Church on the Hill, McMinnville (Audio)

God shows his power to us through creation. A person who creates holds power. This Sunday, we will not only discover the importance of creating, but also how and why God creates us into something new.Questions1. What is your favorite nickname you have ever received?2. Read Psalm 82. Who are the gods the Psalmist is referring to in that day? Who are the gods of today?3. What makes God all-powerful to you?4. Have you heard of baptism by the holy Spirit before? What do you think it means? Have you been baptized in that way?5. If you have a story of how God created you into something new, share it with the people around you.

Pain and suffering are everywhere. If God is all-loving, why does He allow pain and suffering? This Sunday, we will look at the origins of pain and suffering and how God can use our pain for our benefit and his glory. Group Questions1. Read Genesis chapter 3. What do we learn about the consequences of sin from this chapter?2. What are some biblical examples where God has used pain and suffering for the formation of God's people?3. How has God used pain and suffering in your life to form you?4. What are some ways that we can turn to God in times of pain and suffering? What are some real and tangible practices?

How would you prove God's existence if asked? This weekend will be a weekend to arm Church on the Hill with the apologetic backing of proving God's existence through the Word, nature, and the theology of the ancient church fathers.  Life Group Questions1. What are we told to do in 1 John 4:11? What makes Christians able to comply with this command?2. Can anyone see God? (1 John 4:12) Since Jesus is not around, how are people to get to know God's love? What does it mean that God's love is ‘made perfect' or ‘completed' in us?3. Why might John bring up the subject of the Holy Spirit in 1 John 4:13?4.What did John behold and bear witness to? (1 John 4:14)5.Does it really matter that Jesus really came? Isn't it good enough that this thought inspires us to do good (1 John 4:14)

How would you prove God's existence if asked? This weekend will be a weekend to arm Church on the Hill with the apologetic backing of proving God's existence through the Word, nature, and the theology of the ancient church fathers. Life Group Questions1. Begin your time together by praying for one another and for our church. Highlight something that has gone well in following your Rule of Life.2. What is your strongest argument for God's existence?  3. Read Psalm 19:1-4. What is one role of heaven and how have you seen God's existence in creation?  4. Read Psalm 8:3-4. Who are we that God would concern himself with us? What is your purpose in this life?  

What is the Bible? Where did it come from, and why is it so important? What does the Bible claim about itself? And if it is so important, and I am inclined to believe it truly is the Word of God, then how can I get into it and hear from God? SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS 1. What are some of your favorite passages or stories from the Bible? 2. When was the last time you read the Bible on your own?3. What name or description of the Bible is your go-to? What do you think of when you hear "The Bible"? What does the Bible say about itself? (Sword, Lamp, Rain on Dry Ground, a Mirror, The Word of God, etc.)4. What was your first encounter with the Bible? When, if ever, has it become the "Word of God" to you? 5. How do you study the Word? What helps you process it and take it to heart? If you're not there yet, what are some ways you study or learn other things in life? How can you try those methods with reading and learning the Bible?6. What questions do you have about the Bible? What questions keep people from trusting the Bible?

What happens when we pass from this earth? We are nervous about the moment of death, but what about afterwards? This weekend will paint a brief picture of heaven, what Jesus said about eternal life, and what happens when we pass on. The call for the morning will be salvation in Christ, choosing eternal life, and praying for our loved ones to join us there. Life Group Questions1. Begin your time by praying one-sentence prayers of praise to God.  2. What have been your previous thoughts about heaven based on what you have heard in church and from reading the Bible?3. Read John 14:1-4, Colossians 3:1-4, & Revelation 21. Discuss some of what the Bible says about heaven.4. Write down the names of loved ones we long to see in eternity one day.  

