Our vision is to encourage & equip followers of Jesus to BE the church as we live as disciples who make disciples in our families, communities, and beyond.
In this opening session of our series, we spend some time casting vision for the next four months and then dive into John 15 to look at the practice of abiding.
Discovery Bible Study
For DBS discussion:
1) What misconception may have prompted Jesus to tell this parable at that time?
2) What truth is Jesus teaching the crowd that followed him that day?
3) Does this truth apply to us today? What can we learn from this parable?
For AFTER THE VIDEO discussion:
1) What does this parable teach about the Kingdom of God?
2) How can I be investing my life for the sake of the Master's Kingdom?
3) Am I looking for opportunities "to seek and to save the lost?"
4) For whom am I praying that he/she will come to know Jesus?
5) Can I honestly say that Jesus is reigning in me?
For a similar, but different, parable about the Kingdom of God, read Matthew 25:14-30. DBS the passage and discuss the following questions:
1) What is the meaning of the parable, and what does it teach about the Kingdom of God?
2) Am I using my abilities and resources for the Master? Explain.
Discovery Bible Study
⬆️ JESUS
-- What would it take for you to risk everything for the sake of being heard or seen or helped?
Share a time when you acted/reacted in a way you did not care what others thought
-- Picture yourself in 1st century Jericho, what would it be about Jesus that stirred your curiosity in Him?
-- What do you want Jesus to do for you…right now…in your life?
Spend some time praying over these requests
-- What does crying out to Jesus look like for you?
Share a time when you have reached a point in your life when this was the only viable option
➡️ MISSION
-- Can you think of any time when you may have hindered someone’s curiosity in Jesus by something you said and/or how you acted toward them (including passive aggressive looks)?
-- Hugh Halter: “You are always in discipleship mode. Either you are pointing people to Jesus or away from Jesus”
How have you been pointing someone to Jesus by how you acted/reacted?
How have you pointed someone away from Jesus by how you have acted/reacted?
-- What is one simple thing you can do this week to point _________ (a specific person) toward hope and mercy through Jesus?
-- What is a tangible way of you can show the love of Jesus to someone outside of your community of faith this week?
⬅️ COMMUNITY
-- What is a tangible way your MC can encourage one another this week?
-- What is a tangible way you can serve someone in your MC this week?
-- Can you commit to praying over one another this week by name?
DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY
⬆️ JESUS
1) What other prophecies do you know Jesus fulfilled?
2) Why do you think it was important to Jesus to share the plans with his crew, even though they would not understand?
3) Why do you believe Jesus is who He says He is?
4) With so many different denominations and theologies ‘out there’, not to mention technology/social media, how do you know what you currently believe about Jesus is true to scripture?
➡️ MISSION
5) How is your life different because of pursuing and becoming like Jesus?
What is different?
Do you have any stories of how family/friends/co-workers have noticed a difference?
6) Have you ever faced any consequence or pressure from your faith in and pursuit of Jesus?
7) Have you taken a step of obedience in your faith, without fully knowing where it would lead?
8) How can you begin to take tangible and intentional steps toward living for and sharing about Jesus this week? Spend a few moments praying over this…then share
⬅️ COMMUNITY
9) Confession: Have you recently refused or neglected trusting in Jesus (by how you have lived, loved, reacted)?
10) How do you typically handle unmet expectations?
11) How do you handle moments when you have explained something (multiple times) and yet it is not heard, much less understood?
12) How can your community support you in living for and sharing about Jesus this week?
13) Spend time praying over one another
⬆️ JESUS
Why would the disciples think it was a good idea to keep the children from coming around Jesus?
How do you think the disciples responded when Jesus contradicted their rebuke of the children?
-- How would you take it if you were trying to protect the environment?
Why do you think Luke put these 3 verses into the letter where he did?
Being teachable infers you are learning and living out what you are being and have been taught.
-- How has your life changed over the past 6 months to a year to look more like Jesus?
What would being bold for Jesus look like in your life at home, at work, etc?
What would need to change for you to be totally dependent on Jesus?
➡️ MISSION
-- How can you utilize the children to do so?
-- Are you, as parents, willing to accept help when it comes to limiting distractions?
-- Are you, as adults, willing to get up and move to a ‘better’ location to hear and be less distracted
-- Do you love each other enough to have ‘tough’ conversations?
-- What have you learned from watching your parents worship, pray, sing, and transparently talk about Jesus together?
Throughout the week? With discipleship?
-- How can you pray over them?
⬅️ COMMUNITY
-- How they can pray for you?
-- How many kids do you know in the larger church family?
