Small Group Questions for 11/20/2011

PDF Version of the Disscussion Guide

Small Group Guide: 

Nov. 20^th   Sermon: Developing by Fasting  Acts 13:1-3; Luke5:33-35; 11:9-10; Joel 2:12-13a (See sermon notes)

REFLECTION: 

Begin by re-reading the passages and reviewing your notes from this week’s message.  Circle those words, points and phrases that stand out to you.  Contemplate ‘why’ the HS might be drawing you to them?  Share with each other.

What meal is your favorite?  How does it differ from members of your family?

What would it be like for you if you developed an allergy to your favorite food and you could never eat it anymore? 

DISCUSSION:  

This week Pastor Kevin talked about the spiritual practice of fasting which is a practice Jesus seems to desire for his followers to follow.  (Luke 5:33-35) Why might it be the exception rather than the rule for Christ followers here today?

Was there anything the HS used to catch your attention, convicted or encourage you on this topic?  Or did you find yourself resistant to what was presented?

Pastor Kevin talked about the ‘rebellious’ nature of fasting as it deals with our desires. 

He said it is purposely saying ‘no’ to something we love to do… eat.  Kevin went on to paint the picture and role ‘eating’ plays in our culture. 

What is your response to this statement and what do you feel about it?

How much have you experienced fasting as a spiritual practice?  What has it been like for you?  If you haven’t fasted, why?

So what might be the difference between one who fasts as a means to achieve spiritual success or to be noticed rather than to seek God more earnestly?

                Why is this motive thing so important when we fast?  How do we adjust motives?

How does this impact what we learn from Jesus’ and his dialogue with Satan following his 40 day fast?  (Mt. 4:1-10)

Which of these would motivate you to fast and seek God more earnestly?

• Being spiritually dry or apathetic
• A burdened spirit or broken heart (Nehemiah)
• A longing that is unfulfilled (David)
• Entering a challenging situation or circumstances (Jesus)
• The need for direction or in a time of decision (Acts church)
• To grow in passion for Him (Anna)

Why or why not?

GETTING REAL & PERSONAL: 

How does being asked to fast for cooperate reasons (like helping us as a church for discernment of selling Carol Court facility) motivate you or not in this matter of fasting? 

At the end of the message this week we looked at practical ideas for fasting. 

Which of these were helpful for you?  What appeals to you in fasting?  What are you apprehensive of?

What might the barriers be that keep you from experiencing the Lord in this way?

This ends this series.  Reflect back to what was your biggest take away to help you create an atmosphere and set the sails for the Spirit to breathe into? 

                Where have you felt the Spirit moving most within you?

Close in prayer and ask God to continue His work of the Holy Spirit awakening and quickening our spirits so as to draw us into vital communion with Him. 

FURTHER STUDY: 

Books on the topic:

Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Part 7

Soul Feast:  An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life by Marjorie j. Thompson, Chapter 1,2 & 5

SERVING SNAPSHOT: 

This December our church is joining with Alaska Christian College to help promote funds for student scholarships.

Many of the ACC students are unable to support their educational and spiritual goals at ACC due to lack of resources, broken homes, poor life choices, and families that are unable or unwilling to support them.

ACC helps bring healing, hope and the support and encouragement needed to pursue academic goals.

You can make a difference in Western Alaska this year by stopping by the Scholarship Christmas Tree and choosing one of the student cards.  The tree will be put up in the lobby area this Christmas season.  We ask that you pray for that student throughout the year.  If possible, cut off the bottom portion of the card and send it with your gift to the address listed on the card.

Small Group Questions for 11/13/2011

Click HERE do download a PDF version of the Discussion Guide below

Small Group Guide: 

Nov. 13^th   Sermon: Developing a Spirit Led Life on three passages Acts 13:1-2; 15; 16:6-8 (See sermon notes)

REFLECTION: 

What have been the most difficult decisions you have made?  Why?

In what ways did you seek God’s leading and where may have you failed to do so?

Begin by re-reading the passages and reviewing your notes from this week’s message.  Circle those words, points and phrases that stand out to you.  Contemplate ‘why’ the HS might be drawing you to them?  Share with each other.

What intrigued you or encouraged you most about this week’s message on the Holy Spirit leading our life? 

DISCUSSION:  

When Pastor Kevin talked about ‘who’ can be led by the Spirit, did this affirm you?  Why or why not? 

What are the three ways mentioned in the message that the Spirit leads us? 

Which is most familiar to you and how has it served you to know God’s leading? 

Which of the three seems most difficult?  Why?

Do you see one being more prevalent or important over the others?  Why or why not?

What outcomes have you had from following these pathways to the Spirit’s lead?

