Easter 7 - Small Group Questions

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

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

1. Can you recall an experience of 'not making the team?'  How did that feel? Share with the group.
2. This passage, only half a chapter, occurs between when the resurrected Jesus ascended to the Father and when the Holy Spirit descended on believers at Pentecost.  What do you think about this 10 day period?  What do you think the disciples were thinking during this time?  Try and put yourself in their place.  How do you think this period would have felt for you?
3. Can you recall a time when you were called to 'wait on the Holy Spirit?'  Were you able to do so? or did you start working out a solution on your own?  Discuss when you've been blessed by waiting on the HS.
4. The disciples reflected on scripture, prayed together, established qualifications, discussed it amongst the believers, asked God to guide their decision, chose, and moved forward.  Is this a pattern that you regularly follow in your own discernment of God's will?  If not, what is your pattern?  How is that working for you?  What aspects of this pattern might you incorporate in your discernment?
5. Have you had a powerful experience of group prayer?  How was this different than private prayer?
6. Mtr. Mary quoted Adam Hamilton who says, "God’s will is more about how we make our decisions than about the specific decisions we make."  Do you agree?  Why or why not?
7. How might this understanding of God's will be freeing for you?  Do you believe that God is always working to redeem our decisions?  Do you live that way?  Or do you live in fear - of God's judgment, of getting it wrong?
8. Consider your ministry in the Church and the world.  How have you been a 'Matthias-like apostle?'

Week of May 14, 2012

1. Read Matthew 6:5-15.
2. Can you think of someone you know who has a great prayer life?  How can you tell?  What about them would you most like to emulate?
3. Father Mike talked about how prayer involves the entire Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  How is this so?
4. How often do you think we should pray?  Do you think you pray often enough?  Why or why not?
5. Share with the group a time when God answered a prayer of yours with a "yes".
6. Share with the group a time when God answered a prayer of yours with a "wait".
7. Share with the group a time when God answered a prayer of yours with a "no".
8. For each, of the above, how did it make you feel?
9. Do you find praying easy or hard?  If you are comfortable, share with the group about how you pray.  Where?  When?  How do you do it?  Any advice on what works well?  What doesn't work well?
10. What do you think are the major barriers for you in having the prayer life that you desire?
11. Pray for one another.....

Week of May 7, 2012

1. Read Acts 8:26-40.
2. Who was your favorite teacher?  What made them great?
3. What kind of person are you:  one for whom learning comes easy or hard?  Was school easy for you or hard?
4. What do make of Father Mike's statement from his sermon:  "disciples of Jesus Christ are life long learners"?
5. What do you think it was that compelled the Ethiopian eunuch to go to Jerusalem?  Why did he make the trip?
6. On his way home, was is the eunuch doing?  Why?
7. What non-fiction book would you like to read? On what topic?  
8. How do you feel about your current knowledge of the Bible?  What could you do to learn more?
9. What role does Philip play in the Ethiopian's life?  Who are the "Philips" in your life:  the people that God has sent to help you learn?  Have you invited them into your chariot?  Why or why not?
10. What actions are you prepared to take to be a better life long learner?  How can your group help you?
11. Pray for one another.....

Week of April 30, 2012

1. Read 1 John 3:11-24.
2. What person really taught you what love is all about?  How?
3. How does the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-8) illustrate the meaning of "love one another"?  How does the cross of Christ illustrate the same point?
4. How does John's definition of love (v. 16-18) differ from your experience and expression of love in romantic relationships?  in your family?  in your church?
5. V. 21-22.  Does obedience result in answered prayer or obedience move us to pray?  Why?
6. V. 24.  Does obedience result in unions with God or does union with God result from obedience?  Why?
7. Make a list of all the ways that God gives us assurance in this passage.  See v. 14, 16, 19, 20, 24.  Which means the most to you?
8. Are there people you cannot get along with?  What can you do about it this week?  Are you willing to try?  Pray for one another....

Easter 3 - Small Group Questions

If you were not with us on Sunday you can listen to this sermon here.

Book of Common Prayer - Catechism (p 845)
1. Have you ever read through the Catechism? What was your familiarity with the Catechism prior to our sermon on Sunday?
2. Read "the duty of all Christians" on p 856. Do you agree with this list? What would you add? What, if anything, would you remove? How do you feel about how you are living into your 'duty as a Christian?'
3. Read "corporate worship" on p 857. We come to worship, first and foremost, to acknowledge the holiness of God - to worship and praise him. Is this true for you? Is your primary motivation in coming to worship praise of God? If not, what is your primary motivation?
4. Were you aware how much scripture you are surrounded by in worship by the Episcopal liturgy, scripture, and the sermon? How have you been formed by this immersion in the Word? In what way do you most clearly hear God's Word in worship?
5. Mtr. Mary said that liturgical prayer is the essential prayer that provides the ground of all other forms of prayer. Do you agree or disagree with this? What is most meaningful to you about prayer in our worship service?
6. A major aspect of corporate worship is to celebrate the sacraments. How many of you were raised in a tradition that did not emphasize the sacraments in worship? What has it been like for you to come into a more sacramental tradition? For everyone - what does partaking of Holy Eucharist each week mean to you?
7. Of all the aspects of worship that we have reflected upon, which aspects are the most meaningful to you? What would you like to see become a part of weekly worship? What, if anything, would you remove from weekly worship?

