11.12.23 Small Group Discussion

Sin and Consequences Small Group Video

Sin and Consequences

When mistakes are made, there are always consequences.= 

• Tell us about a humorous mistake you’ve made. Why are humans so error-prone?

Read: Numbers 13:1-3

• How would you have felt if you were one of the scouts sent into Canaan?

Read: Numbers 13:25-33

• What was the actual sin of the 10 scouts who were opposed to entering the Promised Land? How have you personally dealt with that sin?

Read: (If you want the full story) Numbers 14:1-25

(If you want the spark notes version) Numbers 14:27-30

• What were the consequences for the Israelites in this story?

• What does tell us about God?

• What should be the response of God’s people when we make mistakes?

Read: Numbers 14:39-45

• Share a time when you were like the Israelites here, boldly pushing ahead into a situation where God was NOT present. What did you learn from that situation?

Read: 1 Timothy 2:5-6

• What has Jesus done for us in regards to our mistakes? How does that change our situation with God?

Pray: For the wisdom to recognize your mistakes, and the courage to rectify them.

11.05.23 Small Group Discussion

Mixed Up Small Groups Video

Mixed Up!

Holiness is displayed in how you live. 

• What was your youth sports experience like?

• What stood out to you from your reading this week, and from Sunday’s message?

Read: Leviticus 19:1-10

• How did these laws make the Israelites distinct from the nations who surrounded them?

Read: Leviticus 19:11-18

• Which of the laws we’ve read in this chapter continue to have bearing for us today?

Read Leviticus 19:19

• Have you heard of this law in the past? What was your reaction to it then?

• What does this law tell us about God’s heart for humankind?

• Name some ways that Christians “mix up” their faith with the attitudes and actions of this world?

• Which of those ways have been a temptation to you?

• How obvious is it to outsiders that you’re “playing for a different team?”

Pray: Ask God to help you identify areas you need to change so that others can tell you are a follower of Jesus.

10.29.23 - Small Group Discussion

Sacrifice Small Groups Video

SACRIFICE AND BLOOD

God makes a way to be close to his people.

• What is a time when you got dirty or stained and it wouldn’t come off?  How did that make you feel?

• What has been your experience so far with Leviticus?

Wally shared the following parts of the sacrifice this week:

• Unclean/impure provided something to sacrifice (had to cost you something)

• Lifeblood played a special role

• What was sacrificed was totally destroyed

• Sometimes you ate part of the sacrifice to show God was in covenant with Israel

Read: Leviticus 4

• As you read, note the specific parts of the sacrifice above.

• Which parts of the sacrifice ritual were you surprised by?  Why?

• Do you think you could function in a system like this?

• Why does God make it cost Israel something as they participate in sacrifice to stay clean/pure?

• God is always moving close to us.  He does so in the OT.  He does so through Jesus.  How does that make you feel? 

• What does that say about your worth to God?

Read Romans 12:1-2

• What do you need to surrender in your life to move closer to God?

Pray: Have each person share one thing they need to change and then pray for one another.

10.22.23 - Small Group Discussion

God In the Neighborhood Small Groups Video

God in the Neighborhood

To be holy is to be set apart.

• What stood out to you from your reading this week, and from Sunday’s message?

Read: Exodus 40:34-48

• If God were your next-door neighbor, what would that mean for how you live?

Read: Leviticus 1:1-9

• When you think of the book of Leviticus, what comes to mind?

Read Leviticus 1:10-17

• What catches your attention in these verses? What questions do you have about them?

Read: I Peter 1:13-16

• In what ways is your life different than that of the lives of your non-believing friends, co-workers, and family members?

• Is it obvious to others that you are a Christian?

• What do you need to do this week to live a more set-apart (holy) life?

Pray: Pray for God to open your eyes to specific ways in which you can practice holiness.

10.15.23 - Small Group Discussion

Ever Present Grace Small Group Video

Ever-Present Grace

You’re never too far gone for God to be your Ever-Present Help.

• What stood out to you from your reading this week, or from Sunday’s message?

Read: Exodus 23:20-26

• What all was God promising to do for the Israelites?

• How does verse 21 strike you?

Read: Exodus 4:3-7

• What did the Israelites promise to do? How’d that turn out for them?

Read Exodus 32:1-5

• Israel transgressed in the worst possible way here. Taking a big view of Scripture, why do you think God chose to withhold destruction from his people?

Leaders: Compare your group’s answers with Romans 3:25-26.

• Have you ever felt “too far gone,” unredeemable, or that you’ve messed up too badly to turn to God? If you are willing to share, tell us about that time.

