Gen. 2:18, Gen. 3:8, Acts 2:42, Prov. 27:17, James 5:16, Gal. 6:2, Eph. 4:15

Sunday, February 16

These next few weeks we will be diving into why God designed us to be in Community. We define Community as real relationships that move you closer to Jesus. When we are in biblical Community we will interact with God’s Word, His Spirit, and His People.

Big Idea: You were meant to be connected!

We find at least 3 things that Adam and Eve encountered with relationships in the book of Genesis. Let’s dive into these in our questions.

1. Man and woman began to believe lies about God and each other. One lie was that God could not be trusted. Another lie was that God was holding out on them and a better life could be found outside of God’s instructions. Do I believe there are things I can not trust God with? Do I live in a way that shows a better life can be found outside of God’s instructions?
2. Man and woman stopped listening to the voice of God. They began to listen to the voice of Satan, the voice of selfish desires, and later the voice of society. What voice am I listening to? Is there a voice that I am listening to more than God’s? How can I hear the voice of God clearly?
3. Man and woman isolated themselves. They hid from God and each other. Before they were naked and felt no shame; now they felt shame and clothed themselves. The close connection to God and each other was all gone. What areas in my life do I keep hidden (isolated)? What is it that I need to share with God and His People?

Hebrews 11

Sunday, February 2

1. What is it in my life that seems impossible?
2. What in my life do I feel trapped by? Do I see this trap as being part of God’s rescue plan?
3. What impossible “title” am I carrying? What “title” does God want me to carry?

Hebrews 11

Sunday, January 19

This week we read about a few hero’s of faith, specifically Abraham. Abraham’s family did not have perfect faith but they sought after and trusted in the author and perfector of faith (Heb 12:2). Our prayer should be for His kingdom to be on earth as it is in heaven because His name is hallowed.

1. Am I seeking the promises of this world or God’s promises? What does my heart long for?
2. What is God asking me to say YES to?
3. Is there something that is keeping me from saying YES to God?
4. How will I begin to sacrifice so I can follow Gods plans?

Hebrews 11

Sunday, January 5

1. What are things that I put my faith in? (For example, a spouse will make me happy, the work that I do defines me).
2. Where do I need to exercise faith? (finances, career, marriage, future spouse, enough money to pay bills, salvation of a family member)
3. A Christians faith is the same as a building’s foundation. How strong/stable is my foundation/faith? If my foundation/faith has a weak spot what will I do to build up faith in that area?
4. Where do I find evidence in my life of God’s faithfulness?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, October 20

Christianity claims that Jesus Christ alone connects humankind back to God, and that no other religion or worldview can provide the things we are looking for. Clark acknowledges how many people hedge their bets by supporting “any” possible path to God. Our culture today assumes if someone’s beliefs are different or critical of someone else’s, that they cannot not tolerate one another. But the reality is we can coexist with whom we disagree, while still defending their rights to that belief and work toward common goals in the world. The concept of exclusivity exists in many religions, not just Christianity. And it is illogical to accept that multiple religions are true, when they directly contradict one another. Clark asks for people to weigh facts and ideas against one another in order to find the view of life that is consistently true, makes sense of the world, and produces measurable improvement in the lives of those who believe and practice it, as well as those of society as a whole.

Getting Started:

1. Why is the exclusivity of Christianity such a difficult and polarizing topic?
2. In what ways is Christianity inclusive, while holding to an exclusive means of salvation?
3. Is it ok to disagree with someone’s beliefs, but still work alongside them to achieve a common goal? Do you have examples from your own life you can share?
4. Many believe that there is more than one way to heaven. What are the dangers of this? What are the dangers of communicating acceptance and support to someone who believes this?

