This month we’re looking back to see the core decisions and commitments that shaped New Denver from the beginning. And we’re looking forward to dream about where we’re headed. Join us for this series leading up to the celebration of our ten-year anniversary on October 6.

Discussion Questions for NDC Turns 10, Part 5 – New World | September 29th, 2019| Click here for a printable version of the questions.

Key Passages: Genesis 1:1, 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 4:5-7; 1 Kings 8:41-43; Psalm 67:1-3; Micah 4:1-3; Matthew 19:27-28, Revelation 7:9, 21:1-5

Discussion Questions

What places have you visited outside of the U.S.? Which one was the most impactful spiritually for you and why?

Why do you think it is so easy for us to talk and think about “changing the world” and then get discouraged or complacent in doing anything about it?

Make a list of some easy ways we can engage what God is doing in a group of people or place in the world very different from us. Take your time and come up with as many specific ideas as you can.

What keeps you from engaging one or two of these practices?

Do you think God is mad at us when we don’t do something like go on a trip or pray or give money? If so, why do you think that? If not, how does he feel? 

Have you been on a Guatemala Partnership Trip? If so, share with the group one thing that was impactful for you. If not, why not?

What is one thing your group can do together to support NDC’s work in Guatemala or the Geigers in Uganda?

Moving Forward

When you pray for a meal this week, say a prayer for our friends in Guatemala and Rachel and Jesse Geiger in Uganda.

Consider picking one area of the world that has very little Christian presence and learning more about it. Pray for those doing the work of Jesus there.

Read Psalm 67 out loud each morning this week and spend a few minutes meditating on it.

This month we’re looking back to see the core decisions and commitments that shaped New Denver from the beginning. And we’re looking forward to dream about where we’re headed. Join us for this series leading up to the celebration of our ten-year anniversary on October 6.

Discussion Questions for NDC Turns 10, Part 4 – New Denver | Click here for a printable handout of the questions

Key Passage: Jeremiah 29:1-7

Discussion Questions

How long have you lived in the greater Denver area? What’s your favorite aspect of Denver?

Without using the name of the church, describe a church you know of or attended that is in, against, and/or with the city. 

Do you think New Denver Church is a church in, against, with, or for the city? Explain. 

What’s one area of brokenness in Denver that personally grieves you? Explain what that area is and why it grieves you. 

Do you resonate with the concept of shalom/holistic flourishing? Why or why not? 

What are the biggest barriers to applying the message in your life?

Discuss as a group how you will serve at the Joshua Station together this Fall. 

Spend several minutes, as you conclude, to pray as a group for the holistic flourishing of Denver. 

Moving Forward

Set a reminder on your phone, daytimer, etc. right now that will remind you to pray for Denver at least three times this week. 

Talk to one person this week and discuss how you sense God might be calling you to join him in the transformation and holistic flourishing of our great city.

This month we’re looking back to see the core decisions and commitments that shaped New Denver from the beginning. And we’re looking forward to dream about where we’re headed. Join us for this series leading up to the celebration of our ten-year anniversary on October 6.

Title of Series: NDC Turns Ten, Part 3 – New Lives | click here for a printable version of the questions.

Key Passage(s): Ephesians 2:1-9; James 2:14-17

Other Resources: Click here for a PDF of NDC’s Core Values

Discussion Questions

Share about what motivated you to first come to church. What continues to draw you to come on Sundays and participate in things like this D-group?

Share how you’ve experienced the tension between belief and actions in your life or in the life of others. Which are you more prone to focus on – beliefs or actions?

Where do you feel the tension of beliefs and actions currently in your life? Are there things you say you believe but aren’t fully living out or are there things you have a hard time believing? Explain.

Read together through the NDC core values, and ask yourself the questions for each value. Which value is most challenging for you personally? Explain.

How can this group help one another live out these values?

Moving Forward

Consider choosing one value that you want to focus on and write the question for that value somewhere that you’ll see it each day.

Share with at least one other person where you feel challenged to grow in belief or action.

This month we’re looking back to see the core decisions and commitments that shaped New Denver from the beginning. And we’re looking forward to dream about where we’re headed. Join us for this series leading up to the celebration of our ten-year anniversary on October 6.

Discussion Questions for NDC Turns 10 Pt 2  | Sep 8, 2019 | Click here for a printable version of the questions.

Key Passage(s): Romans 14:1-10 

Discussion Questions

Share about the church you grew up attending and its perspective on beliefs or theology. If you did not grow up in church, what shaped your beliefs about God or religion?

Print out copies for everyone of the “Personal Beliefs Assessment” on the following page. Take five minutes for each person to complete the assessment, marking 1, 2, or 3 for each statement.