Thomas is known for being a doubter, but he should be honored for his honesty! In the midst of his struggle between faith and experience, Jesus appears to him and the disciples and invites Thomas into an experience with him. Thomas said, "Unless I can see the nail marks in your hands, I will not believe." We want to meet Jesu,s and sometimes that meeting happens in the 'unless' moments of our life.  Life Group Questions1. Begin your time by discussing how your rule of life is going. How can you be praying for one another this week?2. Read John 20:24-29. Can you identify with Thomas? If so, how? Where has Jesus met you in the 'unless' moments of life?3. Can we get too caught up in the experience side of faith? What does that look like?4. End your time together praying through the 5 steps of the examen: A) What brought you joy today? B) What challenged you today? C) What did you need to confess to God today? D) What did God teach you today? E) How can I serve others better?

We want Jesus, but we don't always want the cross. The cross represents the moments of suffering in our lives that help refine our journey and grow us in the faith. We will look at how suffering can create opportunities to love and serve others and how suffering can also increase our gratitude for the most important things in life.  Life Group Questions1. Begin your time in prayer as a group focusing on writing out a prayer of Lament. Here are the guide points: A) Begin by giving praise to God; just one or two sentences of praise B) Write a prayer that you think you have not been allowed to pray C). End your written prayer time by asking God for wisdom, strength, and others to help you along.  2. Read Hebrews 4:14-16. How has Jesus' suffering helped you get through life's toughest times?3. Read Romans 5:1-5. Talk about a time when you experienced this path that Paul talks about in these 5 verses.  4. How can you serve and pray for one another this coming week?

What is my calling and how do I put that into practice? God gave us a mission and then he gave that mission a church. We are his vessels to live out his mission and we do so through the different giftings that have been established by him. Not only do I have a role, I also have some additional practices to help ensure that more disciples are made on my journey.  Life Group Questions1. Spend the first 15 minutes of your group time adoring God with words of praise, the reading of a Psalm (Your choice), and end with singing together a worship song from YouTube. 2. Read Ephesians 4:1-2. Sit with the text and discuss your calling.3. Read Ephesians 4:11-13. Of the five offices described by Paul, which one do you find is most applicable to your calling/gifting?4. Read Ephesians 4:17-32. Sift through all that Paul says about the right behavior within the call that we have been given.  5. End with a time of prayer for: a) Your Daily Prayer Rhythm b) One Another c) The Lost of Yamhill County.

So many questions, so few answers. Why does Christ have to be a mystery? What do I do when I feel that God doesn't care or is paying attention to me? Some questions get answered and others we have to live in. Today, we explore why God withholds certain things from us and the foundation that we always fall back on in the waiting for his answers and explanations.  Life Group Questions:1. Reflect on your week and your daily prayer times with Jesus. Share one thing with your group about that time and how it helped you grow in Christ.2. Read Ephesians 3 and share your own reflections about what Paul writes.  3. Talk about a 'fork in the road' moment that you faced. After the dust settled in a trial, what was your response to God?4. How does living in the mystery of Christ help us make disciples?  5. What is the relationship between prayer and making disciples? Refer to Ephesians 3:14-21 and end your time together praying for family, friends, and the lost of Yamhill county.  

God is God and He remains the foundation of our becoming a disciple and for making disciples. To become a disciple who makes disciples, we have to take the step of faith with Jesus and leave our past behind. We can begin the journey to discipleship today by renewing our faith, releasing our past, and remembering who we are IN Christ.  Life Group Questions1. Our semester theme is building a culture of Sabbath. What is God teaching you through your Sabbath?2. How would you describe “Grace”?3. Read Ephesians 2:8-10. How do you respond to God's grace?4. What do you understand about God's covenant with Israel? 5. Read Ephesians 2:14-18. Do you have a seat at the table?6. Read Romans 8:9-11. As a disciple of Christ, the Spirit of Jesus dwells in you. How does this empower you?

