Uncategorized – Mariners Church Flow Questions

Art of Relationships Wk 3 // Slow Burn

Message Recap

You have ever had one of those, “I wish I could take that back” moments? Chances are we’ve all said or done things in our relationships that we regret or wish we could “do-over.” So, where does that come from and what’s the way forward? How can we become people that are “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” when it seems like everything within us is compelling us to do the exact opposite?

Guiding Verses

James 1:19-21

19 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

Proverbs 16:24

24 “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Discussion Questions

Let’s play “telephone pictionary!” (video instructions here)
When/Where is it easy to be mis-understood?
What are things that stifle healthy communication?
When was a time someone listened well to you, and how did that make you feel?
Which of the James 1 “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” encouragements do you struggle with?

Moving Forward

Here’s the deal… we all struggle with communication and left to our own will-power, we will fail time and time again. God’s has given us the gift of His Holy Spirit, to bring about the change in us that we could never accomplish by ourselves. As you close read Galatians 5:13-26 and pray for the Holy Spirit to work in and through your lives to empower you to be all that He as created you to be, a reflection of His love and grace.

To learn more about the Art of Relationships series, including how to join or host an Art of Relationships Series Group click here.

Art of Relationships Wk 2 // Busyness

Message Recap

One of the healthy relationship requires time. It comes to no surprise then that one of the greatest relationship killers is busyness. In our instant, get it now world, we can quickly find ourselves overcommitted and under connected. The lies and lure of success, meaning and security play on our time and pride to trap us in a perpetual state of hurry and shallowness. What if we could choose better? What if we flipped the script and invested in the things that matter the most? What if we stared with the most vital of all relationships… our relationship with our Heavenly Father. God speaks, restores and wants to teach us a better way.

Guiding Verses

Luke 10:41-42

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.”

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Discussion Questions

What would you do with and extra 5 hours every day?
What are the lies of busyness and why do people buy into them?
What are the lies of busyness that you’ve bought into?
How are busyness and hurry damaging your relationships?
What choices can you make to combat business?

Moving Forward

Identifying the reality and impact of busyness is half the battle. Take time this week to ask God’s Spirit to illuminate the root causes, the lies even, that you’ve bought into that lead you to excuse or even defend busyness. Pray the truth of Ephesians 2:10 which reminds us that… “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us o do.” Our worth and identity are found in the creative and saving work of our Savior. He wants to teach you a new way that leads to an abundant and full life!

To learn more about the Art of Relationships series, including how to join or host an Art of Relationships Series Group click here.

Luke 2:8-15 // Good News!

In this season we have a great opportunity to jump into the story of Celebrate Differently as our Life Groups serve and bless others with the transformational love of Jesus! We want to hear your stories. How is God using your Life Group to engage Celebrate Differently?

Follow and tag @marinerslifegroups on Instagram with your Celebrate Differently Stories and pictures. Use the hashtags #mclifegroup and #celebratedifferently in the text of your post.

The first 100 people to follow us and share their #mclifegroup #celebratedifferntly stories will be entered to win a dinner at a local restaurant with your Life Group to celebrate this holiday season together as well as a $200 Target Gift Card for your Life Group to be used anyway you can dream of helping others to Celebrate Differently. Three Life Groups will be chosen. You can also share your stories using this online form.

What’s Your Life Group’s Story? // Tag, Bag, Serve and Share With Us!

View list of serving opportunities here.

Lean In // 5 minutes

Christmas memory share!

Leader Note: Have each person in your group share one of their favorite Christmas memories. From a childhood present to other family traditions, encourage everyone to jump in here.

Look Down // 10 minutes

Read Luke 2:8-15

What do you learn about the first Christmas?

Leader Note: Read the passage twice. On the second time ask your group to close their eyes and picture themselves in the story of the passage. What stands out? What phrases and emotions stand out?

Ordinary night, ordinary people in an ordinary place
Extraordinary show of God’s power and presence
The shepherds were terrified
Good news for all people
No fear – reassurance – what seems overwhelming turns out to be good news
The good news is subversive, not what they expected… a baby!
Promise of peace, joy and comfort
Promise of a savior, the Messiah has been born
News of the Messiah’s birth inspired worship
News of the Messiahs birth compelled the Shepherds to go and search for him

Leader Note: Transition your group to the next section by highlighting verse 10 “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Jesus’ brith singles to the world that a new age has begun. The age of God’s Kingdom present on Earth which brings the good news of healing, hope, redemption and salvation for all people.

Look Out // 10 minutes

What does the world call good news and is it actually good?

Look In // 20 minutes

What good news have you received lately?

Where are you in need of good news?

