Questions for week Jan 24th - 31st

Guardrails
Part 3
Avoiding the Cash Crash


Just for Fun: Seeing as North Florida saw some snow flurries on the 23rd, share a snow story of your own. Have you never seen snow, ever been snowed in, lived where it snowed every winter, etc.?


Feel free to scroll down and also go through some of the questions from Guardrails Part 1 and 2 too.

INTRODUCTION

Contrary to popular opinion, God does not want something from you, he wants something for you. And nowhere is that more true than with your finances. Then why are we so insistent on separating our faith and our finances? What kinds of guardrails need to go up in order to protect us from financial disaster?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1) Why do you think money and sex are the two most disregarded topics from the Bible?

2) Define the word greed. What kind of guardrails do you currently have in place to protect you from greed?

3) Read Matthew 6:24. Do you agree that the biggest competitor for your trust is your stuff?

4) What is the difference between healthy consuming and hoarding and unhealthy consuming and hoarding?

5) Read Matthew 6:31–33. What steps will you take to incorporate a lifestyle that practices give, save, live?

6) What is the biggest lesson you have learned in your life regarding finances? 

6) What could the local church be capable of if giving became a regular practice for everyone?

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

Questions for week Jan 17th - 23rd

Guardrails 2
"Who are you Riding With"

1) Just for fun: Do you have any friendships that began in childhood that you still have to this day?

INTRODUCTION

Friendships are powerful things. They’re great, but dangerous. You drop your guard with your friends. You become less careful. And as a result, you’re easily influenced, drawn toward the acceptance you find. Because of this vulnerability, it would be smart to develop some guardrails. It’s not an easy thing—but it might end up saving you from future pain.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1) Apart from your current family members, who are your closest friends? Your amigos? Your posse?

2) Were your parents protective of who you spent time with as a child? As you look back, are you glad they were protective?

3) Think about some of your greatest regrets. Were you in the company of friends or enemies?

4) Read Proverbs 13:20. How has this proverb been demonstrated in your life?

5) While the idea of friendship is a great thing, what type of guardrails do you need to construct in this area of your life?

6) What is one tangible, intentional way you can practice “walking with the wise”?

Final Thought

Constructing the necessary guardrails in a relationship/friendship is painful. But being intentional about walking with the wise protects you and puts you in a position to help others later on.

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

Questions for week Jan 10th - 16th

Guardrails
Drive Carefully


1) Just for fun: If you made New Years Resolutions, how are you doing on them?

You rarely notice guardrails until you are in an accident where one saves your life. The damage done by hitting a guardrail is minor when compared to what you would have hit had it not been there. Guardrails. They’re good things.

1. Have you ever been in a car accident involving guardrails or medians?

2. In your life, was there a time where guardrails might have been helpful if you would have had them into place?

3. What guardrails have you set up in your life?

4. “Our culture does not promote guardrails. Culture is content with just a painted line.” Do you agree or disagree? What are some examples from our culture?

5. Read Ephesians 5:15-17. Which phrases from those verses resonate with you the most?

6. In verse 18, the apostle Paul uses alcohol to illustrate his point about debauchery. What areas of your life do you struggle with “losing control”?

7. In which areas of your life have you been dancing on the yellow line? Listen to your conscience. Pay attention to the Holy Spirit. Where do you need to set up some guardrails? How can we pray for you about this?

MOVING FORWARD

Nobody plans to enter into a violent marriage. Nobody plans to ruin his or her finances. Nobody plans to struggle with an addiction. What steps do you take to make sure these things don’t happen? Set up guardrails. You can tell yourself that you’ll “be careful.” Well, setting up guardrails is how you “be careful.”

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

Questions for week Jan 3rd - Jan 9th

2016 - Live it with Purpose


1) Just for fun: What is your feeling about New Year's Resolutions? Did you make any?

2) When anything in creation fulfills it's purpose, it brings glory to God. And one of the ways we bring glory to God is by developing a deeper relationship with Him. What steps do you plan to take to develop a deeper relationship with God in 2016?

3) Read Romans 15:7. Another way we bring glory to God is by forgiving and accepting each other. How did Christ accept us? Then how should we accept others?

4) Read Ephesians 2:10. We did not earn salvation through our works, but there are definitely things God expects us to do with our new life. Serving others is one of those things. How have you incorporated service to others in your daily life? What things would you like to do more of when it comes to serving others?

5) Pastor Mark's last point was this... We bring glory to God when we share him with others. How can you do this in greater ways in 2016?

Close your time together asking God to help everyone in your group grow closer to him this year and share him with more people.

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

Questions for week Dec 6th - 12th

White Flag


1) Just for Fun: What is the one Christmas movie you just have to watch during the holidays?

2) 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?

3) 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?

4) Read Psalm 3:5-6 then answer the following questions:

• Why is it difficult for you to trust God, His word and His power, rather than your own understanding and strength?
• What helps you to trust God, His word and His power?
• What does it mean to acknowledge God and He will make your paths straight? What does it mean to walk by faith? What’s hard about this? What makes it easier? 

5) 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.

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

Questions for week Nov 29th - Dec 5th

This is How we Change the World 

Spiritual Contributors > Spiritual Consumers

1) Just for Fun: What makes you get in the Christmas spirit?

2) Italian Friar Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at ALL times and, when necessary, use words.” 

• How does this quote challenge you? 
• How is serving one way of “preaching the Gospel?”
• Which do you feel is more important, telling people about Jesus with words or serving them with actions?

3) Tell about a time when someone thought of you and served you instead of themselves. 

• How did that blessing affect you?
• Who was it that blessed you? Did you get a chance to thank them or bless them back? 
• Was God glorified as you received a blessing from someone who humbled themselves to serve you? 

4) Throughout Jesus’ ministry, what type of people did he minister to, heal and serve?

• What does that say about whom we should serve?
• Why is it easier to serve some people than others?

5) What are some of your strongest talents and gifts? What makes you unique?

• Read 1 Corinthians 12:7-12
• Do you believe that our strengths and talents come from God?
• According to verses 7,  why do we have spiritual gifts?

As you close your time together, think of some ways you can serve others this Christmas season as a life group. And if someone in your group is interested in serving at CCA, point them to the Serving tab our website ccalachua.com for their next step.

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

Questions for week Nov 22nd - 28th

This is How We Change the World
Whatever it takes to Get them to Jesus


1) Just for Fun: Do you have a Thanksgiving tradition? If so, what is it?

2) Share one of your first memories of being in a church building.

3) Read Matthew 28:18-20, known as the Great Commission. How do you feel you fit in with the Great Commission? Is it something you struggle to understand?

4) How has attending CCA changed your life, family, relationships and walk with God?

5) What impacted you the most from this sermon?


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