Questions for November 18, 2012

 Interruptions!

Mark 13:1-8

13As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ ²Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’

3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’ ⁵Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. ⁶Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. ⁷When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. ⁸For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the gift of your Son, Jesus.  We pray that we would strive to be more like him in every way and to be the reflection of Christ’s love to our neighbors and friends… AND for those who annoy us.  Give us a new appreciation for living life in the moment, not worrying about the future, and trusting you no matter what.  In Jesus name.  AMEN.

Grist for the Mill

1. Martin Luther was once asked, “What would you do today if you knew tomorrow Christ would return and the world as we know it came to an end.”  His response was- “Plant a tree”.  What do you think he meant?  How would you respond to that question?
2. Do you have a Bucket List?  If so, share some of the items with the group.  If not, think of some things you would want to do or accomplish before you die.
3. When you hear or read about the “end times” are your first thoughts of Christ’s return a promise or threat?  Why?
4. How do you handle interruptions to your schedule and plans?  How does (or can) your faith help shape your response to the interruptions of life?
5. Spend some time sharing with your group about experiences you’ve had with friends or loved ones who have died.  What did they find helpful in those “last few days”.  Did it make a difference if death was sudden and unexpected or the result of an extended illness?  What impact did it have on your life?  On your faith?

Close your session by praying for the person on your right and ending with the Lord’s Prayer.

Questions for November 11, 2012

Mark 12:38-44

Jesus Denounces the Scribes

38 As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, 39and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

The Widow’s Offering

41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, we live in a world of extreme wealth and abject poverty.  We have been materially blessed in ways that so many in our world can’t begin to comprehend.  And yet we complain.  Forgive us.  Fill our hearts with gratitude and may your Holy Spirit move us to experience the joy of sacrificial giving.  But most of all, we give thanks for the immeasurable gift of your Son, Jesus, and his sacrificial gift of life- His in exchange for ours.  It is in his holy and precious name we pray.  AMEN.

1. Notice how Mark positions a harsh word about the Scribes’ hypocrisy immediately before the story of the Widow’s Offering. Why do you think Mark did that? What does it say to his original readers? What does it say to us?
2. Jesus spent a lot of time talking about the effect of wealth, (e.g. greed) on our spiritual lives. What makes it so difficult for us to discuss it in the church today? 
3. Pastor Blair showed a “Giving Distribution” chart in his sermon slides. Discuss with the group your reaction to the data? Were there any surprises? Did it make you uncomfortable? Were you tempted to “compare yourself to others?” (And for personal reflection, how did you feel about your place in the chart and the challenge to practice growth giving?)
4. When you consider you financial contribution to the ministry of Living Word do you think of it in terms of “meeting the budget of our congregation” or as “your gift to God”. What’s the difference? Does it matter?
5. During times of congregational conflict there is a tendency for giving to drop. Withholding our giving is one way that we express our dissatisfaction with something that has been said or done. How is this inconsistent with the story of the Widow’s offering? How is it similar?
6. Close your time by sharing together about the challenges we face in distinguishing between our “needs” and our “wants”.

End by holding hands and praying The Lord's Prayer

Life Group Questions for November 4th

All Saints Sunday:

John 11: 32-44

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’

Prayer: “Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.”

The scriptures do not shy away from issues of death, dying, our mortality and the afterlife. The old nursery rhyme “Ring-a-round a rosie, a pocket full of posies, ashes! ashes! We all fall down” holds an important lesson for us all—and that lesson is, we all fall down. Death and mortality are an inescapable part of our human existence. We are all woven in its web; and someday when our time here is done, we will journey that path like all who came before us. The Psalmist writes in the 90th Psalm that we are sojourners on earth, here today, gone tomorrow. Christian theology is a mix of the “here and the hereafter”, “the now and the soon to be”. But if this were the end of the story, it would be a pretty sad ending. We don't just fall down, we rise up. Because Jesus rose, we will also be raised to eternal life through Jesus Christ. 

I hope you will take time today to discuss issues of life, death and the afterlife--in light of our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I.  Discuss your views of life and mortality. How often to you think of your own mortality? 
 
II. Jesus offers assurances to Mary and Martha in the text above that their brother will rise again. How do you hear Jesus words, and what does it mean to you in your present reality?
 
III. As we celebrate the lives of saints who have gone before, what memories do you cherish of those who now rest from their earthly labors?

IV. How do you talk about the afterlife in light of your faith in Jesus Christ? Are you hopeful? Are you fearful?

V. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them.’ We are living testaments of those who have gone before us. We are their legacy. What kind of legacy would you like to leave?

May God bless His saints above and His saints below. 
 

 

Questions for October 28, 2012

Reformation Sunday

John 8:31-36

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ ³³They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’

34 Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. ³⁶So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 3:21-26

21 But now, irrespective of law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, ²³since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; ²⁴they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; ²⁶it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we give thanks for those who have gone before us and blazed the trail of faith.  Today we remember Martin Luther and all the reformers.  We are grateful for their passion and commitment and pray that you would use us to make a difference in the church in this time and place.  We pray for your church that we may always strive to examine ourselves, and our ministries, in light of the Gospel and your message of grace.  In Jesus Name, AMEN.


