Sunday, October 7 Life Group Discussion Guide

This Discussion Guide is available as a .pdf for download here

Life Group Discussion Guide :: Sunday, October 7, 2012 (JXG) 

Sandy Lake Wesleyan :: Pastor Shawn

iLive: Got an App for That  |  Week 7 (Wrap)

Remember, this Guide is not intended as an exhaustive list of what can be discussed, but is best used as a guide to help your Group process what God is teaching them. Read through the discussion points below and prayerfully consider what the Holy Spirit would have you work through.

 Be sure to pray for, encourage each other, and share the victories God is giving your Group.

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As part of our worship gathering this morning, we celebrated Communion as brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world were doing the same. How should the fact that we are a Global Body of Believers change the way we pray, act, and serve?  How can this global reality be reflected in your time together as a Group?

Today was the ‘wrap’ Sunday for the iLive series--what are some of the insights or key points the Holy Spirit has brought to mind during this time in the Word together? In what areas were you affirmed? Challenged?

Here are the questions we were left with each week during the series:

“Who (or what) is ordering my steps?”

“What is your next step for physical and spiritual fitness?”

“Who are you looking to to ‘decode’ the things of this life?”

“In what direction are you launching your anger?”

“What would I do...if the most significant thing about me was my relationship with God?”

“What is God calling us to in relationships?”

Which of these was the hardest to answer? What significant next steps did you sense God calling you to take that your Group members can be praying about on your behalf?

Read Acts 5:3

What do we learn about how Satan seeks to direct our steps and influence our lives away from God?

If “filling communicates access,” how would Ananias have given Satan access to his heart?

How can we do the same thing?

Read Matthew 6:19-24

What are ways we are tempted to serve ‘two masters?’  What role does our heart play in this temptation?

Why do you think Jesus talked so passionately about ‘light’ and ‘darkness’ in this Scripture (remember: ‘light’ is often a metaphor for truth and holiness; ‘darkness’ is often a metaphor for lies and evil)? How does that inform the temptation to serve two masters?

Pastor Shawn talked about some of the tools the enemy uses to move us to a place of disobedience (six D’s)—what are they?

Deception :: Doubt :: Discouragement :: Despair :: Diversion :: Delay :: Defeat

He also shared a cycle these “D’s” bring us into that we get stuck in: isolation :: fear :: victim mentality

Share a bit of how you’ve experienced the enemy trying to get you ‘stuck’ using these tools? 

We can feel isolated, afraid, and a ‘victim’ in our relationship with God—but it especially happens in our human relationships and in our connection to the Church… what should our reaction be when we (or people we know) fall into this way of thinking? 

Satan is the “father of lies”—what are some of the lies he uses to get us into those places of isolation, fear, and being a victim?

We were asked the question, Who’s agenda are you following by the permission you’ve given? 

What answer immediately came to mind? How can you and your Group members pray for each other that you would give the right permissions to the right people?

Sunday Video

Here's the video Dr. Scott Powell shared as part of his message this past Sunday:

Life Group Discussion Guide -- 05.27.12

This Discussion Guide is available for download as a PDF here.


Note: this is the final Discussion Guide until Life Groups kick-off again this Fall.

Life Group Discussion Guide :: Sunday, May 27, 2012 (JXG) 

Sandy Lake Wesleyan :: Pastor Shawn

Rescued to Rescue  |  Week 4

Remember, this Guide is not intended as an exhaustive list of what can be discussed, but is best used as a guide to help your Group process what God is teaching them. Read through the discussion points below and prayerfully consider what the Holy Spirit would have you work through.

 Be sure to pray for, encourage each other, and share the victories 

God is giving your Group.

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“Pastor Shawn said, “A successful rescue is dependent on the acts of the rescuer; it is often just one sacrificial act of courage away.”

• What are examples of this that you have seen in your own life?
• Have you ever been the recipient of a successful rescue? Who’s single sacrificial act brought you to the place of rescue?

Read 1 Corinthians 9:22; how does this show us there are many ways to be involved in the Rescue mission of God? How does this demonstrate a mindset of sacrifice in alignment with God’s mission?