-- What are steps you can take to cultivate a sense of interdependence as a faith family?
DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY
⬆️ JESUS
-- Has that opinion changed? Why or why not?
verbalize it…but still thought it)?
-- Is the Holy Spirit stirring something in you about it?
-- Share your experience.
➡️ MISSION
may not know Jesus?
-- (Philippians 2:3→ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more
significant than yourselves)
-- How can you begin tearing those walls down?
impact your relationship (and spiritual influence) with ‘others’ around you?
⬅️ COMMUNITY
-- How can this impact your community?
comes to pride, self-righteousness, and/or contempt toward others?
chemistry of your community?
How can living in that kind of community become contagious to ‘others’ who do not have it?
How can your community cultivate that kind of depth and transparency?
(extra reading)
James 4:6 → But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 John 2:16 → For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
2 Corinthians 10:12 → Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measures themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
Proverbs 18:10–12 → The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
2 Chronicles 7:14 → If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
⬅️ LOOK BACK
1) Share any stories or thoughts about previous discussions you have had and/or where you see God stirring your heart.
⬆️ LOOK UP
1) Read Luke 18:1-8 together
2) What do you think the main point of Jesus' parable is? Why?
3) What is confusing? Why?
➡️ LOOK AHEAD
1) Who or what are your prayers usually focused on?
2) How often do you pray for the return of Jesus?
3) What are some things you consistently pray about?
4) What are some injustices you feel strongly about?
5) How does your prayer life reflect your heart toward those injustices?
6) How can losing sight of Jesus' return impact your faith? Your perseverance during storms of life? Your prayer life? Your witness to those who do not know Jesus?
7) What tangible steps can you take this week toward including prayers for the return of our King?
Discovery Bible Study:
⬅️ LOOK BACK = share any steps made from last week's discussion about seeking and/or offering forgiveness
⬆️ LOOK UP (before teaching) =
Pray together
Read Luke 17:11-19
What happened? What sticks out? What is the point of the story?
How do you generally express thankfulness/gratitude?
When reflecting on your prayers or time with God, what does gratitude look like compared to frustration/pleas/requests/etc?
➡️ LOOK FORWARD (after teaching) =
Does the community around you (neighbors/co-workers/family) know your opinion about and gratitude toward Jesus?
When you worship Jesus (whether privately or publicly), what is your posture? Is it calm and composed...or desperate and uninhibited?
Does your typical response when worshiping resemble your 'worshipful response' to cheering on your kids, hobbies, or favorite sports team?
If not, why do you think that is?
Share a moment when your response has been similar to the Samaritan in this passage?
Make a list, either individually or communally of things to be grateful for, that you have not expressed gratitude to God lately about. Pray over that list together (encourage everyone to simply thank God for some things on that list)
This week, how can your life tangibly express gratitude for what God has done for you and in you through Jesus?
(BEFORE WATCHING TEACHING STREAM):
— What stands out to you about this passage?
Why?
— What questions do you have about the passage?
— What do you think Jesus is saying here about temptations/stumbling blocks? And the warning about causing them?
— How Jesus says to respond to these situations sounds easy...but how do you typically handle them?
— How do you typically respond when someone offends or wrongs you (or someone close to you)?
— How do you typically respond when someone approaches you about something you have done/not done, said/not said to offend them or someone else?
— Why is it really difficult for you to forgive?
— Share a time when you have approached someone and/or when someone else has approached you? (was it approached correctly?
— Was it received correctly? What was the result?)
— Why do you think Jesus told the parable (vv7-10)
— Why do you think Jesus told the parable (vv7-10) to illustrate his point?
(DBS AFTER TEACHING STREAM):
— How can practicing rebuke, repentance, and forgiveness strengthen your pursuit of Jesus?
— How can practicing rebuke, repentance, and forgiveness strengthen your MicroChurch family?
— How can the rhythm of rebuke, repentance, and forgiveness be a light for Jesus Christ in the surrounding community?
— Is there someone you need to rebuke? Have you prayed about it?
— Is there someone you need to repent to (whether to God and/or someone else)?
— Is there someone you need to extend grace and forgiveness toward?
-- What are some tangible next steps THIS WEEK that can be taken to pursue reconciliation and restoration?
-- Why do you think Jesus told the parable (vv7-10) to illustrate his point?
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE FOR CONVERSATION (DBS this passage further; discuss the pursuit of JESUS, discuss MISSION, or discuss COMMUNITY together)
DBS → Life application:
Who is taking notes from conversations?
Who is sharing prayer needs from convo?
Following week…are there any intentional convos about ‘life application’ from previous discussion?
