Week of April 28, 2013

1. Read Psalm 148.
2. Can you remember a worship service where you felt especially close to God?  Where where you?  What happened?
3. What do you think the purpose of worship is?  Why do we go to church?
4. Father Mike mentioned how acts of piety are possible in our worship service.  Do you think about being pious yourself?  Do you think this is something that you can achieve?  Why or why not?
5. What do you think you should "bring" to the worship service?  What does God bring?
6. Father Mike taught about the "pre-existence" and "unspontaneity" of our worship.  What does this mean to you?  Why is this important, or is it?
7. What does it mean to kneel, bow, sit, stand and make the sign of the cross piously?
8. What difference does all of this make in our worship service anyway?  Can't God bless our service even if we don't do any of these things?
9. What are you most taking out of this sermon and this discussion?
10. Pray for one another....

Week of April 21

1. Read Psalm 23.
2. What has this Psalm meant to you growing up?  What do you think of when you hear it?  Does it remind you of a specific person or event?
3. Put yourself in the mind of the author of Psalm 23.  What do you think he was going through?  Can you relate to this?
4. Why do you think there is so much evil in the world?  What does it mean for you that God is with us?
5. V. 1-4.  Describe the relationship of sheep to shepherd in light of these verses.  How is Jesus a Good Shepherd to us?
6. Of the things that the shepherd does for us listed here, which do you need most right now?
7. V. 5-6.  Here, the Lord is pictured as a good host that provides for His guests.  How have you experienced the Lord as provider?
8. Since the table is prepared in front of our "enemies", what does this mean about our desire for vengeance?
9. How can we experience the Lord's peace instead of anxiety?
10. Are you at a "Psalm 23 place" right now or are you doing OK?  What can your group do to support you today?
11. Pray for one another.... 

Week of April 8, 2013

The following are questions from Father Mike's sermon, "Forgiveness in the Family".

1. Read Colossians 3:12-15.
2. For each of the five qualities Paul lists in Colossians - compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience - think of an example (positive or negative) from relationships you have experienced, and imagine the alternatives.
3. Do you think forgiveness needs to be thought of or handled differently in a marriage than in other relationships?  Why or why not?
4. Think of a stone you've placed in your mate's backpack.  What steps did you take, or could you take, at each stage of forgiveness:
• Awareness
• Regret
• Confession
• Change
5. In cases where you haven't been able to change, how did you feel?  How do you think your mate felt?  How do you think God felt?  Have any of the participants' feelings changed over time, and if so, how?
6. "Marriage was not meant to be a life sentence."  Reflect on this sentence.  What thoughts does it call to mind?  Do you agree?  Why or why not?
7. What are some sins that you would be able to "bear with"?  What are some sins that you wouldn't?  For you, what's the dividing line?
8. What are some things you can do to keep the "drain clean" and the "tower high" in your relationships right now?  How can we support you?
9. Pray for one another....