Grow Group Questions // October 24th, 2021
Grow Group Questions // October 24th, 2021
Ephesians-Main.jpeg

Scott Mathis// Ephesians 2:1-10

Introduction

As we end our series in the “Glory Encounter” we spend this week in Ephesians 2:1-10. We are reminded of God’s rich mercy for us and while we were dead in our sin Jesus Christ died for us and gave us life. Ephesians 2 is full of such rich truth that reminds us of all that God has done for us by dying on the cross and the hope and love that He freely gives us. At the end of the passage even reminding us that it is not by any work that we have done but by the grace of a God who loves us deeply.

To get the most out of your group time, we invite you to look over the questions below and write your thoughts down before you meet with your group.

Ice Breaker Questions

Here are some possible ways to get a conversation started:

  1. What is your favorite candy? What is your least?

  2. What is something you do not like but that many people enjoy?

Getting Started

  1. Open up with some prayer, some possible prayer topics:

    • God would lead your time of discussion

    • That this study would help our understanding of who God is.

    • Thankfulness for what the Lord has and is doing in us.

    • That God would remind us of the truth of our salvation.

  2. Read Ephesians 2:1-10

Discussion Questions

  1. This week we have a guest preacher and because of that we were not able to have a normal dialogue about questions and so this week may be a great chance to use methods like the “Swedish” method or “The Sword” method. In each spot, I will outline some methods you may try for discussion this week.

  2. Swedish Method:

    1. “Light Bulb”- What is something that grabbed your attention from the text or something that was said? Anything that grabs your attention or interest for any reason.

    2. “Question Mark”- What is something from the text or what was said that you have a question or maybe did not understand? Is there anything from the text you would like to ask the Lord or Paul?

    3. Arrow”- What is something from the text or was said on Sunday that we can apply to our life? How can we do so?

  3. Observation, Interpretation, & Application

    1. Observation- What do we see happening in Ephesians 2:1-10? (people, places, events, actions, etc.)  This section is for what we literally see happening in the text. Help your group focus on what is happening and not jump to the meaning or interpreting any of the actions.

    2. Interpretation- What do we think is the meaning of the text? Why did Paul write it? What does he want his readers to walk away with? This part is to look beyond the observation and notice purpose and meaning of the text.

    3. Application- What should we do in response to the text? Where can we apply this to our life? This is where we try to take what we learned and make it practical to our daily life.

  4. Sword Method

    1. What does Ephesians 2:1-10 teach me about God?

    2. What does it teach me about people?

    3. What does God want me to do with this passage?

Closing Prayer

Prayer can often be somewhat of a weird time and we understand can be awkward to pray out loud so as your group grows in comfortability ask people to pray out loud. Prayer is a very effective tool the Holy Spirit uses to draw our hearts closer to God. It is also a time you as a group can come together and come before the throw of God and make requests and just experience Him.

Some suggestions:

  • Ask if there are any prayer requests.

  • Pray through thankfulness for salvation.

  • Pray God would give us boldness in the salvation He has given us.

Personal Spiritual Practice

This section is for anyone that wants some practical steps to try throughout their week. they are not required, but maybe a great way to reinforce what has been discussed during group. Maybe this could even be a way to check in either during the week or the next time you meet as a group.

Journal: Each day this week take time to wither write down or type up areas where you have seen God bless you and thank Him for that blessing. Use the time to move beyond the physical and into where He has even grown you or revealed His love to you or a friend/relative.

Evangelize: Talking to people about Christ can be some of the hardest things we are called to as Christians. We can feel that it is awkward, and fear comes in and mixes in with all of that. BUT it is also can be a spot where we get to see God work in very clear ways. This week I encourage you to pray that God opens the door to share the Gospel with one other person. This could be a relative, co-worker, friend, or even a stranger whoever God places on your heart that you would take that step-in faith and share the truth of the Gospel that has been shared with you. (If you need help in doing so, here is a video with some helpful tools.)

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Grow Group Questions // October 17th, 2021
Grow Group Questions // October 17th, 2021

Covenant Requirement // Exodus 34:6-7

Introduction

Today we continue in our series of “The Glory Encounter” by looking at Exodus 32:7-14 and Israel’s actions and reactions to who God is. Moses has been in conversation with God and through this conversation has pleaded with God to show Moses “His ways” and “His glory”.  We have seen how great God is in that He is “merciful and gracious”, “slow to anger”, and “abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness”. Now we look at the Israel people and how are they living their lives in the sight of a Holy God.

To get the most out of your group time, we invite you to look over the questions below and write your thoughts down before you meet with your group.

Ice Breaker Questions

Here are some possible ways to get a conversation started:

  1. Do you enjoy the cooler temperatures or the warmer temperatures?

  2. If you had to list 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses about yourself, what would you list?

Getting Started

  1. Open up with some prayer, some possible prayer topics:

    • God would lead your time of discussion

    • That this study would help our understanding of who God is.