Going Deeper:

1. How would you describe the difference in cultural pluralism and metaphysical pluralism?
2. Clark writes, “While we can fight for people’s rights to say what they believe, we do not have to conclude that what they believe is true.” Do you agree with this statement? Does it cause you to think differently when you hear someone voicing a belief different than your own?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, October 6

“Any limit on our behavior is seen as a violation of our basic human rights as individuals. We believe we have the right to use our bodies in whatever way we want, and this is the ultimate expression of our freedom and our autonomy”, writes Clark. Because of this, our current, western culture has abandoned God’s design, and the Bible’s direction regarding sex. Sadly, the church hasn’t helped over the years as it has shared poor theology and added to the confusion. But God’s design is clear. Sex is good, is of God, is designed for marriage and in marriage, is temporal and pleasurable. Yet, we continue to move away from God’s design, and now are confused with sexuality, personhood, marriage and more. Sex, as designed by God and for us here on Earth, should be glorious and point “to the eternal delight of soul that we will have in heaven.”

Getting Started:

1. Sex can be a polarizing topic both in the church, and out. What do you remember being taught about sex during your upbringing? Did the “church’s” view on sex play a role in what you were taught?
2. How has the cultural discussion about sex changed in your lifetime? What is different today than in past years? Is our culture moving toward or away from healthy sexuality?
3. In your best understanding, what is the purpose of sex? What is admissible, and what is not?
4. For many individuals and couples, the topic of sex is a reminder of serious hurt, frustration, disappointment and shame. In spite of this, how is a healthy and robust sex-life God’s desire for your sex-life?

Going Deeper:

1. How has sex in many ways become the ultimate pleasure of our time? How might a Christian perspective oppose this narrative, while still identifying sex as a wonderful gift to be enjoyed?
2. If good sex takes practice, what steps can you take with your spouse to increase the frequency in which you practice, and learn one another’s bodies?
3. What restrictions does the Bible place on sexuality? How do sexual restrictions as biblically prescribed actually enhance sexual pleasure, and not limit it?
4. On pg 169, Peggy Noonan shares our misunderstanding that sexual freedom and acceptance will make us a healthier species. In fact, she goes on to say that “as we’ve gotten more open-minded, we’ve gotten more closed-hearted.” What point is she trying to make here?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, September 22

Why is there pain and suffering in the world? Why should we devote our lives to a God who allows children to suffer? How can I believe in a God who says he is all-loving, and yet he allows a world with rape, murder, disease, terrorism and natural disasters? Is God willing and able to stop this, yet doesn’t? Does the presence of evil then lead us to believe the nonexistence of God? You feel these questions, you don’t just think about them. The Bible faces these tough questions head on and provides the most glorious answers. Clark tackles these questions and gives some great background to how other religions such as New Age, Hinduism and Atheism attempt to address them. Clark also contends that the existence of evil and suffering actually reveals God to us rather than disproving him. He shares how many people succeed because of suffering, not in spite of it. He also suggests that “the reason we struggle with this concept of purposeful suffering today in the Western world is because we see the point and purpose of life as happiness.” We find hope and understanding in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Getting Started:

1. How has the problem of evil and suffering affected your understanding of God? Is this an area that is difficult for you to wrap your arms around? What emotions are stirred up in you?
2. Do you believe that both God and evil can co-exist? Do you believe that God is all-powerful and all-knowing? Explain in your own words how God can still be good if he allows evil in order to retain free will in the universe or if it allows a greater good in the future.
3. What not to say – Can you think of phrases you need to stay away from while listening to someone’s personal story of suffering? What to say – What are some phrases that would be more helpful as it relates to God?
4. Has there been a time in your own life where you questioned the existence or goodness of God due to suffering you’ve experienced? How have you reconciled the two?

Going Deeper:

1. You may believe that the allowance of some evil may lead to something good. Is there such thing as pointless evil where no good is ever comes from it? How do you reconcile that with the phrase “some of the greatest lessons we learn in life come through suffering”?
2. As Americans often strive for a life of happiness, how does this feed into the belief that God is nonexistent or not caring if suffering exists? Do you believe other nations look at suffering differently? Why?
3. On pg. 123, Clark writes, “The New Testament writers tell us that, yes, our need of saving was the occasion for God’s suffering on the cross, but not its only reason.” Do you believe God’s suffering tells us something more about God than just his desire to save us?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, September 22

