GCF Hays

Life Group Questions

1.  What has God called you to do?

2.  Read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus came to proclaim freedom for the captives. The Greek word translated to “freedom” or “liberty” means “free run.” Is that how you would describe your life? “Free run,” with no limitations and nothing holding you back from your God-given destiny?

3.  Do you currently feel like you are held captive to something or someone? Remember that this can be mental, emotional, physical, and/or spiritual captivity.

4.  Pastor Ryan said that one of the devil’s primary tactics is to whisper toxic thoughts into your spirit. These are lies, deceptions, and errors. Share about a time in your life when you experienced this and won victory over it.

5.  Pastor Ryan listed four types of lies that the devil tries to get us to believe:

-      Lies about God

-      Lies about ourselves

-      Lies about sin

-      Lies about others

Which of these lies are you currently struggling with and how can the group pray for you?

Life Group Questions

1.  What was your main takeaway from this week’s teaching on brokenness?

2.  Pastor Rob talked about some causes of a broken heart:

·     Abuse (Verbal / Physical / Sexual)

·     Loss

·     Neglected / Rejected

·     Failure

·     Betrayal

Which of these have you experienced victory over and how can you use that testimony to bring someone else closer to Jesus?

3.  One of the most common coping mechanisms is denial. You see this with people who might “put on a happy face” or say, “I’m good” instead of being honest with themselves and others. 

Read: Matthew 11:28-29

Jesus clearly and lovingly invites us to release every wearisome burden, and if we allow Him to guide & direct our lives, He guarantees rest for our souls. Are there areas in your life that you need replaced with the rest Jesus offers? Share them with the group.

4.  Pastor Rob shared this quote from Bill Hybels: “What if you knew that by simply crossing the room and saying hello to someone, you could change that person forever? Just a few steps to make an eternal difference. It has nothing to do with methods and everything to do with taking a genuine interest in another human being.” Jesus took the ultimate walk across the room for you. Share how this challenges you to be willing to walk across the room for others.

Life Group Questions

1.  What is “The year of the Lord’s favor?”

2.  Pastor Ryan said, “So many Christians only experience half of their life in God.” They focus only on receiving from God and miss opportunities every day to minister to others. Described the last time you ministered to someone.

3.  Read Col. 1:27. People all around us have been devastated by circumstances in life. Their only hope is the local church (Christ in you, the hope of glory). How has your perspective changed since hearing this truth from scripture?

4.  Pastor Ryan encouraged all of us to “see people differently.” What did he mean by this? How does this apply to you?

5.  All people are born separated from God and have a God-shaped hole in their life because they are spiritually empty until they invite Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Do you know that Jesus is your Savior? If not, is there anything holding you back from surrendering all to Him so that you can be healed and set free? If you are a born-again believer, who has God put on your heart to reach out to this week?

Life Group Questions

1. What was the main thing you pulled from this relationship principle?

2. Share a time when you did not believe the best about someone and how it affected your relationship with that person. 

3. Pastor Rob talked about relationships being our church's thing. Do you remember when you first walked in grace? Share how you felt and how you are mirroring that for others in our church. 

4. Out of the five relationship principles, Faithfulness Principle, Four-day Principle, Friendship Principle, First-word Principle, and Final-word Principle, which one is the most challenging for you at this moment and why? 

Life Group Questions

1.  In your own words, what is the First-Word Principle? How does it help maintain and grow relationships?

2.  Read Matthew 18:15. This verse provides five key points about resolving personal conflicts. What are they? Please discuss.

3.  Do you recall a situation in your life where you were seemingly the last person to know about someone having a problem with you? If you can, please talk about that. How did it affect those relationships?

4.  In Matthew 18:7, the English word “offense” is translated from the Greek word “skandalon,” which means the trigger of a trap on which bait is placed. Discuss how this biblical fact colors your understanding of what an offense is.

5.  What is a secondary offense? What is gossip? How are they damaging to relationships…the church? Have you experienced gossip, as the subject of the gossip or a participant? If so, please share what happened.

Life Group Questions

1.   What are some of your biggest personal takeaways from the relationship principles series so far?

2.  Why is it important for our church to remain in unity? Bonus question: What are the key bible verses for this series?

3.  In week one, Pastor Ryan taught the faithfulness principle. What is the faithfulness principle and how does will this challenge you moving forward?

4.  In week two, Kasey taught the four-day principle. What is the four-day principle and will you commit to following this in your relationships in the church?

5.  Last Sunday, Pastor Ryan taught the friendship principle. What is the friendship principle? Do you find yourself to be someone who makes every effort to keep the unity in your relationships or do you avoid confrontation and hold grudges?