Life Group Discussion

Heart of a Burden Bearer

5/9/2021

Group Questions

If you celebrated Mothers’ Day, what did you do?
What do you admire the most about your mom or a particular mother figure in your life?

Read Galatians 6:2
The word “carry” or “bear” means to support, carry away, bear up under. The word “burden” means a hardship or a tremendous weight. It’s kind of like a super hero flying in at the last second to stop a train falling over the edge of a broken bridge from hitting a little boy down below!

Can you name any other superhero scenes when the hero bears the weight of something about to hurt or kill someone else?
Do you have any examples of times in your life when someone came along side you to help carry a burden in life?
What are some other examples of ways we can bear the burdens of others?

Read the rest of Galatians 6:1-6
On Sunday, Jim listed some qualities that dwell in the heart of a burden bearer.

Can you recall what some of those qualities are? You can use the text to help you?
Are there any other qualities that come to your mind?

Having the heart of a burden bearer means to put aside your own desires and needs, listen to the needs of others, and help support the weight they carry.

How does a willingness to “bear the burdens of others” apply to how we help with each other’s family burdens, financial burdens, social burdens, etc?
How does a willingness to “bear the burdens of others” apply to how we interact with each other regarding tensions around gender and orientation? Racial injustice? Law enforcement? Masks, vaccines, and the coronavirus?
What burdens are you carrying now that we can pray for and even help with?

Restoring the Image of God

5/2/2021

Okay, be honest, how many times a day you look at yourself in a mirror?
Do you see a reflection of your parents in you or yourself in your kids? How so?
Re-read Genesis 1:26-28.
As humans we bear the image of God. What are some of the capacities we have as humans that demonstrate we bear the image of God? Make sure you don't just focus on the easy one with is the ability to reason. There are other capacities that are important to bearing the image of God.
What are the three major purposes for God giving us his image?
Read Exodus 34:29-35 and 2 Corinthians 3:12-18.
Why did Moses use a veil to cover his face and what does that say about the people of Israel?
How is sin similar to the veil in our lives?
According to 2 Corinthians 3:18, how are we transformed into the image of God?

Bearing the Image of God

4/25/2021

The young men in 2 Kings 2:23-25 taunted Elisha for being bald. So here's a question that's meant to be light-hearted and acknowledges that the struggle is real. How's your hairline doing?
In what ways have you experienced or have you seen the scorn, ridicule, or mocking of someone else?
Read Genesis 1:26-31.
How would you describe what it means to be made in the image of God?
What does it mean that we are to "rule," "subdue," or "have dominion"? How does being made in the image of God connect to this?
Notice that "male and female" together bear the image of God. What does this tell us about God's intentions for the equal partnership between men and women?
In what ways does bearing the image of God differentiate us from other living creatures spiritually, intellectually, relationally, behaviorally?
What do we need to do to provide a safe place in the Church where we are all honoring the image of God in each person and are bearing the burdens of others more thoughtfully?
Read James 3:7-12.
James 3:9 directly connects us with Gen 1:26. Why does James bring this up in the context of taming our tongue?
Why do you think it is impossible for us to tame our tongue (v8)?
Under what circumstances are you most likely to let your tongue harm yourself or others?
What can we do in those moments to help us use our words to help, rather than harm, others?

Missions Sunday

4/18/2021

Has anyone ever participated on a missions experience or trip before? If so, share a bit about what you did and what you learned from it.
This Sunday we heard from several missionaries connected to First Covenant. What caught your attention from their updates?
What do you think it means to be a missionary?
Read Romans 10:9-15. What stood out to you from this passage?
How does verse 10 clarify the importance of both the heart and the mouth when it comes to matters of experiencing a saving faith?
What is the outcome of verse 9 that we are promised? How have you experienced that promise in your own life of faith?
What is the main point of verses 14-15?
Why is preaching an important topic in these verses?
Who are the ones being sent to preach? (hint: it is not the pastors). How does this change your idea of the term "preaching"?
Can you name a few people in your life who exercised “their beautiful feet” by sharing the Good News (Gospel) with you?
Challenge – Every morning pray for God to place on your heart people that you need to bring the Good News today.

Power of the Spirit

4/11/2021

Read John 14:15-17. The Holy Spirit is here referred to as the Advocate. The word is "parakleton" which means advocate, helper, counselor, encourager.

Based on that understanding, what is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in your life as a counselor or helper?

Read John 14:25-26; 16:13. Jesus says he will give us the Spirit and the Spirit will teach and guide us.

How does the Spirit teach and guide us?
How have you experienced the Spirit's guidance in your life?

Read John 16:8-11. Many people think this passage teaches that the Spirit convicts believers of their sin. However, notice that Jesus says the Spirit will "convict the world" or "prove the world to be wrong" about sin and righteousness and judgment. Then compare "sin" to verse 9, "righteousness" to verse 10, and "judgment" to verse 11.

Who or what is the "world"?
How is convicting the world, and of what, different from convicting believers?

Read Galatians 5:22-23 and compare it to the surrounding passage.

What role does the Spirit play in producing these fruit in our lives?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 and notice the list that follows.

How as the Holy Spirit gifted you?
How are you using those gifts

In summary now, what role has or is the Holy Spirit playing in your life right now?

Power of God

4/4/2021

What are some favorite things you do with your family or at church around Easter?
We sang the song "Death was Arrested" by NorthPoint Worship and Jim talked about the song "Rattle!" by Elevation Worship. Do you have any favorite songs about Easter and the resurrection?