Leader Note: You may want to ask these questions as one question to each person in the group. Pay to attention to each answer so you and your group and pray for one another at the end of the group discussion.

Live It Out // 5 minutes

How can you be a person of good news this Christmas Season?

Click here for Life Group Serve Opportunities

Looking to Join a Life Group? Check out our online group directory to get in touch with leader today.

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

Life Groups Prayer Experience

There are no Flow Questions this week. We encourage groups to use this week as an opportunity to engage a prayer experience this Tuesday, October 13th at 7 pm in the Chapel. Let’s join together in prayer and worship to pursue God and to be filled and inspired for more of Him in our lives. More info on our website.

Flow Questions

Flow Questions will be on hold for the month of August. Check out other recommend group studies here, including information about an exciting, free new online resource for groups, Rightnow Media.

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

Click here for Life Group Serve Opportunities

Saturday Nights at Mariners is the place to be! Come to the 5 pm service and stick around after for great food, awesome games with prizes and live entertainment. Summer Saturdays is a great way for you entire Life Group to connect and invite others in from your community! Click the image above to learn what’s happening each week.

Ephesians 1:3-8 // Remembering And Forgetting

Lean In // 5 minutes

What are some of your favorite summer time memories?

What are the pictures, the emotions you have in those memories?

Leader Note: Summertime for many is a time to vacation, a time to be with family and a time for new adventures. Transition your group to the next section by saying something like… “it’s fun to recall experiences we’ve had in our lives. In the same way, remembering who we are as Children of God is an important exercises that can bring us encouragement and joy.”

Look Down // 10 minutes

Read Ephesians 1:3-8

What do you learn about the blessings God gives us?

Sample answers may include…

He doesn’t hold them back, every spiritual blessing is ours
We are blessed because of what Christ did, we don’t earn His blessings
God chooses to bless us, it was His plan from the beginning
God brings us into His family
He blesses us because He wants to
It gives Him great pleasure to bless us
His blessing show up in kindness and wisdom

Look Out // 10 minutes

What do people experience when they embrace God’s blessings?

What do people miss out when they don’t embrace God’s blessings?

Sample answers may include…

Embracing God’s Blessings

Freedom
Peace
Secure in who we are
More willing to take risk, to step out to new places
Not dependent on the approval or praise of others
Boldness, confidence in what God has called them to

Not embracing God’s Blessings

The security that comes from knowing who are
They potentially miss out on seeing God the unexpected, the impossible in and through them
We become less willing to extend love and grace to others
We become judgmental of others and either highly critical or over confident of ourselves

What keeps people from embracing God’s Blessings?

Leader Note: The life that God has for us, through His blessing, is a full and vibrant life, the kind of life we all want. So why don’t we all choose it? Why would people exchange God’s blessings for something lesser?

Sample answers may include…

Doubting that God is actually good
Doubt that God wants to bless them, they feel unworthy of it
They can’t understand God’s blessings, can’t rationalize it or Him
Choosing a life of the “known” the uncomplicated and safe life
People want to feel like they’ve earned what they have, they created their own path and blessings

Look In // 20 minutes

Leader Note: Use the the following to help set up the next two question for your group. The truth is, we are much better about holding onto the things that we think make us ‘unworthy’ of God’s blessings. Our sin, the shame we carry and the hurts and disappointments of the past. While those things are true and we don’t dismiss them they don’t define who we are. Challenge your group to identity the things they are holding onto, the things that are impeding their relationship with God and others. Then, recalling the passage, what do they need to remember about the ways God see’s them? What’s holding them back from living in that truth, and how would things be different if they could embrace that truth.

What are the things you need to forget?

What are the things you need to remember?

Live It Out // 5 minutes

What would change in your life if you embraced God’s blessings?

Leader Note: When we live in a place of seeing ourselves as God sees us we are transformed as are the people around us. When we are secure in our identity we will live lives of purpose and seek to serve and bless others. How would that change not only our lives but the lives of those around us, our communities, our families?

Communion Experience // Optional at the end of group

One of the most tangible ways we are invited to remember God’s gift of His son to us and the sacrifice He made for our sins on the cross, is through communion. In Acts 2:42 we read, “They (the early church) devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer.” The breaking of bread, or communion, was on of the repeated experiences of the early church. As we take communion we celebrate the life we have in Christ and remind ourselves that He came to be with us, to free us and make us whole!

You may want to read 1 Corinthians 11:23-28 over your group. After you read the passage, pause for your group and yourself to reflect on anything that may be in your heart that you’d like God to cleanse and heal. Take the bread and cup, serve each-other and as do you do speak a blessing over the person you serve. An example of a blessing you can give is, “This is Christ body’s and blood shed for you. He died that you may live.

