Week of September 1, 2013

1. Read Luke 14:1, 7-14.
2. What is the fanciest dinner party that you've ever been to?  What was the occasion?  How did it go?
3. Can you think of a time when you've had to sit in assigned seats?  How did it make you feel?
4. Father Mike mentioned in the sermon about the Middle Easter "honor and shame" society.  How does it impact our text?  To what extent do we have it today?
5. What advice does Jesus give in v. 7-11?  How does this advice apply to our day and time?
6. What would be a good definition of Christian humility?
7. Is it hard for you to trust Jesus to do the exalting in your life?  What sort of ways to people in your life jockey for position?
8. What advice does Jesus give the host in v. 12-14?  How does this advice apply to our day and time?
9. Who could you help that can't pay you back?
10. Is it hard for you to trust Jesus to do the rewarding in your life?  How might an "eternal perspective" give you more peace?
11. Pray for one another....

Week of June 30, 2013

1. Read Matthew 25:31-46.
2. If you were every without food for a long period of time, what is the first thing you would crave to eat?
3. Does this story seem more like a parable or a prophecy?  Why?
4. What coming event is being considered here?  What is the purpose of this event?
5. List the six actions Jesus will use as the basis of judgment.  What kinds of acts are these?  For whom are they done now and ultimately (v. 40)?  How do they benefit the doer?
6. How are those who don't do the acts and those who do them similar?  Different?
7. What does this section teach about Christian responsibility?  Who, besides those mentioned here, might be considered "the least of these"?
8. Is the judgment note in this section consistent with your view of Jesus?  Why or why not?
9. When have you been hungry, thirsty, a stranger, in need of clothes, sick or imprisoned and someone reached out to you?
10. When have you reached out to people in those areas?
11. In these six areas, where do you find yourself serving most naturally?  In which areas do you have the most trouble reaching out?
12. Of these six areas, is there one where you would like to get more involved (prison ministry or hunger program)?  What steps will you take this week to get involved?
13. Pray for one another....

Week of June 24, 2013

1. Read Matthew 11:1-19.
2. (For married people):  When did you know that the person you married was "the one"?  What tipped you off?  (For unmarried):  What is the sign you look for in a mate to tell you "this is the one"?
3. Having instructed His disciples in the nature of ministry (10:1-42), what does Jesus now do (v.1) that models the same?  What is significant about that?
4. Who questions Jesus (v. 2)?  Where is John?  How did he land in prison (see Matthew 14:1-5)?
5. How might prison have given rise to John's doubts (v. 3)?
6. Does Jesus answer John more with promises or with evidence?  Why?  How might John, hwo knew the Old Testament well, have interpreted Jesus' reply (see Isaiah 35:5-6 and 61:1)?  What encouragement does Jesus add for John in v. 6?
7. How was John different from a swaying weak reed or a well-groomed politician?  What does Jesus say about John?
8. How does John fulfill Old Testament prophecy (see Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6)?  In what way does he exhibit the faith of the Old Testament?
9. In what way is a New Testament believer greater than John (see Matthew 18:3-4)?
10. How do the people respond to John?  To Jesus?  How were the people like the children pictured here?
11. In those periods of discouragement and doubt, what most renews your courage and faith?
12. In what specific way can you be an encourager to someone in church leadership?  In your family?  Among your friends?
13. Pray for one another....

Week of June 9, 2013

1. Read Luke 7:11-17.
2. If you were in charge, how would you change our funerals and burial practice?  Why?
3. How's the story staged:  When?  where?  who?  what's happening?
4. Why is Jesus so moved by this woman (v. 12-13)?
5. What does Jesus do?  Say?  With what results?  Impact on others?
6. Why does Luke, a Greek doctor, include so many healing stories?
7. When someone you love dies, what is the best thing you can do to give comfort?  Who do you do with your feelings?  Bottle them up?  Or let them out?  Long term, what can you do to be helpful?
8. Pray for one another....

