LG Questions :: 01-22-2012

“Not So Modern Family” :: 01-22-2012 :: Jeremiah Gomez

Life Group Questions @ Sandy Lake Wesleyan

Jeremiah shared a deeply personal story about inheriting a medical condition from his ancestors. He discovered in high school that his heart had a dysfunction that he would have to monitor for the rest of his life. Why did he tell this story, and how does it connect with the reality of the issues we’re exploring?

“Generational Sin” is defined as “Choosing our own agenda at the expense of God’s best.” It’s not a curse that must be accepted, but a pattern that must (and can!) be broken. Can you think of issues that some families struggle with, that seem to be multi-generational issues? How would you pray for these families?

The lineage of Abraham is filled with deception … What were some of the points Jeremiah brought up in his “conversation with Abe”? What was the point of him (Jeremiah) asking, “Was it your only option to lie, to deceive?” What other thoughts about Abraham’s lineage come to mind? Talk about it as a group…

Jeremiah asked us to revisit the idea of the “big lie” (which Pastor Shawn talked about last week), and Jeremiah talked about the deeper issues hiding behind the big lie. For example…

: Some people think that if they make enough money, gather enough stuff, then they will be secure. And the big lie in this case is this… God can’t be trusted to be my provider.

: Some people think that sexual conquest or fulfillment shouldn’t have to wait or be reserved for the context of marriage. And the big lie in this case is this… God can’t be trusted to make me whole and ultimately satisfy my deepest desires.

: What other “big lies” exist in our world today? Or even in our own hearts and minds?

Let’s pause and consider this: If there is dysfunction in your family, if there is generational sin… it can stop NOW. God can use YOU to break the cycle, the pattern of dysfunction and generational sin. Take a moment as a group, and see if anyone’s willing to share some issues in their life or their family’s lives that they want to break. Pause, share, and even take some moments to “interrupt” the study to pray together – right now – for God’s help.

Jeremiah continue to talk about his physical heart condition, and how he and Sarah prayed for Jubilee (his daughter), that she wouldn’t inherit his heart condition. He has to be on medication, has to be careful about loud noises, and even has to be careful about what rides he does and doesn’t go on at an amusement park. At one point, Jeremiah said, “What some could see as a great hindrance is actually a help to me.” How does this line – “What some could see as a great hindrance is actually a help to me” – connect with our desire to break the pattern of generational sin in our own lives or the lives of our families?

Read Ephesians 5:13 together, and talk about how God can help us expose the big lies in our own lives and the lives of our families.

We shouldn’t simply “stop it” like the video we watched. We should also turn to new patterns, to new boundaries, to new ways of living. In fact, read Ephesians 4:31 - 5:2 together and then discuss the ways we are to “get rid of” old stuff and “put on” new stuff.

Big question… Are you shaping your relationships, or are they shaping you? Take time to discuss this question. Why ask it this way? What are the implications if our relationships are shaping us, rather than the other way around?

What has the writer (Paul) been building up to in all of these previous Scriptures? Read Ephesians 5:21 together and find out.

Go back to the big question – Are you shaping your relationships, or are they shaping you? Is there anyone in your group that needs to break free from personal/family/generational sin? If the conditions in your group are right, take time for some gut-level, honest sharing. Pray for each other. Encourage each other. See if anyone is willing to risk sharing what they’re wrestling with.

In Closing: Read Ephesians 6:10-12, and discuss the reality that we are NOT fighting against our families, but we are fighting against an Enemy who wants to destroy our families. Our battle is NOT against flesh and blood, so let’s fight the good fight and persevere with the help of Christ! Take time to pray for each other, sharing words of confession or encouragement as necessary.

New SLW Missional Living Blog

SLW has a new blog where all kinds of great things will be posted, including Life Group Discussion Guides and helpful tips for leading effective small groups. We'll no longer be posting Discusion Guides here... so surf on over to www.live-missionally.blogspot.com to see what's up!

LG Questions :: 11/20/11

Sandy Lake Wesleyan : Life Group Questions

Sunday, November 20, 2011 : Shawn Cossin – “Deeper H2O”

Take a moment to pray as a group before you begin your study.