We are called to be more than disciples, we are called to make disciples! The making of a disciple is a process that God takes us through that is always rewarding and can be accompanied by times of hurt, trial, & mystery. As we dive into the book of Ephesians, we will look at what the Apostle Paul did to make disciples and the foundations he poured to ensure that the followers in Ephesus were grounded in God. Today, we establish God as God and begin our walk through Ephesians together.  Life Group Questions:1. Take a moment to pray "promise first" for one another. Take as much time as you need.2. Open to Ephesians 1 - find all the "In" statements and underline them. Walk through their meaning one by one. What do you think Paul means in each of the 'In" statements?3. Ephesians 1:7 - what bothers you the most about the mystery of God? (Preview for week 3 of this series).

Every church has a Rule of Life, and most of the time, it's pillars on how to run a local church. At the heart of Jesus' message is the people of God learning how to apprentice under Jesus as we follow Him. To ensure our growth as a people of God, Church on the Hill lives by a Rule of Life that is divided into four areas - Pray, Grow, Serve, & Multiply.Today, we dive into "Serve" & "Multiply." We will hear from Brent Bergum, our Missions Director, about local and global mission opportunities with our church. We will also be challenged to live within a "Multiply" culture as we become walking temples for the Holy Spirit. We look ahead to the next four years and begin to walk with God as we Practice the Way of Christ together.LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS:1. Spend the first part of the group time praying for each other and the lost souls of McMinnville and beyond.2. Brainstorm some ways that your group can be a walking tabernacle in your circles of influence.3. Take some time to look over the QR code handout from Sunday morning and sign-up for upcoming opportunities in serving, pathways, or the prayer team. 

Every church has a Rule of Life, and most of the time, it's pillars on how to run a local church. At the heart of Jesus' message is the people of God learning how to apprentice under Jesus as we follow Him. To ensure our growth as a people of God, Church on the Hill lives by a Rule of Life that is sectioned off into four areas - Pray, Grow, Serve, & Multiply.Today, we dive into "Pray" & "Grow." We will hear from Rob Reygers, the Prayer Director for Church on the Hill, about our prayer culture and what is being built for the future. We will also learn of our pathway for Spiritual Formation. We look ahead to the next four years and begin to walk with God as we Practice the Way of Christ together!LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS:1. Read Acts 3:1. Talk about your daily prayer rhythm and how you can fit into your daily habit the act of prayer. Refer back to your Rule of Life and how that is helping you grow spiritually.2. Read James 5:16.  Take time to pair off in your group and pray for one another.3. Read Luke 19:10. Take the final time of your group to pray for the lost souls of McMinnville and beyond.

As we participate in the Sabbath and delight in God, we will ultimately re-center ourselves on God himself. To keep the Sabbath holy means to sanctify that day, set it apart, and dedicate it to God for his special purposes. Our souls will feel fed when we are centered on God. To Practice the Way of Christ means to take the Sabbath day and all its blessings and use it as a day of personal worship to feed our souls in God.  

Rest. It sounds easy, but with how we are wired as people, rest becomes very difficult if we never take the time to do it without guilt. To Practice the Way of Christ, we need to take the intentional time to actually REST. Through planning, focusing, and identifying where we are most tired, we can take an honest inventory of our hurriedness to replace those habits of hurrying with a sense of peace through rest. 

Pastor Adam returns to invite you to journey with Church on the Hill over the next four years as we Practice the Way of Christ. Our first step is "Developing A Rule of Life", your plan for following Jesus. 

Gods deepest desire is to be in relationship with us. His love for us is so inconceivable that the only why we can understand Gods love is by comparing to to Marriage. Marriage is made up of a lot of things and God desires to have that with us. In other words, God wants to marry us. We will learn, if thats the case we are constantly committing spiritual adultery, and are in need of Gods forgiveness.

Join us for our 3-week sermon series on the "Minor Prophets." This series focuses in on the major lessons we can learn from the stories of three different minor prophets. This week, Pastor Riley will be diving into the story of Jonah.

Let's be honest... we care about what people think about us. Great freedom happens when we release what people think and begin to live above the opinions of others. Obsessing about what people think is the quickest way to forget what God thinks about you. Sometimes pleasing people can mean disappointing people. But pleasing people first leads to disappointing God.

