Sometimes the Bible can be confusing or hard to apply to life today.  Can you relate?  Here are some tips on how to read the Bible.....and interpret what you read.

Discussion Questions July 26, 2020

 1) What role has studying the Bible (individually or with others) played in your relationship with God? Has it been a significant part of your spiritual journey? Why or why not?

2) After trying out one of the methods of Bible study listed below, reflect on that experience. Was this method helpful? Could you see yourself using it again? Do you think this would be a beneficial way to study the Bible with others?

3) Prayerfully consider how God might be inviting you to make Bible reading/study a more regular practice in your life. If that were to happen, what do you anticipate you might gain from it?


Studying the Bible for Spiritual Formation
Allowing the Holy Spirit to TEACH, SHAPE, and GUIDE our lives through the study of Scripture

For a narrative text (a passage that tells a story):
- Tell what happened: Summarize the passage in your own words.
- Empathize with the characters: Put yourself in the shoes of each character in the story. What are you thinking and/or feeling?
- Acknowledge what you know and don’t know: What things do you know for sure? What questions do you have?
- Central Point(s): What main point(s) do you think we can take away from the passage?
- How it relates: How does this passage relate to your life, or our
shared life together, in light of what you/we are currently experiencing?

For an instructional text (a passage that is part of a letter or sermon):
- Summary: Explain the passage in your own words.
- How it fits: How does this passage fit within the context of what was happening and/or what was being addressed by the author? How does it fit within the rest of the letter or sermon?
- Acknowledge what you know and don’t know: What things do you know for sure? What questions do you have?
- Point(s): What is the central point(s) being made?
- Examine & Enlighten: As you consider the things that are happening in your own life (or in our world), how does this passage speak to
your situation and/or feelings? What is God revealing to you through it?

For a poetic text (ex. a psalm):
- Genre: What genre is the poem (hymn of praise, lament, prophesy, etc.)?
- Underlying Circumstances: What situation prompted the writing of the poem?
- Images & themes: What prominent images & themes are present? - Direction: What is the movement of the poem? Are there any
repeated elements or patterns?
- Examine & Enlighten: As you consider the things that are happening in your own life (or in our world), how does this passage speak to
your situation and/or feelings? What is God revealing to you through it?

Do you want to be changed?  To grow in grace?  Do you want to be more loving towards others?  These are the side effects of generosity.  Giving, not because you have to, or because you should, but giving under love's compulsion - giving in God's way.

Discussion Questions July 19, 2020 

2nd Corinthians 9:1-15 (6-9, 15)
 1. Let’s begin by trying to recall something truly generous that another human being has given to us. What feelings come to you from that memory? 

2. Do you find it easier to accept someone’s generosity toward you, or to do something generous on behalf of someone else? Why? 

3. When it comes to God’s generosity toward us through Jesus, we talk about accepting the gift of Salvation, the gift of Forgiveness for our sins through Jesus. If it’s hard for us to accept generosity, what has to happen in our hearts so that we actually accept God’s gift of love, forgiveness, salvation? 

4. If you read the whole of 2nd Corinthian 9, you’ll see how the emergency need for the people of Jerusalem becomes an opportunity to do something generous out of faith in Jesus Christ. Don’t we often have similar opportunities when there’s an earthquake or flood or other disaster even in far away places? Let’s do a heart-check about those kinds of opportunities. Do you feel compassion and a desire to be generous? Why or why not? 

5. For many of us, it’s in the counting of our blessings that moves our hearts to be generous in our own giving. How open are you to taking a step along the way of living the means of God’s grace which is generosity? Is there even a small step that God is helping you take at this time? 

6. Finally, let’s reflect on what Paul wrote in verse 15: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” To help us grow in generosity, let’s name before God and one other person, three blessings for which we are thankful today. 

By now, we can all probably relate to the phrase "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone".  But what about "you don't know what's got you 'til it's gone"?  That one can be harder to admit to.  What can we do to help re-center our lives and get back to the heart of what God desires for us?