Is the Bible historically legitimate or is it filled with folklore? Has the Bible changed over time? Does it contradict itself? How do we know we have something even close to the original text? Why have some writings been left out of the Bible? Do you really expect me to take every word as truth and not merely as a general guide to help me live a better life? Clark provides evidence that “the Bible is actually one of the most, if not the most, reliable and credible documents from antiquity.” He systematically tackles many of the toughest questions, including issues related to slavery, women and even polygamy in the Bible. Not only is it accurate, complete and true, the scriptures have power to speak. “And if we listen, and heed them and let them take us over, they will transform us, forever.”

Getting Started:

1. What are the hurdles or questions you have had to confront in relation to the Bible, and why? Do you relate to any of the questions raised on pg 65? What issues do you hear most often from people regarding their hurdles with the Bible?
2. How literal do you believe the Bible is? For instance, was the universe created in 6 days? Was the entire Earth under water in the flood? Was Jonah in the mouth of a fish? Are there parts of the Bible that are difficult to accept?
3. Take a few minutes as a group and share what portions of the book or the Sunday morning message helped build your trust in the Bible? 
4. Do you give the same weight or reliability to the Old Testament as you do the New Testament? Are there areas of the Bible you hold tighter to than others? Why is that so?

Going Deeper:

1. In developing your trust, or mistrust of the Bible, how much have you considered the historical scrutiny it has been placed under? Does this level of scrutiny render it more valid that other historical documents?
2. On pg. 80, Clark shares his personal experience and states, “I began to realize that there’s a world of difference between the Bible explaining what is happening and God affirming and encouraging what is happening.” Does this distinction help you with issues related to slavery, polygamy, the treatment of women and children, etc.?
3. Why do you believe it is easy for others to dispute the accuracy of the Bible, yet they accept other ancient texts with far less legitimacy? Is it simply a lack of knowledge, or an intentional decision to refute scripture as it would require life change to live out the Christian faith?

My Problem With God Is…

Sunday, September 8

In the first chapter, Clark tackles the widely held view that both the discoveries of science and the positions of the Christian faith cannot coexist. Someone must choose to either believe in science or commit intellectual suicide and hold onto a blind faith. Clark explains the dichotomy of the myth: “science is about thinking, evidence, and rational justification, while Christianity and faith in general are about evading evidence and clinging to nonrationality.” He not only works to dispel the myth that the church, faith and Christianity are NOT universally opposed to science, but that science was actually birthed from Christian beliefs. He leads us to believe that the continued advances of science will bring confidence to the Christian faith.

Getting Started:

1. Take a few minutes as a group and share what portions of the book or the Sunday morning message where interesting to you. Have you changed your mind about something related to science or faith because of what you’ve heard?
2. Based on what you’ve been taught in the past, do you feel you have a larger knowledge base about scientific arguments FOR or AGAINST the Christian faith? Why is that?
3. Was there something specific in the reading or from the Sunday message that grew your confidence that God is real and the creator of the universe?
4. Hearing Christians provide scientific evidence to support the Christian faith may be new for you. What is most encouraging about being equipped with new knowledge?
5. What do you need to keep in mind as you share this new information with skeptics? What do you what them to think? What do you want them to feel? What is the role of the Holy Spirit?

Going Deeper:

1. Have you ever experienced a conversation with a friend or family member who scientifically opposed the Christian faith? How did you feel, and is there something more you wish you would have known?
2. Clark shares an analogy, that believing in the Big Bang Theory is comparable to accepting that someone could have been dealt a perfect royal flush in poker, on every hand, forever. Why do you think our culture accepts something as unlikely as this, before they would accept the idea that there is an ultimate designer (God)?
3. As scientists learn more, do you believe more people will turn to the Christian faith or fewer? Why?
4. What scientific questions do you still have regarding faith (creation, evolution, dinosaurs, etc.)? What do you feel can’t be explained by the Bible? 
5. Read Romans 1: 19-23. How do you believe our culture today has become “futile in their thinking”? What have we decided to believe instead of the truth of scripture? As you continue to read Romans 1, what other cultural issues do you see as an effect of our “futile thinking”?