Week of May 19th, 2013

1. Read Acts 2:1-13.
2. In school, were foreign languages easy or hard for you?  Why?
3. Given that Pentecost was quite the harvest festival (see Deuteronomy 16:9-10), why does God choose this day to give the Holy Spirit?  If you had been in that room, what would you have seen, heard and felt?
4. If you can, find a Bible map and a contemporary map.  From how far away are these pilgrims in verses 9-11?  What attracts this crowd to the disciples?
5. Go back and read Acts 1:8.  How is that promise fulfilled here?
6. If you were one of the crowd, would you respond more like those in v. 12 or those in v. 13?  Why?
7. When you have you experienced an empowering from God to witness about Christ?
8. What do you think was God's part of Jesus' followers part in this event?  What will you do this week to be better prepared for God's use?
9. Pray for one another....

Week of May 13, 2013

1. Read Ephesians 5:21-6:4.
2. What was the most maddening thing your parents did when you were a child?
3. How does the relationship between Christ and the church help explain what Paul means by "submission"?  How does that relationship help explain the role of the husband in marriage?
4. To what expression of "headship" - Christ's and the husband's - is the wife asked to submit:  The sacrificial kind?  The bossy kind?  Or both?
5. Can a wife's respect for her husband (5:33) be commanded?  Or must it be earned?  Why?  Likewise, a children's respect for their parents?
6. What does it mean to bring up children in the Lord without exasperating them (6:4)?  Give examples from your experience.
7. In summary, how does 5:21 apply to the types of relationships found in this section?  What are the mutual obligations involved in these relationships?  In what ways could Paul's instructions be misinterpreted apart from the context of 5:21?  How have you been affected by these misinterpretations?
8. How does Paul's teaching about marriage challenge common ideas today?  Which affect you?  What principles flowing for this section can you work on to help you be a better spouse (or potential spouse)?
9. What does it mean for you as an adult to honor your parents?  How might this help improve your relationships with them?
10. Pray for one another....

If you were unable to be with us on Sunday you can listen to this sermon here.

The Book of Common Prayer
1. Do you believe that 'piety' has fallen onto hard times as a virtue?  Why or why not?
2. Mtr. Mary spoke to the need to develop our piety because it creates for us a well of living water from which we can draw in our most needful times.  How have you found this to be true for yourself?
3. Has the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) been a resource that you have used in developing your piety (or prayer life)?  Why do you think you have, or have not, used it?
4. We read together the Collect for Grace on p.100.  Have someone read it aloud now.  What speaks to you from this prayer?  Do you have a prayer that you say each morning?
5. We read together the Collect at the bottom of p.124.  Have someone read it aloud now.  What speaks to you from this prayer?  Do you have a prayer that you say at the end of your day?
6. Turn to p. 810.  Take a moment to look through the list of prayers.  Did you know the BCP had prayers that spoke to all of these situations and conditions?  From the titles, choose one that you want to read.  Have each person read their chosen prayer aloud to the group and talk about why they chose it and how it speaks to them.
7. Over time, have you noticed that different prayers in the BCP speak to you at different phases or ages of your life?
8. Mtr. Mary 'provoked' us to memorize some of these prayers where they would be available to us when we need them.  Have you memorized any prayers from the BCP?  Would you like to?
9. Mtr. Mary addressed several acts of personal piety that are often engaged in worship - genuflecting, bowing, crossing, and acts of piety at the reading of the Gospel.  Did you learn anything you didn't already know?  Do you participate in any of these?  Why?  Are there some that don't feel authentic or helpful to you.  Why do you think that is?
10.  How might you grow your own personal piety?

Week of April 28, 2013

1. Read Psalm 148.
2. Can you remember a worship service where you felt especially close to God?  Where where you?  What happened?
3. What do you think the purpose of worship is?  Why do we go to church?
4. Father Mike mentioned how acts of piety are possible in our worship service.  Do you think about being pious yourself?  Do you think this is something that you can achieve?  Why or why not?
5. What do you think you should "bring" to the worship service?  What does God bring?
6. Father Mike taught about the "pre-existence" and "unspontaneity" of our worship.  What does this mean to you?  Why is this important, or is it?
7. What does it mean to kneel, bow, sit, stand and make the sign of the cross piously?
8. What difference does all of this make in our worship service anyway?  Can't God bless our service even if we don't do any of these things?
9. What are you most taking out of this sermon and this discussion?
10. Pray for one another....