Shawn talked about scuba diving with his son, Joshua, at the Blue Hole in Belize. What were some of the highlights he mentioned about this opportunity? What might some of the spiritual parallels be as we consider going deeper as a church?

Our focus: Holding to Obedience leads to Having Opportunity [H2O]. Please take a moment to read 2^nd Corinthians 8:7 together as a group, then dive in…

Shawn highlighted the phrase, “excel in the grace of giving…” to challenge us to think about how we do in this area over other areas in our lives. So… what are some of the areas of living in which people often try to excel? What pursuits do you see people focusing on where they want to be the best?

Read Mark 12:41-44, then discuss…

What was Jesus attempting to communicate through this story about our hearts?

What was Jesus saying about the cost of giving?

Shawn talked about four things that matter when it comes to giving…

Perspective… What does God have to say about perspective as it relates to giving?

Read Read Psalm 24:1

Heart… What does God have to say about heart as it relates to giving?

Read Matthew 6:20-21

                  Sacrifice… What does God have to say about sacrifice as it relates to giving?

                  Read 2^nd Samuel 24:24

                  Discipline… What does God have to say about discipline as it relates to giving?

                  Again, read 2^nd Corinthians 8:7

BIG QUESTION: What do you need to do to begin excelling in the grace of giving?

Shawn distributed cards that show a variety of ways people can serve, and challenged everyone to plug into a serving/volunteering role at SLW if they’re not already.

Take a moment to talk about this as a group… Where are you already serving? What gifts and talents has God given you that you need to put to work if you haven’t done so already?

Shawn also distributed cards that explain our challenge toward “Freedom for More,” which would eliminate our current debt within 3-years. Our prayer is that, as God would allow us to free up resources, we would have freedom for more – to be more generous to our mission partners, to expand our impact/footprint in Mercer County and beyond, and to see what God would have us do next as we continue to proclaim Hope & Freedom.

Take a moment to talk about this as a group… What would God have you do? How would you consider stepping into a pledge toward this 3-year commitment? God is calling us to this new level of freedom, and we are asking everyone to prayerfully consider their involvement.

Please read Matthew 25:29, then take time as you close to pray about these “going deeper” opportunities.

Life Group Discussion Guide : Sunday, November 13, 2011

Sandy Lake Wesleyan : Shawn Cossin, Lead Pastor – DEEPER H2O (week 1)

Discuss and pray about the things below—don’t feel the need to ‘cover everything,’ but use this as a guide to help your Group process what God is teaching them. Look through these discussion points and focus on what you think will be most beneficial to your Group. Be sure to pray for and encourage each other.

Take some time to have group members share something they’re TRUSTING GOD FOR this week—what good thing are they believing for? What miracles are they trusting God to work?

At the beginning of our teaching time, Pastor Shawn shared in a bit of a ‘family discussion.’ What was he sharing about? Take some time as a group to discuss what it means as a Life Group and as families to serve at a deeper level. Pray for each other that God would show you how and where he would have you serve.

Pastor Shawn reminded us of the importance of perspective when it comes to many things, especially God’s word. He shared that sometimes we focus on the wrong thing. Have group members share a time when they misunderstood/focused on the wrong thing and how that impacted them.

Pastor Shawn repeated this phrase throughout the message: “Holding to obedience leads to having opportunity.” What are some ways you’ve seen the truth of this play out in your life?

Read 2 Corinthians 8:7 & discuss…

What do you think it looks like to ‘excel in the grace of giving,’ especially in terms of finances?

What are some of the ways God moves us to new depths of giving?

Have multiple people read portions of Matthew 25:14-30, discuss…

There are three people mentioned in this parable Jesus tells. What does each one do and what are the consequences they experience?

How does this play out in our lives when it comes to continuing obedience to the Holy Spirit, especially in the area of our finances?

The first servant with one talent focused on himself and afraid; what are ways we focus on ourselves and try to avoid trouble in areas of life?

The second servant had a few resources in his life and still heard “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What does that teach us about our own resources and how we use them?

The third servant had five talents and ended up with 11. How did he end up with so much? What does this teach us about obedience in finance?

Pastor Shawn used this as an opportunity to contrast how we view life before us: shifting from “What is the minimum?” to “What’s the need?” What practices and/or relationships can we have in our lives to position us for greater relationship with God rather than minimum compliance?

