Investigating Jesus | Week 5
Week 5 - Rebranding
Being right doesn't give us the right to be self-righteous.
Discussion Questions:
Which way do you lean:
Self-Righteous? or Unrighteous?
Why are we quick to size up some people or types of people and write them off?
Read Luke 15:1–7
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
3. What keywords or phrases stand out to you in this parable?
Read Luke 15:8–10
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
4. What do you notice about this parable compared to the one before it?
In verses 7 and 10, what was Jesus trying to communicate about God's priorities?
Read Luke 15:11–31
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’“
5. The story of the prodigal son has three main characters:
The son, who demanded and squandered his inheritance
The brother, who was frustrated that his good behavior seemed overlooked
The father, who welcomed his lost son back into the family
Is there a key time in your life when you could relate to one of these three characters? Why?
6. Who in your life is most difficult to rebrand as lost versus bad or evil? What difference do you imagine it would make if you did?
Investigating Jesus | Week 4
Week 4 - Redefining Terms
Love for God is demonstrated by love for others.
Discussion Questions:
Who do you know who goes out of their way to help others? How have they impacted your life? What is one way they’ve gone out of their way to help you?
We can’t help everyone, but how do we decide who to help and who not to help?
Read Luke 10:25–37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
3. To you, what makes the story of the Good Samaritan so powerful?
In verses 25–28, what stands out to you about how Jesus responded to the law expert’s initial
question?
In verse 29, the law expert asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” How would you answer that question? Who is your neighbor?
In the parable in verses 30–35, the Samaritan did no less than six kind acts to assist the injured man. Why do you think Jesus had the Samaritan do so many acts of kindness in the parable? Why not just one or two?
4. In Luke 10:37, Jesus says to the listeners of the parable to “Go and do likewise.”
Who is it who needs your help?
What do you need to do in order to “go and do likewise?”
Is there anything preventing you from doing it?
Investigating Jesus | Week 3
Week 3 - Lifetime Invitation
Whatever your next step is, take it.
You don’t know what hangs in the balance.
Discussion Questions:
As a kid, what is something you were afraid to try, but with a little bit of encouragement, you did it? What motivated you to do it finally?
How hesitant are you now to try things out of your comfort zone? Give an example.
Read Luke 5:1–11
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
2. In verse 5, why do you think Peter agreed to let his nets back out?
What might have been his expectation of what would happen?
In verse 8, why do you think Peter said what he did?
Does anything else in this passage stand out to you?
3. Have you ever intentionally disregarded something you felt God prompted you to do? If so, what happened?
4. Have you ever acted in response to God’s prompting? If so, what happened?
5. What’s your next step? What is God inviting you to do? What could help you take that next step?
6. What might hang in the balance of taking that next step?
Investigating Jesus | Week 2
Week 2 - Pregame
Introduction
Admirers of Jesus didn’t shape civilization. The doers did.
Discussion Questions:
If your life were a commercial, what product or service would people say you were advertising?
Regarding your faith, have you become more of a consumer than an advertiser? If not, how have you kept that from happening? If so, what needs to change?
How has your faith journey been positively and negatively impacted by your encounters with other Christians? In what ways, and how so?
Read Luke 3:10–14, where people asked John the Baptist what kind of actions best laid the groundwork for the Messiah’s coming.
10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
What stands out to you?
What is similar about each of John the Baptist’s statements?
4. How is your faith currently on display?
5. What’s a specific way you could go above and beyond “legal” or “permissible”?
6. In what situation could you be more proactive—by protecting, serving, or honoring someone?
Investigating Jesus | Week 1
Week 1 - Somebody Had to Tell It
Introduction
Christians are not expected to believe based solely on a collection of ancient manuscripts. The foundation of our faith is anchored to something far more substantial and sustainable.
Discussion Questions
Have you ever felt compelled to document the life of someone you know or knew personally? If so, why? If not, why not?
