Month: April 2015

Romans 8:11-17 // Reset Wk 3

Lean In // 5 minutes

If you could have one superpower what would it be and why? 

Leader Note: Do your best to get everyone to answer this amusing question. Remember the more people talk in the beginning the more likely they are to stay engaged throughout the discussion.

 

Look Down // 10 minutes

Read Romans 8:11-17

What do you learn about God’s Spirit?

Sample answers may include

  • God’s Spirit raised Christ from the dead (v.11)
  • God’s Spirit is alive in us (v.11)
  • God’s Spirit gives us life and power now (v.11)
  • We can choose to live by God’s Spirit or our sinful nature (v.12-13)
  • Living by God’s spirit puts to death the ways of our flesh (v.13)
  • It is God’s Spirit leading us that identifies us as God’s children (v.14,16)
  • God’s Spirit does not make us fearful or slaves (v.15)
  • God gives us His Spirit, we don’t earn it (v.15)
  • God’s Spirit causes us to be heirs together with Christ, we share in His glory and we also share in His suffering (v.17)

 

Look Out // 10 minutes

Where have you seen people hold on to dead things?

Where have you seen people experience new life?

Leader Note: This can work its self out in a number of ways. Unforgiveness, regret, fear pain and shame can often be seen as our “just deserved” outcome for our actions that we come to accept death as the only reality. 

 

Look In // 20 minutes

Where are you in need of God’s Spirit to bring a dead thing to life?

 

Live It Out // 5 minutes 

Who could you impact by living in the power of God’s Sprit?

Leader Note: Read the first half of verse 11 again to your group. God’s spirit brings us life, freedom and healing. Our call as Christ followers is to then live out those things for the sake of others. Challenge your group to think about where God is calling them to live out new life… what could that look like, what could the impact be?

Key Verse: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God..  Romans 8:14

Key Thought: God’s Spirit in us brings life and freedom!

Click here for Life Group Serve Opportunities

Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.

Jonah 4 // Ignite

Lean In // 5 minutes

What was a close encounter with a creature where you lived to tell the tale?

Leader Note: The question is designed to be fun although there may be some scary encounter stories!  Use the question to transition to the story of Jonah.

Look Down // 10 minutes

Read Jonah 4

Story Note: In the first three chapters, we learn how Jonah was sent by God to warn the people of Nineveh that God was going to judge them.  Rather than go, Jonah chose to flee in the opposite direction, because the Assyrians were cruel and wicked.  Jonah boarded a ship that was bound for the city of Tarshish when a great storm came in a time of the year that the storms do not happen.  The sailors finally agreed at Jonah’s request to throw him overboard, and when they did a great fish, prepared by God, swallowed Jonah.  After a period of three days and three nights, Jonah repented and obeyed the Lord.  Then, Jonah came to the land of the Assyrians and pronounced God’s judgment upon Nineveh, and as a result the people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah and God spared the city.  This is where we pick up chapter 4…

What do learn about Jonah?

Sample answers could include:

  • He becomes angry that God did not destroy the Ninevites
  • Jonah would rather have died than be a part of God reconciling Nineveh
  • Jonah’s anger and bitterness clouded his vision

What do you learn about God’s nature?

Sample answers could include:

  • God was patient with both Nineveh and Jonah
  • God’s desire is to extend mercy rather than destruction
  • God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love (v. 2)
  • God has great concern for the lost and wicked

Commentary: Jonah had good reason to disobey and run from God’s command.  The Ninevites were cruel and wicked and caused much pain and difficulty for Jonah and his people.  However, as the passage tells us, Jonah was resistant not because the Ninevites were cruel and wicked, but because he knew God is a God of grace, compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love, and relents from sending destruction.  This context is important to understanding Jonah’s motive for withholding grace and compassion from the Ninevites.   

Look Out // 10 minutes

Where have you seen compassion extended to others?  What does it look like?

Where have you seen compassion withheld?  What keeps people from extending it?

Leader Note: In Israel’s story, God had extended compassion toward them, which included Jonah, but then Jonah was not as willing to extend it to the Ninevites.  Help guide group members to specific examples and stories of where they have seen compassion extended and withheld.   

Look In // 20 minutes

Who are the Ninevites in your life?