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 10:1-5 // Father’s Day

Lean In // 5 minutes

What’s a song that triggers a memory for you?

Leader Note: Many of us have song’s that we associate for certain moments in our life. No matter where we are or what we are doing music has the power to take us back to a moment. Transition your group out of this question by saying something like… “just like music has the power to influence us, God’s voice is powerful and has ability to direct and change us.”

Look Down // 10 minutes

Read John 10:1-5

What do you learn about the shepherd and the sheep?

Sample answers may include…

There are some who try to steal the sheep
The shepherd enters in through the gate
The shepherd knows the gatekeeper, has relationship with the gatekeeper
The sheep listen to and know the shepherd’s voice
The shepherd calls each sheep by name, he knows them
The shepherd leads the sheep, goes in front of them
The sheep know the voice of the shepherd, the trust and follow him
Sheep run away from strangers, no relationship there, won’t trust won’t follow

Look Out // 10 minutes

What are the types of “voices” people follow?

What does it look like to follow those voices?

Sample answers may include…

Political commentators
Money, greed
Pop culture
Academic
Fitness and health
Appearance, beauty
Comparison and competition

Leader Note: Make the point to your group that these voices have great influence on the way we see ourselves and the world around us.

Look In // 15 minutes

When was a time you heard and responded to God’s voice?

Leader Note: At this point you may want to remind your group about the content from Rooted Week 3, How Does Good Speak To Us, which highlights the different ways God speaks to us. Have each person in your group describe the way God spoke to them. You may want to also asks other ways He has spoken. The main point to highlight is that God speaks today through various means. In whatever way He always speaks in accordance to His Word, the bible is our guide and standard for how God speaks.

1. God speaks to us through His Word.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2. God speaks through His Holy Spirit

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

3. God speaks to us through His creation.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:1-

4. God speaks to us through other people

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22

5. God speaks through our circumstances

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Acts 16:6-10

6. God speaks through supernatural means

To Moses through a burning bush (Exodus 3)
To Balaam through his donkey (Numbers 22)
To Gideon through an Angel (Judges 6)
To Isaiah through a vision (Isaiah 6)

Where are you currently in need to hear God’s voice?

Leader Note: God’s voice often provides clarity and wisdom and reminds us of our identity in Christ? What’s a situation you’re facing where need God to speak and lead?

Live It Out // 5 minutes

How might your life and the lives of others be affected by you following God’s voice?

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.

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

Be Fearless

There are no flow questions this week due to a guest speaker. Take time this week to look at the Be Fearless Campaign, reminding your group that is who we are called to be as a Mariners Life Group. Our goal is 100% participation… everyone giving, everyone serving as response to the generosity we have received form God!

We are called to fearlessly impact our community. In 2013, we began BE FEARLESS. Through this generosity campaign, so far we have raised over $1.5 million and served thousands of hours to benefit those in Orange County and around the world. It’s time to BE FEARLESS again.

Through giving $39.95 (or more) or serving at one of these opportunities, you can
make a difference.

Serving Opportunities:

Boys and Girls Club Work Project Irvine

Date: Saturday, March 7
Time: 8:30am – 12pm
Location: 295 E. Yale Loop, Irvine, CA 92604
Details: We will be doing some painting, cleaning and light repair work in the interior of the Boys & Girls Club facilities. Please meet at Boys & Girls Club and wear comfortable clothing! Ages 7+

Kids Around The World

Date: Saturday, March 7
Time: 10:30am – 1pm
Location: Mariners Church, Irvine Campus
Details: Kids Around the World partners with local churches, schools and other organizations to provide food for other countries. In response to the current food crisis in Liberia, we are partnering with them to help package meals for distribution. Families and children are welcome. All ages.

Lighthouse Community Centers Work Project

Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 8:30am – 12:30pm
Location: 1010 Minnie St., Santa Ana, CA 92701
Details: We will be working alongside the community members of Minnie St. to beautify the community center and surrounding neighborhood by painting, cleaning, tending to the community garden and more! Meet in the Upper Room at Mariners Church at 8:30a. Transportation will be provided. Wear comfortable work clothes and pack your sunscreen and water bottle. Ages 7+

Medical Clinic at Christian Arabic Church

Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 8am – 3pm
Location: 662 N. Gilbert, Anaheim, CA 92804
Details: Provide basic medical care for those in need. By bringing these vitally needed services, our hope and prayer is to spread the gospel message throughout the world and be a force for change. Wear comfortable work clothes and pack your sunscreen and water bottle. Lunch will be provided! Ages 18+