Week of April 15, 2012

1. Read Psalm 113.
2. Do you know someone who just radiates the love and faith that comes from Jesus Christ? Tell us about them. What do you think makes them the way that they are?
3. How important is serving others to the Christian? Or, is it that important?
4. Father Mike challenged us to serve the people in our "lifespace": family, friends, and co-workers. How and who is God calling you to serve? What will you do?
5. Father Mike challenged us to serve our church at least once a month. How do you think you are doing in that area? Do you think you need to do more? less? Is there something that you are not doing that you would like to do?
6. Father Mike challenged us to serve our community. If there were no limitations, what would you most like to do in our community? What do you think God is calling St. Andrew's to do in our outreach? How can you help make that happen?
7. What is the connection between a church that serves and the unity described is Psalm 133? How might the Lord anoint and bless us?
8. Pray for one another....

Week of April 8, 2012

1. Read John 20:1-8.
2. After you bury someone you love, how do you deal with your grief? Do you find comfort in going out to the cemetery? Why?
3. As Mary, having seen Jesus' tortuous death, what is your emotional state two days later? Would you be sleepless? Why else would you visit the tomb so early? Realizing the body is gone, how do you react?
4. What does "the other disciple" (likely John, the author) believe? Why?
5. Father Mike mentioned in his sermon that love for someone gives you insight. How is that true for John here? How is it true in our relationship with the Lord?
6. John believes because of the sign of the grave clothes. What signs are around you that help you believe?
7. Father Mike said, "if your heart is right, your head will catch up". Do you believe this? How has this been true in your life?
8. What do you rely on for evidence that Jesus is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead?
9. Pray for one another....

Week of March 26, 2012

1. Read John 12:20-36.
2. Are you more likely to panic in the big crises or in the little ones?
3. What would motive these Gentiles in v. 20 to come to Jerusalem during a special time of Jewish patriotism?
4. What was so unique about their request that Philip would filter it through Andrew instead of just going right to Jesus?
5. Jesus has said several times that "His time had not yet come". What about this request caused Him to say that now His time has come?
6. What is He calling His disciples to do in verses 25-26? What promise do they receive?
7. In verses 27-32 "now" is repeated three times. What things are about to occur? How do these realities affect Jesus? How doe He deal with the anxiety?
8. How is Jesus' death (v. 32) related to His being glorified (v. 23)?
9. From verses 24-26, where is Jesus calling you to "die" so that you may really "live"? What do you tend to hold on to rather than Jesus?
10. How does Jesus' example in verse 27 give you the courage to deal with your ambiguous feelings about life?
    
11. Pray for one another....

Lent 4 - Small Group Questions

If you were not with us on Sunday you can listen to this sermon here.

Jn 3:14-21
1. What is your childhood memory of the dark?
2. Give examples of ways that you equate light with goodness and evil (or badness) with darkness?
3. Sometimes we place people in boxes, labeling them as good or bad. Do you tend to see folks as 'all light' or 'all dark?' Or do you see that folks are indwelt by both light and darkness? How might this understanding help you find a space for relationship with folks that you disagree with?
4. Have you examined yourself to see where the darkness is in your life? Have you tried to keep it hidden, or have you offered it up to Jesus for healing?
5. What are your thoughts about the judgment of God? What does this passage say about God's judgment?
6. Can you recall times in your life when you experienced judgment through an unwillingness or inability to live in Christ's light? to allow your life or your will to be submitted to God's?
7. What are ways that you can be Christ's light to others?

Week of March 12, 2012

1. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5.
2. On a scale of 1-10, how important are the following to you: great wealth? personal power? physical beauty? immense intellect? Why?
3. What qualities were most important to the Greeks and Jews of Paul's day?
4. What has God done to the wisdom of the world? Why do the "wise" so often miss the significance of Christ and the cross? What has it become for them? How does God show both wisdom and power?
5. Describe the Corinthian church. Why did God choose them? What is their boast?
6. How did Paul's ministry demonstrate the distinction between the wisdom and power of the world and that of God? What was a priority for Paul? Why?
7. What does a ministry devoid of God's wisdom and power look like? Sound like? Feel like?
8. How is our society like and unlike the one pictured in this passage? Where do your friends and family confuse God's wisdom and power from the world's? In whom or what does your family trust? Why do we Christians often miss the significance of Christ and the cross?
9. Can you think of any situation today where God uses the foolish, the weak, the lowly or the despised to build His kingdom?
10. How has God demonstrated His wisdom and power in your life recently?
11. Pray for one another....