Fear can really mess with the work God is trying to do. Mary had a lot of faith and trust in God, showing us that through that faith God can do great things. We can do this, too, by saying the same thing as Mary, "I am the Lords servant." Don't let your doubt get in the way of God using you.

What we call interruptions, God sometimes calls Divine invitations. God has shown his favor on Mary and that favor is the undeserved blessing from God. Through His choice of her being the one who would bear the Christ child, she felt the unbearable weight of fear. This Sunday, we watch her process of accepting God's divine interruption.Group Questions:1. When was the last time something unexpected happened to you?  2. What is one thing that was impactful to you from the message?3. Read Luke 1:26-35. How do you think Mary felt after hearing the angel's words?  4. Talk about a time when you experienced an interruption. What were your feelings and what was your process of accepting God's new plan? What was one thing you saw that was good from this interruption?5. What are some ways you can find comfort, peace, and direction when it feels like life is out of control?  6. How can you practice the way of Christ this week with your family and friends?

If Jesus mission and strategy was to eat meals with others, then could that be my mission, too? Today is a look at Jesus' mission through the practice of eating meals with others and our challenge is to make that a regular part of who we are as Christ followers. We are Practicing the way of Christ at the table and doing as Jesus did.  GROUP LIFE QUESTIONS:1. How are you practicing the way of Christ in positive ways that is contributing to your spiritual growth? In other words, what is going well in your walk with Christ?2. Visit one (or several) of the following meals in Luke's gospel and discuss as a group. Focus on who Jesus was eating with and the outcome of that meal they shared together.  3. If possible, share communion together. Before partaking of communion, focus on a place that Jesus has taken authority in your life (Take), how your heart has been exposed by Jesus in community (Break), and how much the sharing of this journey means to you (Share). Use Luke 22:14-20 as a guide.

Worship is more than singing! It's a lifestyle to be lived out. Deep at the heart of our worship is the 'why' that we all need to find once again.GROUP LIFE QUESTIONS:1. When you hear the word worship, what do you think of?2. What heart posture do you take most often when you worship?3. What are some ways you worship the Lord?4. How have you made God the top of your priority list? Have you?5. What is an example of God calling you out of your comfort zone? Did you follow that call?

Meals have the power to shape and reshape community. At the table, over a meal, we can have a life-changing experience not because of the food, but because of the company. As a sinful woman crashes a dinner party with Jesus, she embraces Him because He is the hope she has been looking for. As Jesus sees her devotion and love for Him, He forgives her sins and teaches a lesson to all of us: at the table, forgiveness is possible.Community Questions:1. What has this past week been like for you? Have you been able to slow down and focus on Jesus in prayer and worship?2. Who led you to faith in the Lord? What was their method in evangelizing?3. What is your favorite part about a meal with others?  4. Read Luke 7:36-44 in groups. Have the groups come back to the large group and discuss what they read/observed about Jesus, the pharisee, and the woman.  5. End your time together by praying for one another and agreeing to check-in on one another throughout the week.  

You read that right! Two sermons with one big challenge. Sermon #1 will focus on the depth of God and end in the celebration of communion, while Sermon #2 will focus on the power of prayer and end with a time of intercession for one another. Don't miss two-sermon Sunday at Church on the Hill!GROUP LIFE QUESTIONS:1. What has the Lord been teaching you through your prayer time this past week?2. Read Psalm 42:1-7. What would you suggest to someone who wants to go deeper in their relationship with God? What has worked for you?3. Assign the following verses to individuals in your group and have them read aloud:-Acts 12:5-Acts 12:6-7-Acts 12:11-Acts 12:12-15-Acts 12:16-18Discuss the story of Acts 12 in its entirety. End your time together by having those in your group step forward and be surrounded by others and receiving prayer and ministry.  

