May 2015 – Mariners Church Flow Questions

Matthew 25:14–26

Note: The questions for this week have been pulled from the Life Group Study entitled Ten, which highlights the top ten passage for groups to study. Ten is a great summer option for groups and is available now in the Irvine Campus Bookstore.

Lean In // 5 minutes

You’ve been given a free ticket to three destinations anywhere in the world. Where do you go and why?

Look Down // 20 minutes

Read Matthew 25:14–26

What do you learn about the servants who invested what they had been given?

Sample answers may include:

They saw the master as generous and trusting
They believed they would have to answer for what was given
They lived out of thankfulness
They understood what was given didn’t belong to them
The master counted them as faithful and rewarded them with more responsibilities
They were invited to celebrate with the master

What do you learn about the servant who buried what he had been given?

Sample answers may include:

He saw the master as harsh and unfair
He was motivated by fear and selfishness
He wanted to protect himself
He had a lack of trust in the master
The master calls him called lazy
He loses everything and is left in isolation and darkness
According to this passage, what is the one way to miss out on what God has given you?

Commentary: There are only two types of people in this passage: people who try and people who do not. The only way to fail and miss out on what God has for you is to not try. There is no failing in trying!

Look Out // 15 minutes

Where have you seen a person not live up to their full potential?

Leader Note: This question can be a tricky one to answer because measuring ability and potential can be a subjective and sensitive discussion. It may be helpful to think in terms of athletic ability or some other kind of skill, like musical ability, that is often associated as a God-given talent. Also, ensure this question is answered by looking out in our world and not within the group.

What contributed to that person’s inability to maximize their gifts?

Sample Answers May Include:

Lack of risk taking
Lack of discipline to develop or work hard at that skill
Inability to dream big
Too hard on themselves, couldn’t live up to their own expectations
Fear of failure, fear of success

Look In // 20 minutes

What treasures have you been given and how are you using them?

Sample answer may be:

Public Speaking
Critical reasoning
Financial aptitude
Writing
Encouraging/affirming
Singing
Cooking
Organizing

Where are you “burying” what has been entrusted to you, and why?

Leader Note: Many of us tend to hide the shame or brokenness in our life as something that God heals, but cannot use. The reality is that people learn just as much, if not more from, our stories of failure and brokenness than from our stories of triumph. Lead your group to see that every aspect of their story is significant and has the ability to impact others for His Kingdom.

When we bury our treasures—for whatever reason—we bury the value of our lives. God is not concerned with how much we have but with what we do with what we have been given. The value of a life is always measured by how much is given away.

Live It Out // 5 minutes

How might God be calling you to use all of who you are to impact those around you?

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

Mike Pilavachi June 9th

We are extremely excited to have Anglican Pastor, international speaker and founder of Soul Survivor Ministries in the UK, Mike Pilavachi back at Mariners on Tuesday, 9th. Mike will be leading us through God’s Word and a powerful time of prayer ministry, specifically for those seeking emotional, spiritual and physical healing.

In addition to the all-church gathering at 7pm in the Worship Center, we would like to invite you to a very special Leader Lab and Dinner on the same night at 5:30 pm in the Upper Room. Mike will be sharing some thoughts on the Holy Spirit and prayer that I believe will be very beneficial for all leaders of community.

Because dinner is involved we ask that you take time to rsvp for the Leader Lab here. Childcare will be available for free for both the Lab and the 7pm gathering when you register.

I believe that God wants to show up and speak to us in unique ways on this night. Don’t Miss It!

Blessings

John Thomas // Life Groups Pastor

Romans 12:1-2 // Reset Your Thinking

Lean In // 5 minutes

What’s an item you can’t live without?

Sample answers…

My smartphone, tablet
Navigation system
Coffee maker
My car
My new boots, clothes
Netflix
Wireless internet
Electricity

Leader Note: You many want to ask a follow up question here… “what was your life like before those things?” Transition your group by staying something like, “it’s funny how quickly our thinking can change. Once we have something in our daily life we can’t imagine a world without, when in reality we lived without these things and did just fine. Let’s see what this verse has to say about how our worship and thinking affect the way we live.”

Look Down // 15 minutes

Read Romans 12:1-2

What do you learn about a life of worship?

Sample answers…

Worship starts with looking at God’s mercy
Worship is living sacrificially
Sacrificial worship pleases God
There are types of worship that are true and types that aren’t
It involves us looking and thinking differently
Worship involves a renewing or resetting of our minds from the ways of the world
It changes the way we see and think about things, enables us to see and learn God’s will

Look Out // 10 minutes

What are the “If I only” statements people make?

Sample answers…

If I only could find the right person then I would be happy
If I only had more money then I would be secure
If I only had that job then I would feel powerful
If I only had more friends then I would feel important and loved
If I only lived in that neighborhood then I would be content
If I only looked like them then I would feel valuable

Leader Note: Lead your group to see the ways that we depend on outside circumstances to change the way we feel about ourselves and how others see us. Jesus comes to offer us an entirely new way of thinking. A way of right worship that puts God in His proper view. A way of worship that completely flips our thinking on its head.

Look In // 20 minutes

Leader Note: In his message, Kenton challenged us to look through the following seven statements and identify which ones resonate personally with us. These statements represent the lies we believe in life that most often lead to a “What Was I Thinking” moment.

Lead your group through this next section by asking them to identify the statement or statements that they have or currently are holding on to. Each statement starts with a lie that is followed up with a truth statement that you’ll want to walk people through with care and grace.

Where are you living out these statements and what would it look like to allow God to transform your thinking?

