Sunday, November 11, 2012

Build it! | Success -- Discussion Guide



Life Group Discussion Guide :: Sunday, November 11, 2012 (JXG) 
Sandy Lake Wesleyan :: Pastor Shawn
Build it! | Success (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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Please use some of these notes from last week to spur conversation with your Groups (the full Guide is posted as last week's entry):

“It was never God’s intent that there would be that many orphans and the Church would be silent.”
What is your reaction to this statement?
How can we step more into the call of God and his heart for us to “Do good. Seek justice. Encourage the oppressed.”?
How do we move in response that is less oriented on us and more on loving God?
What are the conditions God sets out for knowing his righteousness, healing, and leadership; for rebuilding, and experiencing all of the newness of life he has for us?
What are things in your life, community, Group in need of restoration? 
How has God positioned you/your Group to see that restoration come?

We can get very caught up in discerning the will of God--but if we’re not engaging in the clear calls he sends to us from Scripture, we won’t hear him in the smaller things.
Why do you think this is?
How do we often turn ‘discerning God’s will’ into something more about us than God?
That God is so clear in this means it must be priority for us; why do you think it can be so hard to make our priorities line up with what are obviously God’s priorities?

On Global Orphan Sunday we highlighted the call to practice ‘true religion’ by caring for the widow and the orphan. The overarching challenge was to “do for one what we wish we could do for all” and to “identify the one.” Who is ‘the one you can start with (right in front of you)’ for you as individuals? What are ways that your Group can champion, be involved with, and help resource orphan care? Who is ‘the one’ for your Group?

***

The master says, “you have been faithful with a few things” or, “faithful with little,” but a single ‘talent’/bag of gold in this passage is worth approx. 15-20 years’ income for the average worker--how does this change the way we may read this passage? How does this change the way we look at what God has given us?
Our readiness for Jesus’ return is defined by our stewardship of the things he has entrusted to us.
How do we see that “God gives according to ability.”
How is this encouraging?
How does this show that God wants to see the greatest success in us?
What does the anger of the Master show us?

Why is “after a long time” such a significant part of the story?
In what ways are you experiencing the ‘long time’ gap in the story of what God is doing in your life?

What is the danger in confusing ‘successful’ with ‘selfish’? How does Colossians 3:23-24 speak into this?

Why do we sometimes mistake success for the absence of cost or suffering?
Read John 16:33; how does avoiding suffering and cost rob us of the full experience of success God calls us to?

We tend to think success is gaining position, possessions, and prominence. How does Acts 20:35 refute this perspective?
Why do you think God designed his Kingdom in such a way that gain is directly connecting to giving?

“In the Kingdom of God, success is determined by what we do not what we have.”
What are indications we’ve given way to selfishness or laziness in our  relationship with God? 

Pastor Shawn shared these ‘truths to embrace’:
  1. You cannot be successful on your own (John 15:5) -- what does it look like to embrace in this in our journey as Christ followers? How do we receive and give what God gives us?
  2. Success isn’t just about winning and losing. What is it about, then? What has God given us individually and corporately that he is calling us to use for building his Kingdom.
  3. Success must be weighed before it can be measured--where we invest must have meaning. What are ways God is calling us to shift our perspective to experience him ‘along the way’ rather than pursuing a goal for the goal’s sake?

Pray with one another as a Group that He would speak to you as individuals and a Group about how you’re currently defining a ‘win’ and what he would change in that.  Invite members to share an area where this is a struggle with at least one additional person in your Group and invite that person to pray specifically for each other during the weeks ahead. Set the expectation of  Checking-in with each other about what God is doing in each of you and your relationships as you seek him together.
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Sunday, November 4, 2012

Orphan Sunday Discussion Guide

This Guide is Available as a .pdf for download here.

While none of our Groups are scheduled to meet this week, the discussion surrounding the morning message and Orphan Sunday is too significant to not discuss with your Life Groups.