Discussion Questions July 12, 2020 

Read Matthew 6:16-21 

1) What has been your experience with the practice of fasting? Have you ever considered fasting as a regular spiritual discipline? Why or why not? 

2) If someone followed you around, saw how you spent your time, and knew your thoughts, what would they say you treasured? 

3) Jesus wants our hearts to be free to love him and to love other people. Sometimes are hearts are not free to do that because we are holding onto so many other things—and those things are holding onto us. What might you need to let go of for a time in order to move toward greater freedom in Christ? 

4) Fasting is both a letting go and a taking up. It is saying “no” to one thing in order to say “yes” to another. Often in the Bible fasting is linked with prayer. When we give something up it creates space and time for us to intentionally be with God. Why do you think it is important to emphasize both the “no” and the “yes” when it comes to fasting? 

Putting it into practice... 

Consider your answer to question #2 and pray that God would show you what to fast from this week. Choose a day and time period that is doable for you. Remember the intent is not to be a super- hero disciple, but simply to grow in relationship with God. Often spiritual growth comes through a series of small steps. 

If you are thinking about fasting from food maybe just do one meal sometime this week. Take the time you would have given to meal prep, eating, and cleaning up afterward and instead spend it in prayer or Bible reading or taking a quiet walk in God’s creation. If you find it to be fruitful, you could consider doing two meals the next week. If, for example, you are fasting from spending money on Amazon, you might need to have a longer time frame than a few hours! Try something that makes sense for you and take time to reflect on, and thank God for, the experience afterward. 

 Discussion Questions July 5, 2020

1st Corinthians 11:17-27

1. In today’s sermon, there are two Sacred meals mentioned: A Love Feast and our Lord’s
Supper (or Holy Communion). And the apostle Paul is writing a note of correction and
guidance about how to be a faithful church when it comes to these meals. When did you
experience the sacrament of Holy Communion in the most meaningful way for you? What
made it so meaningful?

2. In the United Methodist tradition, an Open Table of Communion is proclaimed. Everyone
who gathers for worship is welcome at our Lord’s table. What do you find reassuring about
that tradition? What might sometimes also make it hard?

3. Bible scholars tell us that the letters of Paul to his church at Corinth were written even
before the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written down. So when Paul
describes the practice of the Communion meal, it is our oldest source of information about
this Christian tradition that Jesus began and which we still continue. How does the means of Grace which is Holy Communion help you and strengthen your faith?

4. The guidance Paul offers to the church is how to value and regard people of different
means (wealth). He instructs that no one should be sent away hungry from a Love Feast.
How do you see our church trying to care for the hungry and live out the acceptance of others that Paul describes? How can we do more to live this out?
5. Have you ever heard the saying: “Confession is good for the soul”? That’s an old Scottish proverb although it sounds like it comes from the Bible because of the many places in scripture that describe the spiritual practice of confessing our sins. How does it help you to spend some time in spiritual soul searching and confession and repentance? And are you also willing to hear for yourself as well as for others, the reassurance of the Good News that through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven?

6. What questions come to you about Communion and about the United Methodist practice of this sacrament?

 Discussion Questions June 28, 2020

Matthew 28:16-20

1. The Sacrament of Baptism is also known as a Means of God’s Grace. What do you
remember about your own Baptism, or, if you were Baptized as an infant, what did your
parents or relatives share with you about that special day?

2. In the United Methodist tradition, baptism is entirely about God’s grace and unconditional love poured out for everyone whether we even realize it or not. To celebrate Baptism for an infant, how are we trusting God and how are we praying for an infant when it comes to the child’s own faith formation and personal decisions of faith?

3. I love celebrating Baptisms for adults or children and infants too. It’s my favorite part of
being a pastor (or one of my favorite parts). And I always try to remind the church that after
the Baptism is celebrated, it’s up to us to show and demonstrate God’s love to the child in all the years ahead. In many ways, it’s what we as a church do that helps a child come to trust that God’s love through Jesus Christ is real. What are some of the ways others have lived which has helped you along your faith journey?

