Questions for week Oct 19th - 25th

Unlikely Heroes
Part 3
Unlikely Boldness

1) Just for fun: Is there a story or significance about your name? (were you named after someone, your name has a specific meaning, etc.)

2) Who wrote the book of Daniel? When did it take place? When was it written?

3) Read 2 Kings 24:14 Who did Nebuchadnezzar take into captivity back to Babylon and who was left in Judah?

4) Ready Jeremiah 29:4-7. What advice did Jeremiah have for the Jews that were taken into exile?  Do you think this advice would be easy to follow? What would be the result of following the advice (verse 7)? How can that same advice translate to us today?

5) Why do you think Nebuchadnezzar especially want young men for training (Daniel 1:4)? old men set in their ways, but rather young men who were able and eager to learn

6) Why do you suppose Ashpenaz changed the names of Daniel and his three friends? (possibly to intimidate them, brand them, frighten them, anger them, assimilate them)

7) Daniel requested a special diet of food and drink. Do you think maintaining this diet was easy or difficult for them when everyone else was enjoying the Kings food and wine?

8) How do you feel when you stand up for something that you believe in? (confidence, power, peace, elation, fear, freedom)   If you deal with fears, what helps you combat those fears?

9) Has there been a time in your past that you stood up for something? How has that moment effected you?

10) Was there anything else about this message that stood out to you or helped you?


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

Questions for week Oct 12th - 18th

Unlikely Heroes
Part 2
Ordinary World Changers


1) Just for fun: Do you have a nickname that your family or friends call you? If so, how did they come up with that nickname?

Feel free to click here and go over some of the questions from Part 1 of Unlikely Heroes. 

Read Nehemiah Chapter 1

2) What injustices do you see today that breaks your heart and moves you on behalf of others? What is it, that when you see it, it lingers in your mind and spirit?

3) What was the news that Nehemiah received?

     How did the news affect him?

4) Read these verses in Nehemiah 

1:4

2:4-5

4:4

4:7-9

What is the common theme in them? (Nehemiah is praying during difficult times)

What is your first go-to when you are going through difficult times and adversity?

How important do you thing prayer was for Nehemiah and his situation? 

Why is that sometimes our go-to is not to pray first?

5) Read Nehemiah 1:4-11. What stands out to you from Nehemiah's prayer?

Answers could include:

He proclaimed the goodness and greatness of God.

He confesses their sin.

He declared the faithfulness of God.

He reminds God of his greatness.

He expressed the sovereignty of God.

He revealed the attentiveness of God toward his children.

He trusted the forgiveness of God.

 How do you think this prayer moved God? 

6) Have you ever seen a situation and said, “Somebody has got to do something about this and it might as well be me.”?

7) How do you tend to respond when faced with an emergency or crisis? Do you tend to jump in the middle of it or step back and look for the best way to help out? Why do you think you respond in this way?

8) Has your heart been stirred to sit down and pray then stand up and act about something? How can you take the next steps toward action this week?

End your time together praying for God to stir your group member's hearts to not just hear and see, but to act. Pray for them to be moved by compassion making a difference (Jude 1:22).

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

Questions for week Oct 5th - 11th

Unlikely Heroes
Be Like Barney
Acts 4

1) Just for fun: What is your favorite fall food or activity? Do you have a story you can share with your answer?

2) Read 2 Chronicles 16:9 aloud to your group. Then ask these questions-
What thoughts about God and yourself come to your mind when you read this verse? (God is looking for people whose hearts are completely committed to Him so He can use them to great things in His name. Am I someone He will find fully committed to Him?)
Has your commitment to God changed since you first began walking with Him?
If so, how?
And, why?

3) Encouragement of others leads to their acceptance. Read Acts 4:32-37 and Acts 9:26-31 and discuss the following questions.

Why did the disciples initially reject Saul?

How did Barnabas defend Saul before the disciples?

Do you know someone who has been judged by their past and not their present like Saul?  How can you come along side of them and encourage them?  

4) Encouragement builds Christ church with vibrancy and vitality. Read Acts 11:19-26.

Why was Barnabas the right man to be sent to Antioch?

What was his assignment?

Who did Barnabas eventually recruit to help him in Antioch?

What spiritual gifting do you possess that can be an encouragement to others like Barnabas' was?

What did the end of verse 26 say? (This is the first time disciples were called Christians)

5) Who has been a Barnabas to you in your life? What was it that they did to encourage and help you? 