Leader note: In Jonah’s story, the Ninevites were people that caused hurt and pain for Jonah and his people.  So, who are the people that have caused hurt and pain in our lives?  As the leader, it will be helpful to have some examples and stories from your own life to help your group identify these people and places in their own lives.

What could it look like to extend compassion to them?

Leader note: Help group members find one or two tangible things they could do to move toward extending compassion.  It could be as simple as saying a prayer or even initiating a conversation.  The goal is to move toward an actionable step.

Live It Out // 5 minutes

Who might be impacted by extending grace to the difficult people and places in your life?

Key Verse: I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. – Jonah 4:2

Key Thought: 

Click here for Life Group Serve Opportunities

Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.

Galatians 5:1-15 // Ready, Set, Reset

Lean In // 5 minutes

Describe your ideal vacation

Leader Note: Watch for the kinds activities people list. Some will be all about the poolside rest while others find rest in activities. Transition your group by saying something like… “while we may all live out our vacations differently there’s one thing we can agree on, vacations are a time for space, connection, rest and hopefully freedom! Today we’ll look at what the bible says about true freedom.”

 

Look Down // 15 minutes

What do you learn about freedom?

Sample answers…

  • Christ sets us free, freedom comes only from Him
  • Freedom can be lost
  • Freedom can be lost when we return to old ways/habits, the law
  • We fall into traps of needing to earn and prove our freedom
  • Freedom can’t be obtain by outward expressions, we can’t “do things” to prove our freedom
  • Working to earn freedom cuts us of from Christ and God’s grace
  • Freedom involves faith and waiting, or resting
  • Freedom puts faith in the the things God has promised
  • Freedom is an expression of love, the love and grace we receive from Christ
  • God calls us into freedom
  • Little things matter when it comes to freedom. When we mix even a little of our mistrust in God’s promises we are in jeopardy of missing Christ’s freedom entirely
  • The idea of simply receiving freedom from Christ is revolutionary and upsetting to many
  • Freedom must be expresses in serving others, freedom is just for us, it needs to be expressed through us

 

Look Out // 15 minutes

Describe the freest person you know? What makes them appear free?

Leader Note: Set the tone to this question by giving examples of people who seem to live a “care-free” life, untethered by overwhelming responsibilities or obligations. This is typically what our culture looks to when describing freedom.

Sample answers…

  • Someone with little to no responsibilities
  • They live for themselves, don’t care about the option of others
  • They have enough money to make their own choices, based on what they want
  • They get to do the things they want and don’t have to do the things they don’t want to do
  • They have an abundance of time

Commentary: Be it a child, a free-spirited no attachments wander or the multi-millionaire, when we think of freedom we most often associate it as state where we are free to do whatever we want, whenever we want it. This freedom places our wants and desires at the center with little or no regard for the affairs of others.

What does it look like to have freedom in Christ? Where have you seen in?

Sample answers…

  • Defined by what Christ did not what I do
  • The awareness to know that you are unconditionally love
  • I know there’s forgiveness when I sin
  • Defined by how Christ see’s me and not how others see him
  • I can extend what I have been give because I have recived so much
  • Frees me from worry, needing to prove or show my worth
  • Unmoved by circumstances, rest in who God is and what He has down
  • Willing to serve others with no need for recognition or praise
  • Freedom in Christ moves us from a me first mentality to an others first focus

 

Look In // 20 minutes

Where do you feel the pull to earn your freedom in Christ?

Commentary: The passage clearly tells us that freedom is found in Christ alone. Yet for many, (if not all of us!) we tend to fall into the trap of needing to show we are worthy of receiving Christ’s freedom for busying ourselves with “spiritual activity” to show that we are truly free. Freedom is something that is giving and when it’s expressed it’s not for show our for our own benefit. Freedom is best expressed in serving and loving others.

 Sample answers….

  • Have to read my bible everyday
  • Spending more time in prayer
  • Go to church every Sunday
  • I am measured by what I do, what I produce, I need to be good enough
  • Need to be perfect, have perfect kids, a conflict free life
  • Looking to be validated by others, commended for how “good I am”
  • My work ethic, work harder, work more so others will think highly of me

What do you need to believe about yourself and God to combat that pull and how would that belief impact your life?

Leader Note: It may be helpful to direct your group back to the passage at this point, asking them to identify with a line or two that they need to hold onto. Then ask, what would change in you, what would change in how you view yourself and others if you held onto that truth?