1. If I find the right person, everything will be all right // Become the right person

2. My situation is unique // You are unique, your situation is not

3. It’s not right but it makes me happy…God wants me to be happy // If it is not right…it is not going to turn out right

4. If I only had ____________ I would be satisfied // Appetites are never fully and finally satisfied

5. I owe is better than I want // It is better to want than to owe

6. My secret is safe with me // Secrets leak

7. Sex will solve it // Sex will complicate it

Live It Out // 5 minutes

How would your transformed thinking affect others?

Leader Note: For instance, if we are living this way it will show in our lifestyle, how we treat people, teachers, coaches. It will impact our community.

Key Verse: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

Key Thought: Reset your thinking

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

1 Samuel 16:1-7 // Beautiful And Brave

Lean In // 5 minutes

Women, would you rather be Miss America or Madam President? Men, would you rather be Mr. Universe or Mr. President?

Leader Note: Create some banter back and forth here. Ask people to defend their answers. For fun have a some people take sides to argue why their position is better.

Look Down // 10 minutes

Read 1 Samuel 16:1-7 and 1 Peter 3:3-4

What do you learn about beauty?

Sample answers…

We look outwardly
We consider outward beauty to be an indication of status
God’s value system of beauty is different than ours
God looks at the heart
Beauty does not come from what we “put on” or what we have
Beauty of the heart lasts, it never fades
God values gentleness and humility

Look Out // 15 minutes

What does it look like to use the world’s standard of beauty, where have you seen it?

What does it look like to use God’s standard of beauty, where have you seen it?

Look In // 25 minutes

Where have you used the world’s standards of beauty on yourself?

Leader Note: After this question lead you group through a time of affirming and calling out beauty in one another.

Set this up by saying something like… “Many of us have been feed a string of lies concerning our beauty and worth. As we go through life it becomes easy to believe those lies and lose sight of the way God see’s us. We’re going to take time now to speak truth over one-another by calling out the beauty we see and affirming the truth of how God sees each of us.”

Here’s a sample of what this could look like…

“Jane, you are beautiful. God calls you His loved daughter. He has placed within you His very image. You are His masterpiece, created by Him and for Him. We have seen the way you serve and care for others, for your family. The life you live is a reflection of the very beauty God has placed in you. We replace every lie that has been spoken over you, every thought that comes to steal and destroy what God has given you with the truth of God’s word. We proclaim God’s healing and freedom in Jesus Name.”

Do this one at a time, asking the person who is being affirmed to say back what they hear when the group is done. It takes time for truth to sink in and we often don’t hear it the first time! If that’s the case speak those words again in love and ask them again what they heard. If you have a large group you may want to consider splitting up between men and women in order to save time.

Key Verse: The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

Key Thought: God’s standard of beauty is different than the world’s

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

Ezra 9:8-9 // Beauty Out Of Ruins

Lean In // 5 minutes

What was the last thing you ruined?

Leader Note: Remember to get your entire group talking here. The more they share at the lean in the more likely they will be to share all the way through the discussion. Set the tone to this question by modeling it yourself… keep this answer on the “lighter side.” Think of a commercial situation like the ones listed in the sample answers. Transition your group to the next section by saying something like… “Ruins are inevitable, as is the promise of God to never leave us or forsake us, despite the messiness of life.”

Clothes in the wash
Burnt dinner
Lego tower
Car accident
iPhone incident

Look Down // 10 minutes

Read Ezra 9:8-9

Commentary Note: The people of God were carried away into captivity in Babylon and God’s house was destroyed. However, Ezra and a remnant have been allowed to return some generations later to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. These verses are part of a prayer offered by Ezra on behalf of God’s people. They are standing among the ruins of God’s house praising God for the opportunity to join Him in the restoration of His house. Just one generation before, this would have been unimaginable to the people and yet God promised He would do it.

What does God give His people in the midst of ruins?

Sample answers could include:

Firm place
Grace
Revival
Light
Relief
His presence, “he has not bonded us”
The ability to still see Him at work… “brightened our eyes”
His influence… “he caused the kings of Persia to treat us favorably”
Gives us a purpose and strength to complete that purpose… “He revived us so we could rebuild the Temple of our God”

Look Out // 10 minutes

What do the ruins of someone’s life look like?

Leader Note: Remember at this point you are asking your group to respond to where they see this passage at work in the world around them. You want your group to look out, meaning outside of their own story. Where have they seen this in the lives of others, what stories can they share?

Divorce
Addiction
Debt
Bankruptcy
Foreclosure
Adultery

Where have you seen hope come from ruins?

Restored marriages
Recovery
Reconciled friendships
Family’s coming back together

Look In // 20 minutes

Where do you need ruins restored?

Leader note: The category of “ruins” pertaining to our lives is a difficult subject. In mixed gender groups this might be an opportunity to break off women with women etc. The hope is that we will be prompted to deal both with ruins we have yet to declare a need for restoration and ruins God is in the midst of restoring. James 5:15-16 tells us that we are forgiven and confession brings healing. Also, recall the context of Ezra 9:8-9 – a prayer of confession and thanksgiving offered by God’s people. When group members share remember to lean in and listen. This is the best offering the group can give in the moment! Offering any Care & Recovery Resources can happen generally at the end of group or offline in a private conversation.

What would your life look like with ruins restored?

Live It Out // 5 minutes

How might you live differently with restored ruins? Who else could you impact?

Key Verse: Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage…He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins… Ezra 9:9

Key Thought: Humanity takes what is glorious and ruins it. God takes what is ruined and makes it glorious.

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