Read Like 16:10-12; discuss…

What is the connection with how we use our financial resources and what God trusts us with in regard to his Kingdom?

We were asked, “What do you need to do to move to the deep end?”  If your Group members are willing to share, ask them what did the Holy Spirit spoke to their heart about this. Be sure to share what he told you. Take time to pray for each other about these things.

Pastor Shawn shared the following as action points in the So what? Now what? portion of the message. What were they? What are some ways your Group can engage in these action points?

:: firstfruits tithing

:: helping hands giving tree

:: safe water project (providing safe water in Haiti)

:: freedom for more (finishing the obligation on the building mortgage)

LG Questions : 11/06/2011

SLW :Beth Cossin, Missional Living Pastor

ORPHAN SUNDAY 2011

Here’s a snapshot of the “Orphan Picture” worldwide…

: 143-163 million orphaned

: Every 2 seconds an orphan dies

: 8,000 children are orphaned every day by AIDS

How do these realities make you feel? How do you think it makes God feel?

Beth asked the question, “If God’s heart beats for the orphan, then how close are you willing to be to God’s heartbeat?” What was your initial response to this question?

FYI... We partner with Hephzibah in Macon, GA [hephzibah.com] and with Okipe in Haiti [okipe.org]

As we prepared to read in Galatians, what was the cultural background Beth shared with us about the church in Galatia that would be helpful to know and understand as we read the book of Galatians?

Read Galatians 4:4-7 together, then discuss…

: “Abba, Father” translates to what?

: What does it mean to be an orphan spiritually?

: What did God do to deliver us from our personal orphan reality?

: What does it do in your heart/mind/spirit to know the efforts God put into adopting you?

Read Romans 8:14-17, then discuss…

: What does this passage communicate to us?

: What encouragement does Paul offer here?

: What challenge might you find in these verses?

Reflect on and discuss the following quote by Scotty Smith, pastor of Christ Community Church:

“We weren’t just in the orphanage of loneliness – we were in the morgue of hopelessness. Adoption is the quintessential freedom for which we long.”

Adoption Displays…

: Compassion

: Patience

: Cost

: Sense of Mission

: Incarnational ministry

: God’s heart & kingdom

What other “displays” come to mind? How do you see these realities in action? Know any families that have adopted? How does adoption mirror the heart of God and the spiritual realities we’ve experienced?

How do we join God’s mission of adoption?

: Some adopt

: Some foster

: Some give

: Some pray

: Some advocate

: Some support families

: Some go

: Some give all

What is your response to these opportunities? Do any of them speak to you? Is God calling you to step into one or more of these areas? What was your response to the book Beth talked about called Kisses from Katie?

Beth’s “so what/now what” moment…

: Will you pray?

: Will you join the mission?

IN CLOSING: What does it look like (or would it look like) for you to be more personally involved in orphan care? How has God spoken to your heart about this issue? Take time to pray about this personal and as a group.

Discussion Guide 10.30.2011

Message: stuck? | week 5

Discuss and pray about the things below—don’t feel the need to ‘cover everything,’ but use this as a guide to help your Group process what God is teaching them. Look through these discussion points and focus on what you think will be most beneficial to your Group. Be sure to pray for and encourage each other.

Take some time to have group members share something they’re celebrating this week.

What good thing has happened? 

What miracles has God done?

Toward the beginning of his message, Pastor Shawn said, “Who we obey says a lot about who we are.”

What do you think he meant by that?

Do you agree or disagree? How can your Group members help each other identify who they’re obeying?

Read Galatians 5:13-15 then discuss…

What insight does this give us about the freedom we have in Christ?

What happens, according to this passage, when we don’t use our freedom to serve one another?

Pastor Shawn pointed out that this passage reminds us that freedom isn’t for us, but for God to use us to impact others; what are some ways your Group can live beyond themselves and take part in impacting others together?

Read John 8:31-32 then discuss…

According to this passage, what does Jesus say makes us “really [his] disciples”?

What does your Group think it looks like to “hold to Jesus’ teaching”?

Jesus says that once we hold to his teachings we will then know the truth and then we will be made free; what significance does the order he mentions these things have for us?

