Dear Church Content - New City Church

Dear Church | Week Eight

November 5, 2023 • Pastor Steve Andres

Week Eight Conversation Starters Remember, discipleship is a series of conversations. Take time to discuss the questions below with a friend or in a group. The goal isn’t to answer all the questions, just to talk through the topic and process your thoughts and reactions. 1. What are your initial thoughts or reactions to the video? 2. There are three ways to gain wisdom. Asking God for it, life experience, and walking with wise people. Share how one of these ways has operated in your life. 3. On a scale of 1-10, how teachable would you say you are? How teachable would those closest to you say you are? 4. Why do you think God gives us wisdom AND power? What happens when one of those is lacking? 5. What are some areas where you need to see God’s wisdom and power at work in your life?

Dear Church | Week Seven

October 29, 2023 • Pastor Steve Andres

Week Seven Conversation Starters Remember, discipleship is a series of conversations. Take time to discuss the questions below with a friend or in a group. The goal isn’t to answer all the questions, just to talk through the topic and process your thoughts and reactions. 1. What are your initial reactions to the video? 2. Paul's calling was to places hostile to the Gospel message. In what ways was he creative in his communication? In what ways was he bold or confrontational? 3. What does the phrase, "It's not a head problem, it's a heart problem," mean to you? Where has this been true in your observation or experience? 4. Have you ever been surprised to realize that God was near to you? Talk about your experience. 5. What does it mean for us to have "light that leads to life?" How do we shine that light?

Dear Church | Week Six

October 22, 2023 • Pastor Steve Andres

Week Six Conversation Starters Remember, discipleship is a series of conversations. Take time to discuss the questions below with a friend or in a group. The goal isn’t to answer all the questions, just to talk through the topic and process your thoughts and reactions. 1) What is your initial reaction to the video? 2) How does the picture of Paul and Silas singing in prison impact you? What are your thoughts about that moment? 3) How much of your joy is rooted in your circumstances? 4) Why might your praise matters to others around you? How does it impact them? 5) What is keeping you from offering praise today? What needs to happen for you to praise God again?

Dear Church | Week Five

October 15, 2023 • Pastor Joaquin Pardo

Week Five Conversation Starters Remember, discipleship is a series of conversations. Take time to discuss the questions below with a friend or in a group. The goal isn’t to answer all the questions, just to talk through the topic and process your thoughts and reactions. 1. What are your initial reactions to the video? 2. "Without Jesus, passion can be destructive." Can you share where you've seen passion turn destructive in someone's life? 3. How has your understanding of what is "Good" changed throughout your relationship with Jesus? 4. Have you had a "Damascus Road" moment, where due to encountering Jesus everything changed? 5. In what ways are you now different after encountering Jesus?

Dear Church | Week Four

October 8, 2023 • Pastor Steve Andres

Week Four Conversation Starters Remember, discipleship is a series of conversations. Take time to discuss the questions below with a friend or in a group. The goal isn’t to answer all the questions, just to talk through the topic and process your thoughts and reactions. 1. What are your initial reactions to the video? 2. How much margin do you have in your schedule? How much of your time is spent serving others? 3. What would change if we truly believed that God can meet every need in the body of Christ with gifts he has already given? 4. Would you say that love is more important than gifting? Why or why not? 5. What gifts do you think God has given you to serve the body of Christ?

Dear Church | Week Three

October 1, 2023 • Pastor Steve Andres

Week Three Conversation Starters Remember, discipleship is a series of conversations. Take time to discuss the questions below with a friend or in a group. The goal isn’t to answer all the questions, just to talk through the topic and process your thoughts and reactions. 1. What are your initial reactions to the video? 2. God is truth, so he will not bless a lie. What comes to mind when you think about this? 3. Have you ever seen the destructive nature of covering up our mistakes or wrongs? How does lying remove the “safety features” in our lives? 4. Are there areas of your life where you have found it difficult to be completely truthful? Why do you think? 5. What do you think is necessary for a person to go from living in lies to living in the truth?

Dear Church | Week Two

September 24, 2023 • Pastor Steve Andres

Week Two Conversation Starters Remember, discipleship is a series of conversations. Take time to discuss the questions below with a friend or in a group. The goal isn’t to answer all the questions, just to talk through the topic and process your thoughts and reactions. 1. What are your initial reactions to the video? 2. "Church is not a monument, it is a movement." What is your part in making this true? 3. Peter and John brought their upper-room experience to their regular schedule. Have you ever found it a challenge to translate your relationship with God to everyday life? 4. Can you recall a specific moment when you realized a certain blessing was for others and not just you? 5. Who are some people God might want to bless through you?

Dear Church | Week One

September 17, 2023 • Pastor Steve Andres

Week One Conversation Starters Remember, discipleship is a series of conversations. Take time to discuss the questions below with a friend or in a group. The goal isn’t to answer all the questions, just to talk through the topic and process your thoughts and reactions. 1. Do you have any initial reactions to the video? 2. What are three or four defining moments in your story? How have they shaped your sense of who you are? 3. The message of the cross (the story of how Jesus suffered and died for sinners) seems like foolishness to some. Have you ever encountered skepticism or hostility regarding faith in Jesus? How did you respond? 4. The cross gives us both a high and low view of ourselves. Have there been times you have realized “you are more sinful than you dare admit”? Have there been times when you were reminded “you are more loved than you dare hope”? Talk about one of those moments. 5. How can we faithfully live out the message of the cross at home, school, work and with friends? 6. How does your family or community impact the way you see yourself? Does this ever conflict with what God says about you?