Grace Point Church

Isaiah 9:6-7

Review the 'value add' that Jesus is to our life when we see him as our WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD?

What is the difference between the transcendence of God and the immanence of God? How is God both near and far? Approachable and beyond approach? God is with us and God is beyond us.

Reflect on a time when Jesus has shown you to be your caring and compassionate, or clear and directional, Father.

What does it mean to have an ‘everlasting’ Father?

How is having and “everlasting Father” show our God is without limits? (Eph 3:20)

How does the translation of the Bible point to a God who wants to have a relationship with us? (Acts 2:6; Psalm 119:105)

Discuss what you might do around Christmas Eve as a group. Could some of your group attend the Christmas gathering as a group? In a recent GPC church wide survey, 60% of our people are changing their holiday plans due to COVID. Try to make sure no one in your group is left alone at Christmas (unless it’s by their own choosing).

Isaiah 9:6-7

Who was your favorite superhero growing up (or maybe now)? Why?

How does Jesus encourage us to respond when the 'world's gloom' or trials overwhelm us? (John 16:33)

How does light dispel the gloom (or darkness) in us? Share a time when Jesus brought light to a gloomy period. (John 8:12)

Why do some people have a hard time believing Jesus is God? Share how you came to faith in Jesus as God.

See below a list of prophecies of Jesus (Messianic prophecies) and have the group read through (some of) them. Notice both the prophecy and the fulfillment of the prophecy.

Jesus isn’t 'just' God, he is MIGHTY God. Share a time when you sensed Jesus mighty in your life.

What did Mike’s life principle mean: Many people have a mini god. A few people have one MIGHTY GOD.

What are the repercussions of having a small view of God?

Why don’t you - as a group - discuss attending the January 10th Sunday evening “How Big Is Your Universe” event? Text UNIVERSE to 97000

Isaiah 9:6-7

Who was your favorite superhero growing up (or maybe now)? Why?

How does Jesus encourage us to respond when the 'world's gloom' or trials overwhelm us? (John 16:33)

How does light dispel the gloom (or darkness) in us? Share a time when Jesus brought light to a gloomy period. (John 8:12)

Why do some people have a hard time believing Jesus is God? Share how you came to faith in Jesus as God.

See below a list of prophecies of Jesus (Messianic prophecies) and have the group read through (some of) them. Notice both the prophecy and the fulfillment of the prophecy.

Jesus isn’t 'just' God, he is MIGHTY God. Share a time when you sensed Jesus mighty in your life.

What did Mike’s life principle mean: Many people have a mini god. A few people have one MIGHTY GOD.

What are the repercussions of having a small view of God?

Why don’t you - as a group - discuss attending the January 10th Sunday evening “How Big Is Your Universe” event? Text UNIVERSE to 97000

Isaiah 9:1-7

Beyond some direct impact of the COVID virus attacking the body, what other residual impacts have you seen happen in this pandemic season? (eg. loneliness, depression, anxiety, etc)

How do you help people through the residual impacts? Or how are you coping with the residual impacts you are experiencing?

When considering Jesus to be our WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, which emotional response do you think or feel?

•Wish I could set an appointment with Him.

•I got this. Only weak people use counselors.

•All counselors are crazy.

•He has brought me comfort and direction anytime I have met with him.

Read John 8:12 – Share a time in your life when listening to godly counsel shed much needed light on a situation or helped you in a decision.

How does Christmas - tied with the fact that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit counsel us - point to the fact that Jesus is WITH US and FOR US (Matthew 1:23; John 14:16, 26)

What synonyms can be used to describe “wonderful” in the Wonderful Counselor title that Jesus carried?

What decision are you facing right now that you need the guidance of a wonderful counselor? (Read and pray Psalm 23 over your group)

Isaiah 9:1-7

Beyond some direct impact of the COVID virus attacking the body, what other residual impacts have you seen happen in this pandemic season? (eg. loneliness, depression, anxiety, etc)

How do you help people through the residual impacts? Or how are you coping with the residual impacts you are experiencing?