Read John 5:1-15 & Mark 10:46-52, then discuss…

What are some of the similarities and differences seen in these two stories?

What was God speaking to your heart as Pastor Shawn read and talked to these two stories? 
What does this say about the things that can inhibit us from knowing the freedom Jesus offers?

Read Galatians 5:24-25, then discuss…

Pastor Shawn spoke to this passage after giving a list of some of the things that inhibit us:

Anger :: Pride/Self-Centeredness :: Deception/Dishonesty 

 Envy :: Pride of Knowledge :: Anxiety 

Greed/Excess :: Misplaced Desires :: Inaction

What does it mean to ‘crucify our flesh’ in light of these inhibitors?

Can you think of other things that might inhibit us from knowing the full life Jesus has for us?

Pastor Shawn cautioned us that the more we rub up against the truth and ignore it, the more our hearts can grow calloused. How can your Group members help each other to be receptive to God’s truth in their lives? What are some ways we can create a pattern of being exposed to God’s truth on a regular basis?

This week’s “So What? Now What?” was…

To look up – how can you encourage each other to sincerely ask God, “Lord, change me”?

To look in – take time as a group to ask the Holy Spirit to identify the inhibitors in our lives. Pray for each other that God would show us and penetrate any calluses on our hearts.

Encourage your group to use the Monvee assessment tool.

During the next week or so, connect with group members and check-in to see how they’re doing as they look up & in.

Discussion Guide 10-23-2011

Life Group Questions : Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sandy Lake Wesleyan : Shawn Cossin, Lead Pastor

Discuss and pray about the things below—don’t feel the need to ‘cover everything,’ but use this as a guide to help your Group process what God is teaching them. Be sure to pray for and encourage each other.

Take some time to have group members share something they’re CELEBRATING this week—what good thing has happened? What miracles has God done?

Read James 1:27, then discuss…

What do you think James means by ‘pure religion?’

What are some ways your group/group members can take part in “looking after widows and orphans in their distress?”

(This would be a great time to invite your Group to take part in the Freedom Road 5K and Orphan Sunday experiences).

Shawn talked about some of the tools the enemy uses to move us to a place of disobedience (six D’s)—what are they?

Deception :: Doubt :: Discouragement :: Despair :: Diversion :: Delay :: Defeat

He also shared a cycle these “D’s” bring us into that we get stuck in: isolation :: fear :: victim mentality

Share a bit of how you’ve experienced the enemy trying to get you ‘stuck’ using these tools?

We can feel isolated, afraid, and a ‘victim’ in our relationship with God—but it especially happens in our human relationships and in our connection to the Church… what should our reaction be when we (or people we know) fall into this way of thinking?

Satan is the “father of lies”—what are some of the lies he uses to get us into those places of isolation, fear, and being a victim?

Read James 4:7, then discuss…

How are ‘submission’ and obedience linked?

How do you think submitting ourselves to God is connected to resisting the devil?

Stop here and invite members of your Group to pray however they’re led for the members of your Life Group that they would be keenly aware of when they are falling into isolation, fear, or a victim mentality. Pray for strength to submit to God and resist the devil.

Shawn showed a video in two parts. What happened?

What does this show us about our response when we ‘get cut off?’

Read Galatians 5:4-8, then discuss…

What are some ways we try to be ‘justified by the law?’

Pastor Shawn noted that some of the incidents that ‘cut in on us’ are personal offenses—lies, betrayals, wounds & hurts. How do you think we can overcome those things to keep running a good race?

A caution in all of this is that the more we rub up against the truth and ignore it, the more our hearts can grow calloused. How can your Group members help each other to be receptive to God’s truth in their lives? What are some ways we can create a pattern of being exposed to God’s truth on a regular basis?

Close in prayer for each other and God’s desire to help us know freedom.

LG Questions : 10-16-2011

Life Group Questions : Sunday, October 16, 2011

Sandy Lake Wesleyan : Shawn Cossin, Lead Pastor

Shawn showed some really nice pictures of a really nice building with really nice amenities. What type of building was it? What’s deceiving about the fact that it’s actually a prison, and what spiritual truths/corollaries might there be in relationship to that story?

