What's Wrong With This Picture?

 

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: What's Wrong With This Picture?

Readings: Luke 2:1-7

1. Discuss the things we might have wrong ideas about in relation to the birth of Christ. for instance:
• how did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?
• where in Bethlehem was Jesus born?
• which books of the bible talk about the birth of Christ (Old and New Testament)?
• did Joseph meet the wise men?
• who besides the wise men saw the star?
• was the star particularly bright?
• ...what else is there that is tradition rather than fact?
2. What might Mary and Joseph been feeling and thinking?
3. What keeps us from having Christ at (a) the centre of our Christmas and (b) at the centre of our lives?
4. How can we encourage each other in putting this right with Jesus (this being 3 above)?



Getting to grips with: Being an Expectant Church

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Getting to grips with: Being an Expectant Church


Readings: Matthew 24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1. What is the point of advent?
2. What does the bible tell us about Jesus return?
3. Has anyone in the group heard a sermon series on Revelation? Why does it, and other parts of the bible like it, often get ignored? Does it matter?
4. If we're expecting Jesus to return what difference should it make in our lives and the life of the church? In the sermon we covered 3 but there will be more, spend some time as a group discussing each one.
5. Pray through the application of this study for each other, as a group and for the wider church.

Getting to grips with being an honest Church

If you missed it, here's a link: Getting to grips with: Being an Honest Church


 Reading: Psalm 139
 

1. What are the kinds of things that we think of when we think about being honest, and when might we find ourselves justifying being dishonest?
2. Working your way through the psalm verse by verse, discuss what it has to say about our honesty as individuals, as part of a church family and in respect of the people we come into contact with who have no faith.
3. How should we deal with gossip in churches? cf: Proverbs 25:23; Eph. 5:11;James 3:7-8 Matt. 18: 15-20
4. Spend some time praying for each other and the integrity of every aspect of our church.
5. Homework - get int the habit of praying the words of Psalm 139: 23&24 

Getting to grips with: Being a Submissive Church

If you missed it, here's a link: Getting to grips with: Being a Submissive Church


 Reading: James 4:1-10
 

1. What thoughts come to mind when you think about being submissive?
2. What are the results of a lack of submission to God? Read through the first 4 verses and discuss the various points James raises.
3. James looks back to the Old Testament in Verses 5 and 6. Discuss what it means for God to be a jealous God? And how does this link with His desire to give us overwhelming grace?
4. Verse 7-10: what is the difference between submission and obedience?
5. How can/should we apply this to our lives today?

Getting to grips with: Being a Giving Church

If you missed it, here's a link to some notes: Getting to grips with: Being a Giving Church

 

Reading: Malachi 3: 8-12

 

1. How would you describe a giving church?
2. How might we rob God?
3. Why do we struggle to give back to God? Discuss what our use of time, money, experiences shows of our commitment to God.
4. Verse 9: does God curse us if we don't tithe?
5. What has giving got to do with worship?
6. Verse 10 includes the phrase "I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!." Discuss

Getting to grips with: Being a Worshipping Church

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Getting to grips with: Being a Worshipping Church


Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:8-36

1. Describe worship.
2. In this reading, the worship stems from the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem. What is that and why was it so important?
3. Take time to go through this 'psalm' it is a call to worship - talk about the various commands: what they mean and why they are important.
4. Corporate worship (worship together is important. How can we encourage each other in worship and in which ways might we disturb other people from worshipping?
5. In your closing prayers spend some time giving thanks and praise in prayer before moving to intercession.

Getting to grips with: Being a United Church

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Getting to grips with: Being a United Church


Reading: Ephesians 3:14-4:16

1. Discuss the last 7 verses of chapter 3. Consider each verse and how we ought to apply it to our lives.
2. As a result of those 7 verses Paul takes us through a whole list of behaviours we ought to display (Ephesians 4:1-6). Which ones are missing in our church, is there anything we should be doing about it?
3. Which gifts are personal and which are for building up the church? V.7
4. Verses 11&12 focus on key gifts which will bring unity in an obedient church. Why are they key gifts and what is the effect of a church obediently using them (c.f. verses 14-16)