If you had to document the life of someone you know, who would it be and why? If you weren't allowed to use any technology other than writing, how would you convince people that your stories about that person were true?
As it relates to faith, have you ever experienced a season of doubt? If so, what exactly did you doubt and why?
Read Luke 1:1–4.
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
4. What stands out to you regarding how Luke began this book?
5. What's your initial response to the suggestion that the Christian faith rises or falls on the reliability of the Gospels rather than the reliability of the entire Bible?
The Bible for Grown-Ups | Week 4
Week 4 The Bible for Grown-Ups
INTRODUCTION
The Bible did not create Christianity. Christianity is the result of an event (the resurrection) that created a movement (the church) that produced sacred and reliable texts that were collected and bound into a book (the Bible). But how do we approach not being at peace with everything we read in the Bible? Paul—the apostle, Pharisee, author, preacher, and church planter—offers us clarity and confidence to move forward.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discuss the following descriptions of Paul.
Scholar: Paul studied under the most esteemed Jewish teachers. He was an expert in the law.
Skeptic: Paul initially spent all of his energy attempting to discredit, undermine, and hurt the followers of Jesus.
Convert: Paul went from being a law-abiding Pharisee to a Jesus follower in a single day.
Leader: Paul taught, wrote to, prayed for, chastised, and financially and emotionally invested in the people he led.
Writer: The letters to the churches Paul planted help explain, in practical terms, what it looks like to follow Jesus. His writing has shaped the thought of Western civilization.
Thinker: Paul thought deeply about life and its most difficult questions. He cared deeply about leading people to think the new way Jesus came to introduce.
Sufferer: Paul experienced extraordinary loss and pain. At times he struggled financially, physically, and emotionally.
2. What about him do you identify with? What’s hard to relate to?
3. Paul wrote much of what we call the New Testament in his 13 letters.
What about Paul’s life gives him the credibility to discuss faith in Jesus?
4. In his writing, Paul explains the relationship we should see between the parts of the Bible. And if he could have been there the day we got our first Bibles (as children or adults), he would have given us two pieces of advice:
Read the Old Testament for inspiration and motivation but not application.
Take your application cues from Jesus’ new covenant command.
So . . .
What Old Testament applications are you stuck on?
What old expectations and standards can you let go of because of Jesus’ new covenant?
Read Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Read Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Because of Jesus’ new covenant command, what should be your primary focus as you live your life? How are you doing on this currently?
Paul authenticates the most important event recorded in the Bible—the resurrection.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:1
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:3–7
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
What important details are recorded here about the events immediately following the resurrection?
What is the most comforting or encouraging image in this passage for you?
5. The story of the Bible reminds us that the question of utmost importance is not, Are you at peace with everything n the Bible? The most important question is, Have you found peace with God whose Son died for your sin and was seen?
6. What would change for you if you began your faith with the event of the resurrection like the early followers did? They didn’t have a Bible. They had:
Christ died for our sins and was buried: He rose from the dead and was seen.
Can you revisit or begin your faith here too?
MOVING FORWARD
The story of the Bible is extraordinary. It’s a story with personal implications for all of us because of what Jesus did for all of us. We can have clarity regarding our relationship with the Hebrew Bible, and we can have confidence regarding the event of the resurrection. This week, think about what old ways of thinking you can let go of in order to make room for a better way—the way that was established before the Bible existed, the way that relies on Jesus rising from the dead and being seen by men and women who believed and followed.
The Bible for Grown-Ups | Week 3
Week 3 The Bible for Grown-Ups
INTRODUCTION
The Old Testament chronicles God’s redemptive, sequential activity in history. It’s a fabulous, gritty, epic history of the Hebrew people in which, over and over, Israel is reminded that they are a divine means to an end. So instead of seeing the Old Testament as a spiritual guidebook or a storyline that needs to be tidied up, maybe we should see it as something even better—the history of God preparing the world for a Savior.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Leaders: Grab some pens and notecards for the group discussion.