Week of April 21

1. Read Psalm 23.
2. What has this Psalm meant to you growing up?  What do you think of when you hear it?  Does it remind you of a specific person or event?
3. Put yourself in the mind of the author of Psalm 23.  What do you think he was going through?  Can you relate to this?
4. Why do you think there is so much evil in the world?  What does it mean for you that God is with us?
5. V. 1-4.  Describe the relationship of sheep to shepherd in light of these verses.  How is Jesus a Good Shepherd to us?
6. Of the things that the shepherd does for us listed here, which do you need most right now?
7. V. 5-6.  Here, the Lord is pictured as a good host that provides for His guests.  How have you experienced the Lord as provider?
8. Since the table is prepared in front of our "enemies", what does this mean about our desire for vengeance?
9. How can we experience the Lord's peace instead of anxiety?
10. Are you at a "Psalm 23 place" right now or are you doing OK?  What can your group do to support you today?
11. Pray for one another.... 

Week of April 8, 2013

The following are questions from Father Mike's sermon, "Forgiveness in the Family".

1. Read Colossians 3:12-15.
2. For each of the five qualities Paul lists in Colossians - compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience - think of an example (positive or negative) from relationships you have experienced, and imagine the alternatives.
3. Do you think forgiveness needs to be thought of or handled differently in a marriage than in other relationships?  Why or why not?
4. Think of a stone you've placed in your mate's backpack.  What steps did you take, or could you take, at each stage of forgiveness:
• Awareness
• Regret
• Confession
• Change
5. In cases where you haven't been able to change, how did you feel?  How do you think your mate felt?  How do you think God felt?  Have any of the participants' feelings changed over time, and if so, how?
6. "Marriage was not meant to be a life sentence."  Reflect on this sentence.  What thoughts does it call to mind?  Do you agree?  Why or why not?
7. What are some sins that you would be able to "bear with"?  What are some sins that you wouldn't?  For you, what's the dividing line?
8. What are some things you can do to keep the "drain clean" and the "tower high" in your relationships right now?  How can we support you?
9. Pray for one another....

Lent 2 - Small Group Questions

If you were unable to be with us on Sunday you can listen to this sermon here.

Luke 13:31-35
1. When you think of Jesus, what is the image (or images) that come most readily to mind?  Why do you think this is so?
2. Can you picture Jesus, and God, lamenting over us?  What does this look like?  Why is it so?
3. Can you recall a time when you created in your parents the kind of grief that God appears to be experiencing on our behalf?  Share the circumstances with the group.  What was going on within you that brought this situation to a head?
4. Can you recall a time when your child created in you the kind of grief that God appears to be experiencing on our behalf?  Share the circumstances with the group.  What was going on with you and/or your child that brought this situation to a head?
5. Were you raised with an image of God that was rule-bound, that appeared to be looking for a reason to punish or reject you?  Or were you raised with an image of God that was gracious and loving, like the father of the prodigal who waits for us with open arms?  How has the image of God that you first came to know affected your relationship with God?  Your ability to trust God?
6. Why do you think the history of God's people is to turn from God, to want to set our own course apart from relationship with God?
7. Have you experienced God searching you out and calling you back to him?  Close your eyes and imagine God calling you to himself.  What is this image for you?
8. What do you think is your greatest barrier to accepting God's grace and goodness?  Why do you think this is?

