Week of May 30th - Trinity Sunday

Week of May 30th - Trinity Sunday, John 16:12-15

1. Typically, are you the kind of person that likes books and movies that make you think to follow along, or do you like those where you can just sit back and be entertained? Why?
2. Share with the group your understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. What about it do you understand well? What do you not understand so well?
3. Each member of the Trinity is a person. How have you experienced the Father, Son and Holy Spirit individually?
4. Each member of the Trinity is God, and of the same essence. (Homoousia.) This means that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are each fully God. What would be the danger of not holding to this view?
5. Each member of the Trinity is interrelated and always involved what the other is doing. (Perichoresis.) Think of a time when you really felt God's presence with you. Can you describe how all three persons of the Trinity would have been involved?
6. Each member of the Trinity has permanent distinctions. The Father creates, the Son is begotten of the Father, and the Holy Spirit comes to the disciples and to us. We each need God in different ways at different times. Can you times when you might especially need one person of the Trinity?
7. Sum up how this doctrine can improve your relationship with and growth in God.
8. Pray for one another....

Week of May 23, 2010 - Acts 2:1-21

1. What the greatest building you've ever been in? What made it great?
2. What did you think about the results from the Possessing the Land building campaign? Did we bring in more or less than you thought?
3. In verse v. 1, we see the followers of Jesus "all together in one place". How important is unity in a congregation? Is there a connection between unity and the presence of the Holy Spirit?
4. The Spirit was audibly and visibly present to the disciples in the Upper Room. (v. 2-3) How will we know if the Spirit is with us when we gather together to worship? How important is that to you?
5. V. 4-13. The Holy Spirit empowers people to speak in languages that they did not know. What was their message? In what ways will the Spirit help us communicate the Gospel to people in ways that they can understand?
6. V. 17-21. Peter preaches that everyone gets the Holy Spirit. What groups of people might feel left out in a church like ours? How can we reach out to them?
7. What are you most looking forward to in our building? How can we use it to reach out to our mission field?
8. Pray for one another....

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Acts 16:16-34

1. What type of music lifts your spirits?
2. What situations in this story relate to your own life situation? For example: "I feel I am constantly being hounded" (v.18); "I worry that my means of making money will disappear" (v. 19); "I'm facing unfair criticism" (v. 20-21); "I feel trapped in a bad situation" (v. 24); "I have to take the blame for things outside of my control" (v. 27). Explain why?
3. Think back to one of your own "prison experiences." How did you face it and how was it reflected in your relationship with God?
4. How do you believe we are called to witness to God in the midst of our "prison experiences?" Does this come easily for you, or is it a struggle? What do you suppose is the source of the struggle?
5. Have you ever been moved by another's witness to their deep trust in God in the midst of adversity? How did it speak to you? How did it affect your relationship with God?
6. Do you believe you are open to the "excellent adventures" that God might be calling you into?

Week of May 9th - John 14:23-29

1. What sorts of things make a house a home? If you could change one thing about your house, what would it be?
2. V. 23. Which comes first, do you think, us loving God or God loving us?
3. What is the connection Jesus is trying to make between love and obedience here? Why is this important?
4. V. 25-26. Can you think of a time when you've been reminded of Jesus' teaching by the Holy Spirit? What happened?
5. Are there ways you can be more in tune with the direction of the Holy Spirit or does it just "happen"?
6. V. 27. What would be some of the differences between the peace that Jesus gives and the peace that the world gives?
7. In what areas of your life do you need the peace of Jesus? How can our group support you?

Week of May 2nd - Joshua 3:9-17

1. How much have you moved from one location to another in your life? What is the best "move" you ever made?
2. v. 14. Before moving out to enter the Promised Land, God instructs Joshua to put the ark of the covenant ahead of the people. Father Mike talked about how this represented "following the promises of God". Have there been promises that you've followed before? Is there a promise of God you are following now? What is it like to do that?
3. V. 15. God had them cross the Jordan River while it was flooded! Are you a person who can easily move forward in a flood? What obstacles are there in your life keeping you from the land God is calling you to possess?
4. V. 16. Father Mike used this verse about God holding back the waters to illustrate how we can trust God with our future and our past. Which of these is easier for you to do? Why?
5. V. 17. The priests stood still until everyone crossed over. Who are the people that you think St. Andrew's is particularly called to reach? How can we reach them? How will the building help us do that?
6. Share your thoughts with the group about the church making this next step. Do you think we are ready? What will be the challenges for us as we continue on in the YMCA while we are in the building process? How can you help?
7. Pray for the church and for one another....