Vision

DISCUSSION GUIDE / 8.7.22

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

What is your favorite book (outside of the Bible)?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

- Nehemiah 2:17-18

• What is a problem in the church or in the community that you notice that no one else seems to notice?

• Do you have a solution to the problem? What is something that God has gifted you with that could help solve this problem?

• Have you prayed about a vision to help with this problem?

• What resources do you need to make this plan come together?

• Who would you like on your team?

• How can we pray for you?

Invincible Joy - Week 4

DISCUSSION GUIDE / 7.17.22

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

Did you have an imaginary friend?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:4-7

• Have you ever walked through something difficult and still had joy? Describe that experience.

• What does it mean to be “reasonable”? Do you think people would describe you as reasonable?

• If you’re honest, what is something you are anxious about?

• Have you prayed about these things? Let’s take a moment and pray about them now.

• Who is the most thankful person you know? In what way do you wish you were more like them?

• Describe a time when God’s peace guarded your heart and your mind.

• How can we pray for you?

Invincible Joy - Week 3

DISCUSSION GUIDE / 7.3.22

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

What would the title of your autobiography be?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

- Philippians 3:8,14,17

• What does “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ” mean?

• Paul counted all of his religious achievements as “rubbish” and trusted in Jesus alone for his right standing before God. Why is this important to do? Why can’t we earn right standing before God?

• Paul says he presses on towards the calling of God. What is God calling you to do? Are you pressing towards it or running away from it?

• Who are you looking to for an example to model your life after?

• Who are you encouraging to follow your example?

• How can we pray for you?

Invincible Joy - Week 2

DISCUSSION GUIDE / 7.3.22

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

What is your favorite song of all time?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

- Philippians 1:9-11

• What causes your love for people to increase?

• How do we grow in knowledge and discernment? What have you been reading lately?

• How do you discern truth from lies?

• How do you remain pure and blameless in this culture?

• What does it mean to be righteous?

• What spiritual fruit do you wish you produced more of?

• How can we pray for you?

Invincible Joy - Week 1

DISCUSSION GUIDE / 6.26.22

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

What are your 4th of July plans?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

- Philippians 1:21-26

• Are you looking forward to heaven? Why or why not?

• If you’re honest, how would you finish “for to me to live is ________.” What are you living for?

• Paul is focused on other’s progress and joy. Are you focused on others? How are you helping those in your life? How can we be more others-focused?

• What do you think gave Paul this invincible joy that allowed him to be joyful in life or in death?

• How can we have more joy in our lives?

• How can we pray for you?

Better Together Week 6 - Father's Day

DISCUSSION GUIDE / 6.19.22

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

What’s your best memory of your dad (or father figure)?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.

- 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

• What do you think we need to watch out for as Christians? What do you wish you would have done a better job watching out for when you were younger?

• How can we stand firm in our faith? What are some things we can do that will help us stand firm?

• Paul encourages his readers to “act like men” another way of saying this is “Be brave!”. Do you have a story to share of someone being spiritually brave? (Maybe they shared their faith, resisted peer pressure, or became a missionary…)

• We want our faith to be strong. What are some ways you can strengthen your faith?

• Above all else we want to be loving. How can we show love to those around us this week?

• How can we pray for you?

Better Together Week 5 - Serving

DISCUSSION GUIDE / 6.12.22

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

What job would you do for free?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

“…but whoever would be great among you must be your servant…even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

- Matthew 20:26b,28

• Where do you volunteer? Why did you choose to serve in that area?

• If you don’t volunteer where would you like to start serving? What is an area that you’re interested in?

• Why do you think it’s important that we all serve somewhere?

• How did Jesus serve people? What impact did that have on the world?

• In what ways can we serve our community and our church this week?

• How can we pray for you?

Better Together Week 4 - Missions

DISCUSSION GUIDE / 6.5.22

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

Have you been on a mission trip? Describe it in 30 seconds.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

- Matthew 28:18-20

We want to be like Christ

• Who did Jesus spend His time ministering to? Who do we tend to spend our time with?

• Jesus came for the whole world. What are some ways we can help share Jesus with the world?

We want to obey Christ

• Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor. Who is our neighbor?

• Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations. How can we play a role in that?

We believe Christ is returning

• Since we don’t know when Christ is returning, what should we be urgently doing while we’re waiting?

• How can we pray for you?

Better Together Week 3 - A Call to Holiness

DISCUSSION GUIDE / 5.29.22

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

What’s your favorite summer activity?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

- John 17:15-19

Be sanctified through hearing, trusting, and obeying God's Word.

• How often do you read the Bible?

• What is a Bible reading plan that has helped you?

• If you don’t read the Bible, what do you think would help you decide to read regularly?

Be in the world but not of the world.

• Do you have an example of a time where you (or someone you know) resisted temptation to “join the crowd” in a certain sin? What was the outcome? Did it result in a loss of friendship?

• How do we keep relationships while remaining unwavering in our commitment to being holy?

Set aside time with God every day.

• Describe your prayer life? What would you like to change about it?

• What is something you have prayed for that God answered?

• How can we pray for you?

Better Together Week 2 - multi-generational church

DISCUSSION GUIDE / 5.22.22

OPTIONAL INTRODUCTION QUESTION(S)

What’s your favorite summer camp memory?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS -

12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

- Matthew 18:12-14

Do not despise the next generation.

• How often do you catch yourself looking down upon the next generation? What can we do instead?

Find the one.

• What are you doing to find people that need Jesus? How do you find and minister to “sinners” without sinning yourself?

• Have you shared a testimony with anyone lately or invited anyone to church? Why or why not?

Leave the comfort of the ninety-nine.

• What is the main thing preventing you from reaching out to people and sharing the gospel?

• Who reached you when you were “the one” who was lost? How did they reach you?

Rejoice over the one.

• Let’s spend a few moments thanking God for seeking and saving us and asking Him to help us reach those around us (especially the next generation).

• How can we pray for you?