That being said, probably the most important question from the Guide below is this one:
This was Global Orphan Sunday and we highlighted the call to practice ‘true religion’ by caring for the widow and the orphan. The overarching challenge was to “do for one what we wish we could do for all” and to “identify the one.” Who is ‘the one you can start with (right in front of you)’ for you as individuals? What are ways that your Group can champion, be involved with, and help resource orphan care? Who is ‘the one’ for your Group?
In the weeks ahead, please use whatever aspects of this Discussion Guide that you feel will be most helpful to your Group as we continue to seek the God of Justice in this region and our world.
Here's the rest of the Guide:
Life Group Discussion Guide :: Sunday, November 4, 2012 (JXG) 
Sandy Lake Wesleyan :: Pastor Beth
Build it! | Justice (week 3): GLOBAL ORPHAN SUNDAY


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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THE FACTS:
:: There are an estimated 153,000,000 orphans worldwide (approx. half the US population statistically)
:: 5,700 children worldwide become orphans every day
:: 1,200,000 children are trafficked every year
:: 424,000 children are in foster care in the US
:: 29,000+ children “age out” of foster care every year
:: Orphans are most at risk to be sold into slavery and die before the age of 5

“It was never God’s intent that there would be that many orphans and the Church would be silent.”
What is your reaction to this statement?
How can we step more into the call of God and his heart for us to “Do good. Seek justice. Encourage the oppressed.”?
How do we move in response that is less oriented on us and more on loving God?

Read James 1:27
What does the Scripture say are the two things that make ‘genuine religion’ in the sight of God?
How are orphan/widow care and righteous living connected?

Read Isaiah 58:6-12
What are the conditions God sets out for knowing his righteousness, healing, and leadership; for rebuilding, and experiencing all of the newness of life he has for us?
What are things in your life, community, Group in need of restoration? 
How has God positioned you/your Group to see that restoration come?

We can get very caught up in discerning the will of God--but if we’re not engaging in the clear calls he sends to us from Scripture, we won’t hear him in the smaller things.
Why do you think this is?
How do we often turn ‘discerning God’s will’ into something more about us than God?
That God is so clear in this means it must be priority for us; why do you think it can be so hard to make our priorities line up with what are obviously God’s priorities?


Read 1 Corinthians 4:20
In what ways can we be guilty of talk without action?
What is “God’s power” we read about here?
How can we make ourselves more open to the power, leadership, and counsel of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Pastor Beth shared about SLW’s JUST 1:17 initiative, because we believe the issues of justice and orphan care are the things God is calling us to. We shared about FREE 1 to address the crisis of 30,000,000 people caught in human trafficking and the issue of slavery is something happening ‘in our back yard.” Please pray for the opportunities we have been given. What does it look like us for again to be a place of ‘New Liberty’ and Freedom? What can your role be as an individual and as a Group to FREE 1?

LOVE 1 is our orphan and foster care focus. Through championing and resourcing adoption, foster parents, and respite care as well as groups of support for foster/adoptive parents, we will empower more to LOVE 1. 

Please pray for this initiative. The enemy would seek to derail this because it is so close to the heart of God. Pray for God to raise up people who will engage fully, for foster and adoptive parents to be raised up, for passionate advocates for freedom to be engaged. Ask for God to give us eyes to see and anointing in this area. Pray for us to be found faithful.


This was Global Orphan Sunday and we highlighted the call to practice ‘true religion’ by caring for the widow and the orphan. The overarching challenge was to “do for one what we wish we could do for all” and to “identify the one.” Who is ‘the one you can start with (right in front of you)’ for you as individuals? What are ways that your Group can champion, be involved with, and help resource orphan care? Who is ‘the one’ for your Group?

Ongoing discussion: What are the opportunities for your Group to connect with people who may be far from God? What are the ways your Group can live as ‘Jesus with skin on’ in practical ways in our region to see the advancement of His Kingdom? We’re challenging every Life Group to again engage in at least one missional expression--please connect with Pastor Jeremiah if you need help finding opportunities.

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Sunday, October 28, 2012

October 28, 2012 Life Group Discussion Guide


This Guide is available as a .pdf here.

Life Group Discussion Guide :: Sunday, October 28, 2012 (JXG) 
Sandy Lake Wesleyan :: Pastor Shawn
Build it! | Seek (week 2)


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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At the beginning of our worship gatherings, we highlighted the call for the Church to fully engage in the cause of caring for the orphan. What are ways that your Group can champion, be involved with, and help resource orphan care? What can your Group do to be part of how SLW is already connected in orphan and foster care?

What is the significance of Jesus’ teaching here? How is it incredibly significant that Jesus, as the Son of God, would instruct us to ask for the Kingdom of God to come? What is the element of trust indicated here? 

