Growth Group Discussion Guide
Week of March 19th
Q: When have you felt the closest to God? When do you tend to “forget” or ignore Him?
READ FIRST: Luke 18:9-14
Q: Name the five “I’s” of the Pharisee (vs. 11-12). What do they tell us about his view of himself? His view of God?
Q: In what did the Pharisee put his trust? How did this affect his relationship with God? His attitude toward other people?
Q: What were the Pharisee’s three brags before God? What do those three brags actually say about the quality of his character and walk with God?
Q: Describe the tax collector’s location as he prayed, the direction of his gaze, and his action. Have you ever felt this humbled and desperate before God? What was happening?
Pray, seeking God for a few of the requests outlined this week in Seek God for the City.
Sermon Reflection for Sunday, March 17th
“Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else . . .” Luke 18:9
Our ten-month old Golden Retriever, Sunny, is always ready to play. Oftentimes, she’s ready when I’m feeling lazy. On these occasions, I throw the tennis ball down the hall from my seat on the couch - lazy man’s fetch. From this I’ve learned that my throwing arm ain’t what it used to be. Then I remembered; the ball doesn’t go where I hope it will go, it goes where I’m looking. Now, when I throw, I don’t look at my arm, or the dog, or at my lovely wife who is rolling her eyes. I keep my eyes on the target (just below the pictures of my kids in the hall).
If there is a secret formula for effective prayer, it’s this: Great humility + full trust = an audience with Almighty God. This will require that I take my eyes off of myself and fix my eyes on Jesus. (Heb. 12:2)
Jesus beautifully illustrates this in the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector. The Pharisee prayed a prayer declaring his trust in his own righteousness and natural superiority to others. He assumed that his good deeds and law-keeping had earned him the right to be heard by God and the others in the temple.
In contrast, due to the profound awareness of his own sin, the tax collector prayed from a place of broken need. Even his posture in prayer revealed his lack of entitlement before God. And he focused His full attention on the all sufficient, Almighty God. Jesus says, “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Hope to see you this Sunday,
Pastor Steve
Week Three - Prayers that Accomplish Much
Luke 18:9-14
March 17, 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