6) What is one thing you know you can do this week to encourage someone who you know right now needs it?

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

Questions for week Sept 28th - Oct 4th

I Am New
Baptism


1) Just for fun: Is there a significance to your name?  (Were you name after someone in your family, etc.)

2) Read Acts 8:26-40. What role did the scripture play in the Ethiopian’s conversion? What role did it play in yours? Was there a particular section of scripture that the Lord used to awaken you to your need for salvation?

3) Why do you think God sent Phillip to the Ethiopian? Does God still send people to help others understand the scripture? Has God ever used you like he did Phillip?

4) What questions did Phillip ask the Ethiopian? How could you rephrase those questions to share Christ with someone today?

5) How much time do you think passed between the Ethiopian’s conversion and his baptism? What lessons do we learn about baptism from the Ethiopian?

6) 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?

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

Questions for week Sept 21st - 27th

Sweet Dreams
Part 4
The Fear of People's Opinion

1) Just for fun: Paper or Plastic? Why? And do you recycle?

Feel free to scroll down and go through some of the questions from Parts 1-3 as well as these.

2) The main point of this series is, The focus of our lives is not, How can I fear LESS? The focus of our lives should be How do I trust God MORE?  How have you been trusting God more these past few weeks? In what part of your life do you want to learn to trust God in more?

3) When you were a teen, in what area of your life did you worry about other's opinions the most? (your looks, the car you drove, etc?). As an adult, what do you now realize looking back over those worries?  (everyone had the same worries, my car was fine and paid for, etc.)

4) Read Matthew 1:18-25.  Put yourself in Joseph's shoes. What do you think would have been your greatest fear? How difficult do you think it was for Joseph to trust God?

5) What has been the biggest decision of your life that you made knowing family and friends would not agree with you? What did you learn from your experience?

6) What was some of the greatest criticism you have ever received from making a big decision? What advice would you give to someone on the brink of making the biggest decision of their lives that other's might criticize?

6) What has been the biggest lesson you have learned from this series?


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

Questions for week Sept 14th - 20th

Sweet Dreams
Part 3
Paralyzed by Decisions

1) Just for Fun: If you could eat at only one restaurant for the rest of your life, what restaurant would you choose?

Feel free to go through questions from Part 1 here and Part 2 here as well as the ones below.

2) What was one of your biggest decisions you have had to make this year?

3) Have you ever struggled with a decision in life for fear of stepping out of the will of God?

4) What do you feel was the greatest decision you have had to make in your life? What was it about the decision that made it so difficult? What helped guide you while making the decision?  How has making a big decision caused you to be more Christlike?

5) The next time you have to make a big decision, how will this message Paralyzed by Decisions help you? (It is not just about what I do, it is more about who I become.)


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

Questions for week September 7th - 13th

Sweet Dreams
Part 2
The Unknown
Exodus 16

1) Just for Fun: What are you looking forward to the most this Fall?

Feel free to go through some of the questions from Sweet Dreams Part 1. They have been added below.

2) If you were to step out and trust God in some area of your life that scares you to death, what would you be stepping out to do?

3) If you have stepped out, trusted God, and have tried to accomplish something that scared you to death, what was it that you did, and what was the result? How did it change you?

4) How differently would your life look right now if you just faced the fear holding you back and stepped out in faith?

5) What about this message meant the most to you?

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

Sweet Dreams

Part 1

The Fear Fight

1) Just for Fun: When you were a kid, what frightened you the most?

2) Why are children afraid of the dark? (Because of shadows; because they can’t see their parents anymore; because everything takes on a different look when the lights are out.)

3) What creates fear in people’s lives? (Bad experiences; they are taught to be afraid of things by parents or friends; pressure to succeed.)

4) What are some of your greatest fears? (Getting fired; death; losing my family; getting cancer; nuclear attack.)

5) How have you dealt with your fears in the past? (I work extra hours and stay busy to try to cover them up; I drink; I chew my fingernails; I talk about them.)

6) How can fear be negative to us? (Can lead to bad habits that try to mask our feelings; can make it so we aren’t really living life; can control us and make us nervous, anxious people.)

7) How can fear be positive for us? (Can motivate us to do well; help us to deal with hard things in life; protect us from danger.)

8) Of the four things Pastor Mark shared about how to grow your faith and fight your fear, which one has helped you the most in the past when dealing with your fear? Which one do you need to do more of?

1. Recognize God everyday

2. Rely on His power

3. Remind yourself that God has a plan

4. Rest in His protection