Jesus 120

Concluding our series “Just Give,” we are reminded that Jesus calls us to give Him our talents, so we can learn to love and serve others with them. We are often tempted to think that we are insufficient and don’t have what it takes, but Jesus reminds us that all we need is willingness, and he will fill in the places we may think are lacking.

Key verses: Matthew 4:17-20, Luke 5:1-11, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 4:10-11

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. Have you ever been hesitant to use your talents to serve? If so, what held you back? Did you ever feel insufficient?

2. Have you really considered the idea that when you say (or feel) like you are not enough that you are telling God that His creation isn’t good enough or qualified or equipped enough? How does that change your attitude towards service and your unique gifts and abilities?

3. How does God change us? How do we participate in the change? (obey and repent as needed)

4. Can you think of a time in your life that failure led to growth?

5. Think about this statement regarding the importance of having both Courage and Humility when using our talents to serve in God’s Kingdom: "Courage without humility leads to pride, and humility without courage leads to cowardice.” How do courage and humility work together to help us grow? Do we really need both in order to grow and change?

6. If we wait till we feel fully qualified to start using our talents for God, then “One day can be the enemy of today.” What do you think of that statement? How has that been true in your life?

7. Review the notes from page 3 of the sermon regarding Identifying, Focusing, and Stewarding our Talents. What area do you most need to consider right now? Do you have a good handle on what your talents are? Do you feel you have good direction of where to focus them? How can you prioritize your efforts toward the right thing at the right time?

7. In light of Jesus call to follow Him, be changed by Him, and be on mission with him, what is one action step you feel he may be calling you to take?

In week 6 of the series “Just Give,” Pastor Jake discusses the importance of being generous with our time. By examining Jesus’ life we are able to see that some of the most important moments for eternity can come when we are willing to slow down and be open to the people and situations that God brings into our path.

Key verses: John 4:4-14, Ephesians 5:2, 15-17, and Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. How does allowing and even encouraging busyness in our lives create anxiety?

2. Why is it that we can only give our time generously when we have purposed to steward it faithfully?

3. When Jesus interacts with the woman at the well, what is going on in his life? Why might most people in Jesus situation easily dismiss this woman? What would your reaction be in a situation like this?

4. When are some times (maybe even this week) that you missed an opportunity to invest in eternity because you were too busy or unwilling to slow down?

5. Why is it even more important to walk in love when we consider that they days are “evil”?

6. What are some practical ways that you can re-arrange your life to allow yourself to be present for the work that God wants to do with and in you?

In week five of our series on giving we discuss the topic of “Stewarding our Time.” Our time is a gift from God, and a finite resource of this life. If we are not intentional about how we spend it, we can squander the limited amount that we have. God calls us be thoughtful and purposeful in allocating our time towards the things that are eternal and not the fleeting busyness of this world.

Key Verses: Mark 1:35, Psalms 63:1-4, Philippians 4:12-13, Psalms 90:4,10

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. Mark 1:35 tells us that Jesus woke up early and went to a desolate place to pray. How is this a good model for tithing our time? Why is it important to first give our time to God before trying to budget it for others?

2. Have you experienced God stretching your time when you are willing to offer it to Him first? How is this similar to what we have learned about financial tithing?

3. Time is a resource that will run out, how can you invest it into something eternal?

4. Do you control your calendar or does it control you? Why is saying “no” so difficult? Why do we get so much of our identity from our level of busyness?

5. Do you agree that rest is important? Why or why not? Do you feel that you get enough rest? Why or why not?

In week four of our series on giving we discuss the topic of “Stewarding our Treasure.” God has called us to steward all He has given us with faithfulness and wisdom. In this message, we discuss the importance of making the decision to live as a steward, and then managing that decision everyday by obeying Jesus, and learning all the wisdom God has to share about managing our finances and possessions well.