Read 1 Samuel 14:1-14, discuss... 

• The soldiers gathered here had no weapons and were facing over 9,000 well-armed enemy troops; when was a time you felt overwhelmed in an impossible situation? What did you do?
• “Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” 
• What are some things things we might be convinced can keep God from rescuing us?
• Have you ever felt you were beyond the rescue of God in your life? What about others; have you felt someone you know is ‘too far gone’ to be helped? 
• How does this truth speak to how nothing is beyond God’s ability to rescue?
• Is the Holy Spirit bringing to mind something you need to seek him for his rescue in, regardless of circumstance?
• Where do you sense God leading you to operate in selflessness, sacrifice, and courage to see others come to know rescue?

Pastor Shawn shared, “Rescue looks like forgiveness, generosity, kindness, selflessness...helping a neighbor with a project, running errands for a single mom...befriending a friendless person...offering a lifeline to a struggling person...having a conversation which motivates others to move.”

• What are other rescue opportunities/moments you can think of?
• What does it look like for you/your Group to step into some of these opportunities?
• The opportunities for rescue are all around us -- pause and pray together that God would give you and your Group ‘eyes to see’ the rescue opportunities all around us...and that we would be faithful in stepping into those rescue moments with selflessness, sacrifice, and courage.

“If you are still alive, it is either because God is waiting for you to receive his rescue [by entering into relationship with him through Jesus]...or to participate in his rescue.”

• How do you respond to this statement; what is your initial reaction as you hear it?
• In light of this truth, what is your ‘next step?’ 
• How can you receive the rescue God already has for you? What do you think keeps people from entering into this rescue?
• What do you think greater engagement in the rescue God has called you to looks like? How can you be more aware of what God is leading you into in terms of being ‘rescued to rescue?’

In the story of the Titanic, the Carpathia, and the California, we were reminded that many had the opportunity to rescue others, but they weren’t ready or they refused to seek the dying out of fear of what it cost them. We were left with this question, When the opportunity to rescue comes, will we be ready? What does it look like to be ready and willing in this way? How can we be prepared for the times God leads us to step into the rescue-needs of others?

We were challenged to identify someone in our reach in need of rescue…

• Who are the people within your reach?
• Did God speak someone’s name or another opportunity to you?
• What is your next step of obedience in this?
• If you didn’t sense him showing you a person/people, what does it look like to seek clarity in this area?

Over the past four weeks, we  have been asked to prayerfully reflect on the following questions:

“What act of courage will lead to the rescue of someone in your sphere of influence,” “What are you willing to sacrifice to bring about rescue,” “What will you do to rescue someone,” and, “What will you do with what you’ve been given?”

During your Group gathering, take time to reflect on and answer these questions. Ask your Group members what God brought to mind and what it will look like for them to continually be in a place where these answers can happen through them. Ask these questions as they relate to you functioning in your Group as a whole--what is your Group willing to sacrifice...what act of courage is God calling you toward to bring about rescue?

What are the natural opportunities to connect with your Group members as they process and answer these questions during the weeks ahead? In what ways can you tackle these things as a Group or through smaller relational connections in your Group? Be sure to follow up throughout the summer to see how God is working among your members.

Sunday Video

Pastor Shawn showed this video on Sunday as part of our "Vision Sunday" message. It may be good for Life Group leaders/members to view this again as you discuss what God spoke to your heart through the morning message.

Life Group Discussion Guide

This discussion guide is available for download as a .pdf HERE.

Life Group Discussion Guide :: Sunday, May 20, 2012 (JXG) 

Sandy Lake Wesleyan :: Pastor Shawn

Rescued to Rescue  |  Week 3 

Remember, this Guide is not intended as an exhaustive list of what can be discussed, but is best used as a guide to help your Group process what God is teaching them. 

Read through the discussion points below and prayerfully consider what 

the Holy Spirit would have you work through.

 Be sure to pray for, encourage each other, 

and share the victories God is giving your Group.

