^ Click Take A Note ^ Remember to write down some short notes for each of the questions below before heading to life group.

1.

Share 1 thing that stood out to you about Sunday's Message (1 minute max please) Also press play button in image above to listen to Sundays message if you missed it or just to refresh your memory. (Each Individual)

2.

Proverbs 17:3

3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and THE LORD TESTS HEARTS.

1 Peter 1:3-7

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, THOUGH NOW FOR A LITTLE WHILE, IF NECESSARY, YOU HAVE BEEN GRIEVED BY VARIOUS TRIALS, 7 so that THE TESTED GENUINENESS OF YOUR FAITH—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

On Sunday Pastor Vaughn talked about a crucible of testing where the Lord heats up our lives in order to TEST us and see the genuineness of our faith. Joseph's brothers spent 3 days bound in prison being tested. They also found out during their journey home that they were given the money back which was for the grain they took from Egypt. Pastor Vaughn drew our attention to how hard it is to endure the heat of the crucible. Sitting with our sin and thinking deeply about the choices we are about to make is so important if we are going to be "purified". The heat isn't just to hurt but primarily to purge us of the dirt and other impurities in our lives.

Are you good at sitting with your sin and thinking about the decisions you're making when the heat starts to turn up? What helps you to do that or what keeps you from doing it? What are some of the specific areas where we individually feel like God is testing us? Maybe physically with our actions or internally with the truth of our thoughts? How can we begin to "rejoice" in this crucible of testing as 1 Peter 1:6 assumes we will? (Group Discussion)

3.

On Sunday Pastor Vaughn talked about "Moving The Heart Of God" as we looked at Joseph not being able to hold back his tears when he saw 10 of his brothers and heard them speaking of him. When Joseph saw his 11th brother Benjamin, once again he couldn't hold back his tears.

Matthew 9:36

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them

John 11:35

Jesus wept.

When do you feel that you move the heart of God the most? The times when you think He is overwhelmed with love for you and can't help Himself but to show it, even with tears? The times you think He sees you and smiles or cries tears of joy or laughs or talks to the hosts of heaven about you? (Each Individual)

When do you feel the most love for God? The times when you are overwhelmed with love for Him and can't help but to show it? The times that make you smile or cry tears of joy or laugh or talk to other people about Him? (Each Individual)

* Remember the confession piece of Sunday's message. It's so important for the Christian's ongoing walk BUT it is also the critical point(s) in the lives of non-believers when they need to be told what to do with their remorse and conviction. We need to see them in those seasons and point them to the cross! ➡️🩸✝️

* Remember to pray for each other before heading home from life group and to stay in communication here in the app throughout the week on your life group messaging thread!