• On Sunday, Walter shared that its “only when you understand the severity of your own sin, can you truly understand the gift of God’s grace.”

• When have you come face to face with the magnitude of your own sin?

• At what points in your life have experienced the reality of God’s grace?

Read Romans 3:23-26

• What is God saying to you through these verses?

Pray: Spend some time thanking God for his indescribably good gift of grace.

10.08.23 - Small Group Discussion

Rescue Small Groups Video

Rescue

When God calls, he is an Ever-Present Help

• What stood out to you from your reading this week, or from Sunday’s message?

Read: Exodus 3:1-10

• God got Moses’ attention with a burning bush. What has he used to get your attention?

Read: Exodus 3:11-12

• What is God’s answer to Moses’ first question? What are the implications of that?

• When have you heard God’s call in the past? How did you respond?

Read Exodus 3:13-16

• How would you characterize God’s response to Moses’ second question?

Read Exodus 4:1

• This is Moses’ third question of God. Does it seem reasonable to you?

Read Exodus 4:10-12

• What does God promise to do, and what does he not promise to do in response to Moses’ fourth question.

Read Exodus 4:13-14

• Why did God become angry with Moses after this fifth response?

• What has God been calling you to do recently? How willing are you?

Pray: For boldness in answering God’s call.

10.01.23 - Small Group Discussion

Confidence Small Group Video

Confidence

God has the power, and he is your ever-present help.

• What stood out to you from your reading this week, or from Sunday’s message?

Read: Psalm 46:1-11

• Which statements in this psalm show confidence?

• Who is someone you know who displays confidence in God. What does that look like?

Read: Genesis 41:1-7

• (Have someone in your group who knows the story of Joseph recap what happened in his life up to this point.)

Read Genesis 41:8-15

• In what ways had God helped Joseph up to this point? In what ways might Joseph have felt forgotten by God?

• Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes: how confident would you have been in God if you were him?

Read Genesis 41:16

• What does this verse tell us about Joseph? What does it say about God?

Read Genesis 41:40

• How many times does Joseph mention God in this chapter?

• What reasons did Joseph have to trust God so deeply?

Pray: Name an area in your life in which you’re struggling to trust God. Now go around the group and pray that each person grows to confidently trust God in that specific area.

09.24.23 - Small Group Discussion

Unstoppable Story Small Group Video

UNSTOPPABLE STORY

Looking backward helps us to move forward.

• How far back do you know your own family history? Where did you get your stories from?

• How does the thought of being forgotten make you feel?

Read: Genesis 25:19-34

• Are you more of an outdoors person or a stay inside person? Why?

• What kind of tension do you think there is between the brothers leading up to the birthright/stew interaction? Did they get along? Why or why not?

Read: Genesis 28:10-32

• Which part of God’s blessing of Jacob (and Abraham) do you resonate with most? People, Place, Privilege, and Purpose?

• Why is it important for God to set Jacob’s course, and not Jacob doing it on his own?

• What is Jacob’s response?

Read: Genesis 32:24-32

• Why do you think Jacob wrestles with God? Why won’t he let him go?

• What is the significance of God changing Jacob’s name to Israel?

• How would you feel if God rewrote part of who you were?

• What parts of Jacob’s story do you relate with the most? Why do you think God uses imperfect people?

• What parts of your life are defined by other things? How do you need to change to allow God’s story to define you?

Pray: Share an area where you need to change because of God’s Unstoppable Story. Pray for each other.

09.17.23 - Small Group Discussion

God Sees Small Group Video

God Sees

When you can’t see the way forward, God is an ever-present help. 

• What stood out to you from your reading this week, and from Sunday’s message?

Read: Genesis 16:1-6

• Abraham and Sarah are listed in the “heroes of faith” chapter of Hebrews in the New Testament. How could they have behaved like this?

• In what areas of your life do you have trouble trusting God?

Read: Genesis 16:7-13

• In what ways did God help Hagar in this story?

Read: Genesis 21:8-14

• What would you have done if you were in Abraham’s shoes?

Read Genesis 21:15-16

• Share a time when you felt completely hopeless.

Read Genesis 21:17-21

• God helped Hagar for a second time here. How has God stepped into your moments of hopelessness and desperation?

• What Scriptures dovimeo you turn to when you are feeling hopeless?

Pray: Share an area in which you have trouble finding hope, and then pray for the patience to trust God.

09.10.23 - Small Group Discussion

Unexpected Help Small Group Video

Unexpected Help

When life doesn’t make sense, God is an ever-present help. 

• What stood out to you from your reading this week, and from Sunday’s message?