GETTING REAL & PERSONAL: 

Are you struggling with a specific decision right now where you long to have the Spirit’s leadership?  Share as much as you are comfortable what they are and what you need God to reveal or the Spirit to discern. 

As you seek the Holy Spirit in these areas, where do you most need to re-align?

• Investing time in reading and knowing God’s Word on a matter
• Clearing distractions and seeking God more earnestly
• Involving other believers to discern God’s will on a matter
• An openness to God’s spontaneous interruption and opening the hand to God 

FURTHER STUDY: 

Books on the topic:

Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Part 2, 4 & 7

Soul Feast:  An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life by Marjorie j. Thompson, Chapter 2,5 & 7

SERVING SNAPSHOT: 

This December our church is joining with Alaska Christian College to help promote funds for student scholarships.

Many of the ACC students are unable to support their educational and spiritual goals at ACC due to lack of resources, broken homes, poor life choices, and families that are unable or unwilling to support them.

ACC helps bring healing, hope and the support and encouragement needed to pursue academic goals.

You can make a difference in Western Alaska this year by stopping by the Scholarship Christmas Tree and choosing one of the student cards.  The tree will be put up in the lobby area this Christmas season.  We ask that you pray for that student throughout the year.  If possible, cut off the bottom portion of the card and send it with your gift to the address listed on the card.

Small Group Questions for 10/13/2011

Small group discussion guide not available at present.  It will be posted as soon as it is.

Small Group Questions for 10/23/11

Small Group Guide: 

Download a PDF version of this guide

Oct. 23^rd   Sermon:  Developing Power in Prayer on various Acts 1-4 (especially 4:31) & various Luke passages (See sermon notes)

REFLECTION: 

What intrigued you or encouraged you most about this week’s message on the Holy Spirit being the ultimate experience of our prayer? 

Have you experienced the Spirit as being his best gift to you?  (Luke 11:13) Is this rather a strange idea or foreign concept?  

DISCUSSION:  

Looking over your notes once again, is there anything that the HS in particular is using in catching your attention to encourage or challenge you?  Anything that was harder to connect with or agree with?

What was foreign to your experience or past and what seemed to fit like a glove? 

Read Rom. 8:23-27 What does it mean to you to have the Spirit interceding on our behalf?  What may it mean for our prayer life? 

What were your thoughts about praying for healing W/ POWER.  Is it odd to claim power or pray for healing with confidence?  How does it fit with us knowing God heals some and not all?

GETTING REAL & PERSONAL: 

Group Experience of praying in the Spirit in community:  (Use the guide that follows)

Begin a time together of preparing yourselves by using a time of silence and being present in prayer.  Have everyone get comfortable and eliminate distractions.  Get paper and pencils for those who might use it.  Create prayer partners for part 2 of this exercise…move so as to be seated near one another’s partner. 

Group Leader: You should sensitively lead through these sections of a prayer time by praying or instructing out loud using the following…

Intro:  

Begin by asking the HS to come and fill each within our group and help us in our praying. (Time of Silence) … 

Ask the HS to reveal to each one the ways we may have confined him in the past. (Time of Silence) … guide the group to take some time to get right with God on any thing he reveals and invite him into all those places where we have kept him out in your life...Let the Spirit permeate every part of you!  (Time of Silence)

Together Discuss:  After several minutes of prayer reflection, take a time to reflect together what the Lord has revealed to us.  Are there areas where we close off the Spirit?  What was experienced as you listened to him?  (Obviously only go as far as is appropriate to your level of intimacy)

                Group Prayer Exercise: 

Take 5-7 minutes or so for each section of prayer (Leader keeps track of time while all others loose track of it and enter in)  If you have a journal or paper & pen use it if helpful.  However, don’t get so caught up with writing you miss just being in the Spirit.  Use the following to focus your prayer.

Part 1:  Leader says something like… Get in a comfortable, relaxed position.  Move if you need to.  Begin by silently praying and asking the Spirit to speak to you and that you want to encounter him.  Allow yourselves to be present and eliminate distractions.

“Pay attention to your own breathing… take deep breathes in through your nose and release out through your mouth…  Feel your own body… your arms… your legs… relax your shoulders… relax all of what feels tight and just present yourself to the Lord.  Offer him this time… You might use a breathe prayer just repeating something like, ‘Holy Spirit come’ ‘I am listening Lord’ or just ‘Jesus’ name repeated’ or anything that seems inviting to the Holy Spirit.  But let go of other things and just be with the Lord.”

“Then listen and receive…I will be silent and you just receive from the Spirit whatever he might have for you… just receive… I will be quiet.”

Praise together:  (Let the time go by)  Now let’s praise God together… aloud.  Take joy in who He is… as led by the Spirit’s promptings.  (Just judge the time according to the participation.  DON’T Force it or cut it short.)