Discuss a story or an idea from the Old Testament that someone tried to tidy up and soften the edges of to serve their practical purpose in teaching you.
What’s the difference in seeing the Old Testament as a spiritual guidebook versus a history of the Hebrew nation?
Write each of the following words on separate notecards and put them in order where everyone can see them.
Abraham, Moses, Sinai Covenant, Kings, Temple, Prophets
As a group, discuss a few words and phrases that you associate with the subject of each card. Write your answers on the cards.
Many people criticize the seemingly unsophisticated nature of the Sinai covenant and use it as a reason to abandon faith. In actuality, the Hebrew nation, because of the guidelines in Leviticus, was way ahead of its time.
Which of the following ideas is most surprising or meaningful to you?
What do these ideas change about the way you see God?
What do they change about your view of the purpose of the Old Testament?
The covenant represented a moral and civil code that ascribed inherent dignity to every person.
The covenant included a sexual ethic that protected the weak and vulnerable.
The covenant viewed humanity as the pinnacle of creation because every person is made in God’s image.
Women, servants, foreigners, and children all fared better under Hebrew law than did their counterparts in the surrounding nations.
Occasionally, a prophet would speak beyond their historical context to a future day when God would do something through a nation for all nations.
Read Isaiah 53:5–11
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied;by his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
What is the most meaningful image to you in this passage?
On a notecard, write “Jesus,” and put the notecard after Prophets in line with the others you’ve already made so that everyone can see them in sequential order.
As a group, write words or phrases you associate with Jesus on the notecard. Now take the other cards, put them in a pile, and place them to the side with only the Jesus card showing.
Read Galatians 4:4–5
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
What does it mean that Jesus would redeem those under the law?
What is different about the relationship we can have with God versus the relationship an ancient Jew could have with him?
MOVING FORWARD
The storyline of the Old Testament should cause us to drop to our knees in gratitude. There’s no need to tidy it up and sand off the rough edges. It’s not a spiritual guidebook. It’s the story of our God, who waded into the mess in order to write a story of redemption.
This week, write Galatians 4:4–5 on a notecard and think about what these verses mean for you.
The Bible for Grown-Ups | Week 2
Week 2 The Bible for Grown-Ups
INTRODUCTION
“In the beginning” can be a loaded phrase that forces us into debate and doubt. But maybe we’re missing the point of Genesis 1:1—a point Moses made to a world where the violence and injustice of the gods justified and legitimized the violence and injustice of human rulers. Moses introduced a radically different, unparalleled, and untested worldview.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Read Genesis 1:1.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
What do you think about when you read this sentence?
Have you or someone you know tried to explore faith by using “In the beginning” as a starting point?
What obstacles come with that approach?
In Genesis, Moses is not trying to explain how God created the heavens and the earth. Moses makes the case that God (not the gods) created the universe. How does this distinction change the way someone can approach reading Genesis?
Do you see anything in nature or life that supports the idea that God created the universe with purpose and intent?
What would change if you embraced the idea that everyone is here on purpose for a purpose?
Many civilizations had creation stories that supported the idea that the human race was an afterthought of the gods. Consequently, individuals had no rights, hope, or intrinsic value.
How did those beliefs shape the cultures of that time? Do you see evidence of that kind of view now?
How would you define the word “dignity”?
In the beginning, God decided every man, woman, and child would be born with dignity because they were made in his image.
If you took this perspective on the purpose of Genesis, what would change about:
How you view the Bible.
Your faith or your willingness to explore faith.
How you view yourself.
How you see and treat others.
MOVING FORWARD
You’re here on purpose for a purpose. You are not the result of a cosmic conflict between the gods. You were not created by the universe. God wanted image-bearers who could know him and one another. And in the beginning, we are introduced to the God who saves, redeems, delivers, and never gives up on us. He gave us the freedom to choose, and he honors our choices.
This week, read Genesis 1. This time, though, ask God to help you see this Scripture not as an introduction to how the world was created but as an introduction to the one who created it.