Week of March 2, 2012

1. Read Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16.
2. Do you know someone who did some amazing things late in life? Who were they? What did they do?
3. God visits Abram at a time in his life when he was presumably fine with his life with Ishmael. Still, God had Isaac in mind! Have you ever tried to fulfill God's plans for your life on your own? Can you think of a time when you've settled for Ishmael when God wanted to give you Isaac?
4. Can you relate to the following statement from the sermon: "You may me finished with you, but God isn't finished with you yet!"?
5. The Lord asks Abram to respond to Him with trust and obedience. How do you see this in our passage for today? What is the connection between God's calling and righteousness?
6. The Lord promises Abraham that He will bless him and "be his God" forever. How do you see this in the passage for today? What is the significance of Abraham's name change?
7. Why does the Lord go out of His way to include Sarai?
8. Have you given over your limitations to God? What parameters have you set on what God can and cannot do through you?
9. Which do you need more today, to be changed like Abraham (surrendering your will to the Lord) or to be changed like Sarah (laying down your limitations to the Lord?
10. Pray for one another.....

Lent 1 - Small Group Questions

If you were not with us on Sunday you can listen to this sermon here.

Gen 9:8-17
1. Think about some of the storms you have weathered in your life. Were they short or long? Did they do a lot of damage? Could you see them coming, or did they catch you off guard? Share with the group.
2. After the storm, God establishes a new covenant with Noah and all his descendents and 'with every living creature.' What does this say that God covenants with every person and every living thing? Is this consistent with your understanding of God, that every living thing is part of the covenant?
3. Does your life reflect God's care and love for every living thing?
4. Fr. Mike noted that all of the promises in this covenant are on God's side. There is no requirement on our part. How does this fit with your understanding of your relationship with God? How does it fit with how you view (and perhaps judge) others' relationship with God?
5. Do you believe that God loves you the same no matter what you do or don't do? Or does your life reflect a belief that God 'requires' something to love you?
6. Fr. Mike compared this Noachic covenant with the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. John tells us that Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save the world through him. How is this as inclusive and everlasting as God's covenant with Noah? Is it consistent with your understanding of how Jesus saves?
7. What rainbows - actual or metaphorical - have you been given? How did they make you feel? Can you speak to a 'storm' that was redeemed? That became a New Day?

Last Epiphany - Small Group Questions

Mk 9:2-9
1. Can you recall a time outdoors, in nature, when you had an intense experience of God's presence? Share this with the group.
2. Was Peter's response appropriate? If not, why do you think he responded this way?
3. Do you think you would be tempted to speak into God's revelation? If so, why do you think this is? What anxiety would you be attempting to relieve?
4. How comfortable are you with silence? Are you less comfortable with it than you used to be, or more? Why do you think this is?
5. Reflect on all those things that have contributed to a lack of silence in your life. How might you limit or eliminate them to create more space for silence? Do you even want to?
6. What is your greatest fear about spending more time in silence with God?
7. Are you able to bear witness with others in their pain and loss? Or do you feel compelled to speak when no words are adequate?
8. What do you think was the point of God's message to those on the mountain?
9. Do you accept that faith in Jesus Christ requires sacrificial suffering? Or are you hoping to have the glory without the cost? How might suffering and sacrifice lead to a more mature and deeper faith?

Week of February 12, 2012

1. Read Matthew 5:13-16.
2. Are you a person that is more comfortable on the sidelines or "in the game"? Why is that so?
3. Consider salt. How does it function? Become useless? What prevails in its absence?
4. How does the salt metaphor relate to our spiritual lives? How does it apply directly to you today?
5. Consider light. How does it function? Become useless? What prevails in its absence?
6. How does the light metaphor relate to our spiritual lives? How does it apply directly to you today?
7. To whom is the Lord sending you as salt and light? What difference do you think you can make?
8. V. 16. What is the difference between good works where people glorify the person doing them and good works where people glorify God?
9. How do you think you are doing? Is your life salty or saltless? Covered or open? Why?
10. Pray for one another....

Week of February 5, 2012

1. Read Isaiah 40:21-31.
2. Can you think of a time when you have been "in exile". Has there ever been, or is there now, an area of your life where you felt like God has abandoned you or where God's power wasn't working?
3. Read v. 21-23. What does this say about God? What does it mean for you that God is "the Creator of creation"?
4. Read v. 25-26. When times are hard, what are most likely to do, keep you eyes down on your situation or lifted up to the Lord? Why is this so?
5. Why did Judah feel this way in v. 27? Have you ever felt this way?
6. V. 28. What does it mean that God is "everlasting"? Do you really believe that He does not grow weary, even when it relates to you?
7. V. 29-31. Describe an instance where you've seen this happen for you or someone you know.
8. In what area of your life do you need power? What does waiting on the Lord mean for you right now?
9. Pray for one another....