Read Luke 24:1-8
There are five primary reasons to believe in the resurrection. What do you think of these reasons?

They were:

The empty tomb
Jesus's appearances to many witnesses
The transformation of the disciples
The sudden rise of Sunday worship
The explosive growth of the Christian church

Read Romans 8:10-11
At Easter, we celebrate that the Power of God is in the Resurrection. That means:

The power of God gives life!
The power of God is in you!

In what ways have you experienced the life-giving power of God?

Power of God's Peace

3/28/2021

Discuss some memories you have of Holy Week. Did your family have any traditions you would do or participate in throughout the week?
Read Matthew 21:1-11. What caught your attention from this story?
What do we learn about Jesus from this story?
In v2-3, Jesus gives instructions to his disciples. How would you have felt if he gave those instructions to you? Why do you think the disciples obeyed him?
Why is this detail of Jesus riding on a donkey important? (Check out the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9!)
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the crowd treated him like a king. What were they expecting of him?
The crowd shouted “Hosanna in the highest” which means “God save us”. But what they wanted to be saved from (aka Rome) was not why Jesus came (to save them from their sin). Have you or someone you know ever known someone who was disappointed when God didn't meet their expectations? What is our response in these situations?
What are some unrealistic expectations we sometimes have of God? What can we do to keep our expectations of God rooted in truth?
The crowd recognized Jesus in v11 as a prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. They didn’t fully acknowledge Him as the Messiah. What is the difference between honoring Jesus and recognizing Him as the Messiah? How do people today honor Jesus, but not recognize Him as the Messiah?
Where do you notice peace is lacking in your life or the world around you? What needs to be done so that you (or those in your world) can experience the power of God’s peace in this area?
What are some activities you can do this next week to stay focused on the true meaning of Easter?

Grace Wheel: Adoption

3/14/2021

Have you seen the movie "Instant Family"? Pete and Ellie explore adoption of a teenager and her two younger siblings. While experiencing all the quirky challenges that come with an instant family, they discover how powerful their love for the kids is and how strong their family bond can be. If you have seen the movie, can share what you recall the most about it?
What kind of family do you come from and what was it like for you? Traditional (mom and dad never divorced), blended, adopted, foster, extended, etc.?

Read Romans 8:14-17

Paul is using the imagery of God leading the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery indicating they are his children. The same Spirit has led us out of slavery to sin and death. What is there for us to fear in that slavery?
The term "Abba" is Aramaic (the common language of the Jews of that time as opposed to formal and ceremonial Hebrew or Greek) for "father," indicating a more familial or intimate relationship with God than formal and ceremonial. When we put our faith in Christ and receiving his Spirit, God adopts us to be his beloved children. What are some differences between a familial relationship with God and the church and a more ceremonial or religious relationship?

Read Galatians 3:23-4:11

Paul uses the imagery of guardians and trustees for underage heirs or children to help the Galatians understand the role that the Law of the Old Testament plays. Do you understand this? Work together to explain it for each other.
Paul teaches us that in the family of God we are all his beloved children regardless of our race, social class, gender, or by implication any other distinction between people like culture. His primary goal here is to help the Galatians understand that while the Judaizers (Jewish Christians) were trying to get them to follow certain cultural rituals in order to be fully converted, they actually do belong to the family of God simply because of their faith in Jesus. What are the implications of this for us and what we expect from Christians of other races, cultures, genders, etc.? Remember, even here there are cultures within our culture.
How does the question, "Is this Christ or is this culture?" affect you?

Grace Wheel: Redemption

3/7/2021

Are you a coupon clipper? Is it worth your time or not?
What are some things that other people do that you feel like isn’t worth your time?
Can you share any examples of when you’ve felt like you weren’t worth someone’s time or effort?
Can any of you share any examples of times when you’ve felt like you weren’t worthy of God’s attention, time, or love?

The Meaning of Redemption
This week’s image on the Grace Wheel is Redemption. Redemption means deliverance or freedom secured from some evil by payment of a price. God loves us, cherishes us, values us so much that Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself so that we would be redeemed from our slavery to sin.

How does that strike you or make you feel?

Read John 8:34-36.
Jesus teaches us that everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Working together to understand it, can you explain what he means by this?

Read Romans 7:14 - 8:17.
Paul explains this concept even more.

What does Paul teach about us being slaves to sin or living according to the flesh?
What does Paul teach about living according to the Spirit and the difference between the two?
What does all this mean for your daily life?
What can we do to help others feel valued enough by God to lead them to redemption?

Grace Wheel: Salvation

2/28/2021

When have you felt like you needed to be rescued?
When have you asked God to get you out of a situation?
Should we ask God to deliver us from difficult situations?

The meaning of "salvation"
The basic meaning of the word "save" in the Old Testament is to ‘bring into a spacious environment,' but it carries the metaphorical sense of ‘freedom from limitation’ i.e. deliverance from factors that constrain and confine.

What are the moral and spiritual factors in our lives or even your life which constrain and confine us/you?
Jesus' name means "to deliver, to rescue." From what did Jesus come to deliver and rescue us?

Read Romans 3:19-26

We often think deliverance from our moral problems comes by simply following the rules. "Just do the right thing and you won't have any problems." Can you think of any examples?
Can you explain what Paul is telling us about how we're declared righteous and why?
Can you explain what role the Law plays and why?

Read Romans 8:9-17

Can you explain what Paul is saying here about us, our sinful nature, and the Spirit of God?
In light of all this discussion, from what does Jesus save us?

<<Previous