The Bible for Grown-Ups | Week 1
Week 1 The Bible for Grown-Ups
INTRODUCTION
Most of us know some Bible stories, but very few of us know the story of the Bible. And you may be surprised to discover it’s a story that doesn’t actually begin in the beginning. It begins with the accounts of a few men who sat down to record the death and resurrection of Jesus. It begins with the words of his followers, who were compelled to document the events that had changed everything for them—because they knew it could change everything for us.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
If you had the chance to read the personal journal of someone whose life has influenced yours, who would you choose? Why would their stories and ideas be meaningful to you?
How were you first introduced to the Bible? What people and ideas do you associate with that time?
Luke was a first-century Greek doctor who documented the life of Jesus.
Read Luke 1:1–4.
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Why do you think it was unusual in ancient times for many people to write about an event?
How does Luke describe his purpose in documenting Jesus’ life?
4. It’s possible you or someone you know left your faith because of something in the Bible. What is the “it” that you or they didn’t believe?
Read John 20:30–31 to find out the only “it” that really matters.
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
How does John describe his purpose for writing?
What do you think John meant by “have life in his name”?
5. If John’s account of Jesus’ life was all you had, what would change about how you approach Jesus and encourage others to move toward him?
MOVING FORWARD
Many of us carried our childhood understanding of the Bible into adulthood. Faced with questions we couldn’t answer and doubts we couldn’t ignore, we walked away. If that’s your story, there’s another approach—one that John offers in his personal account of the life of Jesus. And if this account were all we had, it would be enough. This week, approach your faith in a new way by reading John’s account of Jesus’s life as though it was the only Scripture you had.
How to Get What You Really Want | Week 4
Week 4 - Thinking It Through
INTRODUCTION
What you naturally want is often in conflict with what you ultimately value. But your heavenly Father knows what you need. He wants for you what you want. So, how do you put aside those natural wants and pursue what you ultimately value?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Did you have a chance to work through the eulogy exercise Pastor talked about last week? If so, what did you discover?
During the week’s message, Pastor said, “The kingdom of this world is designed to distract you from what really matters, and our culture is fascinated with upgrades and experiences.”
In what ways has your quest for upgrades or experiences distracted you from what you’ve determined really matters?
Do you think your parents’ generation had an easier time focusing on what they valued versus what they merely wanted? How did this play out in your family of origin?
Read Hebrews 11:24–26
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
5. Moses was able to distinguish between what he wanted and what he valued. What is the relationship between the “fleeting pleasure of sin,” “greater value,” and “looking ahead”? How did Moses overcome the temptation to opt for immediate over ultimate?
Read Romans 12:1–2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
6. Does the idea that God’s will can be characterized as “good, pleasing, and perfect” strike you as odd? Why or why not?
7. Has there ever been a time when you would have characterized God’s will as threatening, unfulfilling, and insensitive to the way you are wired? If so, what changed your mind about God?
MOVING FORWARD
The kingdom of this world won’t provide you with what you really want. It will distract you from what really matters. It will rob you of what you value. What you were created for is connected to who you were created by. The way to get what you really want is to surrender to your heavenly Father and renew your mind.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Read Hebrews 11:24–26
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasure of Egypt because he was looking ahead to his reward.
How to Get What You Really Want | Week 3
Week 3 - Last Things First
INTRODUCTION
What do you want? What do you really want? We’ll never get what we really want until we discover what is most valuable. And what we naturally want is often in conflict with what we ultimately value. So, to figure out what you really want, you have to figure out what you value.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
When Pastor was reading through the funeral exercise from The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, what came to mind?
Have you worked through this exercise before or a similar one?
What themes surface when you think about what you want to be said at your funeral by the people you love and respect the most?
In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey wrote, “If you carefully considered what you wanted to be said of you in the funeral experience, you will find your definition of success.” Based on this observation, what is success for you?
