knowing that in the end, God is not wanting something from us but for us?

3) Read Matthew 7:24-29

• What do the wise and foolish builders have in common, and what distinguished the two builders from each other?
• What do the rock, sand, and house represent in this parable?

4) Read Luke 6:46-49

What insights do you gain from this passage when comparing it with Matthew 7:24-27? 

5) Why do you think people “hear” Jesus’ words of encouragement to build their lives on Him, and yet choose to build their lives on “sand”?

6) Read James 1:21-27

List acts of obedience (found in this passage) that help followers of Christ build a firm foundation.

7) One of the points from this message was, The question is not, “Are storms coming?” The only real question is, “On what foundation have you built?” 

• Have you encountered one of life's storms when your foundation was not solid? How would the outcome have been different if your foundation was built on the Solid Rock?
• What are you doing today to prepare for “storms” that will come in your future? 

Close your time together praying or one another and for God to strengthen everyone's foundation so they are able to weather any of life's storm

Thank you for filling out your Life Group Leader Report form found here. 

Questions for week April 12th - 18th

Come As You Are
Part 2
Believe

1) Just for Fun: What was the last book you read completely through?

You can scroll down and go over questions from Part 1 of Come as You Are as well as the questions below.

2) Read John 3:17   Why did God send Jesus into the world?
    Read 2 Peter 3:9  What is God's ultimate goal for every person?

• In verse 17, what is the state of the world without Jesus? What does it mean to be condemned?
• For a world filled with sin and disobedience, what kind of a response would you expect from God? How did he respond? Read Romans 5:6- 8 and Romans 8:1.
• What do people outside the kingdom of God say about why Jesus came into the world? What would you say to someone who doesn’t understand why Jesus came?

3) Mark gave us 4 highlights in his message. Which one of the four resonated with you the most and why?

• No matter who you are, you can be right with God...
• But not because we are so good or can ever be so good...
• Because Jesus is good, we are right with God...
• The power of this truth only comes to those who believe.

4) When it came to believing Jesus is who he says he is, and that He can do what he says he can do (like redeem us from our past and sins), was it easy for you to believe or did you struggle to believe? Explain your answer.

Come As You Are has been a life changer for so many people these past two weeks. Pray with your group for God to continue to transform lives through this series and encourage your group to continue to invite someone to CCA for the last message on April 19th.

Also, if some of your group members have never been baptized, encourage them to pray about signing up for Baptism on the last Sunday in April. They can sign up at our website ccalachua.com. 

Thank you for filling out your Life Group Leader Report Form found here.

Questions for week April 5th - 11th

Come as You Are
Part 1
Follow

1) Just for Fun: Share a great moment that happened this past Easter either with your family or at church.

2) When you were growing up, what was your understanding of Jesus? Did you have any knowledge of Him, was he kind of like Santa Clause to you (not real but sounded nice, etc.

3) Pastor Mark described 3 things a relationship with God is like-

• A Father and a Child- loving, nurturing and encouraging
• A Vine and a Branch- a relationship where there is a transfer of life and all that is needed for life to thrive.
• A Shepard and a Sheep- a relationship that is built upon protection, care, provision and trust.

Which one means the most to you and why when it comes to the way you relate to God?

4) Read Matthew 9:9-13

• Why do you think Jesus would seek the most hated person in Jewish society to join his mission?
• Matthew actually got up and followed! What was the cause and motivation for you to get up and follow Christ too?
• Jesus was criticized for keeping company with outcasts and sinners. If Jesus’ earthly ministry took place today, where do you think he would minister and with whom do you think he would keep company? How do you think news organizations report on him, and how would churches react to him?
• Any effective physician needs to be around sick people just as any good gardener needs to get their hands dirty.  Do you believe we can measure our ‘effectiveness’ for the kingdom based on who we keep company with and how dirty our hands get? Why or why not?
• Where do we need to draw the line in keeping company with questionable characters? How can this practically be done in your life?

Evangelism is not a program; it is a relationship with the marginalized.  End your time with your Life Group by praying for God to help open your eyes to those everyone else may overlook.  Pray for an opportunity to serve them and love them and ultimately introduce them to Jesus.

Thank you for filling out your Life Group Leader Report form found here.