When considering Jesus to be our WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, which emotional response do you think or feel?

•Wish I could set an appointment with Him.

•I got this. Only weak people use counselors.

•All counselors are crazy.

•He has brought me comfort and direction anytime I have met with him.

Read John 8:12 – Share a time in your life when listening to godly counsel shed much needed light on a situation or helped you in a decision.

How does Christmas - tied with the fact that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit counsel us - point to the fact that Jesus is WITH US and FOR US (Matthew 1:23; John 14:16, 26)

What synonyms can be used to describe “wonderful” in the Wonderful Counselor title that Jesus carried?

What decision are you facing right now that you need the guidance of a wonderful counselor? (Read and pray Psalm 23 over your group)

Grace Point Church is joining in prayer for the Little Horse people group in East Asia. In this episode, Caleb Gabriele interviews a missionary to the area.

Grace Point Church is joining in prayer for the Little Horse people group in East Asia. In this episode, Caleb Gabriele interviews a missionary to the area.

Proverbs 16:18-20

Why do you think having a heart of thanksgiving vs. having a heart of pride are so counter to each other? Describe a time in your life when you had a heart of thanksgiving. Describe a time the you had a heart of pride.

Mike said in a Life PRINCIPLE: Pride is innate; gratitude is a choice. Do you believe this? How have you seen it lived out in your own life experience?

How dangerous is pride? Divide up the verses and let people read them and list out the impact of pride. (Proverbs 16: 5, 18-19; 15: 25; 26:12; 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6)

Why do we have a hard time detecting our own pride?

What are the three attitudes of prideful people that Mike spoke of? (Anti-authority; I win; I got this)

What is “delegated authority?” What are some examples of "delegated authority?"

What happened to King Uzziah? How did pride end up being his downfall? (2 Chron 26:15-16)

How does “success” feed our pride? What is the danger it can have to our spiritual life? (Proverbs 30:8-9)

How is humility the antidote to pride? What is the advantage of humility over pride? (Proverbs 18:12; 3:34; 29:23; 22:4 and 1 Peter 5:6)

Proverbs 16:18-20

Why do you think having a heart of thanksgiving vs. having a heart of pride are so counter to each other? Describe a time in your life when you had a heart of thanksgiving. Describe a time the you had a heart of pride.

Mike said in a Life PRINCIPLE: Pride is innate; gratitude is a choice. Do you believe this? How have you seen it lived out in your own life experience?

How dangerous is pride? Divide up the verses and let people read them and list out the impact of pride. (Proverbs 16: 5, 18-19; 15: 25; 26:12; 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6)

Why do we have a hard time detecting our own pride?

What are the three attitudes of prideful people that Mike spoke of? (Anti-authority; I win; I got this)

What is “delegated authority?” What are some examples of "delegated authority?"

What happened to King Uzziah? How did pride end up being his downfall? (2 Chron 26:15-16)

How does “success” feed our pride? What is the danger it can have to our spiritual life? (Proverbs 30:8-9)

How is humility the antidote to pride? What is the advantage of humility over pride? (Proverbs 18:12; 3:34; 29:23; 22:4 and 1 Peter 5:6)

Proverbs 16:1-4

If someone were to ask you "what is the meaning of life?" - Could you answer them in a clear and compelling statement in under 30 seconds?

Read Proverbs 16:1-4 – What are the key words in this text that point to the domains of our life? What is a common word that is true in every verse (LORD)?

How should “the LORD” be defining and influencing our purpose in life?

EXISTENCE: Do you ever struggle with why you are alive? (Jeremiah 20:18) How do you reconcile your answer with Scripture (Prov 16:4, Eph 4:10)

SIGNIFICANCE: Has God ever given you a word or verse that has given you a sense of direction in your purpose in life? (Isaiah 49:4-5

What does it mean to have significance behind your life?

INTENTION: How does a relationship with God help steer our paths forward in life? (Col 1:16; Prov 4:18)