Week of February 10, 2013

1. Read Luke 9:28-36.
2. If you went back-packing, where would you go?  What three friends would you take along?  Why?
3. How's this story staged:  When?  Where?  Who?  What'a happening?
4. Why might Jesus take these particular disciples to witness Him transfigured and speaking with Moses and Elijah?
5. What's the connection here with Peter's confession (v. 18-20)?  With Jesus' prophecy (v. 22)?  The preceding saying (v. 27)?  Moses and Elijah (see Matthew 11:13)?
6. Why is this event misunderstood by Peter (v. 33)?  Underscored by God (v. 34-35)?  Kept secret by the disciples (see Mark 9:9)?
7. As on a mountain, where have you experienced God in an unusual way?  What happened?
8. When did you last take time to clarify your goals?  Why not now?
9. Pray for one another....

Generosity Series - Revealed in Prayer

If you were unable to be with us on Sunday you can listen to this sermon here.

Read Acts 10 (This is long!)
1. Think back to when you first began giving financially to the church.  What were you thinking?  How did you feel?  What moved you from a place of not giving to a place of giving?  Was it 'one and done' for awhile, or was it the beginning of regular giving?
2. Why do you think it is so hard for us to talk about our giving to the church?
3. Mtr. Mary spoke of how when we're 'prayed up,' spending regular time with God, that we feel more connected to God and so know his will for us more and more.  What has been your experience of prayer and your relationship with God?  What was a sign or indication to you that your relationship with God was deepening?
4. As we are formed by God in prayer he requires more of us.  Why do you think this is?  Why is God not content to leave us where we are?  Share with the group an example of how this has been true for you.
5. Part of being formed by God in prayer is moving from a 'me-centered' existence to a God-centered existence.  Share with the group an incident or realization that brought this home for you.
6. Richard Rohr says that all spiritual growth comes from shedding or letting go, versus through adding or taking on.  If this is true, why might it be true that we need to let go of our stuff and money to move closer to God?  What are some examples of the things in life that we cling to instead of letting them go?  Share with the group an example of clinging to something/someone that you should have let go.
7. What is the scariest aspect of submitting your will to God's will?  What do you think could help you with this?
8. Are you living as if you trust that Jesus came so that we might have life...and that abundantly?

Week of January 13, 2013

1. Read Deuteronomy 26:1-11.
2. Do you know someone who you think is a really grateful person?  What makes them that way?  What are they like?
3. Do you know someone who is ungrateful?  What makes them that way?  What are they like?
4. Note the future tense in v. 1-2.  God had a good plan for Israel! Do you think He has a good plan for you? What does that plan involve?  How do you know what that plan is?
5. What do you think of the concept of first fruits?  Why is this important?
6. Is it hard for you to be grateful to God for where you are going?  Why or why not?
7. Read v. 3.  When they make their offering their offering, the Lord wants them to take ownership of their blessing "today"!  What is keeping you from being more grateful today? 
8. Read v. 4-10.  Why does God ask them to retell their story as they give?  
9. Do you know the history of St. Andrew's?  Tell it in your group for those who may not know.
10. What is your story?  How has God been faithful to you?  Can you be grateful for where you've been?
11. Is there a connection between gratitude and generosity do you think?  What steps can you take this week to be more grateful?

Week of January 6, 2013

1. Read Matthew 2:1-12.
2. Who are three "Magi" or wise men to whom you look for input into your life today?
3. What do you know about Bethlehem?  Why was it important that Jesus be born there?
4. Why do you think that the Magi left everything behind to follow a star?
5. Why was Herod so concerned that the baby be found?
6. What kind of Messiah does the prophecy from Micah portray?
7. Trace the responses of the Magi upon seeing Jesus.  How is that similar to the response that Christians make to Jesus?  How is it different?
8. Why didn't the Magi return to Herod?
9. What do the star, the Magi, the gifts, the homage, the hostility, and the prophecy teach about the nature and significance of Jesus?
10. What "star" are you following right now?  Where is it taking you?
11. In your journey toward God, how are you like the Magi?  Unlike them?  How far along that journey are you?
12. What is the "gold, incense and myrrh" in your life?  How much of this (time, talent, riches or whatever) have you offered to Jesus?
13. Pray for one another....