Questions for Reflection:

1. Have you ever been responsible for someone else’s stuff/possessions? What was that like? What was your attitude at that time? Any stories you might want to tell?

2. Read the passage (Luke 19:11-27) aloud. Have a couple people in the group retell the story in their own words. Others help them out if they need help remembering details.

3. Who are the various characters in the story? Who do they represent? Who are we in the story? What does this passage tell us about each party the characters represent?

4. Brainstorm. What do you think are some things that the ‘minas’ in the story represent? What are things we have been entrusted with in life? What do you suppose God intends for us to use these for?

5. The last servant was called ‘wicked’ by the master? Why do you suppose that is? What was his attitude towards the master? Was his perception correct?

6. What would you like King Jesus to say to you when he returns? What do you suppose you might need to do in order to hear those words?

7. What is one thing God is saying to you? What will you do about it? Share this with someone else you’re in relationship with from Kettlebrook (spouse, group member that you are a part of).

Questions for Discussion:

1. What are some things which people typically worry about? What are some ways you have seen this in other people’s lives? How have you seen this in your own life?

2. Why do we tend to worry? What good does it do? What is worry a symptom of or what is it the opposite of?

3. Have someone read Luke 12:22-34 in a couple of different versions, then see if a couple people can retell Jesus’ teachings in their own words. Have them paraphrase what was read.

4. What do we learn about God from these verses? Take some time to list them out.

5. What do we learn about ourselves/people?

6. Reread verses 31-34. Why do you suppose Jesus tells us this?

7. If this is the word of God, and you consider yourself to be an actual follower of Jesus Christ (that is, he is our leader and we do what he says) is there some way we can obey these verses? Share what that might be with your group.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Share some recent funny or ridiculous parenting stories either from your own experience of parenting, or some stories from growing up.

2. When you think of the term ’discipleship,’ how would you explain it? How has your concept of discipleship changed or grown?

3. How is parenting similar to discipleship? In what ways would you say your parents discipled you? If you have children, if what ways have you tried to disciple them?

4. Read Luke 10:1-3. Why do you think there was a sense of urgency? Why do you think Jesus would be willing to send His followers into potential danger?

5. Read Luke 10:5-9. How would you describe a Person of Peace? From what Jesus says, what are some of the things we should be keeping in mind or trying to accomplish when interacting with a Person of Peace?

6. In light of this passage, discipleship includes Modeling, Sending, & Coaching. Which of those is the easiest for you to do, either as a parent, or as you disciple others, and why? Which of those is the hardest, and why?

7. Take some time to identify the People of Peace in your life and share their names and your relationship with them to the group. Pray that God may open up opportunities for discipleship, where you can tell them about Jesus Christ.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1.. What is your favorite ‘justice served’ type of movie!? When you see tragic events on TV, what feelings well up in you? What do you love about it? Where were you on Sept 11th? How did you feel that day?

2. Read Ps 64:1. When was the last time that you had a difficulty understanding God’s justice or lack of justice? What do you feel justice should have looked like in that situation? How have you dealt with the times that you feel justice was not served? How have you reconciled this with God?

3. Read Ps 64:3. Have you ever felt like David and been painfully attacked or falsely accused by someone else’s words? How did that situation end? Do you wish, or do you believe, you could have pursued justice any differently?

4. David understood the pain of receiving justice. Share a story of when you were in the wrong, had sinned, and plotted injustice, but instead of receiving justice, you received mercy. Having received God’s mercy, has this changed the way you view personal injustice? If so, how; and if not, why?

5. Read Ps 139:23-24 and take a moment to think on these questions, and then share what God brings to light:

- Are there sins & injustices you have not Taken Ownership of & need to repent of?

- Are there ways you trusted in your righteousness & have not Taken Refuge in Jesus?

- Have you neglected Taking Action against injustice or sharing God’s mercy to you? - Have there been times you have given in to all the fear, and not Taken Heart?

After sharing with one another, read John 16:33 and then pray for one another in the ways

God desires you to grow.

Verses: Lamentations 3:1-8, John 9:1-7, 35-41

Reflection Questions:

1. Has there ever been a time when you thought that God was disappointed in you or against you? What did that look like? Why did you feel like that?

2. Where do you think we got an image of a God that is disappointed in us? Where did that come from? Who taught us that?

3. Read John 9:1-5. What does Jesus clearly say about tragedies in our life? Why do you think we have this need to connect dots (ex. “this happened because of this”)?

4. What might we miss when we only try to connect cause and effect in the irritations, frustrations, and tribulations of life?

5. Have someone read John 9:13-41 and then have someone else retell the entire story in their own words.

6. Read verses 35-41 one more time. What do you think Jesus meant from verse 39?

This week, how will you respond to the irritations, frustrations, and tribulations that come your way? Ask God to help you face them well.

Questions for discussion:

1. Have you ever had a time or experience when God didn’t make sense to you? What was that like? Explain the situation if it’s not too difficult.

2. What do you think is the difficulty in trying to understand God solely by our circumstances? What are some other ways we might understand who God is and what he is like?

3. Read John 11:1-6. What strikes you as odd about this passage? What would you have expected Jesus to do? Why do you suppose he waited?

4. Have there been times in your life where it seems like God has been distant? What do you think might have been happening in your situation?

5. What do you think is so important about verse 11:35? What does that tell us about God?

6. Read verses 25-26. What do you think Jesus might mean by what he said? He ends that sentence asking “do you believe this?” Do you believe this? Why?

RESOURCES (1)

Questions for discussion:

1.Growing up, did you ever imagine having adventures, being a secret agent, winning the game, saving the world? What happened to those dreams and adventures as we grow up?

2.Why do you think so many people think that being a Christian (or becoming a Christian) means you put the lid on life and don’t have any fun or sense of excitement? Has that been your experience?

3.Why do you think God has left us here on the earth? How would you answer that question if someone asked you? Do you live in light of the answer you gave?

4.Read verse 16-17. Paul says we see people with a new perspective now. (hint: read v. 14) What does that look like for you during the week?

5.What does it mean to you that God has entrusted you with his message of reconciliation? How does that change how you live your life?

6.What is one assignment this week God may be inviting you into, to share his message of reconciliation? Who might that person be? What is one thing you can do to demonstrate Christ’s love to him/her.