    • As we grow in our understanding of who God is it would also stir our affections and worship of Him and lead us into loving Him and others more.

    • That we would see God’s kindness and it would lead us to repentance.

  2. Read Exodus 32:7-14

Discussion Questions

  1. If we look at most of the Ancient World, we would see most civilizations were polytheistic, many gods, and yet the Israelites were monotheistic, on god, and we can also see where Israel is tempted and even leans into adding elements from other Nations into their walk with God. Where have we let other ideas outside the Bible influence our walk with God? Do we see any spots where American or other background/upbringing ideas have worked their way into our faith in a negative sense? In a positive sense?

  2. Moses shows a deep care for his people when he intercedes for them. In that moment, he would have been protected and even benefited from God’s wrath as we see in Exodus 32:10 and yet Moses still intercedes for Israel. Do we have that same love for the people in our life? Family? Our Grow Group? Those in the church? Are we willing to sacrifice our gain in order to love and protect others?

  3. In the text Moses intercedes for the people of Israel and is able to protect them from God’s wrath. What picture does this represent for us today? Why do we need an intercessor? Where are we trying to rely on our own works rather than the work of the intercessor?

  4. Jesus did not have to suffer on the cross for us! He was not obligated to. He did not owe us anything. We did not do anything to deserve it and yet He still suffers for us. Why did Moses intercede for Israel? Why does Jesus suffer on the cross for us? Read Romans 2:4. How does the acts of Jesus lead us to respond?

  5. Read Isiah 53. What perspective does that give to what Jesus endured for us? How does that stir up my affections for Him in light of this truth?

Closing Prayer

Prayer can often be somewhat of a weird time and we understand can be awkward to pray out loud so as your group grows in comfortability ask people to pray out loud. Prayer is a very effective tool the Holy Spirit uses to draw our hearts closer to God. It is also a time you as a group can come together and come before the throw of God and make requests and just experience Him.

Some suggestions:

  • Ask if there are any prayer requests.

  • Pray that Jesus would use the week to reaffirm the truths discussed here.

  • Pray that God would stir our affections as we remember how Christ is our intercessor.

Personal Spiritual Practice

This section is for anyone that wants some practical steps to try throughout their week. they are not required, but maybe a great way to reinforce what has been discussed during group. Maybe this could even be a way to check in either during the week or the next time you meet as a group.

Meditation: Re-read Isaiah 53 and spend time thinking and meditating on all that Jesus did for you. Think about the price He paid and the ways He would suffer, not to make you feel worse, but move our hearts toward thankfulness for Him.

Memorize: Take time this week and memorize 53:5.

Grow GroupsGuest User
Grow Group Questions // October 10th, 2021
Grow Group Questions // October 10th, 2021

What is God Like PT. 4 // Exodus 34:6-7

Introduction

Today we continue in our series of “The Glory Encounter” by looking at Exodus 34:6-7 and how God reveals Himself to Moses. Moses has been in conversation with God and through this conversation has pleaded with God to show Moses “His ways” and “His glory”.  We have seen how great God is in that He is “merciful and gracious”, “slow to anger”, and “abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness”. Now we look at God’s loving lasting thousands of generations, but also how His wrath has not been forgotten and Justice will be given to those who walk against the Lord.

To get the most out of your group time, we invite you to look over the questions below and write your thoughts down before you meet with your group.

Ice Breaker Questions

Here are some possible ways to get a conversation started:

  1. What was your favorite book or movie growing up?

  2. What type of music do you like to listen to? What is your favorite song at the moment?

Getting Started

  1. Open up with some prayer, some possible prayer topics:

    • God would lead your time of discussion

    • That this study would help our understanding of who God is.

    • As we grow in our understanding of who God is it would also stir our affections and worship of Him and lead us into loving Him and others more.

    • We would continue to trust God’s character even if it is beyond our understanding.

  2. Read Exodus 34:6-7

Discussion Questions

  1. If we read this passage, we see two sides of a coin with one focusing on God’s love and forgiveness and the other on God’s justice. Why is it important to understand God is both loving and has perfect justice? Does it matter if God has more justice than love or vice versa?

  2. People can often see the Old Testament as the place where God shows His wrath and the New Testament as where God shows His love. How does this passage combat the idea that God in the O.T. was just an angry God? Why is it common for people to focus on either God’s love or God’s justice? Why do usually like one over the other?

  3. When reading Scripture, it is important to see the structure and word choices that are in Scripture. Why is important that Scripture speaks to God’s kindness lasting for thousands of generations and His wrath lasting to the 3rd or 4th generation? What hope does that bring us?

  4. Sometimes we can feel that we are doomed to struggle with the same sins as our parents or maybe our grandparents. How does the truth in 2 Corinthian 5:17 combat that? What does the work on the cross do for us regarding “generational curses”? What is a step toward freedom that we can take from the weight of past sins either our own or others?