God makes us wait for many reasons...among them to increase our faith and to allow us to build trust in Him. Today, we hear the testimony of James Roach, an attendee of Church on the Hill who was been on a journey back to God. James' journey has taken him through a rough home life, seasons of deep anger & atheism, and God has brought him back to a place of worship and faith. Today, we will hear James' journey.  GROUP LIFE QUESTIONS: 1. Divide your group into groups and assign the following to discuss:- Abraham and Sarah waiting for a son ( Genesis 17)- Job waiting for suffering to end (Job 37 & 42)- Elijah waiting for Rain (1 Kings 18:41-19:8)- Peter waiting for his release from prison (Acts 122)2. Bring the groups back together and each answer the following:What did you learn from this person (people) in God's word about waiting?End your time in silent prayer, asking God's presence to fill this place and your hearts.  

God's “NOs” help us fulfill our purpose, protect us from the enemy, and form our faith.Group Life Questions:1. What is the worst no you have ever received from God?2. What spoke to you most from the sermon today?3. Read Mark 14:36, Genesis 2:17, and 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 and meditate on the reasons why God's answer was NO.4. After listening to the sermon,- A. Can you think of some ways that God's NO has helped you fulfill your purpose?- B. Can you think of ways that God's NO has protected you and kept you safe?- C. Can you think of a time when God's NO has helped you grow in your faith?5. How might you help someone who has turned away from God because they received a NO in answer to their prayer?

The depth of our friendship with God helps us to understand why He says yes and sometimes says no. Today, we journey into the depths of that relationship and examine all the times in life when God said yes to inviting us in, our salvation, our calling, our friendship, and our place in the family of God. Our "yes" to growth will lead us to greater depths in our friendship with God.  Group Life Questions:1. What stuck out the most from the message?2. Read Romans 5:8. Briefly discuss how Christ found you. What has he saved you from?3. Read Matthew 4:19-20. Aside from saving us, describe the calling that the Lord has placed on your life. What is your life's purpose?4. Read John 15:15. Do you have a hard time accepting that Jesus is our friend? If so, how is that friendship going?5. Read John 1:12. What does it mean to you to be a child of the Almighty God?  6. End your time by praying for one another.  

The Sermon on the Mount concludes with Jesus calling His listeners into true discipleship. He presents us with a choice between two paths, and warns us about those that may take us off of the path that leads to life. BUT the Sermon on the Mount does not truly end in Matthew 7, but is fulfilled and made real by Jesus' ministry off of the mountain in chapter 8. There is power in the words of the Sermon, but only when acted out by Practicing the Way of Christ in radical commitment — off of the mountain and in the world around us.GROUP LIFE QUESTIONS: 1. What stood out the most from the message?2. What does it look like to be a true disciple according to the teaching of Jesus?3. What path are you currently on? Which path do you feel Jesus calling you to follow?

How can we get freedom from all the worry and anxiety in our lives? Today, we take a look at Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus' teaching on worry and his provisions. We desire to give all our anxiety over to the Lord once and for all and not let stress and worry affect who we are, our health, or our relationship with Jesus. Let's lay it all down at the altar and don't worry about a thing.  Group Life Questions:1. What stood out the most from the message?2. Read Matthew 6:25-34. What observations do you have from what Jesus was teaching in these verses?3. How can worry be damaging to us physically, emotionally, spiritually, & relationally?4. What does Jesus mean when he says ‘you of little faith'? See also Matthew 8:26, Matthew 16:8, and Luke 12:28.5. What does Jesus say is the solution for worry? See 1 Peter 5:7 and Matthew 6:30-34.6. What are you currently worried about? What does your time alone with the Father look like each day?

