In Deep: Sometimes The Truth Stinks

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In Deep: Sometimes The Truth Stinks

September 15, 2024 • Garry Firth • John 8:31–36, Ephesians 4:15–16

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1. TMP was and still is a church for people who aren’t into church. How would you describe TMP to an unchurched or dechurched or antichurch friend? (different, friendly, etc.) What’s one thing that keeps you coming back week after week?

2. When do you find it hard to ‘handle the truth’? When do you find it hard to ‘share the truth’?

3. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) What do you think it means to "hold to" Jesus' teaching? How does this relate to being a true disciple of Jesus? Jesus speaks of the truth setting us free. What kind of truth is He referring to?

4. They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” (John 8:33-34) We heard how sin is a disease that infects us all and left untreated will kill us. How might this understanding of sin challenge our own view of freedom?

5. "Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:35-36) What kind of freedom is Jesus talking about when He says, "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed"? How does this freedom differ from society’s concept of freedom?

6. In what ways do you struggle with living out the freedom Jesus offers? What steps can you take to fully embrace the freedom that comes through a relationship with Him?

In Deep: We All Need Rescue

September 29, 2024 • Garry Firth • Ephesians 5:28–29, John 3:16, Ephesians 5:25

1. Share a time when you personally tried to rescue an animal. How did the animal react? 2. The premise to this week’s message was that we’re all in need of rescue, but not everyone wants to be rescued. What do you think about that? Why do you think not everyone wants to be rescued? 3. In the message we were asked to–no matter where we are in our relationship with God (believe/don’t believe)--imagine or pretend that God is real and loves you and wants what’s best for you. If that’s true, what’s the most loving thing this loving God could do to you or for you? How would you know that God actually loves you? 4. Rules. By definition rules are: “to have a powerful and restricting influence on.” How do you tend to see rules? Do you see them as restricting or as loving? We heard how God’s rules are confirmation of his love, but NOT conditional for his love. What do you think about that? 5. Read Ephesians 5:25-29. Garry suggested that we can get God’s definition of love from these verses. In short: Love provides and protects. What do you think about this? 6. Read John 3:16. What stands out for you in those words from Jesus? 7. What else stood out to you from this message or series?

In Deep: What Are We Doing Here?

September 22, 2024 • Russ Smith • Acts 2:42–47

1. Have you ever found yourself “in deep” to something and then asked “What am I doing here?” What happened? 2. Just as you can find everything you need for shopping at Costco the store, we can find everything we need for the purposes of church in COSCGro the acronym. Do you remember what each letter of COSCGro stands for? 3. The first “C” is for Celebrate (celebrating who God is and what he’s done for us). What ways do you enjoy celebrating at The Meeting Place? 4. The “O” is for Outreach, which includes our simple strategy: Make a friend, share your life with them, invite them to church. What do you think about that? 5. The “S” is for Serve and you can’t do everything but you can do something. If you’re not already serving at TMP, what’s something you could start doing? 6. The 2nd “C” is for Community. What can you say about community at TMP? 7. The “Gro” is for Grow. How are you growing in your faith and love and understanding of Jesus? What could be your next step on The River (your journey with God, which is like a river where the water is always moving)? 8. The challenge from this message is: Let’s COSCGro together (show up & grow up & give up). What’s one way you could COSCGro that you haven’t yet been doing?