The Resurrection/The Exchange

John 20:1-21:15

Jesus had been buried for three days and the disciples were in mourning. What were they to do now? Their hopes of a king had all but diminished. Then Sunday morning came, and the great exchange had taken place. Jesus had risen from the grave! He was alive and darkness, evil, and death had been defeated. Jesus revealed himself as the resurrected King. He explained that he must go back to the Father so the Holy Spirit could come, to empower his followers to share the gospel with the world. Today, the message of the resurrection has been told all across the world. The question that each of us have to answer is: do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, and have you put Him first in your life?

1. Who is the first to find Jesus had risen from the grave? John 20:1, Luke 24:1, Mark 16:1, Matthew 28:1 Discuss the different accounts.
2. John tells us that Peter ran to the tomb to see where Jesus was. Why is this important and how does this challenge you to be more bold for Jesus? John 20:3-9
3. What was the first reaction the disciples had after finding out about the resurrection of Jesus? John 20:19 What changed their direction and how does this encourage you? John 20:20-23
4. Thomas did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead, so Jesus allowed him to touch his side. Then Thomas believed. What did Jesus say about future believers and how does this pertain to us today? John 20:26-29
5. John tells us what the most important reason was for writing the gospel. What does John say about this and what stands out as to why? John 20:30-31

The Prayer

John 17

Twenty-four hours before Jesus was to be crucified, Jesus prayed for himself to be a faithful and obedient son. Then he prayed for his disciples, that they would be untied, empowered, and joyful in the midst of what was coming. Jesus then prayed for the church; both the present, and for all believers that were to come to believe in his message. Everything Jesus did and will do is because the Father instructed him to. Jesus wants his followers to know that to know the Father, one must know him.

1. What does Jesus mean when he asked to be glorified? John 17:1-5 Describe how you bring glory to God.
2. Jesus knew the cross was coming; how did he pray for his disciples? John 17:9-19 What does this mean for us today as believers?
3. Jesus said his disciples were “not of this world.” John 17:16-19 What does that mean for us today as believers in the world?
4. Jesus stated that his relationship with the Father is one. John 17:20-21 What does that mean and how does that affect us today?
5. Jesus asked the Father to give all believers unity in order to let the world know that he was from God. John 17:22-23 How as believers in Jesus are we to carry out this mission?
6. Jesus prayed this entire prayer out loud so his disciples could hear him. In what ways does this prayer encourage you today?

The Helper- Part 1

John 14:15- 15:25

In this late evening discourse, Jesus reminded his disciples that love demands obedience. He then told his disciples that he was not leaving them alone in the world. He would ask the Father for the Counselor- the Spirit of Truth- to come and comfort them and lead them in all truth. In John 15, Jesus spoke about the importance of remaining in him. The victory of remaining in him is that we will bear much fruit- fruit that will last! Jesus continued to speak about the Holy Spirit and explain even more in Part 2 of The Helper.

1. In John 14:15-24, Jesus said that love is what holds together the relationship between Jesus and the Father. What does it mean to love God?
2. Jesus makes a promise to His disciples that will empower them to fulfill their callings. John 14:25-27- Who is that promise and how do people receive that promise today?
3. How does the Holy Spirit operate today in our lives as disciples of Christ? -See Romans 5:1-5
4. What does remain in Him mean to you and how does that play out today in your life? -John 15:1-15
5. In John 15:18-25, Jesus tells his disciples that the world will hate them because the world hated him. As believers, how can we continue to love Jesus and live in the world around us?

A 10-Week Journey With Jesus

John 11:45-12:11

This passage follows the grand showcase of one of Jesus’s greatest moments, his Triumphal Entry. One week before Jesus rose from the dead, he endured events from praise as a new king to the pain of the crucifixion. But in the midst of that, Jesus always kept the main thing in mind, that his Father receives glory! Jesus closed out this section with a reminder that He is the light of the world, and anyone who believes in Him should not stay darkness.

