Week of July 25, 2010

Luke 11:1-13

1. What was the most memorable prayer, or time of prayer, that you ever experienced? What made it that way for you?
2. What is the biggest obstacle for you in your prayer life? Intimidation? Duty? Images of God? Language? Something else?
3. Father Mike talked about "practicing the presence of God". What does that mean to you? How do you think you could do that in your daily life?
4. God answers prayer with "yes", "no" or "wait". Can you think of an examples of one of these in your life? Have folks in your group share examples so that you hear an example of each.
5. Have you thought of the Lord's Prayer as a model? Read verses 2-4 and see if your group can recall how you can use each line as a way to organize your prayer time.
6. Name some practical things that you can do this week to improve your prayer life. How can the group help you?
7. Pray for one another....

Week of July 18 - Instructed Eucharist

1. What was the most meaningful worship service you've ever attended? Why was it so meaningful?
2. If you attended church on Sunday, was there something in the Instructed Eucharist that was new to you, or that you found especially interesting?
3. Is there anything about our liturgy that is confusing to you, or that you wish you knew more about? How can the group help you?
4. What do you think an Episcopal liturgy would feel like to someone who's never attended one before? To someone who is not even a Christian? What about the liturgy would communicate well? What would be difficult for them?
5. When you come to worship, what are you hoping to accomplish?
6. What about the way we do worship will improve the most when we get into the building? What will you miss when we move into the building?
7. Pray for one another...

Pentecost 7 - Small Group Questions

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

Luke 10:25-37
1. Most of us know the story of the Good Samaritan very well. Mtr. Mary spoke to how it is sometimes hard to hear anything new in a Bible story you know so well. Can you think of some other Bible passages that are so familiar that you have trouble hearing them anew? Are there parts of the liturgy that have become hard to hear anew?
2. Most of us have found ourselves in a "Good Samaritan" situation, challenged to adjust our plans and get involved. Recall one now. What feelings did this bring up for you? How did you work through whether you should respond or not? How do you feel now when you look back on that situation?
3. Think of a time when you have been the beneficiary of a Good Samaritan. How did this feel?
4. In these situations - whether you played the role of Samaritan or man in the ditch - where was God? Did you have any sense of his presence?
5. Recall a time when you felt deep compassion. Did it spur you to action?
6. The Lawyer wanted to know, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" What is your understanding of eternal life? How is it manifest here and now as well as beyond our earthly life? How might this relate to Jesus' proclamation that "the kingdom of God has drawn near?"

Pentecost 6 - Small Group Questions

If you were not with us on Sunday you can listen to this sermon at http://www.standrewsonline.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=39&Itemid=79

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 & Open Arms by Journey
1. How does “Open Arms” rank for you in the songs we’ve looked at in the Totally 80s Sermon Series?
2. In v. 3 Jesus sends out the 70 “like lambs into the midst of wolves.” How does that resonate with your experience as a Christian in increasingly secular workplaces and neighborhoods and groups?
3. Jesus tells his disciples to share God's peace with those we encounter in our days. If our peace is accepted, we find a way to share the Good News; if our peace returns to us we are to move on. What are different ways that we might "share the Good News?" Why does this tend to be uncomfortable for us?
4. Fr. Mike spoke to the darkness that we lie in when we are overcome by our sin or overwhelmed with the circumstances of our lives. Recall a time when this was the case for you. Has Jesus felt present to you in the midst of these times? If not, why do you think that is so? Do you trust that Jesus will be present to you if you invite him into your darkness?
5. Many of us grew up going to church, learning about Jesus and being part of the community of faith. Was there a time when you left? If so, what caused you to come back to stay?
6. Fr. Mike spoke to our images of how Jesus encounters us. What is your image? Is your image one of Open Arms?