Life Group Discussion

Sticky Justice

10/18/2020

When you hear the word “justice” what comes to mind? What example of injustice do you notice in the world?
Have you ever been in a situation where you believed you were treated “unjustly?”
Can you think of an example of someone who claimed they were treated unfairly, but it was really just an attempt to cover up their own poor choices?
Read Micah 6.1-8.
What stood out to you from this passage?
What is the Lord trying to address by His words in verses 1-4?
Based on verses 6-7, how did the people think they might regain God’s favor? How do these correspond to ways people think they can gain God’s favor today?
What does verse 8 tell us about what God is really looking for from us?
This Sunday we heard about pursuing justice through our work (the jeans factory in Madagascar) and in the community (Life Remodeled / Hope & Harbor). Where else have you seen God’s people involved working for justice?
How have you advocated for others through your work or in the community?
We also heard about the need to “honor” every person. Why is this hard sometimes?
Why should we as believers give honor to every person? What would this look like in practical terms?
Who belongs to your “in group” and your “out group”?
How can the church and families help children and students develop a heart for serving others? Share examples of what has worked in your life? What have you seen others do?
What next steps do you need to take this week to help foster sticky justice with the next generation?

Sticky Conversations

10/11/2020

What was a really good conversation you remember having with a parent or other close family member when you were growing up and why was it memorable?
Read Deuteronomy 11.13-21.
What stood out to you from this passage?
What are the commands that Israel is being asked to obey?
How did Moses describe the potential blessings Israel could experience once they had settled in the land and what did this prosperity depend on (see vv13-15)?
What warnings did Moses give them and what would be the consequences (see vv16-17)?
Now go back to the beginning of this chapter and read verses 1-7.
What did Moses tell the people to remember?
In verses 18-20 Moses instructed the people to “fix these words of mine” on their hearts & minds, and to teach them to their children through ongoing conversations. Why is the connection to these things light of the reminders given in verses 1-7? (Especially pay attention to vv 2-3a, 5, and 7)
How does all of this translate to parents and those in the church today? What should we be passing on to children and students and why?
Some kids talk freely with their parents and others are more reluctant. As kids move into the adolescent years it can be even more of a challenge to talk about important things like faith. What have you done to encourage your kids to talk? What has worked? What has not worked?
What next steps do you need to take this week to help foster sticky conversations with the next generation?

Sticky Relationships

10/4/2020

Who are the significant people in my life that set an example of loving God and helped to impress faith in my own life?
Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9
What stood out to you from this passage?
What are the sticky faith implications of verse 7 where it says, "Impress them on your children"? Do you see this as a call on just parents, the community, or both? Why?
Why do you notice about the specific examples Moses mentions in verses 7-9? What does this mean for us?
A few chapters later, Moses talks about the dangers of not keeping these commands in Deuteronomy 6. Take a second to read Deuteronomy 11:13, 11:26-28. How do you see this play out in the rest of the Scripture? For you today?
To what degree do you see the kids in our church at the “kids’ table” (whether they are your own children or they are from other families)? What is good about that? How might it be problematic?
What are the advantages of kids developing their "sticky web" (trying to surround each child or student with up to five adults who care about them)? What are the costs?
What current rituals, events, or gatherings does our church already offer that helps develop a "sticky web" for our kids? What could be tweaked to include this "sticky web" flavor? What new ideas could we explore to help adults and students connect in the congregation?
How are intergenerational relationships mutually beneficial? How have you seen this at work in your own life?
Does First Covenant need a culture shift in developing and deepening our intergenerational relationships? Why or why not? If so, how can you help change your the culture?
What next steps do you need to take this week to help cultivate a sticky relationship with the next generation?

Sticky Identity

9/27/2020

What are the different sources from which we might develop our identity from?
Do you agree with the idea that the first year of college is a lot like redoing middle school when it comes to our identity formation? Why or why not? How are these two life stages similar or different?
Read Genesis 17:1-6 and Genesis 22:1-18
What stood out to you from this passage?
What was Abraham’s God-given identity?
How hard do you think it was for Abraham to keep trusting God and his promises?
How is Abraham’s trust in God an example of “sticky faith?”
Sticky Faith tells us that there are a few areas that can cultivate a sticky identity environment: rituals that reinforce identity, capitalizing on hardships, affirmation of character, and modeling faith. How have you experienced these in your own faith development?
What was a hardship or “trigger event” (significant struggle that have been a major catalyst for faith growth) in your own identity formation? What kind of “trigger events” might our kids/teenagers experience? How do you address them?
How do role models help us form an identity? Who was and/or is a role model of faith for you?
What next steps do you need to take this week to help cultivate a sticky identity with the next generation?

Sticky Gospel

9/20/2020

What are some ways Christians “measure” each other’s faith?
Read Philippians 3.1-14
What stood out to you from this passage?
When Paul reflected on his former life as a leader within Judaism, what accomplishments could he point to? (see verses 4b-6). What accomplishments do we tend to focus on today?
Why did Paul now look at all those achievements as “garbage” or “rubbish”? (see verses 7-9)
Though Paul knew Jesus, he said he still wanted to “know Christ” and intended to “press on” in his faith”. What do you think he believed was still in front of him?
How would you define the gospel?
What is the gospel of “sin management” and how is it different from the true Gospel?
Why is the gospel of "sin management" such an easy mindset to adopt? Where do you see this in the church today?
How can we pass on the reality that faith is a relationship of trust in God and not just a matter of keeping the rules?
What should we focus on to best pursue a growing love relationship with Jesus ourselves?

Not-So-Sticky Gospel

9/13/2020

How would you define “Sticky Faith”?
How does it make you feel to think that you are the most important influence on your child’s faith? What are some other influences that impact your kids?
As you think about how you’ve parented so far, what have you done that has contributed to your kids’ faith? What do you wish you had done differently?
If you are a parent who has already watched their kids leave for college or move out on their own, what was the hardest part of that?
If your kids have not left the home yet, what concerns you most?
What do you think of the suggestion that parents trust the Lord with their kids? What might that look like?
How can others in the church help you build “sticky faith” into your kids?

Sticky Justice

Sticky Conversations

Sticky Relationships

Sticky Identity

Sticky Gospel

Not-So-Sticky Gospel

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