"Do you understand what I have done to you?" - John 13:1-17 (8/3/14)

1. Have someone read the passage out loud.
2. Charles talked about us chasing greatness, how does the world around us define greatness? Where are the places that the world looks for greatness? Where are the places that we look for greatness?
3. How does Jesus, by his actions and his words, re-orient our understanding of greatness?
4. What was so revolutionary about Jesus' redefining of greatness?
5. How can you live out this new form of greatness (service / foot washing) in your family, church, work, neighborhood, etc? Try and be specific and don't limit yourself to just your service as an individual but include service as a community.

"Confronting Our Ingratitude" - Luke 17:11-19 (7/27/14)

1. Remind one another of the various parts of the story from Luke 17:11-19.

2. What was the reason the Jesus told them to present themselves to the priest?

3. Can you think of a time that you were not grateful for something God had done for you? Why is it easy for us to forget God's grace and not have gratitude?

4. Name some of the ways that you've seen God work on your behalf.

5. What are the ways that we can express gratitude for what God has done? Think about this individually as well as corporately.

What Good is Salt Without Taste? Matthew 5:13-16 (July 20, 2014)

1. In this passage, what does Jesus tell us about our identity?

2. From the sermon, what are two ways that the church can engage in the world?

3. Do you find yourself more prone to one of these ways more than the other?  What are some positive and negative aspects about both these ways?

4. Where are the places that you can act as an agent of "halt" and as an agent of "help" in your spheres?

Take some time and pray together, asking God to give you opportunities to be a man and woman who acts to halt and to help.

What Should God Do? Matthew 21:33-46 (6/22/14)

1. What are the things / people in your life that you struggle to have patience with?

2. How does this passage show us God's patience?  What does this reflect about God's disposition towards his people?

3. Who is deserving of God's justice?  What is his justice?  

4. How does this parable speak about God's justice?

5. This passage directs us to be a "fruitful vineyard;" how can the church live out its purpose of being a "fruitful vineyard" in the world (try to be specific)?

Love Your Enemies: Matthew 5:43-48 // June 15, 2014

1. Who are the people that you are rooting and / or raging against?

2. Why is seeking to be neutral (neither hating nor loving) those people not a valid option?

3. We are encouraged by this passage to love those we hate by praying.  What are the things that we can pray for those who are our enemies and for ourselves?

4. What are some other Scriptures that are examples of praying for and blessing enemies?

5. How will remembering God's love for enemies, his love for us, affect the way we love each other?

Matthew 8:23-27: Why Are You Afraid? (June 8, 2014)

1) Matthew describes the boat as undergoing "great turbulence" [the word he uses for 'storm']. When have you experienced the turbulence of life? 

2) In Mark's account (Mark 4:38) and in Psalm 10:1, the Bible accuses God of being indifferent to our hardship.  When have you felt these same sentiments?  How does it make you feel that these words are expressed?

3) Why is trusting in Jesus as a stranger helpful to our Christian walk? 

4) From this passage, how do we see Jesus as our companion?

5) Are there situations right now that are calling for courageous faith?  What are some practical steps you need to take to discover that courage? 

What Do You Want? Matthew 20:29-34

1. The reason that the blind men were approaching Jesus seems obvious, so why did Jesus ask his question?

2. The blind men were asking for freedom from what plagued them, what plagues you that you need freedom from?  Try to be specific.

3. What signal is Jesus sending by healing the men right before he entered Jerusalem?

4. What are we to do in response to this?  How does interrogating our desires help us "get to the bottom" of our behaviors?  And how does that help us?