Life Group Discussion Guides

“Giving Up to Give Away” by Pastor Tony

Life Group Discussion Guide 

PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

Blessing & Blessed  Sermon Series
“Giving Up to Give Away” by Pastor Tony

December 22, 2019
If you have questions, contact Pastor Ric,

Below are some discussion questions relating to a recent sermon. These are provided so that your Life Group can discuss what was shared. Previous Weeks’ Discussion Guides and Sermon Notes are available through the Sermons under the Resources menu. Click on the sermon series and then the sermon you are interested in.  You will see a paper icon under the sermon title. Click the icon to open the sermon notes. To listen to the sermon, click on the speaker icon.

Context:  What Jesus gave up for us was heaven.  What he took on for us was humanity. He was motivated by his great love.  What can we give up for the sake of others’ eternal destiny?

 Sermon Texts:  Romans 8:31-39

Leaders, please choose only the best question(s) for your group.  We are praying for you as you lead these discussions:

Discussion Guide:

1. Spend a few moments processing Pastor Tony’s teaching.  What thought, concept, text or phrase caught your attention or has triggered further questions?
   
   
2. Think of practical ways you can show Christ’s love to your Oikos all year long, and as a Life Group. Who are those that God has strategically placed in your day-to-day life, and how can you show love to them?
   
   
3. Have a conversation about how your life group’s mission is motivated by love.
   
   
4. What are the obstacles you find (cultural, personal, etc.) to showing love toward others? How can they be overcome?
   
   
5. What is your greatest challenge to accepting Christ’s love for yourself? For example, what lies (accusations) from the enemy are you still believing?

Tony’s Take-Aways: 

1. God’s type of love holds nothing back for those he loves.
   
   
2. Receive his love found in Jesus.
   
   
3. If Jesus is your Lord, walk without fear.
   
   
4. Pay forward the love of Christ this Christmas with a love that holds nothing back—no strangers at the table!

God’s love manifested in Christ is the greatest gift one could give.

Please note:  This is the last Life Group Discussion Guide for 2019.  There will not be a discussion guide for next week’s sermon.  

Have a Merry Christmas!  God with us!

“Thriving and Changing Lives” by Pastor Tony

Life Group Discussion Guide

PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

Thriving in Babylon  Sermon Series
“Thriving and Changing Lives” by Pastor Tony
Leaders, please choose only the best question(s) for your group

December 1, 2019
If you have questions, contact Pastor Ric,

Below are some discussion questions relating to a recent sermon. These are provided so that your Life Group can discuss what was shared. Previous Weeks’ Discussion Guides and Sermon Notes are available through the Sermons under the Resources menu. Click on the sermon series and then the sermon you are interested in.  You will see a paper icon under the sermon title. Click the icon to open the sermon notes. To listen to the sermon, click on the speaker icon.

Series Summary and Context:  Our series, Thriving in Babylon, is focused on how we can live for God even when the culture around us denies him and belittles/persecutes those who follow him. Daniel, because of his service and confidence in a faithful God, had the privilege of impacting the lives of four different kings and their kingdoms!  He thrived in his faith even in the midst of extreme cultural pressures because of his commitment to and relationship with the living God.

This week:  As we wrap up the series, we remind ourselves of Larry Osborne’s quote:

“Don’t buy the lie that you don’t matter.  You do.  Don’t buy the lie that your response to evil in your workplace, community, family, and our nation doesn’t matter.  It does.  We just have to push the right buttons.  They’re called hope, humility, and wisdom.  Daniel made a difference.  All of us can make a difference!”

Sermon Texts:  1 Peter 3:15; Daniel 12:8-10; Proverbs 9:10

Pastor Tony’s Take-Aways:

1. Hope in Christ transforms you.
2. A hope-filled person will get opportunities to speak.
3. Speaking with a humble spirit will be heard.
4. Words filled with the wisdom of God will transform others.

Discussion Questions:

1. What about Pastor Tony’s teaching was troubling, inspiring, convicting, or confusing?
   
   
2. Hope in Jesus requires an ability to communicate the reason for a relationship with him. What behaviors or descriptors in a person emote hope?  (1 Peter 3:15)
   
   
3. How does our assurance of a future with Jesus help us with the political and cultural chaos of today? 

Each one of us are surrounded by people in our relational world, our Oikos, who are watching our responses to situations every day. 

1. What does it look like to sow seeds of hope in your oikos that in turn give you conversational opportunities with your friends who are not yet Christ-followers?

Digging Deeper:

1. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to set Christ apart as Lord of our lives. Reflecting on last week’s teaching by Pastor Nicholas, how can personal idols negatively affect our ability to model a life of hope and stimulate those conversations we want with those in our oikos?