Have the sermon notes available for reference and discuss these questions:

1. Review the Story found in John 12:1-8. What can we learn from Mary about how we approach stewarding our resources and treasure? Is this applicable to how we handle our money? If yes, then how do we apply that in our lives?

2. What do we see from Judas in this story that can serve as a warning for us? How can that mentality creep into how we handle our finances?

3. How does this contrast between Mary and Judas relate to what Jesus is saying in Luke 16:13? Do you view your approach to how you view and handle money as that serious of an issue?

4. Once we make the decision to view our finances as actually belonging to God, Jake then talked about the importance of managing that decision everyday? What does that mean, and how can we do that?

5. In the sermon, it was taught that we can become faithful stewards by getting to know Jesus and obeying him, do you agree with that? What does it mean to obey Jesus in a personal way and not a distant way? Does he feel personal and close to you or distant? How can you grow closer to him and hear his voice?

6. Jesus calls us to become wise stewards in Luke 12:42-43. How can we grow in wisdom in our finances? What are some key topics that the Bible addresses related to money? What are some practical steps we can take to grow in wisdom?

Week three of “Just Give” is about "the tithe." Tithing is discussed throughout scripture, and consistantly we are shown that God is not interested in our money, but in our hearts. Giving is not about God’s need for our money, but about our need for God to be allowed into every aspect of our lives.

Have the sermon notes available for reference and discuss these questions:

1. In Genesis 4:2-7 Cain and Abel’s offerings are discussed, what is the difference in their gifts? Why does God accept Abel’s gift and not Cain’s? How does that translate to your life and how you give?

2. Deut. 26:14a says “ I have not eaten of the tithe while I was mourning, or removed any of it while I was unclean, or offered any of it to the dead.” Why is it easy to neglect our tithe when times are tough? Why should it be the time we are especially earnest in giving?

3. Both David and Moses described giving as a joyful act. Do you feel joy when you give? Why or why not? What practical steps could you take to change your heart if it isn’t joyful?

4. What are some of the blessings you have received when you have given? Have you spent time with a truly generous person? Does it seem that they regret their generosity? What are they gaining when they give? Have you ever been generous? Did you experience regret for the loss of your property? If not, what did you experience?

5. Do you agree with the statement: How we respond to God with our money is a clear picture of where our hearts are? Why or why not?

6. Why do you think that tithing is important to God? Is it still relevant for Christians today?

7. Jesus is the ultimate Tithe that God gave for us; does that statement make you think differently about your attitude on giving? Why or why not?

As we continue to discuss the topic of giving, this week we turn our hearts and minds to the topic of stewardship. Remembering that everything in this life is a gift from God, we are given the freedom to invest all that we have towards our heavenly future.

Read the following key verses and discuss the questions: Luke 16:1-15 and 12:42-43

1. What is the role of the manager or steward described in these verses? Is the manager taking care of his own money and possessions or someone else’s? How does this relate to us as Christians with what we own? Do you view your time, possessions, and money as your own, or do you view yourself as God’s steward of those things?

2. Pastor Jake said that we are “stewards of the gospel.” What does that mean to you? How does that look in a practical way?

3. “You can be technically generous with your money, and still not radically generous in your heart, not pervasively generous in all parts of your life” - Tim Keller. What is the difference between being technically generous and radically generous? Have you ever known someone who was radically generous? What qualities made them radical?

4. What does it mean to store up treasures in heaven? How can you do that in your day-to-day life?

5. Do you agree with the idea that on earth love is more a source of pain then joy? Does that idea make you more motivated to live your life looking to heaven? Why or why not?

6. What do you think God might be asking you to do different in order to steward your time, talent, and treasure with a more eternal view in mind?

In week one of the series, Just Give, we learn that God is a giver. Giving can be one of the most difficult topics in the church to discuss, but once we are able to adjust our thinking and give for the right reasons, God can use our resources to accomplish amazing things including healing our selfish hearts.