Read John 3:3
What is shown as the key to seeing the Kingdom? Why is it important to see the Kingdom?
What is the difference between being truly ‘born again’ and head knowledge? Between ‘born again’ and behavior modification? Why do we tend to settle for head knowledge & behavior modification rather than being truly re-born?

What does the ‘faith of a child’ mean? What does that mean for how we walk through everyday life?
What is the result for us if we don’t have this childlike understanding? What are symptoms that we don’t have this perspective?

“Before we could talk about cost or assess what we seek or every truly ask, “your Kingdom come,” we need to speak to a missing piece of faith: trust.”
How does trust move our belief to action?
What are symptoms that we have belief but not trust?
How do we develop more trust in God and his leadership?
What role does your Life Group play in helping its members know, practice, and develop trust? How can you ‘spur one another on to love and good deeds’ this week?

How do we see ‘what to do, why to do it, and how to do it’ regarding our life and God’s Kingdom?
What are some of the broad applications of the singular focus seen here?
How does this help us recognize, individually and corporately, our created purpose? How does this change our perspective?

“What we value/seek defines us.”
What defines you today? How does this line up with the upside-down reality of the Kingdom of Heaven?
Based on the investments of your time, energy, and financial resource, what are you primarily seeking? 

What does it look like to seek God’s Kingdom on a daily, consistent basis?

Pastor Shawn indicated that if we don’t seek God’s Kingdom primarily, we won’t find life. How is this seen in Scripture? What are the implications of this in our families and other relationships?

Read Matthew 13:44-46
What does this tell us about how the Kingdom is different from other things we might seek?
How does this show us the the cost of stepping into the reality of the Kingdom of God? Where does trust (as the ‘converter’ from belief to action) play a role here?

What are things in our lives today that we may be asked to ‘sell’ in order to receive the great prize of the Kingdom? How can your Group help & call each other to this kind of focus?

We were asked to reflect on this:
Do you trust God enough to let him define your life and not just save it? How can you help your Group members process this? What does it look like to journey through the ramifications of this together?

Our next steps regarding the Kingdom were:
:: Pray for it (Jesus taught us to)
:: Live for it
How can your Group do these things together and help one another in doing them?

Discuss: What are the opportunities for your Group to connect with people who may be far from God? What are the ways your Group can live as ‘Jesus with skin on’ in practical ways in our region to see the advancement of His Kingdom? We’re challenging every Life Group to again engage in at least one missional expression--please connect with Pastor Jeremiah if you need help finding opportunities.
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Sunday, October 21, 2012

Life Group Discussion Guide: October 21, 2012 (Build it! | Week 1)

Note: This Guide is available for download as a .pdf here.


Life Group Discussion Guide :: Sunday, October 21, 2012 (JXG) 
Sandy Lake Wesleyan :: Pastor Shawn
Build It! | Week 1

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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Read Luke 13:18-21
Why do you think Jesus uses these metaphors in describing his Kingdom? What does this show his desire to be for his Kingdom? What can we discern about our role in this Kingdom from these verses?
Jesus uses other descriptors of the Kingdom in Scripture; what are some of them? Why are these significant?

The challenge in the opportunity of building God’s Kingdom is knowing that business doesn’t equate to being productive.
What are ways you see this in your own life? How is this reflected in the reality of Christ’s Kingdom?

By the use of our time, talent, treasure, we are building a kingdom: we’re either building the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of darkness (with us set up as ‘king’)… what we pursue reveals the Kingdom we’re building.”
How can we determine which kingdom we’re building?
How can we be more aware of what we’re pursuing?
How do we redirect what we’re pursuing?

Read Matthew 6:33
How does this show us how God works?
How is this an invitation to us?
One way people read this is as a formula for prosperity. How do we know this isn’t what Jesus intended in this statement?

We used this ‘quiz’ -- True or False:
:: The Kingdom of God is about life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness (F)
:: The Kingdom of God is something that has not yet come. (F)
:: The Kingdom of God is something already here...now. (T)
:: Those who follow Jesus are already in the Kingdom of God. (T)
:: The Kingdom of God is marked by a freedom from suffering. (F)
:: We build the Kingdom of God for Him in His absence. (F)
What are the implications of these realities for us?
What Scriptural evidences do we see of these?
What experiences have you had that demonstrate these truths?

