Week of June 27th - Galatians 5:1, 16-26

1. What grows in your garden or in your yard without your help? with your help?
2. According to Paul, if you were made alive by the Spirit, how come you still struggle with sin?
3. Since we are not under the law, what is wrong with indulging our sinful nature once in a while?
4. If not by rule-keeping, how then do we grow spiritually? How do these "fruit of the Spirit" (v. 22-23) make you more like Christ? How is this fruit formed?
5. Practically, what does it mean to "crucify" the sinful nature and "keep in step" with the Spirit?
6. Which spiritual fruit is "blossoming" for you? In the "bud" stage?
7. Which sinful acts are "dead and buried"? Which are "mortally wounded"? "Alive and well"?
8. How can you and the Spirit grow the one and kill the other?
9. Pray for one another....

Week of June 20 - Matthew 8:26-39

1. When did a vacation turn into something you never expected? What happened?
2. Father Mike used the song "I Want to Know What Love Is" to teach this passage. He first talked about how taking some time out for self-reflection can show us how we might be oppressed by things stronger than ourselves. How has this been true in your life?
3. In what ways do things keep us bound and far from home (v. 26-27) like the Garasene demoniac?
4. Like in verses 28-29, Jesus comes to meet at the place of our oppression and bondage. What do you think about the Lord coming to meet you this way? What would you do: run out to meet Him? tremble in fear? run the other direction?
5. Father Mike talked about facing heartache and pain in our lives. In order to be free, we need to deal with the "Legion" in our lives. What is the thing that "wears" on you, that makes you feel like there are a legion (6,000 soldiers) marching through your head, keep you awake at night or torn at work?
6. In the sermon we talked about how we need to "know" and "feel" the love of Jesus. In verse 35, the man is in his right mind, in verse 38, he is emotionally begging to stay with Jesus. Which do you need more today, to know the Lord's love intellectually or to feel it emotionally?
7. How can your group support you this week?

Week of June 13th - The Third Sunday after Pentecost

Luke 7:36-50

1. What do you look for in a gift for your spouse or someone you care about? What is the most touching gift you have received?
2. In the first part of Father Mike's sermon, he talked about temptation. What are some keys you've found to not giving in to temptation?
3. In our passage from Luke, who invites Jesus to dinner and why?
4. Who is the uninvited guest? What do we learn about her in verse 37? What does she do and why?
5. Father Mike also talked about how sin separates us from a close relationship with Jesus and His church. How was this true for the woman? Can you think of a time when that has been true for you?
6. What do you think about the story Jesus tells in verses 41-42? What is the point of the story? What does this exchange between Jesus and Simon reveal about Simon? the woman?
7. The final point in the sermon was about repentance. Why is this important? Why can't Jesus forgive us without us having to repent?
8. What is the bottom line for the woman in today's passage? (v. 48) Would these words be comforting to her? Would they be to you if Jesus spoke them to you?
9. Do you agree that it's hard to say, "I'm sorry"? Why or why not?