Grace Point Church

Text: Matthew 16:13-20

Mike talked about “relational disintegration,” what is it? Have you experienced any relational disintegration in this season? How do you rebuild the relationships that have drifted a part due to COVID isolation?

When Mike said the best way to bless a community is to start a church, what value can a healthy church bring to a community?

How has Grace Point showed value to our community over the past 6 months

(Group leaders let your people brainstorm, but here are some of the ways…)

Offering onsite and virtual counseling for families in crisis

Blessing bags for truck drivers

Meals for Mercy health care workers,

Meals for local nursery home workers

Sending a team to work in the recovery of Hurricane Laura

Trying to bring peace to the racial tension

Increased our online quality and reach through social media, launching a YouTube channel, to better communicate to people simply surfing the web for faith, hope and love.

Continuing our financial commitments to our global workers so they wouldn’t feel cut off from those who love and support them.

An appreciation meal was served to the Bentonville Police Department.

Reread Matthew 16:15-16, how does Peter’s Theology shape his worship (doxology)? What does it mean that “theology precedes doxology?”

How does our worship show or point to KNOWING GOD.

Read Colossians 3:16 – break out all the qualities of a worship experienced contained in this verse.

Matthew 16:17-18 when Jesus talked about building his church, what is the original meaning of the concept church and how does that apply to us being the church and LOVING PEOPLE

What does the phrase “the gates of hell will not prevail” mean (v.18)?

How does Satan want to destroy, disarm, detour and distract Jesus’ church?

Matthew 16:18-19 How does the Church LIVING SENT expand God’s Kingdom.

This week, we will hear from Lori McDaniel as she continues our LOVE BETTER series. Below is the discussion guide based on her message. There is a ton of information/questions as you dialogue in your group. Feel free to use what you wish to guide your discussion.

Thank you for all you do! Please know that we are praying for you as you lead your group!

TEXT - Romans 15

1. The message focused on “How can we love those distanced from us - people on another continent that speak a different language, eat different food, drive on a different side of the road?”

Is it even our responsibility as believers to love people so far away?

How do we love those who are believers?

How can we love those who are of a different religion and don’t know Christ?

2. Let’s look at the church in Rome that Paul wrote to. They were made up of Jews following Christ and Gentiles following Christ. Each group had their own traditions. Read Romans 14:1-9. What kind of differences did they have? How did Paul address their differences and encourage them?

3. Why is unity important in a church if they are to advance the kingdom of God not just locally, but also globally? In what ways does disunity threaten to disrupt a church from participating in God’s global mission?

4. Paul quotes verses from the Old Testament to support his mission cause of making Christ name known among the Gentiles. (See verses from Psalm and Isaiah quoted in Romans 15: 9, 10, 11, 12, 21) All of Scripture speaks to God’s mission of making His name known in all the earth. His mission has been given to the church. When you consider God’s mission of making His name known, what role do you see yourself playing?

5. Read 2 Cor 5:14-15: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

When you read this verse and consider such strong words like “Christ's love compels us” and “we are convinced” and “who no longer live for themselves but for Christ,” what stirs within you regarding your life and how you live it?

6. Paul says that he makes it his “ambition to preach Christ where He has not yet been named.” It’s hard to imagine places that have no gospel access. Today, where are these places or areas that have little to no gospel access? Who are these people? Determine one nation to pray for.

7. Paul inspired and pleaded with the church in Rome to do two things:

1) help him on his journey to Spain (15:24) and

2) strive with him in prayer (15:30).

How are giving and praying a part of God’s mission of making His name known in all the earth?

According to these verses, what should we pray concerning others hearing about Christ?

What was Paul’s prayer in Romans 10:1?

What did Paul ask to be prayed in Colossians 4:3?

What did Jesus tell his disciples to pray? Matthew 9:38?

This week, we will hear from Lori McDaniel as she continues our LOVE BETTER series. Below is the discussion guide based on her message. There is a ton of information/questions as you dialogue in your group. Feel free to use what you wish to guide your discussion.

