Read Matthew 14:13-33. What is God’s Word saying to you in this passage? What is God’s heart for His people?
What does empower mean, and how does Jesus empower us?
In verse 13, Jesus withdrew from the crowds to be by Himself. Why do you think He did this, and what was the result of Him doing it?
When well over 10,000 people followed Jesus, He told His disciples “You feed them,” ...when their solution was just to send everyone home. They clearly had no resources, money, or food, and yet Jesus asked them to be the solution. In what specific ways in life do you think Jesus wants us to be a solution in our culture today? (See Matt. 25:31-46)
If Jesus could have fed everyone by Himself, why do you think He empowered the disciples to do it?
In verse 28, Peter asks Jesus to do something impossible. And in verse 29, Jesus answers with one word: “Come.” Why do you think Jesus did this? What lesson did He want him to know?
Name one area of your life that you feel Jesus is calling you to step out of the boat? And how will you seek to pursue that this week?
EMPOWERING
Matthew 14:13-33
March 3, 2019 • Marc Groenbech-Dam
GRACIOUS
May 19, 2019 • Jason Carson
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Read Matthew 18:21-35. What is God’s Word saying to you in this passage? What is God’s heart for His people? What is your natural inclination if someone personally offends or sins against you? How do you respond? In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the servant owes 10,000 talents (over $17 Billion today in Orange County). The point is that there is an impossible debt that he could never repay. Discuss in great detail the debt you have to God because of your sin. What danger do you see in holding someone in unforgiveness? After reading Matt. 18:21-35, what makes you upset about how the forgiven servant treats his fellow servant? In what ways do you do the same thing in life? Who do you need to get right with? Who do you need to forgive? How can you cancel their debt of their offense to you? Moving forward, what are some ways we can all be more gracious in our relationships, especially in conflict?
RELENTLESS
May 5, 2019 • Jason Carson
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS Read Matthew 18:10-14. What is God’s Word saying to you in this passage? What is God’s heart for His people? In the parable, the one sheep goes astray. What are some reasons you see today that cause believers to go astray? Describe a time or season in your life where you felt you went astray for a while. Looking back, can you see how God pursued you and brought you back? Read Psalm 23. What makes the Lord the Good Shepherd? How do you see Him leading, guiding, protecting, loving, and caring for you as a sheep? If Jesus is “relentless” in His pursuit of us when we go astray, the Way of Jesus would say that we should care about others going astray as well. Who is one person in your life that you would love to see come back to Jesus? And what are a few things you could do to reach out to them? In addition to the last question, how could you point them toward Jesus? How can you forgive them if they’ve hurt or offended you? How can you pursue them without giving up? How will this discussion change the way you love (difficult) people?