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Have you ever been to a wedding and heard the Pastor read the “love chapter” out of the Bible?  Even if you didn’t know it, you have probably heard 1 Corinthians 13 at some point in your life.  This is a perfect description of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus suffers long and is kind. Jesus does not envy. He’s not puffed up. He doesn’t behave rudely. He doesn’t seek his own. He’s not provoked. He thinks no evil. He does not rejoice in iniquity. But Jesus rejoices in truth. He bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Jesus never fails. If this is a perfect picture of Jesus then we need to evaluate our lives against this list. This message leads us in that very evaluation.

I Corinthians 13:4-8

1. 1 Corinthians 13 states that love is patient and is kind.  Where have you drawn a line in your heart where a person in your life is no longer worthy of you showing kindness? Where have you determined that a cold shoulder is justified?

2. 1 Corinthians 13 also says love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Where are you tempted to avoid the hard conversation because of the inconvenience it may cause you, or the rejection you might face from the person on the other end?

3. 1 Corinthians 13 continues with love does not envy or boast… love is not arrogant.  Do you find yourself unable to rejoice in what others have because you feel it’s unfair that you don’t have it?

4. 1 Corinthians 13 makes a tough statement when it says love is not irritable or resentful.  Do you find yourself rehearsing someone’s offenses against you over and over in your head, even after you’ve supposedly forgiven them?”  If so, is that an indicator that there’s a record of wrongs that hasn’t been erased yet from your heart?

5. Was there one part of the sermon that stood out most to you?

6. Ephesians 5:33 says, “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband”.  It appears that men and women speak two different languages.  Men speak the language of respect and women speak the language of love.  Have you discovered this to be true and in what way do you practice being “multilingual”?

Do you know that the intent behind your words is usually irrelevant?  Have you ever been on the receiving end of hurtful, accidental words and the offender begins explaining what they really meant? At that moment it’s irritating and it’s irrelevant, because in those moments, we don’t need an explanation. In those moments when we’ve been hurt by someone’s words we really need something else.  This week we look at what we really need when hurtful words have been spoken.

James 3:2-6

1. Read James 3:5–6. What stands out to you? What are some ways our words compare to a fire?

2. Can you remember a story (funny or otherwise) when you said one thing and meant something entirely different?  What happened?

3. Why do we rush to explain ourselves rather than simply owning our guilt? Explaining feels urgent and appropriate in the moment. Why?

4. What can you do to remind yourself to opt for humility and sensitivity rather than an explanation next time you start a “word fire”?

5. Talk through the Matthew 18 process of restoring a friendship:

Do you know the weight of your words?  We do know the power and weight of words when they hit us. They affect us in a positive or negative way.  But all too often we don’t view those words in the same light when our words are hitting other people. In this week’s conversation with Pastor David and his wife, Kami, we look at the three dynamics that determine what people hear, regardless of what we say.

Ephesians 4:29

1. Take time to read and discuss Ephesians 4:29 which says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”.

What do you think or hear when you read this scripture?

Words can be for good or bad, to build, destroy, encourage, discourage, inspire, or actually wound.  How does this scripture play into this thought about words?

2. On Sunday it was said, “Words are not equally weighted. Negative words weigh way more than positive words”.  What are your thoughts about this statement?

With this statement in mind, where do you have work to do and who would benefit from that work?

3. When it comes to the second point in Sunday’s message, the source determines the weight, you should always take into consideration who you are and what you represent to the person on the other side of you. Because even though you are in a relationship with them, chances are, it’s not the same relationship.  What relationship in your life has been damaged because you didn’t realize this perspective?

4. With everything you heard on Sunday, how important it is to understand that mouth-control is the ultimate in self-control?

Is marriage a covenant or a contract and what is the difference between the two?  Why did God institute marriage and is it something that is beneficial today?  These are just a few of the questions that Pastor David and his wife Kami cover in today’s sermon. They also talk about practical steps that will improve your communication and how couples can relate to one another.  This is a discussion that you may want to listen to more than once and, if you are in a relationship, it would be worth listening and discussing all that Pastor David and Kami reveal.  

Ephesians 5:21-27

1. In your own words, what is marriage?  Pastor David and Kami said that it should be based on a covenant, not a contract.  What did you hear or think during this portion of the sermon?

2. On Sunday it was said that relationships will go through changes. Usually, one person changes and it puts pressure on the spouse to do one of three things…

3. Read Ephesians 5:21-27 (even to 33 if you would like) and discuss.  What do you see when you read this passage?  What are the “job descriptions” given to the husbands and wives?  In your own words, describe what this would look like in a marriage day-to-day.

4. What is something that you heard on Sunday, or discussed in your community group, that you need to put into practice immediately?

Join us this Mother’s Day Sunday as we delve into the creation of women, God’s perspective on His creation, and the unique yet equal role women play. Explore the Biblical role of a woman with us and discover the truth behind God’s design.