Read: Genesis 2:15-25

• What do you now understand better about this passage of Scripture?

• What was Adam’s problem? How did God resolve it for him?

Read: Psalm 46:1-3

• Share examples from Scripture of when God showed up as a help for his people.

• Share a story of when you clearly felt God’s presence.

• Think about the struggles in your own life. Where have you experienced God’s help?

Read Acts 17:24-29

• How does God satisfy our needs, and in what ways has he been close – “not far off” to you?

Pray: Have group members share 1 specific area in which they need God’s help, and then pray for one another.

08.27.23 - Small Group Discussion

Enough Small Group Discussion

Enough

God is enough. 

• What stood out to you from Sunday’s message?

Read: Exodus 20:17

• Think about coveting in your own life. What comes to mind?

• Why does God get so specific in this commandment, especially with compared to the few preceding it?

• How does American culture push you toward coveting?

Read: James 1:14-15

• How do these verses describe the process of coveting? What is the result of allowing sin to grow? How have you witnessed those results?

• What is “holy dissatisfaction,” and how can you practice that instead of coveting?

• In what ways is God actually enough?

Read: Exodus 20:18-19 & I Timothy 2:5-6

• What do you think of the Israelite’s reaction? Would you have been the same as them?

• How does Moses fulfil a similar role for the Israelites, that Jesus fulfils for you?

Pray: Partner up and share with each other where you’re struggling against coveting this week. Then pray for contentment. Then check in mid-week with your partner to see how they’re doing.

08.20.23 - Small Group Discussion

The Truth Will Set You Free Small Group Video

The Truth Will Set You Free

Lies distort community. 

• What caught your attention from Sunday’s message?

• How do you react when you find out that someone has lied to you? Why do you feel that way?

Read: Exodus 20:1-2

• How do these two verses set the stage for the rest of the 10 Commandments?

Read: Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 17:6-7, 19:15-19

• What did “false testimony” mean to the Israelites in Moses’ day?

• What does this commandment mean for us today?

Read: James 3:13-18

• In what ways do our words have power?

• What does it look like to be “false to the truth?” (v. 14)

• How would dishonesty have distorted community for the Israelites, and how can it distort community for us today? 

Pray: Ask God to help you identify where you struggle with theft. Then, ask him for the boldness to deal with that sin in your life.

08.13.23 - Small Group Discussion

The Little Things

The Little Things Small Group Video

Theft begins in the heart. 

• Share a time when something was taken from you without your consent. How did you deal with that situation?

• How have you struggled with the temptation to steal?

Read: Exodus 20:1-2

• Why is it important to note that the 10 Commandments were given to people who already belonged to God? What does this mean for how we use them today?

Read: Exodus 20:15

• Why does God oppose theft?

• What is the connection between theft, selfishness, and the way we value or devalue others?

Read: Romans 13:8-10

• In what ways does love “fulfill the requirements of the law”?

• What do you need to do to acknowledge God as the source of all possessions?

• What do you need to do to choose love?

Pray: Ask God to help you identify where you struggle with theft. Then, ask him for the boldness to deal with that sin in your life.

08.06.23 - Small Group Discussion

Faithful

Faithful Small Groups Video

God defines our sexuality.  Be faithful!

• What was the weirdest rule your parents had for you when you were growing up?

• Why did we fight our parents rules when we were growing up?

Read: Exodus 20:1-17

• Which is the easiest command for you to follow?

• What’s the hardest?  Why?

• If we were to expand verse 14, what would you include?

Read: Matthew 5:27-30

• Why do you think Jesus was so drastic in his statements about sex here?

• If Jesus is so direct and drastic, why is sexual sin such a problem within the church?

• What things can we do to flee from the world’s saturation of unhealthy sexuality?

• What God things can we do to keep our eyes/hands/heart focused on God’s Kingdom rather than the world?

• Being faithful to God’s view of sex is a team effort.  Who are the Nathans in your life?  Who could be the Nathans in your life?

Read: Psalm 51

• How does it make you feel to know that God views each of us as a person of deep worth?

• Even knowing this, why is it hard to deal with our sin?  How can we help one another>

Pray: Ask God for humility in your life so you will do the right thing and flee from the sexual sin in your life.

07.30.23 - Small Group Questions

Life

Life Small Groups Video

Life belongs to God.

• What’s something that you wish people had more common sense about?

• Do you believe people are generally good or generally evil? Why?

Read: Exodus 20:8-12

• Do you practice either of these commandments? What does that look like for you?

Read: Exodus 20:13

• Why did God have to say this? Would you put this commandment in the category of “common sense?” Why?

