The Art of Conversation

Icebreaker:

Discussion:

1. Read Luke 10:5-12. The meaning of this text has to do with Jesus sending his disciples out to neighboring towns to share the good news of the kingdom. They are to go with peace and bring blessings of peace upon those homes in which they stay. If they're not wanted or the peace returns back to them, Jesus tells them to shake the dust off their feet, still proclaim the good news, and move on.
   
   1. Have you ever been in conversation with someone who didn't like you or what you were saying? Maybe they didn't want you around? What did that feel like?
   2. What do think the people receiving the disciples should do so that the disciples' "peace would rest on them"? 
   3. Can their peace rest even if there isn't agreement on the message?
   4. For purposes of this sermon series, imagine what it's like for a new person to visit our church. They most likely come in peace looking for peace.
      • What are some things that we would do that would return their peace back to them?
      • What are some things that we could do that would allow their peace to rest on us?

Application
For "peace to rest" among us, we have to be good at conversation.

1. Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." What can we do to make our conversations "life-giving"?
2. Colossians 4:6 says, "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." What does a conversation look like if it's "full of grace" and "seasoned with salt"?
3. James 1:19 says, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."
   1. How good are we at asking questions and listening? Is anyone in your group good at this?
   2. What would it look like to be better at listening in our conversations?
      
   3. What kinds of questions are good to ask?
4. Proverbs 18:2 says, “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.” Good conversations are dialogues, not monologues. How does it feel when someone just starts freely sharing their opinions or just telling stories?
5. Are we willing to commit to growing in our abilities to have good conversations that are life-giving, full of grace, filled with questions that promote good dialogue? 

Prayer
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests and pray for each other.

The Power of Joy

Icebreaker:
What is something—serious or trivial—that brings you great joy?

Discussion:

1. Paul states in Romans 5 that we should rejoice in "our sufferings." How does this challenge our typical definitions of joy?
2. Read Psalm 16:11. Where, specifically, does David indicate that we find joy?
3. How would you differentiate being happy with having true, Christian joy?
4. Read Luke 2:8-14, and Matthew 2:10. What is the ultimate cause of our joy, as Christians?
5. Christian joy does not erase pains and sorrows, but rather overwhelms and outlasts them. How does this truth impact you personally?
6. What are some ways you can foster more joy in your life?

Prayer
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests and pray for each other.

The Power of Peace

Icebreakers:
Would you rather have peace and quiet all alone or be surrounded by people and activity?
Discussion:

1. Where do you see the absence of peace in today's world?
   
2. Why do you think there's so much lack of peace?
   
3. Read John 14:23-27.
   1. How does Jesus leave or give us peace?
   2. What role does our obedience to his teaching play in us experiencing peace?
   3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in us experiencing peace?
4. Read Isaiah 11:1-9. This is a messianic prophecy text promising the coming of the Messiah. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him and he will lead us into peace (pictured in verses 6-9).
   
   1. What is the "stump of Jesse" and what does "from his roots a Branch will bear fruit" mean?
   2. What role do the six characteristics named in verse 2 play in bringing peace?
      1. Wisdom
      2. Understanding
      3. Counsel
      4. Might
      5. Knowledge
      6. Fear/Awe/Reverence of the Lord
   3. Why is "delighting in the Lord" so important for peace?
   4. What's the difference between judging by what is seen or heard and by righteousness and justice?
   5. Why do the wolf, leopard, and lion lay so easily with the lamb, goat, and calf and the reverse?
      Leader note: The wolf, leopard, and lion aren't hungry. They've satisfied themselves in the Lord.
      
5. In verse 3, what does it mean to "delight in the fear of the Lord"?
6. In what areas of your life are you lacking a sense of peace?
   
7. Is there any role you or your decisions can play in finding peace in those areas?

Prayer
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests and pray for each other.

The Power of Hope
Icebreakers:
What's your favorite game to play around the holidays?
What's something you hoped for when you were a kid? What's something you're hoping for in your life right now?

