If you missed it, here's a link: Getting to grips with: Being an Honest Church
Reading: Psalm 139
- 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?
- 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.
- How should we deal with gossip in churches? cf: Proverbs 25:23; Eph. 5:11;James 3:7-8 Matt. 18: 15-20
- Spend some time praying for each other and the integrity of every aspect of our church.
- Homework - get int the habit of praying the words of Psalm 139: 23&24
If you missed it, here's a link: Getting to grips with: Being a Submissive Church
Reading: James 4:1-10
- What thoughts come to mind when you think about being submissive?
- What are the results of a lack of submission to God? Read through the first 4 verses and discuss the various points James raises.
- 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?
- Verse 7-10: what is the difference between submission and obedience?
- How can/should we apply this to our lives today?
If you missed it, here's a link to some notes: Getting to grips with: Being a Giving Church
Reading: Malachi 3: 8-12
- How would you describe a giving church?
- How might we rob God?
- Why do we struggle to give back to God? Discuss what our use of time, money, experiences shows of our commitment to God.
- Verse 9: does God curse us if we don't tithe?
- What has giving got to do with worship?
- 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
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
- Describe worship.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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?
- In your closing prayers spend some time giving thanks and praise in prayer before moving to intercession.
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
- Discuss the last 7 verses of chapter 3. Consider each verse and how we ought to apply it to our lives.
- 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?
- Which gifts are personal and which are for building up the church? V.7
- 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)
If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Getting to grips with: A Man You Need To Know
Reading Mark 8:27-29
- What were people’s theories about Jesus then and what do people say today?
- Jesus asks his disciples two questions: “Who do people say I am?” and “Who do you say I am?” Why is it important for disciples of Jesus to be able to answer both of these questions clearly?
- If a friend asked you, “Who is Jesus?”, how would you reply? (1 Peter 3:15-16)
- What are the consequences to the answer we give to this question?
- All Scripture is useful (2 Timothy 3:16-17). What is most useful to you from these three verses?
- Discuss where as a church and individuals we might apply these verses to our lives
