Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

We show the world the redemptive power of Jesus when we show the world a different way of doing family.

1. If you had to pick a family tv show to compare your home, growing up, what would you choose? What about your home today? What was your most joyous & memorable family event or holiday? What was your most disastrous?

2. Read Eph 4:17-19. How is what Paul is saying to the Ephesians similar to our experience today (with American culture)? What’s the problem with living this way?

3. What is something you did as a child, or even still do, that is an imitation of one of your parents? Read Eph 5:1-2. When we trust in Jesus’ sacrifice, how are we now seen by God? Do you believe this, and if so, how should this change us and our perspective on life?

4. Paul gives a list which includes sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, course joking, idolatry, & drunkenness. Did your family wrestle with any of those while you were growing up? What affect did it have on your family?

5. While it can be easy to focus on the negative (and it does need to be addressed & dealt with) Paul keeps us also focused on the positive: Living as Children of Light, Living Lives of Love, Speaking Life & Giving Thanks, and Submitting to One Another. In what ways have you as a family tried to live these out (share specific examples)?

6. How does the thought of submitting and allowing another family (husband, wife, parent) to speak into your family situation make you feel? (nervous? excited? anxious? blessed?) Why? As a small group family, pray for one another's struggles, as well as your willingness to be open & able to submit to one another in love.

Questions for Discussions:

1. Have you ever wondered what your purpose was in life? What was that like? Did you come to any conclusions?

2. Have you ever been part of a group that lacked purpose or a mission? What was that like? Have you been a part of a group with a clearly defined mission? What was that like?

3. Read Mark 2:13-17. List as many things as you can that you notice about Jesus? If Jesus is the exact representation of God, What does this tell us about God?

4. Read John 17:13-19. What does Jesus pray about us in relation to the world? Discuss what this might mean and look like in real life. Why is the Holy Spirit important for this?

5. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? “God’s intention for any expression of his body, is that we would be on mission with him and what he is doing in the world.” Why or why not?

6. What would it look like for your group to move from isolation to inclusion and from insulation from the world to immersion in the world? What might be one way you can do that?

Questions for Discussion

1. Share a story of when someone served you in an incredible way. How did it make you feel?

2. Share a story of time you may have served with false motives or for wrong reasons. Why do we sometimes (knowingly or unknowingly) do this?

3. When you think about what the world values in leadership, what would it be? How is that similar or different from how Jesus modeled leadership? When you think about following Christ, do you think about him now being King of your heart and your life? If so, what does that mean?

4. What does it look like to serve people by ‘washing their feet’ in the everyday stuff of life? (How can we serve them outside of washing their feet? Who are 2-3 people you rub shoulders with on a daily/weekly basis God might lead you to serve in a tangible way?

5. Who might your ‘spiritual family’ (Kettlebrook group) be God calling to serve on a regular basis? (an organization, a group of people, neighborhood? What are some natural ways your ‘spiritual family’ (Kettlebrook group) could begin serving this group?

See Gospel Rhythms handout

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. When you hear that God is your Father, and you are his dearly loved son or daughter, what do you think and feel?

2. When you think of a picture frame that would include your "family" - who would be in that picture?

3. If you haven't thought about brothers and sisters in Christ being in your "family" picture frame, why do you think that is?

4. How do you/don't you live like "family" with your brothers and sisters in Christ (like you would with your nuclear family)?

5. What would it look like to live like "family" with your brothers and sisters in Christ at Kettlebrook in the everyday stuff of life?

6. What would others think, feel and experience if we really lived like "family" as brothers and sisters in Christ?

7. What is one change you and/or your group can make to live more like family with your brothers and sisters in Christ at Kettlebrook in the everyday stuff of life?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Share a story of when you received some of the worst bad news you’ve ever received, and when you received some of the best good news you’ve ever received.

2. Read Colossians 1:10-14. What jumps out to you as exciting or promising or hopeful? Are there any parts you still wrestle with?

3. Read Col 1:21-22. Are there any ways you still feel alienated from God, and feel the penalty of past sin? How does verse 22 personally give you hope/rest/peace?

4. Read Col 2:6-7 & 9-12. How does the “power of sin” manifest itself in your own life most regularly?  In what ways is the power of the gospel greater than the power of this sin?  How can you leverage this in your own life?

5. Where are some areas where the presence of sin, and the fear of stepping out for Christ, hold you back? Read Col 3:1-4. How do these verses speak to that fear and sin?

6. In the notes section above, which of the 3 truths do you most struggle to believe?  Why do you think this is? What truths about the good news of Jesus & His salvation might you need to remember, and continue to remind yourself of, this this week as you go to school, work, and home?  Give specific examples. Pray for one another for this.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Describe the time in your life when you have been the most filthy. What was that like for you? What was the process like to get cleaned up?

2. In the song, “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas” the lyrics express the desire to have our troubles “out of sight” and “miles away.” What troubles in your life would you like to be out of sight? What solution does the song offer?

3. Read Zechariah 3:1-10. Twice God, not the High Priest, is responsible for removing iniquity (sin). What are the implications? How might this apply to you personally?

4. Which camp do you tend to fall into: #1) Those who may not see yourself as very dirty relative to other people around you, #2) those who believe they can clean themselves up, or #3) those who are so dirty you could never become clean. #4) Some other camp? Why is this the case? How does this text challenge your mindset?

5. Read Hebrews 10:11-14. In what ways is Jesus the ultimate High Priest? How should this impact the way we see: #1) religious rituals and sacrifices, #2) our filthy clothes, #3) our iniquity/sin?

6. If you have had “the Branch” remove your iniquity… in what ways might you be intentional this Christmas about inviting your neighbors, co-workers, family or friends over to sit down and sharing the good news?

Questions for Reflection:

1. Do you remember a time when you ever had to repent of something? What was that like for you? What was the result?

2. Why do you think repentance has such a bad rap in our society? Why is it so hard for us to do?

3. Read Zechariah 1:2-6 in a couple different translations. Then have a couple people try to retell the passage in their own words. Help them out if someone is reading along.

4. What does this passage tell us about God? What does it tell us about humanity?

5. Turn to Zechariah 8:11-17. What kind of things does God promise to the exiles if they turn from their wicked ways and return to him?

6. If God has our best interests at heart, why do we find it hard to trust him and follow him? What kind of life do you think God has in store for you if you decide to follow him with your whole heart?

7. What is one thing you may need to repent of and stop doing this Christmas season? What is stopping you from doing that?