JESUS → What is God doing in and among you?
What do your personal rhythms look like (Confess, Abide, Love, Invest)
Do you need to discuss story (your story/God's story)…questions about baptism…
Do you have an interest in a D28 group (intentional, high commitment group of 3-5 same gender)
MISSION → Where is God calling you? To who is God calling you (individually and/or as an MC)?
What are some ways you can use your tangible assets (money, house, boat, influence, resources) to love and/or invest in people for the sake of mission?
Are you and/or your MC praying regularly about the "who and/or where and/or how"?
What risks are you, your family, and/or your community taking for the sake of mission?
COMMUNITY → What are you doing together outside of your once a week gathering?
Disciple making happens at the speed of relationship...so how are you investing in relationships?
Discuss how can you cultivate community together? (Ask the kids. Ask the quiet ones in the room)
Brainstorm several things you can do together this summer (i.e. park playdates, hikes, meals, parties, etc)
Distribute responsibility...experiment and have fun together
Discovery Bible Study:
-- Was there anything you committed to in last week's discussion to share?
-- Do you find yourself relating more to the younger son or the older son? In what ways?
-- How easy is it to live under our cultural and social norm of 'being a good person' and completely miss out on the Father's invitation to the party through repentance and grace?
-- In what ways do you (currently or in the past) drift into this 'religious/self-righteous' sin?
-- Have there been moments or situations where you were angry or disappointed in God for 'blessing' someone else or not giving you what you have prayed for? (describe)
-- In what ways, have you lived like the older son, wanting the benefits of Jesus without surrendering your life to Jesus?
-- Did the older son have a 'right' to be angry? Why or why not?
-- Do you have a 'right' to be angry in your situation?
-- Are you currently angry with, envious and/or jealous of someone?
-- Is the Holy Spirit stirring you to repentance and confession?
-- How can we pray for you this week to humble yourself, repent/confess, and accept the Father's invitation to the party?
“Behavioral modification doesn’t work because whatever reigns and rules in your heart will eventually overflow out of your heart and into actions and attitudes”
Discovery Bible Study:
-- What are ways you have wanted (and/or taken) what you think you deserve and pursued your own way?
-- Describe a time/situation when you felt isolated, hopeless, or lost.
-- When is the last time you have been in a place of desperation? Physically? Spiritually?
-- How did you handle the desperation? Who did you turn to?
-- Would the son have returned had the severe famine not happened?
-- Is there anything you need to repent of today? If so, can you share?
-- Do you know someone currently pursuing their 'own way', in rebellion against God? (Share if willing)
-- Are you willing to pray for God to bring them to and of themselves, in order to repent/confess, and return home to the Father?
-- Spend time praying together
DBS QUESTIONS:
John 20:21 → [21] Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (see also Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Timothy 2:2)
Are we intentionally trying to get into the lives of those not yet found?
Can you name anyone you are proactively praying for and seeking for the sake of the gospel?
Are you 'receiving', eating with, partying with, socializing with, mingling with, serving with, and enjoying who are lost?
Are you living in a way that makes religious people around you offended, accusatory, or grumbling? In what way?
Are you living in a way where lost people want to be around you (not because you live, act, and/or talk like them)...but because of how you welcome, treat, and love them?
Are you living in a way that models and points irreligious people to Jesus?
Do 'lost' people around us see something different in us…and ask questions about it?
Do we prefer to remain in our safe religious bubbles…so afraid of the world that we distance ourselves from it and throw stones from our ivory tower? If so, what are ways you can begin to move outside that bubble?
Are you living like Jesus and moving into places where the world lives?
Are you settled with staying in the shadows and cheering the missionaries on…or are you willing to obey to who and where God is calling regardless of the risks? Sacrificing comfort and safety (not to mention reputation) for the sake of saving the lost..the dead and hopeless?
Discussion Questions:
1) Have you come to see this Parable of the Great Banquet in a new or different light? If so, in what respect?
2) Do you find something of your own story in the parable? If yes, would you mind sharing with the group?
3) Those who gave excuses for not attending the banquet had attachments they would not give up (in particular, attachments to material goods and affections). What might you be having difficulty in giving up in order to make God first priority in your life?
Now would be a good time to share with the group and ask them to come alongside you in prayer.
Going Deeper:
1) What does this parable teach about the kingdom of God?
2) From your experience, why do so many say "No" to God's "banquet"?
3) What can you say or do to help people overcome their hesitation?