Discussion:

1. While for some people, the holidays are joyful times of celebrating and gathering with friends and family, for other people it can be times of despair and hopelessness.
   1. What are some things people experience that can lead to a sense of despair and loss of hope?
      Leader note: trauma, loss, abandonment, financial setbacks, health problems, etc.
   2. Do you know people who have experienced any of these things?
   3. Have you experienced any of these things? Would you be willing to tell us about it?
2. Read Isaiah 9:2-7.
   1. What's the darkness the people were walking in?
      Leader note: spiritual confusion, moral corruption, fear of other nations invading them
   2. How did they fall into this darkness?
      Leader note: rebelling against God, not trusting him 
   3. What are some things they did to get out of that darkness?
      Leader note: turned to other nations to make political alliances, looked for guidance from spiritists and mediums (consulting the dead), pray to and worship false gods and idols
   4. What would the consequences of their rebellion be?
      Leader note: exile, captivity by Assyria (700's B.C.) and Babylon (500's B.C.)
   5. What is God's promise to them?
      Leader note: provide a messiah to lead them out of that darkness and into the light, initially this was through King Hezekiah and other leaders like Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, but ultimately and most fully through Jesus
3. In what ways does faith in Jesus change our lives and give us hope?
   Leader note: healing, peace, eternal confidence, truth, wisdom, Holy Spirit's presence, encouragement, etc.​

Prayer
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests and pray for each other.

WORTH IT! (BAPTISM SUNDAY)
Icebreakers:
What something you chose to do that was totally worth doing even though it seemed crazy or difficult?

Discussion:
Review the two short parables about the treasure and the pearl of great value in Matthew 13:44-46. 

1. In verse 44, Jesus says, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. And when a man found it..."
   1. Do you know or have you known people who are not really looking for the "kingdom of heaven"? What are they looking for? Tell us about them.
   2. How does someone like this "find" the kingdom of heaven?
2. In verse 46, Jesus says, "the kingdom of heaven like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value..."
   1. Do you know or have you known people who are actually looking for "the kingdom of heaven"? Or perhaps more meaning and purpose in their life? Or even just change for a better life? Tell us about them.
   2. How can we help those people?
3. Notice in both parables, the individuals sold everything they had to purchase what they found.
   1. What would you think if a friend of yours sold everything they had to buy one thing, like a piece of land or a single pearl?
   2. What's Jesus communicating about the value of the kingdom of heaven for those who enter it?

Application:

1. How can we help people who aren't looking, find the kingdom of heaven?
2. How can we help people who ARE looking, find the kingdom of heaven?
   If either of these bring out some great ideas, please share them with Pastor Jim.
3. How have you "sold everything you have" to gain the kingdom?

BAPTISMS

1. What did you think of the baptisms and affirmations of baptism on Sunday? Were any of them particularly compelling for you?
   
2. Have you been baptized? Would you like to be baptized? If so, discuss that possibility now with your friends. Then consider talking with Pastor Jim.

Prayer
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests and pray for each other.

IS GOD GOING TO TOSS YOU OR KEEP YOU?
Icebreakers:

1. Do you like seafood? If so what kind do you like?
2. What's the strangest kind of fish or sea creature you've ever caught or eaten?

Discussion:
Review the Parable of the Net in Matthew 13:47-50. 

1. In verse 47, Jesus says, "the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish."
   1. What do you know or recall from Sunday's message about the type of net in this parable and how its different from other kinds of nets used for fishing?
   2. What's the significance of equating the kingdom of heaven with this kind of net?
2. In verse 48, Jesus says, they "collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away." Then explains the meaning of this in verses 49 and 50.
   1. What do you know or recall from Sunday's message about the type of fish that are considered good or bad and why they would be kept or tossed?
   2. What does Jesus mean by the "end of the age"?
   3. What does Jesus mean by the "blazing furnace"?
   4. What's the meaning of "weeping and gnashing of teeth"?
   5. What's the significance of equating this kind of sorting at the end of the age?

Application:

1. How can we, in the kingdom of heaven here and now, cast a wide net?
2. In what ways do we tend to limit the wideness of the kingdom's reach?
3. What fish do you think you are? At the end of the age, is God going to keep you or toss you?

Prayer
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests and pray for each other.