Jesus taught about prayer many times. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus narrowed it down to three words: Ask, Seek, Knock. Asking God for things as one of his children, seeking God with complete trust and confidence, and knocking on the door of heaven knowing we can approach the throne boldly. God is relational and provides for us our needs. Group Life Questions1. What stood out the most about the message?2. What has unintentionally formed your view of God?3. Read Romans 8. How does God claim you as His own? 4. How has God provided for you throughout your life?5. What fears stop you from approaching the throne of God?6. Read Isaiah 55:8. Do you believe this? Why or why not?7. Look at Mary's (Luke 1:38) and Jesus' (Luke 22:42) responses to God. Are you willing to surrender control to God?8. End in a time of prayer, BOLDLY asking God for discernment, seeking His will, and knocking on Heaven's door. 

Nothing makes us feel smarter, more "spiritual," or better than to pass judgment on someone. We focus on the speck in another person's eye while we look right past the plank in our own eye.This weekend will be a challenge to have the Lord search our hearts, remind us of the grace given to us, and to view others through the eyes of Jesus.Group Life Questions:1. What stuck out most about the message from Sunday?2. Where do you struggle the most in judging others? Does judging others bless you in the long run? What about those that you are judging?3. Read Matthew 7:1-6. In what way will we be judged? How did Jesus illustrate the foolishness of the way we find fault in others?4. Why is it necessary to deal with one's sins first? What perspective does that give you in how you view others?5. End your time by talking about how your life in the disciplines is going currently and what discipline you would like to spend more time with. (I.e., prayer, fasting, sabbath, community, generosity, Scripture)

Don't work for blessing, work from blessing! Jesus flips the idea of blessing upside down, revealing how we are truly blessed, which is the opposite of what we have always thought. Through the intro of the sermon on the mount, we will see what Jesus meant by 'blessed' and then challenge us to be salt and light. Salt and light! Be these!Group Life Questions:1. What stood out the most about the message?2. Read Matthew 5:1-10 in 2 other translations. What are some similarities and differences between the wordings?3. For each beatitude, list the 'blessed' or 'blessing'.4. Look at your list, where you have seen these truths in the lives of your family & friends?5. Where have you seen these in your own life?6. How can you be salt and light to someone this week? 7. End your time in contemplative prayer. Talk to God/Listen to God/Be with God.  

Talk to God. Listen to God. Be With God. Let's refocus on what is most important on our journey with God. #PracticetheWayofChristGroup Life Questions1. Take some time to pray in a contemplative form: Talk To God/Listen To God/Be with God. Give the group 15 minutes to pray in this way. Distribute scriptures to the group to focus on during that time to set the tone. Collect again and discuss your experience from that time with God.2. How current are you in your obedience to God?  3. What is one thing that you are currently struggling to trust God with?4. Do you find it uncomfortable just sitting in the presence of God or do you feel that there always has to be talking?5. What will your week look like this week as you build into your schedule time to talk to God, listen to God, and be with God?

What keeps the Lord from shaking the nations? Could it be that our attitudes and practices prevent a move of the Spirit? Today, we journey through chapter 2 of the prophet Haggai and see what the Lord instructed him to say to the people of Judah. He was quick to uncover some areas that were still present in their hearts so He could shake the nations and bring all back to a place of holiness.  Group Life Questions:1. Being by praying for one another.  2. Pray briefly about the following objectives that are our focus in practicing the way of Christ:a) Being a follower, not just a convert b) Having a plan for our spiritual growth c) Healing from the past d) Living a life that can be multiplied in others e) Living in deep, meaningful community.3. Read Haggai 1 & 2 out loud. What are the things that the people are struggling with in terms of rebuilding the temple? Name them from chapters 1 & 2.4. How do these things relate to you as a follower of Christ and what are some things that you have done to prevent the work of the Lord in your own life?

