GCF Hays

Life Group Questions

1.   An irresistible church links everything to a soul. What does this mean to you?

2.   Are you fully confident in the person God created you to be? Are you using your giftings to transform lives for Christ?

3.   Have you obeyed God‘s call, even when it was out of your comfort zone, and what was the result?

4.   What can you do differently to transform lives for Christ at home, in the workplace, at school, or at church?

Life Group Questions

1. Pastor Ryan described a church who values relationships as one that “promotes and encourages a sense of unity in the bonds of love.” What does this mean to you?

2. God wants all Christians to grow in maturity and wisdom. Prov. 12:16 and 1 Cor. 13:5 tell us to ignore insults, not be easily angered, and to not keep a record of wrongs. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate yourself in each of these three directives? Explain why.

3. In Matt. 5:23-24, Jesus is essentially saying that being in right relationship with others is more important than “playing church” and that we need to make things right with others first. Whether you have offended someone or you are offended at someone else, do you quickly resolve that issue or do you sweep it under the rug and hope it disappears on its own?

4. Read John 13:34-35 and 1 John 3:14. What did you learn from these verses?

5. Romans 12:9 says, “Love must be sincere.” We get the English word “sincere” from the latin word “sincerus” meaning “without wax.” What does “without wax” mean and how does this effect how we should love each other?

Life Group Questions

1. Since Sunday, has God given you an opportunity to take a risk? Please share if applicable.

2. John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow Me.” Do you know God's voice, and do you follow what He says to do?

3. Share a story from your life about a time when God told you to do something outside of your comfort zone and how it helped you grow spiritually. 

4. Would you describe yourself as a “faith champion” or a “dream killer?” Explain why.

5. When analyzing your life, do you sow lots of seeds to build the Kingdom of God, or is this honestly not even on your radar daily?

Life Group Questions

1. “When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” ~ G.K. Chesterton.
a. What is your reaction to this quote?
b. How can you live your life differently in light of this quote?

2. Please describe the best circumstances in which you should practice gratefulness.

3. We all fail to practice gratefulness. What is the typical reason that you fail to practice gratefulness?

4. Should you evaluate a church and its people based on your preferences? If so, why? If not, why and what standard should be used? Explain.

5. Who, in your life, are you taking for granted? How will you express your gratitude?

Bonus: Here is a list of church-related services that are often taken for granted. Pick one or two. Find out who does it. Express your gratitude.
a. Work crew – landscaping; repair
b. Cleaning crew – cleans the buildings weekly
c. Ministry heads – leading mens’ and womens’ ministry and events
d. Pastors & Elders
e. Communion setup
f. Social media & graphics
g. Photos
h. Discipleship program leaders and mentors
i. Counseling program
j. Church administration
k. Lodge event sales and management
l. Digital ministry (website, apps, church center, and planning center)
m. Youth leaders
n. Kingdom Kids leaders
o. Nursery leaders
p. Life Group leaders
q. Strike team (setup/teardown/signs)
r. First Impressions Ministry team (greeters/hospitality)
s. Worship team and audio/visual team
t. Sunday School teachers
u. Announcement team

Discussion Notes:

1. Describe a time in your life when you “showed well” but behind the scenes, your heart was far from God. What did you learn from this season in your life?

2. Pastor Ryan described living heart first as “living with a genuine, deep-rooted desire to joyfully walk down the paths that God calls us to.” Are you joyfully walking in God’s calling for your life? Explain.

3. Lamentations 3:40 says, “Let us examine and probe our ways and let us return to the Lord.” It is important for all Christians to assess their lives and have a heart to “return to the Lord.” How does this apply to your life right now?

4. Do you serve out of willingness or drudgery? No matter the answer, explain why.

5. Do you live like your life depends on it? What do you think would change if you did?

Life Group Questions

Key Verse:
Matthew 22:35-40 – One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

1. Pastor Rob opened up about his past talking about not having a loving heart, being angry and alone, and not wanting to want to deal with others around him. Have you felt like this recently and what are you currently doing to change that?

2. "Send people into my path or allow me to cross paths with someone who needs to hear about Jesus." Give an example recently or not of a situation where you shared your heart and talked about Jesus to someone else.

3. The two greatest commandments are to love God and love others, in that order. Share some examples from your life when you lived out these commandments.

4. Pastor Rob read a letter to a GMI Pastor from a church member (See letter below). Are you investing in someone right now by how you live your life?

"When you gave your life to Jesus, you invested in me. When you answered God's call to ministry, you invested in me. When you decided to be faithful to your wife and your family, you invested in me. When you turned disappointments and defeats into victories, you invested in me. When you refused to compromise in area after area, year after year, you invested in me. For all of the "me's" in GMI and around the world, thank you for continuing to give your life. Please don't stop. You are showing each of us how to do the same."

Life Group Questions

Key Verse
1 Peter 5:5-6 – “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

1. Pastor Lee explained that there is a difference between “humbling yourself” and “being humbled.” Explain what “humbling yourself” means to you.

2. Share about a time when you were able to perform a “hidden service” and how it made you feel.

3. How does humility help you support the mission and leaders of this church?

4. Tell about a time when you or someone you know was ruined by not handling success well or how you or someone you know was blessed by handling success in humility.