LG Questions :: 09/26/2010

SLW Life Groups | For Further Consideration

Sunday, September 26, 2010 | Shawn Cossin

Message Series | This Side Up :: Week 5

Question :: Can you think of a time when you were NOT living ‘this side up’? What was the result? Also, can you think of a time when you WERE living ‘this side up’? What was the result? Share some observations as a group.

Lately, Shawn’s been talking about the picture or idea of a box – “This Side Up,” inviting people to…

Depend fully on God

Pursue God in the waiting

            Preserving purity

Talk About It :: Share together as a group how peoples’ lives (and your own lives) seem to be more fully in sync with the things of God when they’re doing these things.

Shawn talked about a father and son who went a on bike ride together … Saw a huge hill … Dad thought they could work on teamwork … Going up the hill was tough, but demonstrated perseverance … At the top the son said, “I was on the brakes the entire time.”

Question :: If this story (the bike) illustrates how some people cooperate (or don’t cooperate) with God, what are some of the things you think God wants us to partner with him about? Or to say it another way, what issues stir/concern the heart of God?

Read James 1:27 – What does this reveal about the Father’s heart?

Shawn asked us to imagine our favorite football player (or our favorite person dressed as a football player), who practices with the team, receives a paycheck, suits up, and stands on the sidelines – but does NOT play in the game. He compared that to the way some Christians claim to follow God but don’t “get in the game.”

Question :: Why don’t some people ‘get in the game’? What’s the best way to help people get in the game? What things over the course of your life have inspired you to get in the game and partner with God? Talk about all these as a group for a few moments.

Read Isaiah 58:1-8, with a particular emphasis on verses 6-7

As you reflect on Isaiah 58:6-7, consider this:

…7.1 million Americans 65 and older are in poverty

…27 million people ages 18-64 are in poverty

…27 million men, women, children are held as slaves

…More than 2 million children are exploited annually in global sex trade

Two things Shawn asked us to do:

(1) Pursue partnership – How?

Join the mission at SLW in one of several ways…

            -Anti-Trafficking Initiative

                        -Orphan care

            -Adoption Fund

                        -Partnership for racial reconciliation (Harbor Shine)

            -Helping the poor & hungry (Helping Hands, Jerusalem Fund)

(2) Pray – Pray for all these issues, of course, but…

            -Today’s focus: www.ijm.org

-Pray specifically for those in human trafficking

IN CLOSING…

-What other issues or thoughts did today’s message bring to mind?
-Take time to pray as a group, asking God to break your heart for the things that break God’s heart.

LG Questions :: 09/12/2010

Here's a typical list of Life Group questions. These are the types of questions SLW Life Groups utilize to 'deconstruct' a Sunday message and make further application for life-change. (PLEASE NOTE: If you haven't heard the message, please visit our website at www.slwchurch.org before reviewing these questions personally or as a group.)

:: Shawn talked about a pastor who helped a small child ring an unreachable doorbell. What was Shawn's point in sharing this story? If you can't remember, then consider the next question...

:: Shawn talked about drinking some refreshing... MOLD... what happened, and why would he share this story in light of the "This Side Up" series?

:: Read 1st Samuel 16:7 - What's the point? Why is this point so important for us to consider?

:: "Purity matters." In what areas of our world would purity be beneficial?

:: Read Leviticus 19:2 - What did God say, and why do you think God needed to say this?

:: Read Matthew 5:8 - Why is being 'pure in heart' so important?

:: Areas of impurity ::

> Sexual impurity
> Physical impurity
> Mental impurity
> Relational impurity
> Verbal impurity
> Ethical/Moral impurity
> Visual impurity

:: Which areas of impurity do you think most people wrestle with the most? Which ones are most apt to sidetrack you? How would you ask the group to pray for you? How could you pray for other believers?

A few more thoughts...

:: Shawn shared about a friend who put diesel gas in an unleaded gas tank. What was the result, and what teaching point does that illuminate for us?

:: Briefly review Genesis 4 and the story of Cain and Abel. How can you tell that Cain's problem wasn't about his offering, but about his attitude, his heart? What's the application point for us?

:: Briefly review Joshua 7 and the story of Achan. What implication does this have for us in today's world?

:: Briefly review Acts 5 and the story of Ananias and Sapphira. How did God respond to their impurity? What's the challenge for us as we read this story?

:: As you wrap up this study, consider this: Shawn mentioned that in order to maintain purity, we should ask God to do what Psalm 51:10 says. ("Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.") He challenged us to (1) Profess faith, then (2) Pray for strength, and finally (3) Persevere/Preserve purity. So here's the question: What step is most pressing for you? If you're comfortable, share it with your group and have them pray for you. Or find a good friend and ask them to help keep you accountable.

Until next time, Grace and Peace.

What's a LIFE GROUP Really Like?

I've been in small groups at different churches for many years. Some churches call them small groups, some call them home groups, some call them cell groups, and some call them life groups. I'm sure there are other names as well, but the name isn't nearly as important as the concept.

Small groups [or as we call them, Life Groups] are designed to help people get to know each other better, even as they get to know God better. In fact, I would say that people actually get to know God better when they get to know people better. It's good to get together!

But back to the post's question - What's a Life Group really like? Honestly, it's a little bit of everything. There's the informal time of grabbing some snacks and sharing some drinks. There's the time of study and reflection as the group dives into the Bible. There's prayer, too, as people share praises and concerns.

Still, there's more. There's a dawning awareness that no one is perfect, that everyone is flawed somehow. There's a sense that God's grace is sufficient, even in the midst of our busy, messy lives. There's also the guy who talks too much, the woman who says too little, and the reality that sometimes YOU are that man or woman. Haha!

Beyond that, Life Groups remind me that we're simply doing life together, and that we truly need other people in our lives. In every group I've been in, we've laughed a lot together, we've prayed a lot together, we've cried a lot together - heck, we've even gained a lot of weight together! (Oh, Life Group snacks are so GOOD!)

If I could encourage every Christian about one thing, it would be this...

               DON'T DO LIFE ALONE.

Too many Christians ignore the call of Hebrews 10:25, which says, "...let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near." [NLT]

So... what's a Life Group really like? It's doing life together. The ups and downs, the laughter and tears, the good times and the bad. And knowing you're not facing any of it alone, but together with others who deal with the same stuff of life you do.

Grace and Peace,
KD