1. Being a Reformation Church can be difficult because it means dealing with issues that are often controversial.  How do you feel about being a part of a denomination that discusses social issues like abortion, the death penalty, human sexuality, etc.
2. In  John’s gospel for today Jesus tells us “If you continue in God’s word… you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”.  Is it possible for two faithful Christians who are both “continuing in God’s word” to come to different understandings of the “Truth”?  If not, how can we know who is “right: and who is “wrong”?  If so, how can two people have different versions of the “Truth"?
3. We often have to pick and choose which battles to fight in life. Luther chose to draw that line with the sale of indulgences. (“Here I stand…)  He backed it up with his understanding of Romans 3:21-26 and the doctrine of “justification by grace through faith”.  What are there “battles worth fighting” for in the church today?  How do we deal with different interpretations of scripture (“truth”) on either side of those debates?
4.  Martin Luther nailed 95 theses (statements) to the door of the church inviting the church into debate.  That was a common practice.  What was unique about this event was the speed with which news of these radical statements spread throughout Germany.  It was the cutting edge technology of the day (Guttenberg's printing press) that caused the wide dissemination of the material.   Some argue that without the printing press the Reformation would not have had the impact it did.   How has technology helped and/or hurt the church today?
5. How have you seen the Reformation Spirit working through Living Word?

Questions for October 21, 2012

Scripture:  Mark 10:35-45

Prayer:

Lord God, you have taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us the grace to remain to the spirit of servant hood. May we be ever mindful to use wisely the gifts and blessings you have given to us. Keep our egos healthy and our motives pure for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"#1"

Reread the gospel text for this week. It features an interesting dialogue between Jesus and two of his disciples on the question of greatness. Pay attention to the specific nature of their request, the response of Jesus and the reaction of the other disciples.

1. Imagine your small group in three unique roles:

a. James and John,

b. Jesus

c. the other disciples.

Take a moment to discuss your reactions to being James and John, to being Jesus, and to being the other disciples.

2.            We find it interesting that Jesus does not condemn James and John’s desire to be #1, rather he redefines what being #1 truly means. It is safe to assume that we all have some “James and John” in us. We want to be first, we want to be recognized, we want to be the drum major who leads the parade. But how does this new paradigm shift of being #1 gel with your understanding of being first in what you do?

3.          In Jesus admonition to his disciples (vs 42-44), he contrasts the attitude of unbelieving communities (Gentiles), to his new vision for his followers. Those in power in the unbelieving community use their power and influence as lords and tyrants. Those who are followers of Jesus are to use power and influence for the good of others. Jesus sets up an interesting dynamics between egotism vs altruism. Discuss how you see the desire to be first vis-a-vis your responsibilities to those around you. 

4.          Jesus redefines greatness as a virtue for all, through service to all. “All can be great because all can serve”—Dr. King. Discuss ways your life group or family is serving at Living Word. Discuss the broader role of service and servant-hood at Living Word. 

5.            What are the needs you see at Living Word that aren’t being addressed?

6.          And finally, spend a moment praying for Living Word, that we become a community of servants that places the needs of others above our own needs.   Amen.        

Questions for October 14, 2012

Scripture:  Mark 10:17-30

 1.      Pastor Blair suggested that this text is not just about money.  He made the statement that it is “not about what we’ve got” but rather about “what’s got us”.  For the Rich Ruler it WAS money.  For us it may be something different (or it may be money).  Share some things that are stumbling blocks to faith in our church, community, and your life.

2.      The Rich Ruler claims he has kept all the commandments, which would be an amazing, if not impossible accomplishment.  Why do you think Jesus let that bold statement slide?

3.      Jesus doesn’t mince words.  He practiced “tough love” with the Rich Ruler and told him the truth.  How can we distinguish between “tough love” and a “judgmental attitude”?  Share examples of times you felt the need to practice “tough love”.  Share examples of times you thought you were practicing tough love when in fact you were being judgmental.

4.      Obviously a camel will never fit through the eye of a needle (don’t you love Jesus’ sense of humor?).  The disciples were shocked and asked- “Who then can be saved?”  Jesus teaches that it’s not about what WE DO, but about what GOD DOES.  There are two dangerous responses to this teaching-

a.       If it feels good, do it.  It doesn’t matter how bad we are, Jesus will love and forgive us in the end anyway (i.e. Cheap Grace)

b.      If it feels good, DON’T do it.  Live by a literal and legalistic interpretation of Scripture and the Commandments and expect that God will reward us accordingly (i.e. Works Righteousness)

 

What are the dangers of each approach?  What are the alternatives?  What are the challenges for you living with the tension of Cheap Grace and Works Righteousness?