 

Live it Out // 5 minutes

Who could you impact by living a “freedom in Christ life?”

Key Verse: For you have been called to live in freedom. – Galatians 5:13

Key Thought: Freedom is found in who Christ is and what He has done for us

Click here for Life Group Serve Opportunities

Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.

John 20:1-31 // We are EASTER

Lean In // 5 minutes

What’s something incredible you’ve experienced and couldn’t wait to share it?

Sample answers may include:

  • Engagement story
  • Natural wonder
  • Birth of a child
  • Hole-in-one
  • Celebrity sighting

Look Down // 10 minutes

Read John 20:1-31

Leader Note: It may be helpful to break this passage into sections (vv. 1-18; 19-23; 24-31).  After each section, ask the Look Down question. 

What do you observe about Mary, The Disciples and Thomas?

Sample answers for Mary (vv. 11-18):

  • Mary was looking for Jesus in the tomb (v. 11)
  • She was overcome with grief because she couldn’t find Jesus (v. 13)
  • She expected the worse and was blinded by expectations
  • She’s confused
  • Jesus appears and Mary doesn’t recognize Him (v. 14)
  • Mary believes at the sound of Jesus’ voice (v. 16)
  • Upon hearing Jesus’ voice and seeing him, she obeys (vv. 17-18)

Sample answers for The Disciples (vv. 19-23):

  • They were gathering in fear (v. 19)
  • Even though there was tragedy, they still gathered together
  • Jesus speaks peace to their fear
  • Upon seeing the Lord, they are filled with joy (v. 20)
  • Jesus gives them a mission accompanied with the Holy Spirit (vv. 21-22)

Sample answers for Thomas (vv. 24-29):

  • Thomas was not gathered with the other disciples
  • Thomas does not believe unless he experiences it for himself (vv. 24-25)
  • Jesus brings peace to the believers
  • Jesus invites Thomas to touch his hands and side
  • Upon experiencing Jesus’ resurrection, he believes (v. 28)
  • Jesus shows Thomas but blesses those who believe without seeing

Commentary: At the cross, there were no believers.  Rather, there was pain, confusion, hurt, disappointment, and fear at the apparent loss of Jesus.  It wasn’t until the tomb was empty and Jesus appears that His disciples believed.  John 20:9 is key to understanding the passage as the disciples did not understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

For each section, Jesus showed up uniquely.  Mary needed to hear Jesus’ voice, the disciples were afraid until they saw the Lord, and Thomas required evidence and experience so he could believe it was Jesus. 

Take some time to draw out the different observations, as your group will enter back into the characters in the Look In question.

Look Out // 10 minutes

What are things that keep people trapped in doubt?

Sample answers:

  • Fear
  • Grief
  • Ignorance
  • Lack of experience
  • Believing that things will never change
  • Preconceived ideas
  • Disappointment

What moves people toward belief?  Where have you seen it?

Leader note: This is a great storytelling question.  So, allow group members to share stories and capture their insights.  Help your group move past simply listing the reasons “why” people doubt or believe and where they’ve seen the effects of doubt or belief in our world.

Sample answers:

  • The endorsement of someone respected
  • Undeniable proof—Sight, taste, touch, sound, smell, etc.
  • Popular opinion
  • Events—September 11, act of compassion/love, loss of a loved one, etc.

Look In // 20 minutes

Who do you identify with from the passage and why?

What can you grab onto from Jesus’ words/actions to Mary, The Disciples, and Thomas?

Commentary: In the passage, Jesus responded in different ways to the different needs.  As your group identifies with one or two of the characters, help them grab onto a word or phrase that speaks to them.

  • Mary – “Why are you crying?  Who is it you are looking for?”; Jesus’ compassion/love; Calls her by name; “I have seen the Lord!”
  • The Disciples – I am present among you; “Peace be with you!”; Joy at seeing the Lord; “I am sending you”; Receive the Holy Spirit”
  • Thomas – “Peace be with you!”; See & Touch; “Stop doubting and believe”; Your doubts are ok, I can handle your doubt, they don’t separate you from me; You’re not left out

Live It Out // 5 minutes

How could you bring the hope of the resurrection to those around you?

Key Verse: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

Key Thought: Easter: the best news ever!

Click here for Life Group Serve Opportunities

Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.