Encounters With Jesus #5
April 21, 2024 • Jason Carson • Mark 5:24–34
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Read Mark 5:24-34. What stands out in this passage? What is God’s heart wanting to communicate to us through this Scripture? According to the Law, the woman in our passage was “unclean.” This meant that she couldn’t touch anyone, she was ostracized in society, couldn’t attend church, and had to announce to everyone that she was unclean before entering any kind of space. What types of people might feel that way in our society today, and what should we do about it? The 12 year issue of bleeding robbed her of her energy, joy, and opportunities. Is there anything in your life that is robbing you of those things? What is false hope? And what can we put false hope in? Like the woman fighting her was through a massive crowd to get to Jesus so she could touch Him… How can we be desperate to get to Jesus? What daily actions could we do to show our desperate need for Him? In the sermon, we talked about making your faith all about Jesus. How are we NOT doing this (for example: what worldly things are we adding to our faith)? And lastly, what are a few ways in which we CAN make our faith all about Jesus?
Encounters With Jesus #4
April 14, 2024 • Billy Archie • Luke 5:17–26
Go Deeper Who are you most like in the narrative right now (Man on the mat/One of the friends/Pharisee/A face in the crowd)? Why? What kind of obstacles try to prevent you from getting in front of Jesus? How can you creatively overcome those obstacles? Who are the people in your life that will carry you to Jesus (keep you accountable, lift you up in prayer, rejoice with you, etc.)? If you don’t have anyone, why not? What is holding you back? What event in your life brought you closest to God?
Encounters With Jesus #3
April 7, 2024 • Jason Carson • John 11:1–44
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Read John 11:1-44. What stands out in this passage? What is God’s heart wanting to communicate to us through this Scripture? Why is there pain and suffering in this world? How can God use these things when we are going through hard times? Share a painful time in your life that you can look back on now, and see how God used that moment to draw you closer to Him. In the story of Lazarus, we learn that our faith is in the promise, not the miracle. What are some of the promises (from God’s Word) that we can lean into when we’re going through a confusing or painful time in life? What did Jesus display or show when He raised Lazarus from the dead? In the final sequence of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44), we see a healthy pattern to follow in the midst of trials and/ or suffering: Believe, Remain, Watch, and Be free. Share with the group what these 4 phrases mean to you, and how you can apply them during tough times. Close by each person sharing with your group one hard or painful thing they need prayer for, and that they would look to Jesus for hope.
The Strength of Jesus
March 31, 2024 • Jason Carson • Matthew 28:1–10, Colossians 1:15–22
Encounters With Jesus #2
March 24, 2024 • Jason Carson • Luke 10:38–42
Encounters With Jesus #1
March 17, 2024 • Jason Carson • Luke 10:25–37
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Read Luke 10:25-37. What stands out in this passage? What is God’s heart wanting to communicate to us through this Scripture? We refer to the “expert in the law” in this passage… someone who was a know-it-all and had all the spiritual answers. What was he asking, testing, and seeking from Jesus… and why? Before talking with Jesus, what would your guess be about “The Expert’s” definition of a neighbor? And after Jesus’ story, what was Jesus’ definition of loving your neighbor? Look at the characters in the story: a priest, a Levite, a Samaritan, and the man who was beaten. How can you relate with all four characters? Why do you think the Priest and the Levite walked away? Would it change the likelihood of you stopping and helping someone on the side of the road based on their gender, age, or ethnicity? Why is it important for us to be willing to help others? How does God see each of us? How can we work to see each other the way God sees us? Share with the group one person that you know is in need right now. How can you go out of your way and help them this week?
Ecclesiastes #17
March 10, 2024 • Jason Carson • Ecclesiastes 12:9–14
Ecclesiastes #16
March 3, 2024 • Jason Carson • Ecclesiastes 11:1—12:8
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Read Ecclesiastes 11:1-10. Have each group member share one verse or nugget of wisdom from chapter 11 that sticks out to them and why. How would you define the word idleness? In what areas of life do you find yourself being idle? What are some good safeguards for staying away from idleness? Ecc. 11:10 says to remove vexation from your heart and put away pain from your body. What are some things you are annoyed, frustrated, or worried about? How can we move away from obsession or excess of that kind of thinking, instead moving towards a godly mindset and contentment in all situations? Chapter 12:1-8 talks about us remembering our Creator in the midst of everything we know fading away. If time is short, what is the number one thing you are wasting time on? What is one thing you’d like to do before you die? What is one spiritual thing that you’d like to do or put into practice before you die? Read Ephesians 5:15-21 out loud. What are a couple ways we (or specifically you personally) can make the best use of our time?
Of Good Courage
February 25, 2024 • Billy Archie • Joshua 1:1–9
Ecclesiastes #15
February 18, 2024 • Jason Carson • Ecclesiastes 10
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Read Ecclesiastes 10:1-20. Solomon lists off many proverbs in this chapter and moves around all over the place between topics, observations, and experience. Have each group member share one verse or idea in chapter 10 that sticks out to them and why. Verse one talks about the idea of a fool being compared to a bad stench. What are some ways that Christians can give off a bad aroma to this world? (In other words, how can we be off putting to the people around us?) One mark of a fool is that they don’t see clearly in regards to how God wants us to see things in this world. Spiritually, how does our vision get clouded with the world’s ways? In what ways can we be foolish with our family? At work? With neighbors? At church? What does it mean to be… Foolishly indulgent? Foolishly lazy? Foolishly indifferent? Foolishly blunt? Read Ephesians 5:15-17. How can we pursue wisdom instead of foolishness?
Ecclesiastes #14
February 11, 2024 • Jason Carson • Ecclesiastes 9:11–18
Ecclesiastes #13
February 4, 2024 • Jason Carson • Ecclesiastes 9:1–10
Ecclesiastes #12
January 28, 2024 • Jason Carson • Ecclesiastes 8
Jesus in the Storms
January 21, 2024 • Billy Archie • Mark 4:35–41
What is the craziest storm you’ve ever been in? Where are you “on the lake” right now and why (clear sailing, headed into the storm, in the midst of the storm, bailing water like crazy, headed out of the storm)? The disciples asked Jesus, “do you not care that we are perishing?” When have you wondered if God cared about you? Read 2 Cor 1:1-11. What is God’s Word saying to you in these verses?
Ecclesiastes #11
December 17, 2023 • Jason Carson • Ecclesiastes 7:15–29
Be Christ-like MORE… in 2024
January 7, 2024 • Jason Carson • John 4:4–30, John 4:39–42
Happy New Years!
Reconciled
December 24, 2023 • Jason Carson • Colossians 1:15–22, 2 Corinthians 5:18–21
Merry CHRISTmas!
The Great Follow Through
December 17, 2023 • Jason Carson • Matthew 1:18–25
Ecclesiastes #10
December 10, 2023 • Joel Van Ginkel • Ecclesiastes 7:1–12
Ecclesiastes #9
December 3, 2023 • Jason Carson • Ecclesiastes 5:8—6:12
Ecclesiastes #8
November 26, 2023 • Jason Carson • Ecclesiastes 5:1–7