4) For a similar, but different, parable about the kingdom of heaven, read Matthew 22:1-14. DBS the passage and discuss the following questions:
a) What is the meaning of the parable, and what does it teach about the kingdom of heaven?
b) Why is there a man present with no wedding garment? Who does he represent?
c) What happened to the man?
d) How did the guests obtain the wedding clothes? (I've read that some cultures still do this today.)
e) What is the significance of the wedding clothes in the kingdom of heaven?
Discovery Bible Study Questions: (for after teaching)
-- Did you hear something today that stuck out?
Something you heard you agree with? Don't agree with?
Why or why not?
-- Do you naturally tend to assume the best in someone, or assume the worst?
(Share an example of a time when your initial assumption would up being wrong)
-- When is the last time you (discreetly or not) assumed your place 'of honor' without considering others? (i.e. like Dave's traffic analogy)
-- In what ways, whether by word/action/etc., have you pridefully 'assumed' your place when it comes to faith as opposed to approaching it humbly with confidence in Christ alone?
-- How can you tangibly take steps toward humility this week?
-- Who is someone you can prayerfully invite to the next party (i.e. coffee/dinner/etc)?
-- Why does it seem much easier to find something wrong in what someone says, rather than to (at least) discern the heart of what they are trying to say or do?
"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted"
-- What is (at least) one way you can live by this verse this coming week?
Have someone take notes from this discussion. Next week, utilize your fellowship/worship space as a way to share stories as you begin to practice these thoughts
Discovery Bible Study Questions: (for after teaching)
-- What does your "threshold of collective behavior" look like? (low or high...share an example of when you have given in and/or stood against it)
-- What have you given up to pursue Jesus?
-- Are you encouraged or discouraged in your pursuit of Jesus currently? How can your community come around you in prayer and support?
-- What does that 'whisper' sound like to you when it is trying to get you to "get away from here" (i.e. to give up, stop trying, walk away, etc)?
-- When is the last time you have prayed for, wept over, or pleaded for the Lord to save/transform? (fee free to share who...and spend time praying over them)
-- To who and where is God calling you to GO? Are your prayers open to who and where HE is calling you to go, as opposed to who and where you want to go?
-- Is there someone you are feeling led to talk to this week? Is there something you are feeling led to do (or stop doing) today, tomorrow, this week? Discuss and prayer over this as a community (take notes, and update next time you gather)
Questions - Luke 13
Verses 1-5:
Was the wickedness of Pilate the punishment for the sins of those Galileans?
Were the sins of the eighteen the cause of the tower in Siloam to fall on, and kill, them?
Do you think that people today are punished in proportion to their sins?
What was Jesus' response to the assumed attitude of the crowd? What was important to him?
What does it mean to repent?
What do you think Jesus meant by "likewise perish"?
How can we apply Jesus' warning to our own life ("unless you repent you will all likewise perish")?
Verses 6-9:
In this parable (Luke 13), who/what does the fig tree represent?
Who does the owner of the vineyard represent? The vinedresser?
In the parable, why would the owner want to cut down the fig tree?
And why would the vinedresser want to delay the cutting?
What condition is attached to the delay?
Considering the history of Israel, what was the result of that delay? (Hint: What historical event occurred in A.D. 70?)
What is the Holy Spirit saying to us?
PROCESSING QUESTIONS
Do you feel like peace is one of ‘those things’ in life you constantly chase but rarely seem to catch up with?
Why do you think this is the case?
Where are you struggling to find peace with God, within yourself, and with others?
Why is it difficult to admit that you have a heart problem?
How have you been tempted to live more for the glory of self than the glory of God?
What captures your time and attention more than God?
How do you typically handle disruptions to your peace?
What does the way you respond to disruptions say about your level of peace?
Your need for peace?
Read Colossians 3:12-15 together
How is the ‘peace of Christ’ different from how you typically think of peace?
What does it offer?
Why is it different?
How can you begin to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart?
What would change in your life?
What should change to experience this peace?
How can you personally pursue peace right now, this week, that will sustain you?
How can you help bring peace to someone’s life today (this week)?
Our language and understanding can vary depending on the culture in which you were raised. Our hope in this message, although a bit lengthy, is to lay a solid foundation on the importance of eldership.
We also use this time as an opportunity to ordain and welcome Chris Leeper onto our Elder team.
Even if this teaching raises more questions than answers, we pray it will compel you to dive deeper into the Scriptures as you pursue Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Aaron Hoback encourages our Micro Church movement, while challenging us to prioritize prayer and fasting in our desire to see lost people come to know Jesus.
