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?
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS
Read Matthew 16:21-28. What is God’s Word saying to you in this passage? What is God’s heart for His people?
Peter got in the way of God’s will because he wanted to be safe, comfortable, and secure. Have you ever gotten in the way of God’s plans? Share of a time when you thought you knew better than God.
How can the church be a hindrance to the work of God? Where do we sometimes put our minds on the things of man instead of the things of God?
Jesus was very specific in His explanation on what it takes to follow Him. What are some specific ways you can follow Him in 2019? Be specific!
What does Jesus mean when He asks us to deny ourselves?
What does the invitation to take up your cross mean?
What needs to die in your life?
7 key areas that we should constantly pursue as disciples are: God’s Word, Prayer, Fellowship, Obedience, Worship, Serving, and Surrender/ Submission. Which of these are easiest and hardest for you? Which 2 or 3 will you work on this week?
DEFINITIVE
March 24, 2019 • Dirk Younkin
IMPARTIAL
March 17, 2019 • Jason Carson
TOGETHER GROUP QUESTIONS
Read Matthew 15:21-28. What is God’s Word saying to you in this passage? What is God’s heart for His people?
The Canaanite woman had a lot of obstacles in her way to get to Jesus (Race, religion, racism, rejection, and reality to name a few…). What are some obstacles you see in today’s society for people to put their faith in Jesus? And what is your personal obstacle?
The woman’s past had a lot going against her. How does your sinful past ever affect your relationship with God?
Describe in great detail how you think Jesus would want you to be persistent in your faith. In what areas and ways?
What is something you’d love to ask Jesus for?
**All inclusive: Have everyone in your group share one thing in their life that they would love to see Jesus restore (something that’s broken, in your past, a hurt, a relationship, a physical pain, etc). Use these to pray for each other.
INSTRUCTIONAL
March 10, 2019 • Jason Carson
EMPOWERING
March 3, 2019 • Marc Groenbech-Dam
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,” http://...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?
REVOLUTIONARY
February 24, 2019 • Jason Carson
DYNAMIC
February 17, 2019 • Jason Carson
Read Matthew 13:1-23. What is God’s Word saying to you in this passage? What is God’s heart for His people?
1. Why do you think Jesus spoke in parables?
2. The parable of the sower describes 4 different types of ground/ soils, that the seed (God’s Word of the Kingdom) can fall in our lives. If you were to look at your spiritual life this last week or month, what kind of ground would you say your heart has been?
3. What steps can a believer take to make their heart the “good soil?”
In the sermon, it was said that being dynamic involves stretching like a rubber band. How is God stretching you these days?
4. The Christian life is a life of faith, joy, and thanksgiving. Out of those 3 things, what comes most naturally for you, and what is the most difficult?
From the list on the lesson of “7 Traits of a Dynamic Christian,” what 2 traits are you asking God to make you more dynamic?
**All inclusive: Have everyone in your group share one moment they can recall of Jesus being dynamic, AND… also share one way we all can be more dynamic in our faith this week.
REASONABLE
February 10, 2019 • Jason Carson
INVITATIONAL
February 3, 2019 • Sean Yaz
Together Group Questions
1. Read Matthew 11:20-30. What is God’s Word saying to you in this passage? What is God’s heart for His people?
2. What’s weighing on you?
3. When you're stressed, where do you go? What/who do you normally/naturally turn to?
4. Jesus invites ALL to dine with Him (fellowship with Him) and experience the rest He offers for your soul. Do you ever un-invite yourself using stipulations you have placed on yourself? (e.g. I’m too far from God, He could never forgive me for ___, etc.) What are the toughest areas you face in that?
5. Share/reflect on a time where God took something bad that happened in your life and redeemed it for good. What does it feel like to know that God’s rest and His promises are for you? What does it feel like to know that you don’t have to carry your own burdens?
6. Share one specific area of your life that you’d like to come to Jesus with this week. What burden will you lay down? What situation will you surrender?
7. Together Group Leaders: Lead your group in a prayer time where everyone visualizes going to the feet of Jesus with their problems, worries, struggles, and trials. And lay them down at the foot of the cross.
