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Greener

1/17/2021

Name a character from any movie or tv show that you can most relate to. What about this character connects to you?
Images from other characters or items can help us understand better what someone may be thinking or experiencing. God uses this similar practice in talking about two different paths we can take and what their outcome when tough times come our way. Read Jeremiah 17:5-8.
What stood out to you from this passage?
Who or what do people tend to turn to (outside of God) when things get tough or find themselves needing help? Why do we go to these things?
Why does God say that trusting in man is like a bush in the wasteland and does not prosper?
What does it mean to be “rooted” or to trust in the Lord? What does that look like?
What happens to us when we are not rooted in God? Why does this matter?
In which areas of your life do you find it easy to trust in God? Which areas are the hardest?
How does trusting God during seasons of trials or difficulty help us bear fruit? What is that “fruit”?
What do you need to focus on this week to help root yourself (or deepen your roots) in the Lord?

A New Year or a New You?

12/27/2020

What are your hopes or dreams for the new year? Why are these things on your list?
Read Isaiah 43:14-21
What caught your attention from this passage?
What do we learn about God from this text?
What had God done for the people of Israel (see v16-17)? Why do you think he reminded them of these things?
How does remembering what God has done in the past impact us in the present?
Why do you think in v18 that God told them to forget all those things?
How does dwelling on the past (whether good or bad) impact us? How does this impact our relationship with God?
What things are you dwelling on today from your past that might be getting in the way of God leading you toward something new?
Do you tend to embrace or resist new things? Why do people struggle so much with change?
What are God’s promises in v19-21?
What is one area where you feel like God might be calling you to follow him down a new path in your own life? What are the dreams and visions that God is putting on your heart for the future?
What new thing might God do in your life group this next year?

How Can a Baby Born 2000 Years Ago Possibly Change My Life?

12/20/2020

What are some important events that you recall that have changed our nation or world?
How did these events change you?
How has the choice to follow Jesus changed your life?
The voices in the video said that some elements of the Christmas story seem so remote and make no sense to them.
Luke 1.26-38 describes the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary who was probably 16 or 17. At that stage of life what were you expecting or hoping for?
How did Mary respond? What does it say about her? What do you think may have gone through her mind as she listened to the message?
What would happen to her and around her if she say “yes” to God?
In the message Pastor Ken said that everyone already been impacted by the birth of Christ, whether a person believes the story or not. Christian teaching and example have affected family life, education, expressions of compassion and lifting up the downtrodden. Do you agree with this assertion? Why or why not? Can you think of other ways the world has benefited from the coming of Jesus?
We heard about 4 people whose life changed because they heard about Jesus: an author, a lawyer in Romania, a prisoner, and a business man. Can you share examples of others whose lives have been changed by Christ?
These people met Christ in unexpected ways. How did you come to faith? How was God “tapping on your shoulder” in ways you did not anticipate?
How might your experience help someone else find Jesus?

Is the Christmas Story Just a Fairy Tale?

12/13/2020

Ken talked about “faith-based” Christmas and “holiday” Christmas. What happens if these get all mixed up?
Have you ever been questioned about the validity of the Christmas narratives in the Bible? What did people ask? How did you respond?
What was the other “Son of God” story circulating in the Roman Empire? Do you think people really believed it? Why or why not?
Read John 1.1-5, 9-14. This is John’s explanation of Jesus’ origins. How is it different from the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke? Who might John have been trying to reach by using this format?
The Greeks and Romans believed the term “Word” referred to the divine soul or rational mind behind all things. How do you think the average person heard this? What do you think it meant to them?
Look at these verses from the Old Testament about how the term “Word” was used. How is this different from the Greek / Roman concept mentioned above?
- Genesis 1.3, 11.
- Psalm 33.6
- Isaiah 38.4
- Jeremiah 1.11
- Isaiah 1.10
What do each of these phrases in John 1 indicate…
- “In the beginning was the Word”
- “the word was with God”
- “the word was God”
Read vs. 14 again. Why is this such an astounding claim? Why is it so offensive to some?
The Bible contains many accounts of miracles. Name some from both the Old and the New Testaments. Why do people doubt these things happened?
How does the history of the church contradict the claim that the gospel is a fairy tale?
If you believe the whole gospel – from the birth of Jesus to his resurrection – what difference has it made in your life? How does it show up in the way you live and how you treat others?

Experiencing Joy at Christmas

11/29/2020

What do you love about the Christmas season?
Are there difficult elements to the season?
In the message Pastor Ken talked about the Delgado family in Chicago who were joyful and hopeful despite their meager surroundings. Have you know individuals or families like that?
What was the life a shepherd like? To whom would you compare them today?
What part of their encounter with the angelic messengers stood out for you? Have you had an overwhelming experience with God – what was it like?
Why do you think God chose to give this announcement to people like those shepherds?
Put yourself in the sandals of those shepherds. When the angels left, what were they thinking? Why did they head to Bethlehem instead of shrugging it all off?
What might have been going on in their heads and hearts when they actually found the baby? (verse 16)
Look at verses 17-18. What does it say they did? What kind of response do you think they may have gotten? Why?
How is our culture good at peddling happiness instead of joy? What’s the difference between the two?
What gives you real joy in life?
Where have you found joy in the Christmas season?