Over time, we lose focus on what is most important. When that happens, we tend to look more inward to what we think gives us the most pleasure and purpose. Our Time Is Now will focus on our priorities and how they can reflect the challenge that God is calling us to at this time. Let's look ahead, let's get motivated again to serve the Lord, and let's respond to the call of God. Our time is now!Group Life Questions:1. Who has ever helped you rebuild something? What was the hardest part?2. Read Haggai 1:6. What is consistent throughout this verse?3. Why do you think the people of God stalled in their progress of rebuilding God's house?4. What is your greatest barrier in acting on God's plans for you? What is one area where you need to rebuild your devotion to God?5. Based on Haggai 1:8, what would be your plan for rebuilding or laying a new foundation for an area of growth?6. Read the following Scriptures before praying for one another. Make some observations about each one and what they mean to you: 1 Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 2:19-22, James 1:22-25, Ecclesiastes 9:10

The 10th Commandment not to covet calls us to stay on the life giving course God has given. We are tempted to shift our focus, to covet something that won't last. Joy comes as we trust Jesus in all our circumstances and celebrate following Him!Group Life Questions:1. How does the coveting dialogue begin in your mind.2. What is it like to transition from coveting in your mind to taking something?3. There is a list of things in verse 17 not to covet. Why do you think the word “anything” is added?4. In your group discuss Psalm 51 that tells of David's brokenness after his sin with Bathsheba.5. Read the parable of the Rich Fool, Luke 13: 13-21. How do “Bigger barns” come in our lives today?

Israel was given a very clear instruction: Do not take the life of another human. They got very caught up in the physical aspect, and Jesus came to show us that it is not enough to simply stay your hand from physically stealing a life. Your thoughts, words, actions and inactions either contribute to the flourishing and growth towards Jesus of someone, or they leave them marching towards death. Who are we letting die to sin because of our biases? Because of our need to feel better than someone? Group Life Questions:1. Which passage of Scripture from today's sermon stuck with you?- Matthew 19:1-12- Isaiah 59:15-21- Matthew 5:21-26- Matthew 25:31-46- Matthew 18:21-35- Matthew 5:43-48- Romans 12:9-212. What arguments or justifications have you heard for Old Testament violence, if any?3. Does Jesus' vision of the Kingdom of God have room for violence at all?4. Have you ever been "left for dead", where it feels as though a choice you made was the last straw for someone? Have you ever felt that way towards someone and their decisions?5. Who have you stopped praying for to find life? Who do you need to start praying for?

"You shalt not steal" is one of the ten commandments that prevents us from damaging our relationship with God and with our neighbors by trusting that what God gives us is good and sufficient for us.Group Life Questions:1. What spoke to you most from the sermon today?2. After listening to the sermon, can you think of a time when you stole intentionally or unintentionally? (maybe copying work ideas from a colleague, taking something from the office without permission, taking advantage of someone else's time, etc.)3. After reading Exodus 20:15 and Psalms 37:23-25, what lessons do these two sets of verses teach us?4. Are there some ways we can steal from God? What are those ways?5. How can we improve our relationship with God and with our neighbors if we have realized that we have stolen from them in some way?

Honoring our Father and Mother was a command given by God to the children of Israel, but it was also a promise to inherit the promised land. At the depth of this commandment is the call for strong households, strong families, which lead to strong societies. Education, nurturing, modeling, discipleship all happens first in the home. Today, we will look at ways that we can honor our father and mother while understanding how to strengthen our home.  Group Life Questions:1. What spoke to you most from the message today?2. In what ways have you been able to honor your parents in your life and what was the benefit of that honoring?3. Take a look at the first four commandments. What is the central theme of 1-4? Now take a look at 5-10. What is the central theme? Cross reference this to Mark 12:30-31.4. Read Deuteronomy 21:18-21 and cross reference this to Luke 15:18-19. What do these two sets of verses teach us about God's love for us now? How are we honoring our heavenly father?  5. End your time with prayer for one another, for our church, and for the community.  