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During  the message, we saw a video that likened the church to a racetrack that launches us on mission and keeps us moving forward, sending us out with force and purpose. This means the local church is a launching pad or a waypoint, not a destination and end of itself. What are ways we tend to forget this? What happens when the church becomes a destination rather than a place for recharging and being sent? How can we know if we’re living as though the church is a destination or launching pad?

Read 1 Corinthians 9:22; how does this show us there are many ways to be involved in the Rescue mission of God? How does this demonstrate a mindset of sacrifice in alignment with God’s mission?

Pastor Shawn shared, “Churches that are not changing are slowly dying” and reminded us that Jesus calls us to change. We were told, “the moment we stop changing is the moment we are no longer walking in-step with God.” How can we submit our own discomfort with change to the will and mission of God?

Pastor Shawn spoke of isolation, a lack of submission to spiritual authority, and a critical spirit as symptoms that we’ve lost focus on what God is leading us to through change. Can you think of other symptoms? What are ways that you’ve seen this play out? How do you think we should respond to those who seem to demonstrate these symptoms?

We at SLW experience change; never because we’re looking for something different...always because we’re looking for something better. What is the difference between ‘looking for something different’ vs. ‘looking for something better?’ How do we both of these at play in our personal lives? What is the danger in seeking something ‘different’ as a body without seeking something ‘better’?

Read Matthew 25:14-30…

• What are things God has given you in terms of time, money, ability, authority…? What has God given SLW?
• This parable may seem harsh and difficult. but it’s important to know it’s focusing us on the imminent and real return of Jesus. How does this truth motivate us? How does this help us remain focused on what matters most?
• How do we see that our readiness for Jesus’ return is based on what we do with what he has given us?
• Within our footprint as a church are 236,000 people who do not know Jesus; what does it look like to use the ‘talents’ God has given us to interact with this reality in a way that honors Him?
• How is there a call to care for what we already have, and see it multiplied? What are ways we’re tempted to focus on one or the other of these (tending, multiplying)? What are some of the consequences of focusing only one one aspect of this?

We met our new Family Life Pastor, Nate Alsdorf. Take time to pray for Nate as they transition in a number of ways, including: possibly moving, stepping into a new role, a new reality for the Alsdorf children, and what these adjustments mean for Nate and his wife, Kara.

We also announced that we’ve identified our new Ready, Set, Grow! Preschool director, Wendy Kellogg. Pray for God to bring the children and families he desires connected to the preschool ministry. Ask the Holy Spirit to use Wendy in her new role in ways that bring Him the most glory and honor.

Pastor Shawn shared that SLW is looking to implement a fourth worship gathering as we are (and have been!) out of space at the 11am gathering. Pastor Shawn shared that reaching the 236,000 in our ‘five talents’ means “going”… quite likely in terms of satellite campuses, church plants, and multiplication on many other levels. Begin praying as a Group that God will show you what role he is calling you and your Group to as we sacrifice comfort and familiarity to see God reach those far from him.

Reacap from last week: in terms of our own rescue, we are either in the water, on the line, or in the boat.

• If we’re in the water, our call is to receive the rescue of Jesus and sacrifice our life as it has been.
• If we’re on the line, our call is sacrifice our will to His and give Him control
• If we’re in the boat, our call is to a sacrifice of preference, time, talent and treasure.

Ask your Group members where they identified themselves in this analogy; take time to pray for each other as you step into the sacrifices God is calling you to.

Over the past weeks, we  have been asked to prayerfully reflect on the following questions:

“What are you willing to sacrifice to bring about rescue,” “What will you do to rescue someone,” and, “What will you do with what you’ve been given?”

During your Group gathering, take time to reflect on and answer these questions. Ask your Group members what God brought to mind and what it will look like for them to continually be in a place where these answers can happen through them. Ask these questions as they relate to you functioning in your Group as a whole--what is your Group willing to sacrifice to bring about rescue?

What are the natural opportunities to connect with your Group members as they process and answer these questions during the weeks ahead? In what ways can you tackle these things as a Group or through smaller relational connections in your Group? Be sure to follow up throughout the summer to see how God is working among your members.