Looking Above

We weren't meant to do life alone.  We need to cultivate friendships in the good days and the mundane days so we have friends to lean on when life assaults us. In this episode, Karen discusses our need for what she calls Valley Girls, friends who will walk with you through the hard days. 

Questions for discussion: 

If someone shared about a valley in the previous question, spend time right now pointing her to Jesus.

Go to battle for each other. Exchange names and each of you pray for another in the group this week. 

The Takeaway: We weren't created to be in the valley alone, cultivate friendships that will sustain you in the valley.

To-Do This Week:  Be someone's Valley Girl this week. Pick one of the eight roles of a Valley Girl and make an effort to do that for a friend before your group meets again.

Sawyer Poitra joins Karen today for a discussion of how online friendship might be hindering face-to-face friendship.  Sawyer is the CEO of the Women's Resource Center in Gillette, and also works in social media marketing.  Social media has its place in society, in ministry, and in friendship, however, at some levels, it is keeping us from the joy of authentic in-person community.

Questions for discussion: 

The Takeaway: Investing in face-to-face relationships is more work (than social media friendships), but will result in deeper, more life-giving friendships.

To Do This Week:  Do a social media assessment (or NetFlix, or t.v., or whatever other way you choose to use your time that keeps you from face to face relationship).  Cut back your social media (or other distraction) by one hour a day and invest that time in a face-to-face relationship.

Looking above episode 13 - Becoming the Friend You Want

In this episode, Karen is joined by Katie Golinvaux, a Biblical Counselor, Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Pastor's Wife, and dear friend.  If you desire to be a better friend, you'll want to grab paper and a pen so you can take notes!  Katie shares such wonderful wisdom regarding being who God created you to be.

Discussion Questions:

The Takeaway: Be who God created you to be - focus on your strengths in order to be a better friend.

To-Do This Week:  Get together with a friend and ask each other:  How are we alike?  How are we different?  How do we help each other fill in the gaps?  How do we sometimes misunderstand each other? Celebrate your differences and remember God made you different!

It's Galentines Day, what better day to discuss how we love our girlfriends better?  I enjoyed my discussion, with my friend Sara McCormick, the youth pastor at New Life.  I hope this episode encourages you to love your friends well!

Discussion Questions:

The Takeaway:  In order to love each other well, friends need to communicate well.

To-Do this Week: Start having conversations with the friends in your circles, ask them how can you better love each other?

It's Season 2 of Looking Above and this spring we're taking a deep dive into the realm of spiritual friendships.  Today Karen lays a foundation for why this topic is so needed and then discusses our relationship circles.  This season you're encouraged to grab a couple of friends (or acquaintances you wish were friends) and get together each week to discuss the episode.  We hope that by the end of the next twelve weeks, you're a better friend, and you have better friendships!  Before you meet with your group - You'll need paper and a pen.  Start by making a list of all the people you're in a relationship with - anyone who potentially gets some of your relational energy in a given week (list: family, friends, coworkers, church people, gym people, school people, other acquaintances, neighbors) | On a separate page draw a large bullseye (concentric circles) and begin to place people from your first list onto this diagram as Karen described in the podcast. Bring this with you to your group meeting.

Discussion Questions:

The Takeaway: You need to know who is in your circles so you can invest in the right people.

To-Do This Week: Reach out to those in your circles (text, phone call, card) and let them know how important they are to you.

In our final section of the book of John, we witness the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus completes the task for which he was sent to earth.  We'll be back in the New Year with new episodes of Looking Above, have a blessed holiday season!

Discussion Questions:

This week we're discussing John Chapters 17 and 18 where Jesus is about to go to the cross.  We get a sneak peek into his final moments with his disciples as he prays for them and us.  And then we witness the beginning of his journey to the cross.

Discussion Questions:

Did you take notice of the words "give," "gave," "given" and "gift" in this passage?  How were they used?  What do you glean from their use?

Similarly, take a few minutes and search for the word "glory" in this passage.  How is this word used?

Jesus viewed the cross as His glory.  IS it possible for us to view hardship and suffering as glory? How could that perspective change the way we suffer?

I shared the story of my AP Calculus test.  Can you share a story of a teacher being glorified because of their student's success?

How have you brought glory to God? / Can you accept that we do not get to escape this world and its struggle?  In what ways are we protected in suffering?

Jesus prayed for you to be set apart for a special task.  Do you have any ideas about what God has chosen and set you apart to do for His Kingdom? How do you feel, knowing that Jesus asked the Father to equip you to do that task?

How/where do you see unity in the Church (the big "c" church - speaking of all believers)?  How/ where do you see disunity in the Church (among believers)?  Why is disunity so problematic?

Discuss the imagery of the blood flowing through the Kidron valley as Jesus crossed it on the way to the olive grove.

Discuss each of the characters in chapter 18 (Priests/ Pharisees, Soldiers/ Temple Guard, Pilate, Peter, Jesus). What motivated each to act the way they did?  What was noteworthy about their actions? Can you understand why they acted the way they did?  What would you like to ask each of them?

How can we be more like Jesus (motivated by obedience and love) and less like the priests and Pilate (motivated by self-preservation/ glorification)?

This week we're discussing John Chapters 15 and 16 and exploring Jesus' teachings.  

Discussion Questions:

Talk about the imagery of Jesus as the vine and each of us as branches.  Could you come up with a modern-day equivalent?

What is the purpose of the vine? Of the branches?  What type of fruit do we bear?

Have you ever been thru a season of pruning?  What did that look like?  Were you more fruitful afterward?

Discuss abiding in Jesus.  What does that look like for you?  Share ideas with each other regarding how you can arrange your lives so there is never a day you don't connect with the vine.

Have you ever witnessed someone laying down their life for a friend?  What could that look like?

How do you feel about the concept of being a friend of Jesus?  Are you a good friend?

Jesus warned of persecution.  Why did He do this?  What does this tell us about Jesus?

What are some of the roles the Holy Spirit can play in our lives?  Can you give examples of times you have experienced Him in each of these roles?

Chapter 6 verse 13 calls the Holy Spirit the "Spirit of Truth" discuss and contrast the work of the Holy Spirit  with the work of the "Father of Lies."

Why does Jesus teach to pray using His name? / John 16:33 - What hope does this verse give you?

As Jesus nears the end of his earthly ministry we witness Him preparing the disciples for His departure.

Discussion Questions:

Read John 13:1 and discuss how love was the motivation for Jesus' actions. How often does love motivate your actions?

How would you feel if Jesus washed your feet?

Jesus served.  Consider leaders, authors, influencers, and pastors - do they set an example of service?

Are you more likely to serve or be served?  There is a self-serving type of service.  Are you more like to serve with self interest or love as your motivation?

Jesus tells his disciples to wash each others feet.  How can we "wash each others feet" today?

Discuss John 13:34.  Jesus called us to love like He loved.  What does that look like?  Do the people in your church or small group love like that?

What is your response to Jesus preparing a place for you? / Discuss some words and actions of Jesus - consider how those words and actions are also the words and actions of God.

Love = obedience. Do your actions show God your love?

Share with the group a time your circumstances were difficult but you felt the peace of Christ.

This week we'll discuss John chapters 11 & 12 and view not only the divinity of Jesus, but also his humanity.