Stephen is a case study into what it looks like to practice the Way of Christ amidst suffering. We cannot practice the Way of Christ and experience the Life if we aren't ready to face the pain and suffering that this world forces on us. Our response and the life we lead amidst our suffering becomes a testimony far more powerful than giving someone a run down of the gospel with your words. The people who get it, who practice the Way, don't run from pain or ignore it, pretending as if it doesn't exist, but they face it knowing the God who stands with them with a broken heart and a powerful hand. He does not abandon us to our suffering but has given us the example of how to endure and still change lives amidst suffering, and in doing so following in the steps of Christ, shaming the Enemy, death and the powers of this world. Suffering lasts in the night, but God's power and justice always rises with the morning.Group Life Questions1. Compare Luke's account of Jesus' arrest and crucifixion and Stephen's arrest and eventual death. What are the similarities? Differences?2. Read John 14-15. How does it relate to Stephen? What is the role of the Holy Spirit for believers and what can we learn about the Way of Christ from this passage?3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in this snapshot of Stephen's life?4. What role does the Holy Spirit play in your life? How has he moved you recently?5. What pain or suffering has God transformed into a testimony, either in your own life, the life of someone you know or around the world? Is there any that hasn't yet been transformed? Is there someone who made Christ more real to you through their endurance?6. Suffering is not open, it is not always public and it is not always obvious or massive. We experience some sort of discomfort, pain or suffering almost on a daily basis. Pray for each other's strength through the Spirit and that others may know Christ through our endurance. 

If it were only us in an open space with the anointing of Jesus and the charge to change the world, where would we begin? This was a picture of the early church. As we conclude our series on Practicing the Way of Christ, we will dive into what it means to Gather and then scatter like the church did in Acts 8. Our community needs more of us to carry the light of Jesus to them. God is just getting started!Group Life Questions1. If it were just your group in an open space with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the charge to go change the world, where would you begin?2. Read Acts 8:1-3. What was the persecution they were facing and how did God use that to help take the message to other places?  3. What is the purpose of our gathering on Sunday mornings? Make a list and discuss.4. Questions to end your time together: How often do we pray in our gathering time for opportunities in our scattering? Am I a multiplier for Christ? If so, how? What can I do to bring heaven to earth in my Jerusalem?  5. End your time in prayer for one another and for more opportunities to share Jesus with others.  

Our vision is to have a healthy, spiritually growing Church through practicing the way of Christ. One of the pillars in a healthy church is a deep, meaningful community. Today, we will explore how God is a community within himself and has established the same for us to participate in. Part of our growth is done in the community. The challenge is to break through that which might be hindering you from experiencing community and establish a walk with Jesus that will show us a better way to practice what He taught.  Group Life Questions:1. What is the best part about your small group community that you are in right now?2. Explore the following Biblical concepts:    - God is the founder of shared experiences (Genesis 2:19)    - God Is in himself a Community in the Trinity  -Jesus established a community among the disciples (Mark 3:14 & Matthew 9:10)3. Have you ever been hurt by the church? If so, please share (to your comfort level) how you processed and were able to land where you did. How did the community help you through and what did you learn about Jesus?4. How is your walk with Jesus? What are you learning recently from Jesus as you walk with him?

The apostles and the early church of Acts were on fire! They were adding to their number daily, people were being healed, and lives were being changed! We are wanting 2024 to be the year of miracles. We prayed for it during 21 days of prayer. Why do we not see miraculous signs and healings today as what was experienced in Acts? I submit that there is a dichotomous relationship between Faith and Fear. When we allow Fear to creep into our minds, we hamstring our Faith. When we hamstring our Faith, we hamstring the divine work that God wants to do in us and through us. When we believe and hold firm to the promises of God our Faith is increased and our Fear is suppressed and God can use us to accomplish the impossible!Group Life Questions:1. What does Liturgy mean? Discuss what makes up your current church liturgy?2. God calls us to be Holy because He is Holy. What does Holiness look like to you? What does it mean to be Holy?Is perfect holiness attainable?3. Can you think of Biblical examples of people not doing what God wanted them to because they were afraid?4. Can you think of Biblical examples of Faith overcoming Fear and Divine work takes place?5. Are you brave enough to confess a fear that has held you back? If so, what is it.6. How can we encourage one another to walk in Faith and Trust and help one another not give into fear?