STATION 1 → Vertical Prayers
“Father” God…”Abba” God (give a few moments) -- APPROACH
-- Celebrate the open invitation God has given you to approach him as a gracious loving Father
-- Maybe you have never viewed God as a loving Father…cry out for that relationship now
“Hallowed be Your Name” (give a few moments) -- SURRENDER
-- When you speak God’s name…is it with reverence, admiration, and awe of who He is
-- Surrender and pray for an awareness of His Kingship over your life
“Your Kingdom Come” (give a few moments) -- REPENT
-- What have you been chasing and idolizing over God’s will in your life?
-- What do you need to surrender in your life to begin pursuing His life for you?
STATION 2 → Horizontal Prayers
Daily Bread (give a few moments)
Forgiveness (give a few moments)
-- Do you need forgiveness for rebelling against God?
-- Do you need forgiveness for spiritual apathy or laziness?
-- Do you need you need to extend forgiveness first?
-- Is there someone you need to talk to this week to confess bitter feelings?
Overbearing temptation (give a few moments)
-- Are you struggling with something that continues to overwhelm you?
-- Plead for God to:
Give you strength to walk by faith
Sustain and/or increase your joy in Christ
Surround you with community to help bear the weight
STATION 3 → “Ask” Shameless Prayers
Go to God with boldness and shamelessness…
-- What have you been afraid to ask but are feeling prompted to do so now?
-- Ask Him to change the desires of your heart…to want His desires
-- Trivial requests are fine…but spend some time asking God “BIG” things:
Ask Him to break your heart for what breaks his heart
Ask Him to put people on your heart to forgive, love, pray for
STATION 4 → “Seek” Persistent Prayers
-- Seek answers from prayers you may have given up on
-- Seek wisdom and discernment to pray the right prayers
-- Seek God’s direction for life…spouse…future…
STATION 5 → “Knock” Expectant Prayers
-- It’s time to pound on the door…regardless of time of day
-- Pray expectantly for the Holy Spirit to fill you…transform you…
-- Plead for God to save: __________________
-- Plead for God to give you boldness and wisdom to share the Good News of Jesus with: ___________
-- Plead for God to heal: __________________
Discovery Bible Study:
-- Do your prayers typically reflect a vertical and horizontal aspect?
Bread
-- How difficult is it in reality to trust God for your physical Daily Bread… As well as trusting him for your spiritual/eternal bread?
*Forgiveness *
-- Is there a conversation you need to have this week to offer for giving us to someone?
-- Is there anger/bitterness/jealousy that has festered in you because you have not forgiven someone in your heart?
-- It is often times easier to forgive others than it is ourselves… Are you struggling to forgive yourself for something?
*Temptation *
-- Are there areas in your life you realize you need help with, when it comes to temptation?
-- Do you have someone in your life who loves you enough to hold you accountable in your spiritual walk?
1 -- “When” you pray?
-- If you would agree that communication is critical to the health of any relationship, especially marriage…
-- How critical, then, is prayer to our relationship with the God who we would claim we believe in, love, and trust our eternity with?
-- How does your life currently reflect the health of your relationship with God through prayer?
-- What steps can you begin taking to restore it?
2 -- “Father…hallowed be Your name”
-- How does viewing God not only as a Sovereign Creator…but as a loving, affectionate father change your attitude and heart?
-- How should it impact the way we speak of God and how we live?
-- Does your mouth and life reflect this reverence and admiration?
3 -- “Your kingdom come”
-- To pray for His Kingdom to come is a surrendering of my will to his
-- The kingdom of God is for those who have decided to follow Him
-- My preference is no longer relevant…my priorities, pride, selfishness, arrogance, laziness, anger, jealousy, fear…needs to be laid at his feet
-- Repentance and confession are a regular rhythm of a follower of Jesus...
-- How does this change your prayer life moving forward?
Have you ever wondered what your purpose/mission in life is?
What does it mean for you to 'know' God?
How can you begin and/or continue to life your life in a way that glorifies God?
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at office@northstarpulaski.org or 540.449.5800
Bible passages, quotes, and discussion questions are available on the app and Facebook page for you to read, think through, and discuss.
Rather than a simple sermon, we want to help equip you to read and study the Word of God on your own, with family, friends, and neighbors as you walk as followers of Jesus
We are excited to kick off our micro churches with you! May we worship, pray, laugh, eat, and get to know each other better as we celebrate Jesus!
As we wrap up our Forgotten Ways sermon series, we also launch our micro churches out to live on mission. It will be a special morning of celebration, prayer, and anticipation for what God has in store for the New River Valley.
This will be a powerful time of worship and prayer as we celebrate our new shift to micro churches. Come hang out and worship with us!! (We will be practicing social distancing on site, and ask that everyone wear a mask!)