God's Got This

11/22/2020

As we prepare for a very different Thanksgiving, what are you lamenting right now?
Read Philippians 4:4-9.
What caught your attention from this passage?
What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord?
Why do you think he specifies “always”? Describe how it might be possible to do this even in hard times.
Why do you think Paul is so serious about showing “gentleness” and “being anxious for nothing”? Why would he mention this in this context? (Hint: how do these two things impact our relationships and connection with others?)
How does praying bring peace? What does it look like for the God of peace to be with someone?
What do our hearts and minds need to be guarded or protected from? What does it mean to be guarded “in Christ Jesus”?
Try and come up with antonyms for each of these adjectives in verse 8. How does this clarify what Paul is talking about?
How might living out verse 8 impact our lives and even our ministry?
Reflect on the promises of verses 7 and 9. How have you experienced the peace of God in the midst of difficult circumstances?
What sorts of things occupy your mind lately? How does your preoccupation with these things affect your relationships? How does it affect your joy in the Lord? How does it impact your experience of having God’s peace in your life?
In light of our conversation tonight, what might God be calling you to this week?

A Reason to Hope

11/15/2020

What do you think it means for Christians to be “entrepreneurs of hope”?
A Hollywood screenwriter was asked if he thought people were getting better and smarter. In response he said, “I think we're actually becoming stupider and more petty…What's going on…is beyond depressing. It's terrifying…I can't believe anybody thinks we're actually going to make it before we destroy the planet. I honestly think it's inevitable. I have no hope…I want to be wrong, more than anything.”
Do you know people who share this perspective? How would you respond?
How hopeful do you think people are in the face of the pandemic? What gives them hope? What might make them feel hopeless?
What other events or situations in our culture chip away at people’s hope?
Read Romans 5.1-8. Can you identify the progression in Paul’s teaching found in verses 1-5?
What is the core message of the New Testament found here? (see v8)
Do you agree or that every person lives by some moral code? If so, what do those codes look like? How might they be like or different from the biblical model?
Do you know anyone who actually lives up to their own moral code, Christian or otherwise? What does that tell us?
How do you think most people deal with guilt?
How did the cross deal with our sin and guilt? Why is this “good news”?
In what ways is the cross a symbol of hope?

One In Christ

11/8/2020

Remember a time when you thought, “I wonder why so-and-so did that or said that?” What was it that really perplexed you?
When have you read one of the stories about Jesus and wondered about his words or actions?
John 17 is a glimpse into the heart and concerns of Jesus. What is the setting for this prayer? What else went on that night?
Who was he praying for? Who wasn’t he praying for? Does this surprise you? Why was his prayer so narrowly focused?
In the prayer, what requests did he make of his Father? (see vv15-17, and 22-23)
Have you ever been in a business, organization or church where there was a distinct lack of unity? What was it like? What were the consequences?
Read Ephesians 4.4-6. Paul states that unity in the church is a FACT. Where does our unity come from? How have you experienced this unity with other Christians?
Unity doesn’t require UNIFORMITY on all matters. What do you think are the “essentials” that we must all adhere to? What are some issues or beliefs that Christians have historically disagreed about? When is disagreement OK and when is it harmful to the church?
Read verse 23. Why did Jesus say unity is so important?
If unity is also a GOAL that we work towards, how can we do that? What characteristics or attitudes in the church will help us maintain and build unity?
What challenges to our unity at First Covenant might we experience in the days ahead? How will we overcome them?

Cloud Church

11/1/2020

What are some “little life lessons” that your parents taught you?
Name one influential person in your life from your family and someone from outside the family, and how they impacted you.
Read Hebrews 11:1-2.
This is one of the clearest definitions of faith in the Bible. What do you like about it? Does it raise any questions for you?
Read Hebrews 11:32-40.
This entire chapter gives a long list recognizing great people of faith. Look at the list of names in verse 32. How are they examples of faith? Did any of these exhibit a lack of faith in their lives? How?
Verses 32-35a describe the positive results of faith, and verses 35b-39 speak of the difficult consequences of faith. Who do you think the writer had in mind with these examples?
Why is it significant that both the positive and negative consequences of faith are included?
Why does it say “yet none of them received what had been promised” (v39)? Had they not seen God active in their lives? What was the writer pointing to?
Read Hebrews 12:1-3
Verse 1 identifies the “great cloud of witnesses" they just finished talking about in ch 11. Who are some members of this “cloud” who came from First Covenant? What do you remember about them?
Why is “perseverance” such a necessary element of faith? When have you been tempted to “throw in the towel” in regard to your faith? What kept you going?
Like runners, we’re called to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” What are some common “hindrances” that might weigh God’s people down?
We are called to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” How do you do that?

Sticky Path

10/25/2020

When was the first time you remember someone planting the “seed” of Jesus in your life? How did you respond?
Read Mark 4.1-20
What stood out to you from this passage?
How are the four types of soil similar? What makes them unique?
What does Jesus say was the main point of the parable? Why do you think Jesus described four different soils rather than just two?
How do you know if someone is good soil?
What factors keep people from being good soil? How do you see these factors hinder people’s faith life?
How does someone become good soil when they are not?
In verse 9, Jesus says, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” What does this mean?
During this season of life, which soil do you identify with the most? What factors in your life are contributing to that?
In the context of developing a sticky faith in the next generation, what might we learn from this passage about the topic of passing on our faith?
What next steps do you need to take this week in light of what we talked about today?

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Greener

A New Year or a New You?

How Can a Baby Born 2000 Years Ago Possibly Change My Life?

Is the Christmas Story Just a Fairy Tale?

Experiencing Joy at Christmas

God's Got This

A Reason to Hope

One In Christ

Cloud Church

Sticky Path

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