Read: Genesis 4:1-10

• Can you imagine being Cain? Murder had never been committed until this time. How do you imagine the fallout of this decision affected him into the future?

• Should Cain have known that murder was wrong?

Read: Matthew 5:21-22

• In what ways are you guilty of breaking Jesus’ teaching here?

• What can you do to seek life this week?

Pray: Ask God to show you where you are breaking his commandments, and to help you seek life.

07.23.23 Small Group Discussion

Original Sin

Original Sin Small Groups Video

The first sin is to reject God. 

• What do you know about the Ten Commandments?

Read: Exodus 20:1-3

• How easy do you find it to be to worship only God?

• What are you giving the most attention to in your life?

Read: Genesis 3:1-6

• Adam and Eve were un-convinced that God’s way was best, and were convinced to take the forbidden fruit. In what areas of life do you struggle to be convinced that God’s way is best?

Read: Exodus 20:4-6

• What idols have you created in your life?

Read: Exodus 1:7

• In what ways are you guilty of breaking this commandment?

• What do you need to do this week to submit yourself to God and to worship him alone?

• How does worshipping God instead of ourselves help mend human relationships?

Pray: Ask God to reveal ways in which you are not living up to the standard of the first three commandments, and to help you make changes so that you worship God alone and treat him as holy.

07.16.23 - Small Group Discussion

SERVE

SERVE Small Group Video

Faith demands action.

• Share your favorite memory of serving with the church.

• Does serving come naturally to you, or is it difficult to make yourself serve?

Read: Matthew 7:13-14

• What does the wide path look like today? How about the narrow path?

Read: Matthew 7:25-20

• What kind of fruit do you see your faith producing?

Read: Matthew 7:21-23

• How can you take this warning to heart?

• How is faith more than just belief or cognitive assent?

Read: Matthew 7:24-29

• What do you need to do this week to put Jesus’ words into practice?

• How can you be more aware of the needs in our congregation?

• How can serving provide you an opportunity to practice other spiritual disciplines?

Pray: Ask God for opportunities to servse, and willingness to step up!

07.09.23 - Small Group Discussion

REST

Rest Small Group Video

Rest is the antidote to worry. 

• When was the last time you felt fully rested?

• On a scale from too busy to too relaxed, what’s life like for you right now?

Read: Genesis 2:1-3

• Why did God rest?

Read: Matthew 6:25-27

• What do you worry about?

Read: Matthew 6:28-30

• How is trust the opposite of worry?

Read: Matthew 6:31-34

• How can rest be the antidote to worry?

• How easy is it for you to rest?

• What does rest look like for you?

• What can you do this week to seek rest?

Pray: Pray for your group members to be bold enough to choose rest over busyness.

07.02.23 - Small Group Discussion

PERSONAL WORSHIP 

Personal Worship Small Group Video

God wants our full attention. God wants us to REVERE Him.

• If you had nothing to do for the rest of the day, what would you o/

• In life, what do you get distracted by most?

Read: Matthew 6:22-24

• What is described as the lamp of the body?  Why?

• What is the result of good eyes?

• What distracts you from God the most throughout the week?

Read: Deuteronomy 6:4-8

• Which is harder for you—to love God with your heart, soul, or strength

• How can you follow the commands of verses 4-9 today?  What are some specifics you can do with the next generation?

Read: Matthew 5:13-16

• In light of Matthew 6:22-23, what are some specific actions you can do this week to lessen or eliminate these distractions from your life?

• As you create space for God by limiting distractions, what are some things you can do this week to revere/worship God more?

• Why is it so important for us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world?

• How are you going to REVERE God in this week’s 168 hours?

Pray: Pray that your will allow God to draw your attention to Him this week.  Pray that you will limit the distractions and be able to REVERE God.

06.25.23 - Small Group Discussion

FAST

FASTING Small Groups Video

Fasting focuses our faith. 

• What’s your least favorite tool to use? Why?

• Have you ever fasted? Why were you fasting? How did it go? What were the results?

• What do you know about fasting from Scripture?

Read: Matthew 6:1

• How much do you struggle with wanting to do your good deeds “publicly, to be admired by others?”

Read: Matthew 6:16-18

• What is the point of Jesus’ instructions here?

Read: Acts 9:3-9

• Why did Paul fast in this situation?

Read: Acts 13:3 and 14:23

• Why did the earliest Christians fast in these two situations?

• Should Christians fast? What’s your Biblical evidence, and what would be the purpose of that fasting?

Pray: Pray that your group members will be practicing their faith to please God and not to please others.