Read Colossians 1:9-14
What are the ways we are shown we can please God? How do these things reveal a life worthy of the Lord?
How are these things ‘backwards and upside down’ from the things of the kingdoms of this world?
How do these give glimpses of a pain, effort, and difficulty associated with God’s Kingdom?
How does knowing that pain, hardship, and cost are part of the Kingdom of God help us to remain engaged in that Kingdom rather than moving to build something else?
How do we avoid making this a task-list, but seeing these items as marks of a committed, growing Christ follower? What is the danger in making this a check-list of things to work out in ourselves vs. evidence of growth in Jesus?

What do you think it means that God has ‘qualified [us] to share in the inheritance...of the Kingdom of light’?

Read Mark 10:13
What does it mean to receive the Kingdom of God like a ‘little child’?
How do we know if we’ve done this? How can we help each other do this?

Invite your Group members to prayerfully reflect on these questions: 
Where am I busy but not productive for His Kingdom? 
Where am I building with things that will ‘burn up’ and not matter in the end?
Take time to pray for each other that…
:: God would give you clarity as you ask him this question.
:: You would be found productive, but not busy.
When you gather as a Group again, ask each other what God has shown you in answer to this question...and commit to accountability in these areas.


Part of engaging in this Kingdom and ‘Living SENT’ is taking the hope, truth, and power of Jesus’ Kingdom to those who are outside of it.

Discuss: What are the opportunities for your Group to connect with people who may be far from God? What are the ways your Group can live as ‘Jesus with skin on’ in practical ways in our region? 

We’re challenging every Life Group to again engage in at least one missional expression--please connect with Pastor Jeremiah if you need help finding opportunities.
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Sunday, October 14, 2012

10.14.12 Life Group Discussion Guide (Community)


Note: This Guide is available as a .pdf download here.

Life Group Discussion Guide :: Sunday, October 7, 2012 (JXG) 
Sandy Lake Wesleyan :: Pastor Shawn
Community...Living Lives that Matter 


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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We celebrated at the beginning of our Worship gatherings that people have come to know Jesus through the ministry of SLW recently. Pray as a group for those who have taken the step of receiving Christ in their lives--that they would have strength and courage in their new journey.

Discuss: What are the opportunities for your Group to connect with people who may be far from God? What are the ways your Group can live as ‘Jesus with skin on’ in practical ways in our region? We’re challenging every Life Group to again engage in at least one missional expression--please connect with Pastor Jeremiah if you need help finding opportunities.

Read Acts 20:32
What does this say about how God uses community in our lives?
What does it mean that our inheritance is among those who have been set apart to/for God?
What are the ways we see God reminding us throughout Scriptures that to experience all he has for us, we are called to live in community (rather than off on our own)? 

What Scriptural examples can you think of that show those of us who seek Christ are ‘more together than we are apart’?

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?

Read 1 Kings 19:1-19
Where do we see Elijah stuck in the isolation :: fear :: victim mentality cycle?
What does this show us about God’s provision and graciousness when we’re caught in this cycle?
Have you ever had Elijah’s experience of moving from a ‘mountain top experience’ with God to crushing lows? Share with your Group what you learned through this experience and how God, the people of God, and his Truth helped restore you.

We were told “character is tested in isolation, but formed in community.”
What do you think was meant by this?
How have you seen this truth at play in your own life?

Read John 13:34-36
What does this Scripture say about our need for (and God’s desire for!) us to live in genuine community?
What is the sense of cost and commitment in this passage?
What are we called to do and be in this section of Scripture?

We were reminded that the difference between solitude and isolation is a matter of focus: solitude is a tool of God with a focus on God; isolation is a toll of Satan with a focus on us. How do you see this playing out in your life?

Ask your Group members how they’re processing the question we were asked to reflect on: Where have a lack of solitude & abundance of isolation made us vulnerable? How can you be praying for each other in the light of how you’re processing this? How can your Group serve each other in terms of accountability when answering this question?

What does it look like for your Group to help each other live in obedience to our So What? Now What? next steps?
force FOCUS (to God) :: fill VOIDS and lies (with Truth) :: find FELLOWSHIP
Where are the temptations in your Group to avoid genuine fellowship? How can you intentionally pursue a dynamic of deep, meaningful fellowship together?
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