Key verses: Luke 6:36-38, Matthew 6:21, Deut. 15:4-15

Have the sermon notes ready if needed to review each topic and the supporting scriptures while discussing the following questions:

1. Why do people dislike the topic of giving in the church? Before Sunday's message, what was your attitude on the topic? Has it changed since hearing this message? Why or why not?

2. "Giving is an act of surrender" Do you agree or disagree? What about the statement “obedience is our participation in transformation” do you agree or disagree? Can you share a personal example of how you have seen God uses this in your own life?

3. "God is a giver" What does God give to mankind? What has he given to you personally? When you think about what He has given you, does it make you re-evaluate your stance on giving?

4. How does giving make us more like the Father? Why is it not about money? What is it about?

5. Can you think of a time when you fought “selfishness” while feeling like you should give? Can you relate to feeling grief/hurt after giving? How does living generously and with gratitude combat these two struggles?

In the final week of the Welcome Home series, we discussed why membership is an important part of being part of a church family, and what being a member of Grace Chapel Knoxville looks like and means.

Have the Sermon notes, Membership Covenant, and the Belief & Lifestyle Statements ready if needed to help answer any questions people may have about church membership while discussing the following questions:

1) Do you have any lingering questions or uncertainty about Membership or anything else discussed from Sunday?

2) Do you agree that church membership is important? Why or why not? Without naming any specific places or people, have you had past experiences that make you weary or excited to join a church?

3) What does the analogy of being a fan vs. being on the team make you think? What are some benefits of being on the team? Why is it more risky than being a fan?

4) Why is accountability important in the church? How does membership increase accountability? Is that something that makes you nervous or excited (or both)? Why?

5) Do you agree that it is important for the building to be full of non-members? How do you interpret the statement “not perfect, but pursuing”, and how should that impact how we deal with new non-believers that walk into our services?

In week three of the “Welcome Home” series, Pastor Jake gave his State of the Church address. It was a time of reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the things that God is bringing for GCK in 2018.

This week’s discussion will be a look back at 2017 in our church and looking ahead to the goals and dreams we have for the body in 2018.

1. Discuss with your group how you found GCK. How do you see God’s hand in the discovery of this body?

2. Thinking back over 2017 (or your time at GCK if it was less than one year), what are some high points of your time with GCK? What are some things that you think have improved in your time?

3. What goals do you have for GCK in the New Year? How do you think you can help the church body accomplish those goals?

4. Where there details from Sunday’s message that you still have questions about?

5. What are you specifically praying for your church this year?

For the month of January we will be reviewing who Grace Chapel is, what we believe, casting vision for 2018, and providing an opportunity for membership in the church. In part 2 of this series, Pastor Jake explains who we are as a church, what our mission is, and how that is walked out in a practical way.

Have the sermon notes ready if needed to review each topic and the supporting scriptures while discussing the following questions:

Our Mission Statement: “Equipping people to be passionate disciples of Jesus Christ”

1. Jesus is the most important part of our mission statement, that seems obvious, but why does it need to be said? Without being critical of other churches or people, what can be other things that become the most important thing in a church body? How does that happen? How can we prevent it from happening at Grace Chapel? How can we prevent it in this life group?

2. What was your experience when you first came to Grace Chapel? Were you welcomed? How are you trying to make each person who comes through the doors feel like they are loved and welcomed? What is something you would like to work on?

3. “There is no audience in worship” what does that mean to you? Does that statement make you think about the way you worship, or your attitude towards the singing in church vs. how you walk in your day to day life?

4. When equipping people, why is it important to be in close relationship with others? How can we equip each other in this setting?

5. Do you think of yourself as a “minister of reconciliation”? What things in your life are or are not lining up with that title?

6. 1 Peter 3:8 says that we should love each other with tender hearts and humble minds; Why does this seem important in a setting like this? What are some practical ways to walk this out?

7. Why are life groups so important to the life of the church?