Read Galatians 5:22–23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Which of these virtues parallels or reflects what you want people to say about you at your funeral?
Which fruits of the Spirit do you worry might interfere with your personal and professional goals? Is there an actual conflict?
Respond to this statement Pastor made toward the end of his message: “What you really want and what God really wants for you may be closer than you imagine.
“Does this come as a surprise?
If this is true, what are the implications?
MOVING FORWARD
Pastor closed the message by saying, “When we discover what we really value, we are less prone to settle for what we merely want.”
Is there a conflict between what you actually value and what you are currently pursuing?
Is there a conflict between your values and your behavior?
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Read Galatians 5:25–26
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.
How to Get What You Really Want | Week 2
Week 2 - Don’t Be Deceived
INTRODUCTION
We’ll never get what we really want until we discover what is most valuable. But choosing what’s valuable doesn’t come naturally. We’ve all had the experience of getting what we naturally want only to discover it’s not what is most valuable—it’s not what we ultimately want. But how do we avoid being deceived by our short-term desires?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Read Romans 7:15–19
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
Growing up, how was the internal battle between right and wrong explained to you? What terms did your parents use to describe the internal conflict?
How do you define the internal conflict now? What terms do you use as an adult?
During the message, the Pastor said, “We’ve all gotten what we naturally wanted and ended up with the very thing we didn’t ultimately want.”
Does anything come to mind?
What are some reasons it’s difficult for us to prioritize what we really want ahead of our immediate desires?
Read James 1:14
but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
Describe a time when you were dragged away by desire.
It’s obvious what we are dragged toward, but what were you dragged away from?
Read James 1:15
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Have you ever had a dream relationship or opportunity die because you were dragged away by something you wanted?
MOVING FORWARD
What we naturally want is rarely what we ultimately want. Commit as a group to answer the questions the Pastor posed at the end of the message:
1. What do I really want?
2. What’s dragging me away?
3. How long do I plan to let what I naturally want to drag me away from what I ultimately want?
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Read James 1:15–16
Then after desire has conceived it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full grown gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived my dear brothers and sisters.
How to Get What You Really Want | Week 1
Week 1- Careful What You Want For
INTRODUCTION
We all have wants. Life can feel like a constant pursuit of those wants. We want to do what we want to do. We want constant pleasure. And we want what we want now. But actually, getting what we want can be tricky . . . and even dangerous. Usually, this leaves us wanting more. If what we want leads to a cycle of wanting more and more, maybe we want the wrong things.
So, what do you want?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
During the message, Pastor asked the question, “What do you want?” What came to mind?
Talk about a time when you had a seemingly innocent want give birth to a sin, a habit, or regret.
Where are you potentially getting in your own way of achieving what you really want?
Have you ever pursued something you wanted that conflicted with something you valued?
What do you really want? What do you value? Which is most important to you?
MOVING FORWARD
Lurking in the shadows of what we want is what we value. You’ll never get what you really want until you discover what you really value. Jesus challenged all our assumptions about what is valuable and what is not. He pointed us toward a different kind of wanting. If you follow him, you’ll pursue what is of greatest value.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Read James 4:2b–3
You covet, but cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
How Not to Be Your Own Worst Enemy | Week 3
Week 3 How not to be Your Own Worst Enemy
Discussion Guide - Listen
It can be easy to see someone else self-destruct and think to ourselves, "I would never do that." But truth be told, we're all capable of ending up where we don't want to be. Even Solomon's son—the heir to the throne of Israel—blatantly ignored a principle that we should all pay close attention to.
Discussion Questions
What is one topic for which you feel confident giving advice on, (field of expertise, a hobby, relational)?
Is there a category of people you have a hard time taking advice from? If so, why?
Can you think of a time when you discounted good advice because of the source?
Read 1 Kings 12:1–19, where Rehoboam (Solomon's son) begins his reign as Israel's king. He does so in the wake of King Solomon forcing labor in order to accomplish multiple building projects.
Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. 3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: 4 "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you."
