Kettlebrook West Bend

Neighbor letter template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sAS2ombp1aduqbWrkxZiEJHHiMcOSm51SoCdDNRncoM/edit?usp=sharing

Prayer Walk Document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/109oRWzLnTmg1_w2dhx2jSrgX9Sz-uvWn/view?usp=sharing

Blood Drive website: https://donate.wisconsin.versiti.org/donor/schedules/center/6

Brighten the day for Cedar Community Residents:

Make their day by having your kids draw or write them a letter. Send to:

Bonnie Amerling, Volunteer Coordinator

Cedar Community

55959 Hwy Z

West Bend, WI 53095

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

1. What are some fears you are feeling today?

2. Mark 3:7-10 What is this text revealing about God? What might God be saying to us?

3. Guided Prayer: Tell God how you are feeling currently. Ask God to remind you of who He is in light of what you are feeling.

4. Guided Prayer: Tell God what are you currently anxious about. Cast these anxieties on Jesus, knowing He cares for you. Picture taking them off of your shoulders and putting them onto His.

5. Guided Prayer: Ask God for wisdom with how to respond and who to respond to with the love of Jesus.

6. Guided Prayer: Pray that God's Holy Spirit would show you next steps that you can take to share the love of Jesus with others.

7. How is the Spirit leading you to respond?

Questions for Reflection/ Discussion:

1. Share a story of either your own dependence upon an adult when you were a kid or a child you know depending on you. What was that like for you?

2. Read Luke 18:9-14 for context of the encounter in verses 15-17. Which of the two individuals mentioned can you most identify with and why?

3. Read Luke 18:15-17 out loud. In your group, try to imagine this encounter. Try to describe the scene as it comes to mind. Describe how you imagine the parents, the children, the disciples, and Jesus.

4. Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these (children).” What about this statement might bother you? What might encourage you? Why?

5. The people wanted Jesus to touch their children (exert a modifying influence), not simply touch at a surface level. In what ways does your life reflect either a desire for Jesus to exert life changing influence or just a surface blessing?

6. In what ways might you be “hindering” the next generation in coming to Jesus?

7. What step might you take this week to bring yourself and the next generation to Jesus in such a way that He would influence/shape form you and them?

Questions for Reflection/ Discussion:

1. Have you ever been responsible for something & epically failed? What was that like? Share the story and how you felt afterwards.

2. How would you feel if GOD entrusted you with responsibility? Do you think he does? Do you think he has expectations for that responsibility?

3. The context for Luke 8:16-18 is the parable in Luke 8:1-15. What do you suppose the connection is? What is the ‘seed’ in that parable (v.11). What does God expect based on the parable of he sower? Why is that important for the verses that follow?

4. What do you think the light is in verse 16? What does it mean to put it on a stand so people can see it? How have you seen this done in your life or the lives of people you are in community with?

5. Cross reference the following verses:

v.16 —> Matthew 5:14-16

v.17 —> Matthew 10:26-27

v.18 —> Matthew 25:28-29 (actually read the whole parable from v.14-30)

In each of these verses, what is the point Jesus is trying to get across? Now, go back & reflect on Luke 8:16-18 in light of the amplified meaning of these verses. What do you think Jesus is expecting from his people?

Where can you go & what can you do this next week where Jesus & His Kingdom benefit from the trip? What specifically might that look like? Tell the group your idea & have them ask you about it next week.

Questions for Reflection/ Discussion:

1. From what you heard today, what would be your definition of what prayer is?

2. Why do you think Paul’s prayer for you is that you would more deeply discover and embrace Jesus’ love for you?

3. When you envision Jesus’ face and how He is looking at you, what is the expression on His face? How are you convinced (if you are convinced?) that He loves you passionately?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. In the prayer self-assessment survey we took as a family of faith, only 5.6% of us said we don’t have time to pray. However, 61% of us said we struggle to make prayer a priority. Why do you think this is the case? How might you struggle personally to make prayer a priority?

2. Read Ephesians 3:14-17a, then try to discover what Paul is referring to when he writes in 3:14 “For this reason…”? For what reason? (hint: you may have to go back even to chapter 2.)

3. What is Paul’s actual prayer in 3:14-17? Have you ever prayed this for yourself? For others? Why or why not?

4. In what ways might you struggle to bring your “inner being” (i.e. heart/soul) before God? Before others? Why do you think this is the case?

5. In what ways might prayer be the very best place for your inner being to be known and shared with God? With others?

6. What might be one way you could seek to experience Christ’s dwelling in your hearts through faith via prayer this week as an individual/ couple/ family/ group?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Describe a time when you have been intimidated to pray or felt

inadequate in prayer.

2. Paul prays that the Ephesian's hearts would be “illuminated”. How have you seen God "illuminate" your heart? In what areas does more "illumination" need to happen?

3. What is the “hope that God has called you”? Where are you lacking

assurance of that hope?

4. Do you tend to see following Jesus as a blessing or a curse? Why?

5. Read Psalms 103:1-12. Underline all the blessings or benefits we have in Christ Jesus. Which do you appreciate most? Which do you tend to

forget?

6. Meditate on God’s incomparable power. How would knowing God’s

power change things in your life?

7. What is God calling you to be or do as a result of what you heard or

experienced?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. What stuck out to you?

2. What further questions does it raise?

3. What does it say about Jesus?

4. How will you respond personally?

5. With whom / how can you share this?