Part 2:  Leader says something like … “Again go into silent prayer asking God now to bring to mind things that He would want you to pray on behalf of your assigned partner.  Don’t work at it, but just rest in it and ask the Spirit to reveal what they might need prayer for.  I will tell you when we move to prayer for each other.” 

(Let some time go by… 3-4 minutes)  “OK let’s all move together with our partners and one pray for each other what ever you sense they need.”  (Again just judge the time according to participation)

Group Discussion & Debrief:

Talk as a group about what worked and what was difficult.  Did you desire more or less time?  Was there any encounter with the Spirit different then your normal prayer times?  Why or why not? 

Pastor Kevin said, “Spiritual Practices take practice!”  How might this be true of prayer in general and this exercise in particular.   

FURTHER STUDY: 

Books on the topic:

Practicing the Presence by Brother Lawrence

Soul Feast by Marjorie J. Thompson, Chapter 3

Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Part 7

Invitation to Solitude and Silence:  Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence by Ruth Haley Barton

SERVING SNAPSHOT: 

Crossview has two children's outreach events called 'Fall into Fun' & 'A Night in Bethlehem'.  Volunteerism is always needed. Contact DeAnna Petersen (387-5606 ext. 104 for possibilities for service at these events.

Small Group Questions for 10/16/11

Download a PDF version of the discussion questions

Small Group Guide: 

Oct. 16^th  on Acts 2:42a & Psalm 1:1-3 Sermon: Developing in the Word & the Spirit

REFLECTION: 

As you get started, take some time to reflect on your relationship to the Word, the scriptures.

• Do you remember receiving your first Bible?  Tell of the circumstances.
• How many bibles have you used had through the years? 
• What has changed in your view or understanding of the Bible over the years?
• How would you describe your view of the Bible today?

Looking at your notes from this weekend and review some of the passages in review.

Did any point or verse, or anything surprise, convict, inspire OR cause you to think differently about the ministry of the Holy Spirit or Scripture? 

DISCUSSION:  

During the message, Pastor said, “Head knowledge of the Bible does not transform anyone.  It may puff up, but does not change us.  What changes us is regular and personal encounters with the Scripture that is fueled by the Holy Spirit.”

What was your first impression of this?  How about your thoughts now that you have time to consider it?

             How have you experienced this to be true personally and in others lives?

Read 1 Cor. 2:11-12 and John 16:13.

What do these verses say about the relationship between the Word and the HS?

What do they mean for a new believer who reads the scripture as such for the very first time?  What about for someone who looks to the Word for divine guidance in the midst of confusing times or looking for divine guidance? 

Has the HS made the scriptures come alive to you?  Explain and which scripture if you  can remember it.

What best describes how the HS can help the Word come alive in us in the following…

• A heart of desire (Acts 2:42) which helps us delight in the Word.
• A heart of deference (Acts 2:12, 14) which helps us submit to the Word.
• A heart of deepening (Acts 4:25; Ps. 1:2) which helps us encounter the Word.

With this in mind, how would you respond to someone who says, “I read the Word regularly!  It is like medicine, you don’t like it or enjoy it, but you know it will be good for you.  Kind of an obedience thing”? 

Which of the three is most life-giving for you at this moment?

Are any of these a struggle right now?

GETTING REAL & PERSONAL: 

Pastor Kevin concluded with some of his methods of approaching the Scriptures.

Did you resonate with any of them?

What has and what  hasn’t  worked for you in creating time to experience God in scripture.

What has been the key thought that you needed from this weekend’s message or tonight’s discussion?

Take time to pray together for each other and for where you need to go from here.  What do you need to do and how does your group assist you in your journey? 

FURTHER STUDY: 

Web sites available to help you with the Word and the Spirit.

Bible Gateway (www.biblegateway.com) A free online website for researching the Bible.  In different languages & translations as well!  You can search scripture for verses and through key words.

The One Year Bible Online (www.OneYearBibleOnline.com) A OT, NT, Psalm and Proverb for each day.  You can select the month and day and translation of choice along w/ read through in one year, chronologically or otherwise.  

Devotions  (www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/) A list of devotional guides for order that can be sent automatically to you as an e-mail on a daily basis. Also Our Daily Bread devotional guides (www.rbc.org) can at no cost be delivered to your home (Also available quarterly from our welcome desk)

Books on the topic: Part 5 of Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun & Chapter 2 of Soul Feast by Marjorie J. Thompson.

SERVING SNAPSHOT: 

Crossview has two children's outreach events called 'Fall into Fun' & 'A Night in Bethlehem'.  Volunteerism is always needed. Contact DeAnna Petersen (387-5606 ext. 104 for possibilities for service at these events.