5 Rehoboam answered, "Go away for three days and then come back to me." So the people went away.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. "How would you advise me to answer these people?" he asked.
7 They replied, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants."
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, 'Lighten the yoke your father put on us'?"
10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, "These people have said to you, 'Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.' Now tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.'"
12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, "Come back to me in three days." 13 The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, "My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions." 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.
16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:
"What share do we have in David,
what part in Jesse's son?
To your tents, Israel!
Look after your own house, David!"
So the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.
18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
How familiar are you with this story?
What stands out to you as you read this account?
What are some good decisions Rehoboam made?
What are some poor ones?
What are some principles we can learn from Rehoboam's mistakes?
We're all prone to lean on our own understanding. Who else should you be inviting into your decision-making circle?
Which of these makes it difficult for you to ask, What would you do if you were in my shoes?
You already know what they're going to say.
It's nobody's business.
Success is intoxicating: You don't need anybody's advice.
Changing Your Mind
Find someone who has nothing to gain and nothing to lose by telling you the truth. Are you willing to make the following commitment? I will not automatically discount advice based on the source of the advice.
How Not to Be Your Own Worst Enemy | Week 2
How not to be Your Own Worst Enemy
Discussion Guide - Pay Attention to Your Narratives
We can talk ourselves into anything. Our internal narratives justify our beliefs as well as our actions. But, when those narratives are not true, they lead to destructive thoughts and behaviors. We can choose to carry around false but comfortable narratives—or we can look to destroy them.
Discussion Questions
Did you grow up with a narrative you had to correct later in life? Was it related to one of these? Or something else?
Money • A Class of People • Religion • Education
What destructive narratives do you catch yourself leaning into now? Where did they come from?
How did you discover that a narrative you have may be flawed? Has someone confronted you with it?
Read Matthew 7:24–29
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
What stands out to you?
Read verse 26 again:
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
What key words stand out and why?
Read 2 Corinthians 10:5–6
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
Notice the aggressive language Paul uses regarding how we should treat the false narratives we tell ourselves.
How aggressive are you at uncovering and looking to demolish your false narratives?
Name one narrative or argument you need to demolish. How does it contrast with the invitation to follow Jesus?
How would your life change if you changed the narrative you just mentioned?
Changing Your Mind
False narratives can’t be dealt with mildly. According to the apostle Paul, they must be attacked. We should be ready to react swiftly and strategically when old narratives resurrect themselves. Are you willing to make the following commitment? I will demolish every internal narrative that conflicts with the value system introduced by Jesus.
How Not to Be Your Own Worst Enemy | Week 1
How not to be Your Own Worst Enemy
Discussion Guide - Pay Attention!
Have you ever met anyone who was their own worst enemy? Someone who undermined their relationships, career, finances, or success? It’s hard to watch. But the truth is, we all have the potential to be our own worst enemy. At times, we may ignore the tug of our consciences and sell ourselves on a questionable decision. In the Old Testament, we read an account of David finding himself in such a position, and his example can help us navigate our own dilemmas.
Discussion Questions
Have you ever had someone try to “sell” you on their bad decision? How did that situation play out?
When have you been your own worst enemy? Was there an internal conflict associated with the decisions that led to the regrettable outcome?
When are you most prone to sell yourself on a bad idea? What does it sound like? What’s your pitch?
How do you navigate a dilemma where circumstances seem to suggest one direction, but your conscience points in a different direction?
Read 1 Samuel 24:
After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.
“Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”
When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
What do you think was going on in David’s mind when an opportunity to change his circumstances presented itself in the cave with Saul?
What was at stake in David’s decision of whether to take matters into his own hands and kill the king?
How do you think it affected David’s legacy that he listened to his conscience and chose to allow God to determine the outcome?
How might it have shaped his standing as the next king of Israel?
Often, other people can make us aware of the tension in our decision-making. Who are the people in your life that you’ve given permission to ask you about those tensions?
