Growth Group Discussion Guide
Week of March 5th
Q: A famous person you admire is coming to dine with you tomorrow. What would you do to get ready?
READ FIRST: Luke 5:27-39
Q: Tax collectors lined their pockets with money they collected. How might the disciples (5:1-11) feel about Jesus’ choice?
Q: Why chose Levi? What is the irony here (vv. 31-32)?
Q: Why is Jesus questioned about fasting?
Q: What is Jesus implying by the parable in verses 34-35? In verses 36-39? How does this relate to Levi’s call and to the disciples not fasting?
Q: What is the new cloth? Old garment? New wine? Old wineskins?
Q: In this story, what do you have to do to qualify to be a disciple?
Sermon Meditation for Sunday, March 3rd
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, . . .” Acts 3:20
Mini Greek lesson: “refreshing” is anapsyxis and indicates “A recovery of breath; revival. A cooling and refreshing.”
In his powerful sermon, Peter declared forgiveness and seasons of refreshment to those who repent and put their trust in Christ. You’ve come to the Lord and received complete forgiveness for sin, to the great glory of God! So then, when do the “times of refreshing” begin? And from where do they come? The answer? Only One source; our intimate, daily, personal love relationship with Jesus.
Beginning on March 6th, we will enter a 40 day season of prayer together, inviting Jesus to revive our love for Him and the passion of our church. And we will seek the Lord’s mercy in pouring out His Holy Spirit on our city and nation. I’m sure we all agree that prayer is the greatest need of the hour in our nations’s history. Only God can bring new life.
I’m praying that this season will bring about a powerful, personal revival of your first love for Jesus. When the folks in our church begin to experience this season of personal revival, our church will enjoy revival together. And if the churches of our city experience revival, Simi Valley will be awakened in faith. The only hope for life-restoring revival is the fervent prayers fo those who love Jesus.
This Sunday, join us as we prepare our hearts for a season of fasting and seeking breakthroughs in His power. Our prayer emphasis will be drawn from the excellent prayer guide, “Seek God for the City.” Pick up your copy in worship this Sunday, or download the excellent app for 99 cents. Go to your smart phone app store and search “Seek God for the City, 2019.”
May the Lord revive us again!
Pastor Steve
Week One - Acts 3:20
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may com
March 3, 2019 • Pastor Steve Pope
Week 8 - Easter Sunday 2019
April 21, 2019 • Pastor Steve Pope
Growth Group Discussion Guide Week of April 21st Q: If you were laid off from work today or your job was terminated, where would you go to get yourself together? READ FIRST: Luke 24:13-35 Q: What are the two disciples talking about as they walk (vv. 19-24)? What tones of voice do you hear? What hopes are dashed? What plans might they be making? How do they react to the “stranger?” Q: From your knowledge of Old Testament prophecy, what passages might the “stranger” have discussed with them in verses 25-27? Why did Jesus do a roundabout Bible study rather than just reveal His identity immediately and directly? Q: Why did Jesus act as if He was going further? Q: What has happened to the other disciples that has caused them to change their minds from verse 11? Why a special appearance to Peter? Q: Where is your “road to Emmaus” - the place were Jesus surprised you recently? What happened? Sermon Meditation for Easter 2019 Open Eyes, Burning Hearts Luke 24:13-35 Each year several new words are added to the Oxford dictionary. A small sample of these new words include “worstest, fungivorous, hangry and corporation pop.” I’m not sure what they mean, but now I can look them up! Of all the new words produced by popular culture, the one I find the most interesting is “woke.” Merriam Webster defines this word as “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues.” Media voices such as NPR, SNL, and MTV have already declared this word to be passé, and are calling for its removal from American usage. Words now come and go faster than juicy bits from a small town gossip. But, before we put “woke” to bed, I’d like to repurpose it for use in theology. When a spiritually sleeping man is “woke” to the Truth of Jesus Christ, a relationship with God begins. The Holy Spirit is tasked with opening the eyes of all who seek to know God. Those who put their trust in Jesus are truly and permanently awakened to the eternal truth that saves people’s souls. Through the power of the resurrection, those who were once dead in trespasses and sin are born again to new life. And they are truly “woke;” aware of and actively attentive to the importance of Jesus Christ. That’s the power of the resurrection! Happy Easter! Pastor Steve
