We invite you to ponder the week’s Bible passage and listen to the sermon (posts Sun. afternoon), then use the ideas below to help you and your group apply what the Lord is teaching you.

Icebreaker idea: How do you feel about fall – do you love it or hate it? Why? What is the beauty in fall?

A way to pray: Pray for one another based on what is shared in the discussion questions below. Ask the Lord to help us be quick to repent (turn back to Him) when we get off-track, so that we can reflect His love well to those around us as we seek to see 2,000 people by 2022 baptized and growing in relationship with Jesus through the Word, prayer, and community.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: Do I believe God is holding back the chaos of sin and evil, or that He’s getting ready to "drop the hammer"? How does this impact how I love Him?

• Being Transformed: What needs to change for me to see God’s discipline as loving pursuit? What difficulty in my life right now might be an invitation to repent?

• Loving Others: Specifically, this week, how could I pursue people outside of Christ the way Jesus has pursued me?

• Pursuing Unity: Where am I holding a grudge or harboring unforgiveness? How could I respectfully and lovingly confront instead (as Jonathan did with Saul)?

We invite you to ponder the week’s Bible passage and listen to the sermon (posts Sun. afternoon), then use the ideas below to help you and your group apply what the Lord is teaching you.

Icebreaker idea: What makes someone a good friend? What do you appreciate about a good friend?

A way to pray: Ask God to grow us in humility. Pray that as we reflect Jesus more clearly, He'll draw many people to Himself – that we would see 2,000 people by 2022 baptized and growing in relationship with Jesus through the Word, prayer, and community.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: How can marveling that Jesus gave up his divine privileges for my sake help me personally connect with God?

• Being Transformed: Where am I allowing comparisons to separate me from others? In what practical ways could I show love and acceptance instead?

• Loving Others: When I play the "comparison game,” what do I actually win? How does playing this game work against me loving others well?

• Pursuing Unity: In what situation, right now, could I choose humility over self-focused pride? How would that change the way I connect with others?

We invite you to ponder the week’s Bible passage and listen to the sermon (posts Sun. afternoon), then use the ideas below to help you and your group apply what the Lord is teaching you.

Icebreaker idea: Think of a time when you were up high – like in a tall building or on a mountain – and could look down at the area/people below. Where were you? What was that experience like? How did it make you feel?

A way to pray: What's a challenge that seems "huge" in your life? Share this with your group, then pray for one another regarding what's been shared.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: In what ways does God show us His awesome size, power, and greatness? What can I do this week to remind myself of the "bigness" of God?

• Being Transformed: What does it look like for me to seek God’s perspective on a huge problem rather than giving in to fear, dismay, or discouragement?

• Loving Others: David risked himself for others because he trusted God. In what way(s) is God asking me to trust Him and take a risk for the good of others?

• Pursuing Unity: How can I help others view huge problems through God’s eyes without being uncaring, appearing insensitive, or merely spouting platitudes?

This week’s key texts are Eph. 5:25-27, Mt. 28:19-20, 1 Cor. 13:11, Heb. 13:17, Mt. 7:3-5, Rom. 7:19, and Eph. 6:12. You can view them all together at this BibleGateway link.

We invite you to ponder the week’s Bible passages and listen to the sermon (posts Sun. afternoon), then use the ideas below to help you and your group apply what the Lord is teaching you.

Icebreaker idea: Did you grow up going to church, or not? What was that like for you? —OR— How long have you been part of NPBC? What's one thing you appreciate about this church family?

A way to pray: Pray that we would be a healthy, life-giving church as we seek to see 2,000 people by 2022 baptized and growing in relationship with Jesus through the Word, prayer, and community.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: When Jesus urged His followers to make disciples, He promised to be "with you always.” How does this assurance impact the way I live?

• Being Transformed: What childish ways need to change in my life for me to love as Christ loved the Church? How can I intentionally encourage others in this?

• Loving Others: Whom could I ask to help me see strongholds and “logs in my eye” that keep me from loving others? How would this help me love better?

• Pursuing Unity: When do I find myself comparing and complaining? How can remembering that Satan is the real enemy help me to pursue unity instead?