  5. Scripture teaches that Jesus is the human embodiment of who God is. How does Jesus display all the characteristics that we have talked about with God? How does the cross both show us the kindness of God and God’s justice? How does this lead us to act with others?

Closing Prayer

Prayer can often be somewhat of a weird time and we understand can be awkward to pray out loud so as your group grows in comfortability ask people to pray out loud. Prayer is a very effective tool the Holy Spirit uses to draw our hearts closer to God. It is also a time you as a group can come together and come before the throw of God and make requests and just experience Him.

Some suggestions:

  • Ask if there are any prayer requests.

  • Pray that Jesus would use the week to reaffirm the truths discussed here.

  • Pray that God would stir our affections as we remember how Christ is our intercessor.

Personal Spiritual Practice

This section is for anyone that wants some practical steps to try throughout their week. they are not required, but maybe a great way to reinforce what has been discussed during group. Maybe this could even be a way to check in either during the week or the next time you meet as a group.

Meditation: Re-read Isaiah 53 and spend time thinking and meditating on all that Jesus did for you. Think about the price He paid and the ways He would suffer, not to make you feel worse, but move our hearts toward thankfulness for Him.

Memorize: Take time this week and memorize 53:5.

Grow GroupsGuest User
Grow Group Questions // October 3rd, 2021
Grow Group Questions // October 3rd, 2021

What is God Like PT. 3 // Exodus 34:6

Introduction

Today we continue in our series of “The Glory Encounter” by looking at the latter half of Exodus 34:6 at God being “slow to anger”. Moses has been in conversation with God and through this conversation has pleaded with God to show Moses “His ways” and “His glory”. As God is passing before Moses He proclaims truths about himself and out of all the myriad of characteristics and attributes God has He chooses to use words like “love and faithfulness.”

To get the most out of your group time, we invite you to look over the questions below and write your thoughts down before you meet with your group.

Ice Breaker Questions

Here are some possible ways to get a conversation started:

  1. If you were given a full day of rest, what would you do with that time?

  2. Where would you spend your perfect vacation? What would you do?

Getting Started

  1. Open up with some prayer, some possible prayer topics:

    • God would lead your time of discussion

    • That this study would help our understanding of who God is.

    • As we grow in our understanding of who God is it would also stir our affections and worship of Him and lead us into loving Him and others more.

    • That God would help us heal any anger in our hearts.

Discussion Questions

  1. We see that the Lord is “slow to anger” with Israel and continues to bless and protect them despite their turning toward idols. In what areas of our life is the Lord having to be patient with us? Read Romans 2:4. What benefit are the Lord’s kindness and patience is to us?

  2. On Sunday we talked about the difference between being irritated (self-focused) or being grieved (sorrowful at sin's destructive effects on someone else) Thinking about sometimes you recently have become angry, was it irritation, or were you grieved? We are often quick to become angry with the people closest to us. Who are some people that are the quickest to frustrate or make us angry? Is there anyone we need to go to and seek forgiveness from? 

  3.  In what circumstances have we given up ground to the enemy through our anger? What prevents me from confessing that anger and, canceling the ground, and commanding the enemy to depart? Let's walk in Jesus' authority in this!

  4. Living in a sinful world means that we are going to do things that hurt others and others are going to do things that hurt us. We also know as Christians that God does not hold grudges against us. With that in mind, are there people we are still holding grudges and bitterness toward? What is a step we can take toward healing and restoration with those people?

  5. Read James 4:1-3. What is often the cause or root of our anger toward people? How do we change our perspective of people to help ease our anger? How does God view those people? Is that similar or different than how we see those people?

Closing Prayer

Prayer can often be somewhat of a weird time and we understand can be awkward to pray out loud so as your group grows in comfortability ask people to pray out loud. Prayer is a very effective tool the Holy Spirit uses to draw our hearts closer to God. It is also a time you as a group can come together and come before the throw of God and make requests and just experience Him.

Some suggestions:

  • Ask if there are any prayer requests.

  • Pray that Jesus would use the week to reaffirm the truths discussed here.

  • Pray that God would reveal the areas where anger is being allowed to seep in aand submit that over to Him.

Personal Spiritual Practice

This section is for anyone that wants some practical steps to try throughout their week. they are not required, but maybe a great way to reinforce what has been discussed during group. Maybe this could even be a way to check in either during the week or the next time you meet as a group.

Journal: Each day this week and take time to journal the different emotions you felt that week. Write down each emotion you felt and what sparked that emotion. Take time to not just write about each emotion but pray and bring them before God. If there is repentance needed with the Lord take the time to seek that with the Lord. If the feelings were leading you into fear or anxiousness, take that before the Lord and lay that at His feet.

Apologize: Anytime you get irritated, self-focused, with someone this week, maybe your spouse, kids, co-worker, employee, etc. take the time to go and apologize. Admitting you are wrong often will help in diffusing the anger or bitterness that can be felt and help move toward restoration.

Grow GroupsGuest User