God in Five Minutes!

Small Group Questions

1) How did one of these things change your life?

           a) Moving to another town.

           b) Getting married (or divorced).

           c) Having Children

           d) Leaving a job/Getting fired.

           e) Other?

2) Have you ever tried to break a bad habit e.g. smoking? How did you do it?

3) Can you describe a person you know whose life was changed for the better? How did that happen? What learning can come from that?

4) Pastor George mentioned two ways we change, a slow process and a fast one. Is there a third?

5) Of the ways we are changed by the Spirit, which one do you see happening in your life most often?

Small Group Questions

1) What is the most fascinating place you’ve visited? Why was it so cool?

2) Can you think of an example of a religious community that is too narrow, or rules-oriented, or cold? What are the defining features of this religion? Why do you think some people prefer it?

3) What are the ingredients that make a faith community loving and united in Jesus yet free and diverse? How is that practically lived out?

4) Pastor George argues that it's ok to dislike some people in your religious community because you have the opportunity to learn to love them and manage the dislike for a greater good. But is that always right? Does conflict sometimes go too far? What does it look like when it does?

Small Group Questions

1) Which one of these were you as a child:

           a) Sat at my desk and did my school work.

           b) Could not sit still and sometimes didn’t finish my school work.

           c) Was often hanging from the rafters.

           d) I would answer this question but I can’t read it because I skipped out of school.

 2) What were you successful at in high school? What gave you status there? (Ok to say “nothing, really”).

 3) Have you ever heard someone in person or on TV who seemed to say that the offering was a way to buy God’s favor? Do you think that works?

 4) John Mury began his message with, “How much are you worth?” How much do you think God is worth?

 5) If we really believed that all the wealth, status, and fame we need is in our identity as Child of God, what difference would it make in our lives? Do you think this is true? Sorta true?

Small-Group Questions

1) It is said that no matter who you are, you have power over others (or another person). Do you think that is true?

2) Do you prefer to lead or be led? Can you identify the kind of situations where you like to lead versus be led?

3) What are the characteristics of excellent leadership? And what are the characteristics of leadership that tend to be destructive? Feel free to share personal experiences with both.

4) Have you ever had an experience where you addressed wrongful leadership? How did you do that and how did it go?

5) What is God trying to teach you about leadership?

Small Group Questions

1) Do you have a black thumb or a green thumb? Have you ever tried to grow plants or vegetables?

2) What was the first job you ever did to make money? How did you do?

3) Money is valuable to us. Does it make you nervous when you are asked for money for a church or charity?

4) Are you more likely to give to a cause in the moment, when you see the need; or, in a planned out way?

5) What are other ways to be generous besides giving money?

6) Pastor George told a story about a generous farm couple. Do you have a story to tell about generosity?

Small Group Questions

1) Does the root of your name mean anything? Is your name a family name? Why were you named with that name?

2) Did you ever go through a time when you wondered what group you belonged to? (E.g. jocks in high school, etc.).

3) Describe an experience when you “crossed boundaries” to another group. How did that go? What did you learn from it?

4) How do you think Christians can be better at viewing the Kingdom of God as universal and not specific to one group?

5) Do you think the church does a good job of being in proximity with people who are different? What could the church do better about that?

Small Group Questions

1) Who are the people you love the most? How do you show it?

2) Do you think the power of the Holy Spirit is present today or was it just for biblical times?

3) Are you able to share a story about someone it was hard for you to love? How did you handle it? What worked, or didn’t work, in trying to love that person? What did you learn from it?

4) Have you ever had a moment, in a daily exchange with someone, when the conversation went from the obvious (e.g. buying gum) to something deeper and personal? Do you have any suggestions for the group about how to be aware of these opportunities to show God’s love?

Small Group Questions

1) What do you do with spare change?

2) On a scale of 1 = 5, how well do you accept change? 1 is you don’t like change at all while 5 is you thrive on it.

3) Describe a major change in your life. What did it feel like? How did you cope?

4) Have you ever gone through a change in your church that made you feel uncomfortable? Or perhaps you felt better? (There is no right answer to this question!).

5) When it comes to a family, or business, or church: how do you think one can keep a balance between preserving traditional anchors that anchor you, while making changes to adjust to a changing culture?

Small Group Questions

1) What kind of environment did you grow up in? E.g. Urban, Farm, Suburban. How do you think it influenced you?

2) Were you ever in a situation you felt you needed to get out of quickly?

3) Were you ever in a situation you disliked, but you stayed in it? Why did you do that? What did you learn through that?

4) What do you think really changes people:

           a) Listening to sermons

           b) Learning about God and the Bible

           d) A crisis

           e) Stepping out in courage to live your faith in an unpopular way.

           f) Other:

           g) I don’t think people ever really change.

If you’re comfortable doing so, describe your answer.

Small group questions:

1) Do you get depressed at Christmas time? Why do you think people do?

2) What myths and fantasies were told to you when you were young by your parents, and you now tell to your children, if you have them?

3) What do you think is that deep longing inside of us that yeans for Something magical and fantastic?

4) How is the coming of Jesus in Bethlehem like a Disney story…and unlike a Disney story?

5) What one thing do you think you should change about the way you celebrate Christmas?