WHEN THE WEEDS ARE THICK
Icebreakers:

1. Do you ever have to weed a garden, flower bed, or lawn? 
2. What do to keep out the weeds?
   

Discussion:
Review the Parable of the Weeds in Matthew 13: 24-30 and Jesus' explanation in Matthew 13:36-43. 

1. What are the key characters and elements of this parable and what do they represent?
2. What is some important background information about the disciples, their expectation of the Messiah and his Kingdom, and a comparison of wheat and the weeds (darnel)?
3. What is or are the major twists in this parable?
   Note: Think about why there are still weeds (evil) in the field (world) if the sower (Jesus) sowed good seed (kingdom). Also think about the owner's command to not pull up the weeds and let them grow together till the harvest.
   

Application:

1. Do you ever get discouraged, frustrated, or even angry with evil in the world and the people who commit it?
2. What are some things we do that are actually attempts to "pull up the weeds"?
3. What can we do to obey the command to "let them grow together"?
4. What role does remembering God's plan for us--our destiny--play in our ability to "let them grow together"? Namely, that "the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father."

Prayer
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests and pray for each other.

WHY DID JESUS TELL STORIES?
Icebreakers:

1. What's one of your all-time favorite stories? It could be a novel, a movie, a play, etc.
2. What was it about that story that made it so captivating?

Discussion:

1. What is Jesus' reasoning for teaching in parables in Matthew 13:13?
2. How do you think Jesus' reasoning speaks to his desire to attract true disciples?
3. What might Jesus' words in Matthew 13:15 tell us about the kingdom of God, and how people do or don't receive it?

Application:

1. How can you engage Jesus' stories differently, knowing his intent for using parables?
2. What is most encouraging to you about Jesus' approach to teaching?

Prayer
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests and pray for each other.

​ICEBREAKER
Where in this country or world have you seen the most beautiful places or people? Describe what you experienced.

DISCUSSION

1. Have you listened to all three messages from this series?
2. Have you reviewed the web page set up on the church's website for this series? Perhaps consider watching the two Bible Project videos from that page together during your group and talk about them.
3. What are some insights from this Sunday's message, this series, or the resources from the webpage that you have really appreciated?
4. How do these insights change our perspective on God's vision and our mission as the church?
5. Are there any concepts or statements that you don't quite understand? 

MISSION

1. Our church's past mission statements are below.
   1. With Pastor Tim: The vision of First Covenant Church is to be actively missional, connecting people of all ages to the transformative power of Jesus Christ and to each other.  Living out this vision will challenge us to better reach those who do not yet know Christ while remaining faithful to those already in the body of Christ.
   2. With Pastor Marc: Our Vision: CONNECT to God, CONNECT to one another, CONNECT to the world.
      At First Covenant Church, we seek to CONNECT TO GOD by worshiping together and engaging in heartfelt prayer, to CONNECT TO ONE ANOTHER by deepening our relationships in small groups, and to CONNECT TO THE WORLD by preaching Christ through intentionally meeting needs in our community and around the world.
   3. The mission statement we're considering as a church now with Pastor Jim is below. It seeks to express the heart of these past statements in simple, memorable, and general terms that appeals to a broad spectrum of people, ignites curiosity, and fosters hope.
      "Our mission is 'Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth.'"
   4. You can read and watch more about this on our website—"Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth."
2. What are your thoughts about this statement?

APPLICATION

1. How are we as a church bringing people to Jesus? How are you bringing people to Jesus?
   Announcement: Consider attending the "Sharing the Gospel" Worskshop on October 13, 4-6PM with George Gabrielson, Chris Ball, and Anthony Mason.
   
2. How are we as a church bringing heaven to earth? Think about ...
   
   1. Our ministries and projects
   2. Our missional partnerships
   3. Our worship services
   4. The culture of our community

PRAYER
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests. Then pray for our church's efforts to fulfill this mission of "Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth" followed by the other prayer requests.

CONTINUE THINKING ABOUT "BRINGING HEAVEN TO EARTH"
You can read and watch more on our webpage titled "Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth." You can find it on the website under "Teachings" and the title of this series. There are some short videos and a podcast series from the Bible Project, some past sermons, and some book recommendations.