This is our third week in our series through the book of James.

For Discussion:

1. What is the most meaningful thing someone has ever said to you or about you? How did that impact you? 
2. Do you feel like your words bring life to people more regularly than causing harm?
3. What could you do in the next week to be more conscious  of the words that you use?
4. What stories are you telling yourself about other people that are negatively influencing the way you think about them?

For Families:

1. Has anyone ever said anything mean or unkind to you? How did that make you feel?
2. Who are the people that you talk to the most in your life? How could you do a better job of using your words to be kind and loving towards them? 

For Discussion

1. Have you ever had a season of life when you have doubted the legitimacy of your faith or salvation? What did you do to get through that season? 
2. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “The evidence of your faith is the good works you produce.”
3. What are then”private works” that are evident in your life currently? (Prayer, silence and solitude, reading scripture ect…)
4. What are the things that make your life distinct from people who do not follow Jesus?

For Families 

1. What are some things you do regularly that show you know Jesus? 
2. What could you do to start having a personal or private relationship with Jesus? 

This is the first week in our sermon series "Gym Class" taking us through the book of James. 

For Discussion:

1. Do you have any fun stories from gym class growing up?
2. What are the trials you are currently facing?
3. Pastor Chris listed two enemies of transformation- comfort and control. How do you see those things impacting the way you are facing the trials in your life. 

For Families:

1. What are some difficult things that you have gone through?What lessons did you learn from those things?
2. How do you respond when something is uncomfortable or out of your control? 

This is the fourth and final week of our series on identity in Christ. This week we talk about how, as children of God, we are then missionaries to the world.

For Discussion:

1. What kind of life are you modeling for others to see?
2. Is the idea of modeling your transformed life different  from your idea of evangelism? If so, how?
3. Who are the people that you regularly influence? How could you do a better job of modeling your transformed life for them?
4. What will you do this week to put what you have learned into practice?

For Families:

1. When people see the way you act, how does it look like Jesus?
2. Who are the people you see every week? What could you do to show them the way you love Jesus? 

This is the third message in our series about our identity in Christ. We explore the idea of wha tit means to be adopted into God's family. 

For Discussion:

1. What comes to mind when you think of being adopted into God's family?
2. What would your life be like if Jesus was not a part of it?
3. How have you seen the following statement play out in your life? "Our relationship with our brothers impacts our relationship with our father."
4. Do you have people in your life that regularly encourage you to keep becoming more like Jesus?

For Families: 

1. What do you think about when you hear the idea of being "adopted" or becoming a part of God's family?
2. How would you imagine your life would be different if Jesus wasn't a part of it?
3. Who are the people who cheer you on and help you become more like Jesus?

Week 2 of our series on our identity in Christ!

For Discussion:

1. Has there ever been a time in your life where you had to forgive someone for somethign difficult? Share about that experience.
2. Has there ever been a time in your life when you had to seek forgiveness from someone else? Share about that experience. 
3. Are there patterns of behavior in your life that you have difficulty believing that God has forgiven?
4. Is there a grudge you are currently holding that you want to work towards letting go of?
5. How would remembering your own forgiveness help you forgive others more easily?

For Families:

1. This week we learned that if we have a relationship with Jesus, all our sins for all of time have been forgiven already. Which sins are you most happy that you have been forgiven for? 
2. Is it difficult for you to ask for forgiveness from others when you have hurt them? When you have been hurt, how do you feel about forgiving the one who caused you pain? What can we learn from the example of Jesus forgiving all of our sins?

Week 1 in our series about our identity in Christ!

For Discussion: 

1. What role do outside influences (cultural expectations, social media, peer pressure, ect..) play in shaping your self worth? 
2. What are some practical examples of what you do when you "forget" that you are loved by God?
3. What are a few ways that you could reinforce what God says about your value as opposed to those external influences?
4. How could being confident in God's love for us change our ability to love others? 

For Families

1. Sometimes when we forget God loves us, we pretend and hide from Him. Can you think of a time when you felt like you had to hide something from God or someone else so that they would like you better or live you more? What could you have done instead?
2. When we know we are loved by God, it changes that wya we are able to love other people. Do you think you are good at loving other people? How have you loved other people well this week? How could you love people even better? 

In our final message of the series, we are reminded that there is no making disciples without remaining and abiding in Christ. 

For Discussion:

1. What are your biggest fears when thinking about going and making disciples?
2. What normal spiritual rhythms are a part of your life that help you "remain in Jesus"?
3. What fruit have you seen in your own life or in the life of others as you "remain" in Jesus?

For Families:

1. What do you regularly do to love Jesus more?
2. How can we help each other to continue to grow in our love for Jesus?

In our final sermon sermon series we are examining what is needed as we go out into the world to make disciples. This week we are challenged with the importance of participating in a local church body. 

For Discussion:

1. What has been your experience, good or bad, with the local church?
2. How will you devote yourself to prayer in the next few months regarding finding a church?
3. What will be your plan to find a local church to be a part of in the coming months?

For Families:

1. Spend time praying with your family about what church God desires for you to join.

This week we learn about the essentials for going out and making disciples. AKA one another.

For Discussion:

1. What is something that you feel you lack when it comes to making disciples?
2. How have you experienced the benefits of having community in your life?
3. Have you ever had a negative experience with a community you have been a part of?
4. What can you do to either join a community or recommit to a community this week?

For Families

1. Who is someone that encourages and supports you?
2. How can you also be a good friend to that person this week?