How did this exercise make you feel?

Compare how many 1’s, 2’s and 3’s each person in the group had. How did you decide between what’s essential, important, or not important/believed at all?

Did you have any reservations about comparing your numbers with others in the group? Why or why not? What makes a group a safe place to share doubts or differences?

The message talked about “majoring on the majors, and minoring on the minors.” How have you seen this value at New Denver Church? Give examples.

How has this value been either encouraging or challenging for you?

Read through the Apostles’ Creed briefly; you can find the text under the About Us > Identity tab at www.newdenver.org. What is the difference between believing that something is true and believing in something/someone?

Are there any specific topics of belief/theology/doctrine that the group wants to explore together in the future?

Moving Forward

Take five minutes to say the Apostles’ Creed slowly every morning over the next week. Note: you can say the creed as a reflection or prayer even if there are some parts of it that you question. Are there one or two parts of the creed that God is impressing upon you?

Consider purchasing and reading a book on the Apostles’ Creed to better understand what it means. A few short options: The Apostles’ Creed by Ben Meyers, The Apostles’ Creed for Today by Justo Gonazalez, and “I Believe” by Alister McGrath.  

Is there an area of belief where you have a strong personal conviction that is not shared by another person or others in our church or the larger community of faith? Meet with someone else who believes differently to simply ask, listen, and seek to understand why they believe what they believe. Resolve to not share your own opinions, disagree, or seek to even make your position clear. Ask questions; practice empathy and charity.

Personal Beliefs Assessment

1 – This is an essential belief of the Christian faith.

2 – This is an important but non-essential belief of the Christian faith.

3 – This is not important or essential to the Christian faith, or I don’t believe this.

 

______ I believe that there is one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

______ I believe the Bible is perfect and true and without error or contradiction in every way.

______ I believe there are many paths to having a relationship with God apart from Jesus.

______ I believe that local churches are the expression of the body of Christ.

______ I believe that adultery is a sin.

______ I believe that God knows the future.

______ I believe that Jesus was a man who lived a sinless life.

______ I believe that humans are created in God’s image.

______ I believe that the creation accounts in Genesis should be taken literally.

This month we’re looking back to see the core decisions and commitments that shaped New Denver from the beginning. And we’re looking forward to dream about where we’re headed. Join us for this series leading up to the celebration of our ten-year anniversary on October 6.

NDC Turns Ten, Part 1 – Join the Journey | Click here to download a printable version of these questions.

Key Passage(s): Acts 15:1-2, 19-21 Romans 11:17-21, 14:5-10 

Discussion Questions

Share about a time that you felt accepted and included in a group, like an “insider” (e.g. on a team, with a group of friends, a job, etc)? Now share a time when you felt like you were an “outsider.” Looking back, what impact did those experiences have on you?

How have you felt included or excluded by churches in the past? 

What is lost when churches focus too much on upholding traditions or appealing to “insiders”? What about when the focus is on making “outsiders” comfortable and engaged?

How have you personally felt the tension between reaching “outsiders” and honoring tradition and serving “insiders” at NDC?

How can your group embrace the approach of meeting people wherever they are on their spiritual journey?

Moving Forward

What might God be calling you to do to embrace this tension? If you’re new to faith and feel like an “outsider,” consider how you can take steps to learn and grow in your understanding of the bible or church traditions. If you’ve been a church attender for a while and feel like an “insider” how can you learn from the questions and challenges that face people still exploring faith and help them along that journey.

If there are ways you think NDC could better welcome “outsiders” or do more to honor traditions of “insiders,” consider reaching out to one of the pastors to let them know.

There’s something crucial missing from our faith. Something that could change everything about the way you practice your faith. Listen as we explore part four in this new series Mediated Faith.

There’s something crucial missing from our faith. Something that could change everything about the way you practice your faith. Listen as we explore part three in this new series Mediated Faith.

There’s something crucial missing from our faith. Something that could change everything about the way you practice your faith. Listen as we explore Part two in this new series Mediated Faith.

There’s something crucial missing from our faith. Something that could change everything about the way you practice your faith. Listen as we explore Part One in this new series Mediated Faith.

This month we’re partnering with other churches from around the city for our shared summer series. This month we’ll be in the book of Psalms, and we’ll be focusing on the psalms written by a man named Asaph. You may not have heard of him, but his leadership had a profound impact on the worship of Israel in his time and continues to impact us today. Today Roy Johnson, the pastor of Cherry Creek Baptist Church (with whom NDC shares our facility) leads us through Psalm 78.