4. When Jesus met with his disciples just before the ascension into heaven, he stated that
“all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”. How might that authority be the “why” when it comes to continuing his ministry even though Jesus was going away?

5. When it comes to “making disciples” and the ministry of Baptism, how do you as an
individual and as part of a church, figure into the fulfillment of Jesus’ commissioning words?

6. What questions come to you about Baptism and about the United Methodist practice of
this sacrament?

Discussion Questions June 21, 2020

Read Colossians 3:12-17

1) From last week to this week, we shifted from being (silence/stillness) to doing (acts of service). How would you describe the relationship between being and doing in our life
with Christ? Why are both important?

2) What does the interplay between being and doing look like for you? As you consider that, is there anything that you sense God’s Spirit leading you to let go of or to take up?

3) In verses 12-14, Paul lists several characteristics that we are to “clothe ourselves with”—compassion, humility, meekness, patience, gratitude, and love. Which of those are
most well formed in you? Which ones are most in need of further growth? Take a moment to share these with God in prayer—thanking God for the growth that has been nurtured in you and asking for God’s help in fostering further growth in Christ.

4) How have you experienced acts of service during this pandemic? Take a moment to thank God both for the opportunities to serve others and for the ways others have served you.


Putting it into practice…
What is one intentional way that you can serve someone else this week? Someone in your household? A neighbor? A friend? A stranger? Choose one act of service and do it this week. Also, pay attention for opportunities to serve others that pop up throughout the week. Our service of others can be planned out in advance, and it might also be an unexpected response to the Spirit’s leading in a given moment. 

The Bible is no stranger to tension, protesting, frustration, fear, and anxiety. In the midst of all of the noise, God is still speaking. Sometimes it's through loud and extravagant ways, but other times, it's in a still small whisper. How are you making room to hear God speak through the noise?

Discussion Questions June 7, 2020 

Luke 22:7-20
 1. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is known as a Means of God’s Grace. How has the experience of this sacrament helped your faith? 

2. Known both for its immense mystery and also the simple nature of the meal, Communion can at the same time be both spiritual and also physical. Why might that kind of irony help us remain more fully connected to Jesus in our every day lives? 

3. There is a difference between remembering something from the past and also being re-membered as a part of a relationship. How do you understand those elements when it comes to the practice of Communion? 

4. Our Sermon Series for the next several weeks is “Surprised By Grace” and we’ll be focusing on various Means of God’s Grace. How have you been surprised by God’s Grace in recent days and weeks? 

5. Are there ways God is calling you to be part of the ways God desires to be with others in the coming days? How might God need even us to continue to surprise others with gifts of God’s Grace? 

Discussion Questions                    May 30, 2020

Read John 16: 7, Acts 2:1-4, 1 Corinthians 12:1-23

1) In John 16:7, Jesus says it is for the benefit of the disciples that he leaves.  How could Jesus leaving be of benefit to them?  What does this show us about the power of the Spirit in our lives?  

2) The second half of Acts 2 describes what the early church looked like as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit.  What do you observe from this passage?  How does it compare to what you read in 1 Corinthians 12?  

3) The early church found its definition in the sacrifice and victory of Jesus.  How can we continue to find our definition in the same place in our current circumstances as a church?  As individuals?  

4) What is the relationship between knowing Jesus and looking like Jesus?  How can we grow in our relationship with Jesus this week?  How might that change the way we love our neighbors?  

5) Paul pushes for believers to be about the business of the “greater good” of the body of believers.  How do we go about determining the greatest good?  What are some things that distract us from that good or prevent us from pursuing it?  

Putting it into practice: 

How can you preach the resurrection and your trust in Jesus in your actions this week? 

Keep in mind that we do so not as a means of earning a place in God’s future—that is purely grace and purely gift!—but as a means of living now inspired by it. Your answer to this question may not involve doing something else or more, it may simply mean seeing the things you are already doing in a new way!

Join us as we wrap up our Re-Defined series.