Thank you for all you do! Please know that we are praying for you as you lead your group!

TEXT - Romans 15

1. The message focused on “How can we love those distanced from us - people on another continent that speak a different language, eat different food, drive on a different side of the road?”

Is it even our responsibility as believers to love people so far away?

How do we love those who are believers?

How can we love those who are of a different religion and don’t know Christ?

2. Let’s look at the church in Rome that Paul wrote to. They were made up of Jews following Christ and Gentiles following Christ. Each group had their own traditions. Read Romans 14:1-9. What kind of differences did they have? How did Paul address their differences and encourage them?

3. Why is unity important in a church if they are to advance the kingdom of God not just locally, but also globally? In what ways does disunity threaten to disrupt a church from participating in God’s global mission?

4. Paul quotes verses from the Old Testament to support his mission cause of making Christ name known among the Gentiles. (See verses from Psalm and Isaiah quoted in Romans 15: 9, 10, 11, 12, 21) All of Scripture speaks to God’s mission of making His name known in all the earth. His mission has been given to the church. When you consider God’s mission of making His name known, what role do you see yourself playing?

5. Read 2 Cor 5:14-15: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

When you read this verse and consider such strong words like “Christ's love compels us” and “we are convinced” and “who no longer live for themselves but for Christ,” what stirs within you regarding your life and how you live it?

6. Paul says that he makes it his “ambition to preach Christ where He has not yet been named.” It’s hard to imagine places that have no gospel access. Today, where are these places or areas that have little to no gospel access? Who are these people? Determine one nation to pray for.

7. Paul inspired and pleaded with the church in Rome to do two things:

1) help him on his journey to Spain (15:24) and

2) strive with him in prayer (15:30).

How are giving and praying a part of God’s mission of making His name known in all the earth?

According to these verses, what should we pray concerning others hearing about Christ?

What was Paul’s prayer in Romans 10:1?

What did Paul ask to be prayed in Colossians 4:3?

What did Jesus tell his disciples to pray? Matthew 9:38?

This week, we will hear from Lori McDaniel as she continues our LOVE BETTER series. Below is the discussion guide based on her message. There is a ton of information/questions as you dialogue in your group. Feel free to use what you wish to guide your discussion.

Thank you for all you do! Please know that we are praying for you as you lead your group!

TEXT - Romans 15

1. The message focused on “How can we love those distanced from us - people on another continent that speak a different language, eat different food, drive on a different side of the road?”

Is it even our responsibility as believers to love people so far away?

How do we love those who are believers?

How can we love those who are of a different religion and don’t know Christ?

2. Let’s look at the church in Rome that Paul wrote to. They were made up of Jews following Christ and Gentiles following Christ. Each group had their own traditions. Read Romans 14:1-9. What kind of differences did they have? How did Paul address their differences and encourage them?

3. Why is unity important in a church if they are to advance the kingdom of God not just locally, but also globally? In what ways does disunity threaten to disrupt a church from participating in God’s global mission?

4. Paul quotes verses from the Old Testament to support his mission cause of making Christ name known among the Gentiles. (See verses from Psalm and Isaiah quoted in Romans 15: 9, 10, 11, 12, 21) All of Scripture speaks to God’s mission of making His name known in all the earth. His mission has been given to the church. When you consider God’s mission of making His name known, what role do you see yourself playing?

5. Read 2 Cor 5:14-15: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

When you read this verse and consider such strong words like “Christ's love compels us” and “we are convinced” and “who no longer live for themselves but for Christ,” what stirs within you regarding your life and how you live it?

6. Paul says that he makes it his “ambition to preach Christ where He has not yet been named.” It’s hard to imagine places that have no gospel access. Today, where are these places or areas that have little to no gospel access? Who are these people? Determine one nation to pray for.

7. Paul inspired and pleaded with the church in Rome to do two things:

1) help him on his journey to Spain (15:24) and

2) strive with him in prayer (15:30).

How are giving and praying a part of God’s mission of making His name known in all the earth?