Week 7 - Thy Will Be Done
April 14, 2019 • Pastor Steve Pope
Growth Group Discussion Guide Week of April 14th Q: In times of crisis, do you stay cool, get hot, panic or dig in? READ FIRST: Luke 22:39-46 Q: What strikes you about Jesus’ prayer? In saying, “your will be done,” is Jesus: (a) hopelessly submitting to fate? (b) Admitting defeat before a power that beat him? (c) Bitterly resigning Himself to the inevitable, or (d) Quietly trusting in God’s love? Q: What temptation do you think the disciples were likely to fall in to in this setting? (v. 40 & 46) Could this be a general principle for overcoming temptation? Q: What do you think Jesus was most concerned about in His prayer? The pain of crucifixion? Or the “cup.” What were the contents of this cup? Q: Although Jesus had to “drink the cup,” how did the Father support Him at this crisis moment? (v. 43) Is there “a principle to live by" here for those who suffer? Announce Good Friday service and encourage folks to invite friends for Easter worship! Sermon Meditation for Sunday, April 14th To Know and Be Fully Known, Part 7 Thy Will be Done Luke 22:39-46 " . . . take this cup from me . . .” What’s the worst beverage you’ve ever had? Was it too sweet? Too bitter? To bland? I promise that it was nothing compared to the cup Jesus refers to in His garden prayer. That cup was filled with the undiluted wrath of God toward all the sin and rebellion of mankind. Drinking of that cup was sure to bring about a certain and violent death. Little wonder that Jesus asked for escape from this particular torture. From Jesus’ prayer, however, we learn two important lessons. First, that we are safe asking anything of our loving Father, trusting that He wants only good gifts for us. And, second, any request we bring must be from a heart of full submission to the plans and purposes of God in our lives. A fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ wants the will of God to be done, no matter what the personal cost. The hope in this prayer is seen in the strength provided by a visiting angel. All who suffer in submission to God have all the resources of Heaven available. The Lord will strengthen and attend to those who suffer. And, the ultimate message is that submission to God’s purposes will always result in a resurrection. See you on Palm Sunday! Pastor Steve
Week Five - Lord, Teach Us to Pray
March 31, 2019 • Pastor Steve Pope
Growth Group Discussion Guide Week of April 2nd Q: When was the last time a friend let you borrow something of value? A drill, a truck, a cup of sugar? How did it make you feel to ask? How did you express your gratitude? Is asking hard or easy for you? READ FIRST: Luke 11:1-13 Q: Have a volunteer in your group retell the story of the friend’s request. Q: What do you think about Jesus’ promise that “everyone who asks, receives?” Have you received everything you’ve asked for? How do you think this promise works out practically? Q: Have you ever struggled with disappointment with God’s response to your prayers? How does this passage help you understand God’s ways? Pray, Seeking God for a few of the requests outlined this week in Seek God for the City. Sermon Meditation for Sunday, March 31st To Know and be Fully Known Part Five: Lord, Teach us to Pray READ: Luke 11:1-13 According to the apostle Paul, planet earth is a battlefield and Jesus’ followers are “soldiers.” In II Timothy 2:3-5, Paul tells us to “endure hardship” like battle-hardened soldiers, known for absolute loyalty and sacrificial readiness to die in service to the King of Kings. Unquestioning obedience is the hallmark of the good soldier’s life. That’s where the imperatives of the Christian life come in. For a faithful Christian soldier, an imperative in the greek is the same as the order of a commanding officer. When commanded to jump, the only question a good soldier asks is “how often and how high?” Jesus’ command to the Christian soldier is to pray. This is an imperative and so is non-optional. Neglecting prayer brings serious warnings. We are commanded to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. When Jesus commands us to pray, our only questions should be “how often and how high?” Our persistence in prayer should be “shameless;” less focused on our personal desires than on the glory of God. Hope to see you Sunday, Pastor Steve