Week of 11/5/15

LIFE GROUP
WEEK 5

REDEMPTION THROUGH ABRAHAM

THEME: When God blessed Abraham he blessed the world and those blessings where fulfilled through Jesus Christ and are now applied to those of us who are in Christ, living empowered by the Spirit.

Reading for Preparation:

• The Story of Abram to Abraham: Genesis 12:1-9, Genesis 15:1-21, Genesis 17:1-14
• Implications for us today: Galatians 3:7-9, John 8:56
• How should this affect our thoughts, character & life: Genesis 15:1-6, Romans 4:23-25

Song for meditation & worship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lH2IJEY1sY

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What stands out from reading passages in Genesis 12, 15 & 17?

a.  What does God’s covenant w/ Abraham reeal to us about God?

b.What does God’s covenant w/ Abraham reveal to us about God’s plan of redemption?

c. How have you seen the pattern of the redemption in your own life?

• In Genesis 15, God made it clear that his promises to Abraham were not dependent on Abraham.  How should this affect the way we think about God’s plan of redemption?
• What is the significance of God creating a people for himself?  What did God want to accomplish through this “Great Nation” He promised to form?
• What implications does God’s promise have for us today? 
• Why does the New Testament make a big deal about Abraham’s faith? Romans 4:23-2

FINAL DISCUSSION QUESTION:

• Genesis 12:2 – “I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”

a.      In blessing Abraham, God was intentionally seeking to bless the world.  In thinking about how God has blessed you through Jesus and given us His Spirit today, what does that mean for our life?

b.     What does it mean for you to bless the world with the way you love, live and respond in every situation?

Week of 10/22/15

LIFE GROUP
Week 4
10/22/15

THE FALL

THEME: Sin Runs Deep

The degree to which we understand sin will be the degree to which we understand the gospel.

SONG FOR MEDITATION: https://vimeo.com/122979971

READING FOR PREPARATION:

• Cursed is Humanity (Genesis 3.14 – 16) - Our bodies, our actions, tendencies, desires (Romans 1.28-32); our conscious, subconscious, pre-meditated and impulsive (Romans 7.15-20); our greatest of effort and best of deeds (Isaiah 64:6).
• Cursed is Creation (Genesis 3.17-19) - Animals, plants, microbes, organisms, etc. (Romans 8.20)
• Cursed is the Natural Order (Genesis 3.22-24 ) - The whole world – physical, biological, and natural (Romans 8.22); invisible governance of the world (Ephesians 2.2)
• Redemption  - Heaven is at hand (Matt. 10.7); Humanity is being made new (2 Cor 5.17); Creation and the natural order are being made new (Romans 8.21, Rev 21.5); on earth as it is in heaven (Matt 6.10)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What kinds of thoughts and feelings does reading Genesis 3 evoke? Is it depressing? Does it feel defeating? Why?
• Why is it important to recognize the curse of sin on humanity? On Creation? On the Natural Order?
• How does Genesis 3 give us a greater understanding/appreciation for the gospel? In what ways can the gospel takes on new meaning in our lives?
• In light of the passages above, what does redemption look like? What does this mean for the gospel-centered life? What does this mean for gospel-centered work? Family? Leisure? Etc.

FINAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Where do you see the implications of Genesis 3 in your life and world around you?
• What does it look like for transformation/healing/renewal to take place on “earth as it is in Heaven”?

Week of 10/15/15

LIFE GROUP
Week 3
10/15/15

DINNER & FAMILY PRAYER

This week in life group, we will have dinner together.  Kids are welcome & encouraged to come.  Over dinner we will talk through the following questions in response to our time together 2 weeks ago.

1.  Where are you specifically seeing the glory of God on display right now?
2.  Where does darkness seem to hide the glory of God and how can we all pray through this with you?

One of our desires this year is that we would all encourage, pray for and challenge each other to faithfully proclaim and demonstrate the kingdom of God in our everyday life.  Our hope for Thursday night, is that we would be able to press a little deeper into that together as we fellowship, pray and worship the Lord together.

Week of 10/1/15

LIFE GROUP

Week 2

10/1/15

CREATION – GOD’S GLORY IN DISPLAY

THEME: God putting his holiness on display

“Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God’s glory; But only he who has eyes to see, takes off his shoes, the rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.”

– Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1857)

READING FOR PREPERATION:

• The Creation Story: Genesis 1-2
• Psalm 8 – “You have set your glory above the heavens” (vs. 1)
• Matthew 21:12-17 – Out of insignificant mouths, God reveals his majesty.
•  Hebrews 1:1-3 - The glory of God put on display in his Son, Jesus Christ
• Hebrews 2:1-20 

Song for meditation & worship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoyttwTgQ30

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In reading the creation story of Genesis 1-2 & thinking specifically about God’s glory being put on display, what comes to mind & what affections are stirred within you?
2. In reading Genesis 2:18-25 and thinking about the purpose of man & women united together for a specific purpose, how does the original purpose translate into your marriage right now?
3. In reading Psalm 8, specifically verses 1-2, what do you see as God’s primary plan to reveal his majesty & glory?
4. In reading the passages in Hebrews 1 & 2, what is Jesus’s role in displaying God’s glory?  And what is our role?

FINAL DISCUSSION QUESTION:

1. Where are you specifically seeing the glory of God on display right now?
2. What is our role in displaying the glory of God?  What does that mean for our marriage, family, work?

Week of 9/17/15

LIFE GROUP
WEEK 1 
09.17.15 

WHAT IS A DISCIPLE 

READING FOR PREPERATION:
- How disciples were viewed in the first church: Acts 17:6 – “Turned the world upside down” 
- What does a disciple of Jesus look like: Luke 6:40 
- How do we become a disciple: Matthew 4:17-19, Romans 3-6, Romans 10:9, Eph. 2 
- Jesus as Lord & Master: Romans 10:9, 1 Cor. 6:19-20 
- Its all about Love: Matthew 22:37-40, 1 Peter 1:8 
- Following Jesus is costly: Luke 14:25-33 

 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 
- Luke 6:40 - Up to this point in your life, would you call yourself a follower of Jesus Christ? Why do you say that? Do you see evidence of your faith as described in Luke 6:40 
- Ephesians 2 - Do you trust in the death of Christ for your salvation? Do you ever struggle with believing you need to do something to save yourself? 
- Romans 10:9, 1 Cor. 6:19-20 – Evaluate your approach to following Jesus. Would you say that you view Jesus as your Lord, Master, and Owner? 
- 1 Peter 1:8, 1 John 4:20, Matthew 22:37-40 – As you look at your life, how would you say that your love for God is shown in your actions? 
- Luke 14:25-33 – If you choose to obey Jesus’s call to follow what might it cost you? What might hold you back from following Christ at this point? Are you willing to let go of those things?

SUMMARY:
You can’t be a Christian without being like Christ.  Jesus didn’t say, would you guys mind identifying yourself with Me in some way and don’t worry, I don’t actually care if you do anything I do or change your lifestyle at all.  I’m just looking for people who are willing to say they believe in Me, sing to me and read about me, but not do anything that I do.

FINAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- What does it look like for you to follow Jesus this week?