Read Galatians 5:1, then consider…

What does it look like for you to stand free as a follower of Jesus?

Why would a Christian ever submit again to a “yoke of slavery”? Is that even possible?

Shawn talked about… Giving our lives to Christ  =  Will we obey?  =  If we obey, we go to what’s next

BUT… If we don’t obey, we get STUCK

Read the following quote…

“Obey God in the thing He shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. One reads tomes on the work of the Holy Spirit, when one five minutes of drastic obedience would make things as clear as a sunbeam… It is not study that does it, but obedience.” [Oswald Chambers]

How have you seen this Oswald Chambers quote at work in your life? Share with your group some examples from your lives of the way God shows up when we surrender and obey.

Obedience : The quality of being obedient, describes the act of carrying out commands or being actuated

NOT compliance – behavior influenced by peers

NOT conformity – behavior intended to match the majority

It’s “HEARSOMENESS” – obedience, submission, service, humility

Read John 14:21, then consider…

            Who is the one God loves?

            What does God do when we obey?

Be honest… have you ever struggled to “see” God due to disobedience?

“Delayed obedience is disobedience.” [Charles Spurgeon]

Shawn introduced two very special guest, Josh & Leslie, missionaries in an undisclosed country. Take time as a group to discuss the following thoughts from Shawn’s conversation with Josh & Leslie…

            What was their plan before sensing God’s call?

            How did Josh sense God’s call on his life?

            What was Leslie’s response to God’s call on Josh’s life?

            What did eventual obedience in their life begin to look like for them?

            How is their story encouraging and/or challenging to you?

            Talk about all this as a group, then close in prayer with one another.

LG Questions :: October 9, 2011

Life Group Questions : Sunday, October 9, 2011

SLW “Stuck” Series : Pastor Jeremiah Gomez

Jeremiah introduced the “Stuck” series by talking about the Bridger Wilderness area – an area larger than the state of Connecticut. Ever been there, or to a large wilderness area? Share some stories together.

Jeremiah shared some of the “complaints” people had about this wilderness area – what were some of your favorites? Oh, and by the way… what did these complaints indicate and reveal?

“We must be made for more, and life should be an adventure.” That’s the strong assertion Jeremiah made, and well – Jesus said it about 2,000 years ago! Read John 10:10 together, and reflect on the reality of Jesus’ words.

Read Galatians 5:1 together. What was Paul speaking of? What does it mean for us to be free? Share some thoughts with each other about the ways God – through Christ – has brought freedom to your lives.

Why do so many of us struggle to step into the freedom God has for us? Think about it for a moment, then discuss this question – What are some of the ways you see people getting “stuck” in life?

Read Galatians 5: 16-18 together, then consider…

            Who are the people Paul was writing to?

            What seemed to be the problem?

            What did Paul say as a word of caution/warning?

            How did Paul encourage them to break free from selfishness?

So, pause for a moment… How are we like these Galatians Paul was writing to? What problems do we seem to face? What would Paul (or better yet, Christ) offer as a word of warning? How could we begin to break free from such selfishness?

Jeremiah asked a fairly basic question… “Why don’t we choose to break free from selfishness?” Simple question, right? Well, why is it so hard to do? Talk about it for a moment.

Jeremiah talked about a story Jesus shared with his disciples, the parable of the sower (Matthew 13). What does the seed represent? What do the different soils represent? (Go ahead, do some reading in Matthew 13, since Jesus ends up explaining the entire parable.)

What chokes out the potential of the seed in our lives? As Jeremiah asked, “What gets us into deep weeds?” Do me a favor… get a little more personal with your group… share something personal that chokes out God’s work in YOUR life. [LEADERS – don’t make everyone do it unless the whole group wants to, but be sensitive to the more personal sharing that may happen here, and even be ready to pause and pray with those who share.]

WRAP it UP : What are some life-giving thoughts and practices we could begin to engage in to get “unstuck”? Share with each other and encourage each other in some practical, godly steps you could each take to draw close to God and move toward a free, unstuck life. Once you’ve done that, pray together as a group, asking God to help you all break free from a life of selfishness and move us toward a life of freedom and selflessness. And of course, pray the same for our entire church, region, and world!