When you feel tension in deciding, what would it look like to pause until you can pinpoint a cause of it? What would it look like to explore rather than ignore your conscience?
Moving Forward
When you face a dilemma, and there’s a tension you can’t quite put your finger on - don’t rush by. That tension may very well be God’s way of protecting you. If something bothers you about him or her, that offer, that invitation, that deal... you owe it to yourself to face it. Face that tension until it goes away, or you go a different way. What begins as an uneasy feeling is often supported later with reason and insight. But if you don’t pause, you won’t see it.
Is there a tension that deserves your attention? Pay attention. That’s a decision that will keep you from becoming your own worst enemy.
One Minute After You Die | Week 3
Week 3: The Glory of Heaven
Key Scriptures
1 Corinthians 2:9
… “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Philippians 3:19-20
… Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ ...
Revelation 21:1-5, 7
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” … “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”
More Scriptures
John 14:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:18, Romans 3:23-25, 1 Corinthians 15:55-58
Getting Started
What do you think Heaven will be like?
What do you hope to experience when you first enter Heaven?
Describe a moment when you felt like you experienced a piece of Heaven.
Dig Deeper
Read Philippians 3:19-20
Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
What does it look like to live believing your citizenship is in Heaven?
Read Revelation 21:1-7
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first Heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
How does this change or confirm what you believe about Heaven?
What are some misconceptions you’ve had about Heaven?
Have you ever felt unsure of whether you’re going to Heaven? How have you worked through that?
How does your specific view of Heaven change how you live on earth?
Next Step
What actions will you take in response to this message series?
How can you talk about your eternal hope with someone else?
One Minute After You Die | Week 2
Week 2 Discussion Guide:
The Horrors of Hell
Key Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord …
Luke 16:19-24, 27-28
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ … He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’”
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
More Scriptures:
Revelation 20:10, Revelation 14:10-11, John 3:16, Romans 5:8-9
Discussion:
On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable do you feel with your understanding of Hell? Explain your answer.
Where have most of your views of Hell come from?
Getting Started
Our Pastor said, “What you believe about eternity determines how you live today.” How does this apply to Hell?
What are some reasons you or others struggle to believe Hell exists?
Digging Deeper:
Read Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
What point does it seem Jesus is trying to get across through this imagery?
Examine your last few weeks. What does your life say about what you believe about eternity?
Is there anything you want to change?
What’s the first practical step you can take this week to live, love, and serve with eternity in mind?
One Minute After You Die | Week 1
Week 1 Discussion Guide: Life After Death
Key Scripture
2 Corinthians 5:1-4, 6, 8-10 NLT
More Scriptures
Hebrews 9:27-28; John 11:25-26; Luke 23:42-43; Philippians 1:20-23; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 20:11, 12, 15; Matthew 7:21-23
Getting Started:
What did you grow up believing about life after death?
What’s something Pastor said that is influencing the way you think about life after death?
Digging Deeper
Why do you think it’s so easy to live most of life ignoring what happens after we die?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-4, 6, 8-10 NLT
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. … So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies, we are not at home with the Lord. … Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
What does this passage have to say about how we should live?
How are some ways you already live like eternity matters? Are there any ways you’re living like it doesn’t?
What are some things you would love to be known for when you meet Jesus in Heaven?
What is one change you want to make to live with eternity in mind?
NextStep
Commit to a step and live it out this week.
Discover more about life after death in this new Life.Church Bible Plan: www.go2.lc/after
Ask a close friend or family member what they think about the afterlife and share with them what you believe.
Original Recipe | Week 6
Week 6 Original recipe Discussion Guide
Getting Started:
What was your biggest takeaway from this series?
What were some other insights that stuck out to you?
How will you apply what you have discovered?
Did you commit to taking a Next Step?
If yes, are you willing to share what it was?
If not, what is holding you back?
Read John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
How will these words of Jesus now affect your life as a follower of Jesus?
Next Step:
What are some things that might change based on his words?