Genesis 2:18

1. Take time to read Genesis 2:18-25 and discuss what you read, what you heard from the sermon, and what truths you now see.

4 Truths:

2. Have you personally experienced or witnessed positive examples of women fulfilling their roles according to Biblical principles? Can you share some of these experiences?

3. The word Ezer, which primarily means “helper,” “assistant,” or “one who provides aid”, is used 11 times in Psalms and each time it describes God as a helper.  Question, do you think less of God because of the identification of God as a helper?  Why then should we think this role diminishes a woman?

4. How can understanding the Biblical perspective on women’s roles impact our daily lives, relationships, and communities?

Do you ever look at the world around you and think, “God, how are you going to clean this up”? Have you ever said the culture you live in is the worst, or most pagan, in any time of human history?  Is that statement correct?  This week we look back at the history of revivals and the promise that Jesus gave us before he left the earth.  This sermon will encourage you, lead you to a deeper place of worship, and contribute to your prayer life expanding.  Let this message stir your faith to a deeper level.

Hebrews 6:19

1. When you hear the word worship, what do you think about?  How would you define it?

2. Read John 14:12 and 26 and discuss.  What does it mean that we will do greater things than Jesus?  What role should the Holy Spirit play in your day-to-day life?

3. I would encourage your group to listen to the song “God of Revival” (Brian and Jenn Johnson, feat. Phil Wickham) and discuss the truths you heard in song.  If your group would be comfortable with singing together, you may want to consider a time of worship to this song as well?

4. Have you ever experienced a revival in person?  What did you experience?  I encourage you to share your stories with each other to build faith and to drive you to prayer for revival to come.

This week we explore the song “Firm Foundation” which expresses the truth that we can build our life on the firm foundation of Christ. Through the finished work of the cross, He anchors us to eternity. What happens when we anchor to eternity? Jesus calls us to build on that foundation through worship and experience His presence. We also see that the reality of Heaven is a great source of comfort and strength as we experience this life. Our hope in Jesus, the anchor of our soul, has promises for this life and the next. How does knowing that we are connected to eternity change our lives today? Join us as we look at the promise of eternal life through the words of our worship.

Heb 6:19-20, John 3:16, Matt 7:24-27, 2 Tim 2:19, Heb 12:28, Isaiah 28:16, Psalms 22:3, Eph 5:15-20, 1 Thess. 4:13, 2 Cor 4:17-18, Rev 15:3

1. When we are anchored to eternity by Jesus, we have an opportunity to build our life according to His teachings. He calls it being wise and building your house on a rock. What does building your life on Jesus look like to you?  What are some of the hardest challenges you have faced in your effort to build on this foundation?  Are there areas of your life that you know are built on sand?

2. The chorus of the song “Firm Foundation” has only four words. (No He Won’t Fail)  It was referred to as a ‘pile driver’ type of chorus.  How can we use songs like this to strengthen our connection to Jesus as the bedrock of our faith?  Have you ever had your world shaken and needed to reinforce your connection to the Rock of your salvation?  Was there a specific song that helped you through that moment?

3. How has knowing that you will live with Jesus for eternity comforted you in the losses and disappointments of life?  Have you ever considered that Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has gone into Heaven as a forerunner for us?

4. Have your group listen to the song “Firm Foundation” (Cody Carnes) and discuss the truths you heard in the song.  If your groups would be comfortable with signing together, you may want to consider a time of worship to this song too.

This week we explore the song “When You Walk Into the Room” so that we can anchor to the holy nature of God. What happens when we anchor to the holy? The nature of our life is actually transformed as we surrender to a new way of life. What does this transformation look like? Journey with us as we discover the look of this transformed life, and get a deeper understanding behind the theology in the songs we sing.

Leviticus 19:1-2, 1 Peter 1:16, Romans 12:1-2, John 15:19, Hebrews 10:5-10, Hebrews 6:19-20

1. Pastor Aaron shared how, in the Christian life, God is more concerned with your personal transformation than he is with situational transformation. What does this statement mean to you? How have you seen it in your own life?

2. Think about your significant relationships. What are the results of approaching them casually versus covenantally? How does a casual approach affect the depth and longevity of relationships compared to a covenantal one? Now consider your relationship with Jesus. What are the results of approaching it casually versus covenantally?

3. When we anchor to the broken nature of the world, the nature of our life is conformed. When we anchor to the holy nature of God, the nature of our life is transformed. Where is a place in your life where you continue to see ruin through conformity that God is calling you to be rooted in holiness so that you might be transformed?

4. Have your group listen to the song “When You Walk into the Room” (Bryan and Katie Torwalt) and discuss the truths you heard in the song.  If your groups would be comfortable with signing together, you may want to consider a time of worship to this song too.

5. In your own group’s way, take time at the end of your group to simply pray for one another’s relationships with Jesus. Pray for strength, holiness, and a life transformed.