1. Discuss the scene as Jesus arrives in Jerusalem. (John 12:12-19)
2. What’s all the excitement about? What does Jesus mean when He says, “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified?” (John 12:23) How does this affect us today?
3. There are many who did not believe in Jesus and his miracles. Who were they and why did they not believe? (John 12:37-41) Have you confessed Jesus to be Lord over your life?
4. John says many believed in Jesus, but were afraid to confess their faith because of fear of man. Today, how can we overcome the fear of confessing faith in Jesus Christ? (John 12:42-43)
5. In these verses, Jesus spoke of the Father as one with himself. (John 12:44-46) What kind of unique relationship does Jesus have with the Father and how does that encourage you?
6. John 12:47-50 is a warning for those who do not believe in Jesus or listen to him. Jesus’s words lead to judgment or eternal life. Do you believe in what Jesus says? Discuss the power of God’s Word!

Feb 17, 2019

John 11: 1-44

Jesus made his final move toward the region of Jerusalem to the village of Bethany to attend to his friend Lazarus. The story of Lazarus is one of the most powerful miracles as Jesus shows that he is the master over life and death. As Jesus arrived at the home of Lazarus, he found his friend had died and had been buried for four days. All hope had been lost, until Jesus did the impossible! When Jesus said, “Take away the stone,” there was still confusion on what Jesus was about to do. Then Jesus called Lazarus from the grave and out the dead man came and the impossible was complete!

1. What promise did Jesus give Mary and Martha and how does that affect us today?     (vv. 1-4)
2. Jesus waited before He went to Lazarus’s house. How does this encourage you when you don’t get an immediate answer to your prayer? (v. 14)
3. Jesus was moved in spirit and troubled and then Jesus wept. Why? What does this tell us about Jesus? (vv. 32-37)
4. Why did Jesus pray to the Father? (vv. 41-42)
5. Lazarus’s resurrection was a message about life after death. Jesus wants us to know the promise of salvation. What’s your salvation/eternal story?
6. What main theme do you see in this passage and how does this apply to you?

From the outside looking in, it seemed they had it all together. But about seven years in, Kisha had an affair. When it came to light, Rick was ready to walk away and never look back. He soon realized that the reason Kisha was looking for attention elsewhere was because he wasn’t giving her any. He was not being the spiritual leader, nor the man he was designed to be. Looking back, Rick saw how God began working even when they hadn’t invited him into their lives yet.

But even in victory, sin didn’t just vanish. They still needed others around them to process the affair, to encourage them, and to whom they could confess. They were both willing to do whatever it took to earn back trust: sharing phone passwords, sharing where they would be at all times, keeping nothing off limits. They learned to confess not just the big things, but the small things­, too. Rick met Kisha with grace, compassion, love, and acceptance. And it changed both of them—forever, redefining forgiveneness for both of them.

Now, they share a passion for oneness and righteousness. They fight—day in and day out—for the marriage they’ve worked so hard for. Through their time in re|engage, they were able to learn what God’s grace looks like in a very real way—that the goal was not to avoid stumbling, but to walk in transparency, intimacy, and oneness.

The Faithfulness and Obedience of Joseph

Matthew 1:18-25

A great way to understand the Bible is to put yourself in the story. Joseph and Mary were committed to be married. Before their marriage, Mary became pregnant. How would you have responded to that news? Joseph was a righteous man who loved Mary so he decided to break off their wedding quietly. However, God showed up in a dream and convincingly changed Joseph’s mind. Joseph took Mary as his wife and the whole world was changed because of Joseph’s obedience to God.

1. Have you ever decided on something and then God convincingly changed your mind?
2. Imagine yourself as Joseph. What would you have done?
3. Imagine yourself as Mary. What would you be feeling?
4. What was Joseph’s part in the birth and maturing of Jesus?

Oftentimes in the Christmas story, Joseph’s faithfulness and obedience is overlooked. Joseph took huge steps of faith to follow the Lord, and we should model our lives after Joseph’s life.