Week of March 27, 2011

1. Read Psalm 95.


2. Can you recall a time when prayer made a difference for someone or for you? What happened? What would have happened, do you think, if no one had prayed?


3. V. 1-2. What is significant about the call to worship with others? Why can't people worship on their own? What difference does it make to sing to the Lord with others?


4. V. 3-5. What is the psalmist trying to get us to see in these verses?


5. Why do we need to be reminded of the greatness and power of God? How does that impact our faith?


6. V. 6. Does prayer have an impact on your daily life? If so, how so?


7. Father Mike is asking the congregation to engage in "28 Days of Prayer". Will you participate? Like in Question #3, what difference would it make to pray with others?


8. V. 7-11. What does it mean for us to be "the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand"?


9. What was Israel's sin in v. 8? How can we keep ourselves from falling into this same sin?


10. What area, worship, humility, prayer or trust, do you need the most help today?


11. Pray for one another.

Week of March 20, 2011

1. Read John 3:1-21.
2. What caused you to first consider the claims of Jesus?
3. What can we learn about Nicodemus in v. 1-2? Why do you think he came to Jesus at night?
4. What two ideas about birth are Jesus and Nicodemus thinking of? How does Jesus further explain what He means in v. 5-7? What point is Jesus making by comparing spiritual birth to the wind?
5. What does Jesus claim about Himself in v. 13-15? What was the role of the snake in the desert? How is Jesus serving in a similar role?
6. From verses 16-18, what stands out to you about God and what He wants to do? What response is required of us?
7. How does Jesus' use of the words "born again" similar and different from the way it is used today? What do you think it means?
8. How would compare your own search for God to those of Nicodemus: More intellectual? More straight-forward? Different but just as real? Not sure?
9. Where are you right now in your understanding of spiritual life: Still in the dark? Closer, but not completely sure? Getting it together?
10. Pray for one another....

Lent I - Small Group Questions

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

Mt 4:1-11
1. Share a memory you have around a time you realized that Christianity 'is not a religion for wimps.'
2. Can you recall a time - during Lent or otherwise - when you felt as if you were in spiritual training? What motivated you? (or was it thrust upon you!) How did you feel as you emerged from this 'training' on the other side? How did it affect your relationship with God?
3. Mtr. Mary made the point that our devils are not obviously evil. Can you recall a time when you thought something was good and right only to discover that it was wrong and/or evil? How was this revealed to you? How did you extricate yourself? or make it right?
4. Jesus' ability to resist the temptations of the devil came from his trust in his baptism. Can you recall a time when you doubted that you were God's beloved child? Do you still find it hard to believe? How might your life look different if you could fully live into the reality that you are God's beloved child? How would it feel?
5. We create distance between God and us when we try and do things in our own powers and abilities instead of trusting, and being obedient to, God. Can you recall a time when you tried to force a situation to fit your will, instead of waiting for God to reveal his will? How do you think things might have been different if you had been able to trust God more?
6. Lent is a season in the church when we commit to being even more intentional about our relationship with God. How are you spiritually training this Lent? How might this increase your trust of God?

Week of March 6th

1. Read Matthew 17:1-13.
2. If you could take anyone in the world to meet Jesus personally, who would you take and why?
3. It's been six days since Peter confesses the Christ and Jesus predicts His death. Why is that context important for what happens next? Who does Jesus invite as a witness? Why only three? Why these three?
4. What does it mean to be "transfigured"?
5. What did Moses represent? Elijah? (for help see Matthew 11:13)
6. Why was Peter's response inappropriate?
7. What is significant in what the "voice from the cloud" says about Jesus?
8. Why does Jesus silence the disciples?
9. What new insight into Elijah and John the Baptist do the disciples gain (see Malachi 4:5-6)?
10. When, if ever, have you experienced the presence of God in a special and unusual way? What was the experience like? How did you feel during and after the event? What impact has it had on your life?
11. How often would you like to hear from God - "This is my child, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased"?
12. What will you remember most from this passage?
13. Pray for one another....