Sisters Community Church

Mark Seekins Ephesians 2:11-22

1. So which type of person are you? Do you wallow in the past? Look on it too fondly? Or do you focus more on the present or future?

2. What do you need to remember about your former self? Before Christ.

3. How will that increase your gratitude and obedience to God now and in the future? What does it mean to you that Christ now defines you?

4. What does it mean to you that you are now in Christ…part of something bigger? One new body in Christ. Do you see your part in the church this way?

5. How do we use our “privilege” in Christ to divide rather than unify?

6. When you consider the language of the temple (Ephesians 2:19-22), How can you see what you are becoming? What our church is becoming?

7. Have you thought much about how this “family” is forever? What implications does that have for how you participate in and interact with the body of Christ?

8. In response to this sermon, what is a strategic step you will take this week as part of the Temple of the Holy Spirit?

9. How can your small group pray for you?

Steve Stratos 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 Romans 12:9-21

1. How does the metaphor of “The Body of Christ” lived out represent incarnational Christianity and the God/Man Jesus Christ?

2. What does “Unity and Diversity” mean to you and how does it demonstrate itself in “the Body of Christ?”

3. What does Paul mean when he says We cannot say, ”I don’t need you?” Why is it important?

4. Where does this kind of relational community first show up? What does it tell us about God?

5. What part of the Body of Christ do you most relate to and why?

Ryan Moffat Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 5:32

1- Why does the new testament communicate so much about the Church (and the people of God, the Kingdom of God) in metaphor? From a narrative perspective what does narrative do that discourse (lists, bullet points, etc) cannot do?

2- When you look at the list of metaphors in the new testament which ones are most interesting and curious to you? Bride of Christ Body of Christ Branches of the Vine Temple of the Spirit People of God Royal Priesthood Flock of God Household of God Salt of the Earth Light of the World Ambassadors of Christ Army of God Harvest/Botanical Metaphor

3- What area of SCC needs your unique contribution? What would it look like to activate your giftings and ministry skills in 2026?

4- What else did the Spirit say to you through the sermon?

Revelation 21:1-6; 22:1-5

Steve Stratos

1. How would you describe a transcendent hope?

2. Why is the resurrection of Jesus so important to this transcendent hope?

3. What aspect of the description of this hope in Revelation 21 means the most to you?

4. What does it mean to you to be thirsty?

5. Who can you share this hope with this week?

1 Peter 1:3-5 Mark Seekins

1. Currently, what is one of your biggest worries? What was one of your biggest worries 10 years ago?

2. What was your most important takeaway from Sunday's sermon?

3. In what ways does God’s mercy show up in your life?

4. How does the blessing of mercy give you strength to withstand the trials of life? When others show you mercy, how does it strengthen you and your faith?

5. Describe how a living hope is a blessing in your life. How does this living hope compare to other things that people hope in? Does this reality give you strength to withstand trials and persecution in this world?

6. 1 Peter is written to Christians who are undergoing severe persecution because of their faith. How do you think the lessons in this sermon translate into real life for these first century Christians? How does it help you live your Christian life?

7. In response to this sermon, what is a strategic step you will take this week? How can your small group pray for you?

Steve Stratos Hebrews 10:19-25

1. What kind of community outside the church have you experienced? What were the highlights?

2. How would you describe the nature of the church Theologically?

3. Where have you been disappointed in Church community?…encouraged?

4. Where do you need help experiencing the purpose of a one another engagement? Who can you ask for help?

5. What does a confessing community look like to you?

Steve Stratos 2 Timothy 2:15:3:16

1. What synonyms would you use for the word authority?

2. What has been your experience with authority? Good and Bad!

3. What does the authority of the Bible represent to you?

4. How has the authority of Scripture been presented and experienced?

5. How does Jesus describe and demonstrate authority?

Ephesians 3:14-21

Ryan Moffat

Ephesians 1:1-13 - Ryan Moffat

1. Ephesians suggests that engaging with the "LARGER STORY" or "HIGHER STORY" of God, which includes big and complicated philosophical ideas, is essential for people to "COME ALIVE". What is one specific, "big" idea from Ephesians 1 (e.g., God's plan, predestination, cosmic reconciliation) that you find most challenging or most life-giving?

2. Paul emphasizes that God's core motivation in salvation is LOVE, not the attitude of a "cranky, bothered, frustrated angry old man". How does truly understanding God's love as the core motivation change how you view the doctrines of God's will and plan in your own life?

3. The text describes a profound irony: we should feel SUPER SMALL when reading the cosmic plan of God, yet leave feeling incredibly IMPORTANT to Him. Have you had an experience (like the Grand Canyon trip mentioned ) where you felt small but also felt incredible joy or importance? How does Paul's description of being "chose[n] before the foundation of the world" or "redeemed" contribute to that feeling of importance?

4. The sermon concludes with the idea that the plan of God is to maximize your JOY and His GLORY. In what areas of your life (e.g., possessions, relationships, ambition) do you find yourself "making mud pies in a slum" when "infinite joy" is offered, as C.S. Lewis describes?

Jonathan Martin Galatians 2:15-21

1. Read Galatians 3:1-3 - The Galatians were returning to the Law of Moses rather than continue living in the power of the Holy Spirit. What are some ways in our Christian culture we try to perfect with the flesh - that which was begun by the Spirit?

2. Look at the list of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Do you ever find yourself faking any of these fruits? What does it look like to fake these fruits vs. having the real fruit of the Spirit?

3. How can you go from faking to the real thing? From outward love - to genuine love. From external patience - to internal patience. From a smile on your face - to a smile in your heart?

4. Some say we need to first beat down the flesh- that this is our job. How is this striving? Can we ultimately win this battle or is this too done in the Spirit’s power? What is the final fruit of the spirit on the list?

5. What did Paul mean when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ”Describe what it means to live a “Life of Faith”