According to these verses, what should we pray concerning others hearing about Christ?

What was Paul’s prayer in Romans 10:1?

What did Paul ask to be prayed in Colossians 4:3?

What did Jesus tell his disciples to pray? Matthew 9:38?

Picture this scenario: you have volunteered to be part of an experience with a diverse group of people from several local churches. When you get into the group, you are told that the purpose of the group is to talk about the following topics/themes:

o Racism

o Gender discrimination

o Classism

o Political polarization

o Caring for those with special needs

o Theological differences

o Generational gaps

1. What do you sense happen in your body when you find out you’ll be discussing these themes? (Be specific and particular with how each topic relates to how it makes you feel physically.)

2. What is it about these topics individually that triggered your body to respond?

3. What thoughts or images come into your mind as you reflect on each individual theme? (They may not be something you agree with, but they come up anyway.)

4. What are your fears and hopes for yourself, your family, your church, and your community when it comes to each individual theme?

Central Text: Read John 17:20-23

Ask:

· Do you think unity is a problem for believers right now? Why or why not?

· What are some core character qualities we need to have in order to be unified with other believers?

· Read John 13:34-35. How will the world recognize us as Jesus’ disciples?

· How does love for one another create unity?

· What changes need to be made in your life so that Jesus’ prayer of unity can be true of you?

Picture this scenario: you have volunteered to be part of an experience with a diverse group of people from several local churches. When you get into the group, you are told that the purpose of the group is to talk about the following topics/themes:

o Racism

o Gender discrimination

o Classism

o Political polarization

o Caring for those with special needs

o Theological differences

o Generational gaps

1. What do you sense happen in your body when you find out you’ll be discussing these themes? (Be specific and particular with how each topic relates to how it makes you feel physically.)

2. What is it about these topics individually that triggered your body to respond?

3. What thoughts or images come into your mind as you reflect on each individual theme? (They may not be something you agree with, but they come up anyway.)

4. What are your fears and hopes for yourself, your family, your church, and your community when it comes to each individual theme?

Central Text: Read John 17:20-23

Ask:

· Do you think unity is a problem for believers right now? Why or why not?

· What are some core character qualities we need to have in order to be unified with other believers?

· Read John 13:34-35. How will the world recognize us as Jesus’ disciples?

· How does love for one another create unity?

· What changes need to be made in your life so that Jesus’ prayer of unity can be true of you?

"LOVE BETTER" Questions

The topic today may bring out a lot of emotion or it may cause others who normally share to shut down. Being sensitive and listening to both are critical as your group shares. Don’t feel like you have to have all the answers as a leader.

Here are some good ground rules to keep in mind:

No bitter talk about anyone or name dropping. It doesn’t need to become a gripe session.

Please share respectfully and guard against telling someone else what they ought to do. Rather, allow the scripture passage to direct and guide.

Be prayerful - open in prayer and close in prayer. When sharing how we've been hurt by others, it can potentially open up negative emotions. Prayer is a part of the healing process. You might even read James 5:16 again together as a group.

Focus less on the offender or the offense and more on how we can respond to our offender. Notice that Jesus wasn’t addressing the OFFENDERS in the passage, but those who have been OFFENDED.

Central Text: Luke 6:27-36

Of the five dimensions of love (easy, family, mutual, sacrificial, and mercy), why is sacrificial and mercy love the hardest? Why do you think Mike said that some people never make it to having sacrificial and mercy love?

What is the difference between mercy and grace?

Notice from the message last week and this week how “mercy” love is promoted as the BETTER LOVE (read Luke 10:36-37 and Luke 6:36). Now read Micah 6:8. How important is mercy to the character and expression of our life and love?

When reflecting on the four ways we express mercy stated in Luke 6:27-28 (loving our enemies, doing good to our haters, blessings our cursers, praying for our abusers), which are you the best at? Which are the most challenging for you?

Without naming names, going into a rant about someone, or being passive aggressive, can you share with your group how you have lived out one of these charges well and have no regrets? Can you share about a time when you did the opposite and felt bad because you matched their wrong with your wrong?

What is your next step of obedience with your offender?

"LOVE BETTER" Questions

The topic today may bring out a lot of emotion or it may cause others who normally share to shut down. Being sensitive and listening to both are critical as your group shares. Don’t feel like you have to have all the answers as a leader.

Here are some good ground rules to keep in mind:

No bitter talk about anyone or name dropping. It doesn’t need to become a gripe session.

Please share respectfully and guard against telling someone else what they ought to do. Rather, allow the scripture passage to direct and guide.

Be prayerful - open in prayer and close in prayer. When sharing how we've been hurt by others, it can potentially open up negative emotions. Prayer is a part of the healing process. You might even read James 5:16 again together as a group.

Focus less on the offender or the offense and more on how we can respond to our offender. Notice that Jesus wasn’t addressing the OFFENDERS in the passage, but those who have been OFFENDED.

Central Text: Luke 6:27-36

Of the five dimensions of love (easy, family, mutual, sacrificial, and mercy), why is sacrificial and mercy love the hardest? Why do you think Mike said that some people never make it to having sacrificial and mercy love?

What is the difference between mercy and grace?

Notice from the message last week and this week how “mercy” love is promoted as the BETTER LOVE (read Luke 10:36-37 and Luke 6:36). Now read Micah 6:8. How important is mercy to the character and expression of our life and love?

When reflecting on the four ways we express mercy stated in Luke 6:27-28 (loving our enemies, doing good to our haters, blessings our cursers, praying for our abusers), which are you the best at? Which are the most challenging for you?

Without naming names, going into a rant about someone, or being passive aggressive, can you share with your group how you have lived out one of these charges well and have no regrets? Can you share about a time when you did the opposite and felt bad because you matched their wrong with your wrong?

What is your next step of obedience with your offender?

Central Text: Luke 10:25-37

What are the greatest and 2nd greatest commandments (for review see Luke 10:27)? In your own words, describe what the 1st and 2nd greatest commandments look like, if you were talking to an unreligious person.

How does a good vertical love relationship with God inform or shape a horizonal love relationship with others? (John 13:5; 1 John 4:20)

How would you answer the question of Jesus: Who is my neighbor? (v.29)

Share a time that someone came into your line of sight, your office unannounced, reached you on the phone, etc, and you knew they needed to be loved, heard, and prayed for and you stopped what you were doing to be fully present for them. Likewise, can you think of a time you were so full of your own agenda that you know you passed up an opportunity to be fully present with someone in a time of need? Compare and contrast the emotions inside of you.

Recall a time when you were stretched beyond your comfort zone to love on someone.

Look back at Luke 10:34-35 and 8 movements or ways the Good Samaritan goes out of his way to love.

Who is in your path right now that you can love on? What might it cost you?

As we prepare to relaunch as a church, is there an age group that you're being called to love and disciple on a consistent basis? What might that cost you?

Central Text: Luke 10:25-37

What are the greatest and 2nd greatest commandments (for review see Luke 10:27)? In your own words, describe what the 1st and 2nd greatest commandments look like, if you were talking to an unreligious person.

How does a good vertical love relationship with God inform or shape a horizonal love relationship with others? (John 13:5; 1 John 4:20)

How would you answer the question of Jesus: Who is my neighbor? (v.29)

Share a time that someone came into your line of sight, your office unannounced, reached you on the phone, etc, and you knew they needed to be loved, heard, and prayed for and you stopped what you were doing to be fully present for them. Likewise, can you think of a time you were so full of your own agenda that you know you passed up an opportunity to be fully present with someone in a time of need? Compare and contrast the emotions inside of you.

Recall a time when you were stretched beyond your comfort zone to love on someone.

Look back at Luke 10:34-35 and 8 movements or ways the Good Samaritan goes out of his way to love.

Who is in your path right now that you can love on? What might it cost you?

As we prepare to relaunch as a church, is there an age group that you're being called to love and disciple on a consistent basis? What might that cost you?