Rick Terletzky, Philippians 1:21

1. In telling us stories about his children, Josiah and Noel, Rick illustrated the concepts of sin and grace. What struck you about these stories? Think about and share your thoughts on the value of God’s grace and the consequences of sin.

2. In view of God’s grace and mercy, what does it mean to you to take up your cross and follow Jesus?

3. This morning Rick pointed us to 2 Corinthian 12:9, which teaches that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. What weakness(es) do you live with? How do you handle them? Have you had an experience in which God demonstrated His power in your weakness?

4. Rick’s theme verse today was Philippians 1:21 which reads, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” How would you paraphrase “to live is Christ” to make it applicable to your life circumstances?

5. “To die is gain” could be considered a very counter-intuitive statement. As Rick noted, we fear death. Are there strongholds of fear in your life that keep you from appropriating God’s resurrection power?

6. To end on positive note, what is it about Jesus’ resurrection power that gives you comfort and hope? What aspect of the gift of eternal life do you most look forward to?

Speaker: Lindsey Smith - Isaiah 6:1-8

1. Lindsey noted that one of the main themes of Isaiah was to call the generation of that time back to God. What would you identify that is needed in our times to call us back to God?

2. In this passage, God is highly glorified and exalted as exemplified by the throne, the robe, and the seraphim. What kinds of things or experiences cause you to exalt and glorify God?

3. Lindsey stated that the content of verses 5-7 is a foreshadowing of Christ’s atonement on our behalf. What are your thoughts and comments on that?

4. In referring to Hebrews 4:16, Lindsey notes that because we have a high priest who can empathize with our weaknesses, we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence…” What is the result of doing just that? In times of need are you able to approach the throne with confidence? Please share.

5. What is God calling you to do right now? Are you willing to say, ”Here am I. Send me!”

Pastor Steve Ruetschle

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (NIV)

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.” (THE MESSAGE)

“Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can’t do a thing.” (THE LIVING BIBLE)

1) Please read the 3 versions of John 15:5 and, for a few minutes, listen quietly for God’s voice. What did you hear? How does this verse speak to you?

2) Steve mentioned he is “living in John 15” at this time in his life and noted that ‘abide in me” was quoted six times in this passage. How are you abiding in Christ? Please share.

3) This passage teaches us that we will bear much fruit only if we abide in Jesus. What does that fruit look like in your life right now?

4) Please list the ‘fruit of the Spirit” found in Galatians 5:22-23. Which of these comes the most easily for you? With which one do you struggle the most. Please share.

5) In today’s sermon, Steve stated: “our most important job” is to abide in Christ and that we have been given two “handles” to do this-- which are: to live in the Bible and abide in His love. How are you doing at this? Please share. What is the result when we do abide in Christ?

Colossians 1:28-29

Pastor Steve Ruetschle

Psalm 23

Today Pastor Steve taught on the 23rd Psalm in terms of three themes: REST, COMFORT and HOPE.

REST

1. This passage tells us the Lord is our shepherd. How, in your life, is Jesus your shepherd?

2. Pastor Steve noted that Dallas Willard said that in order to find deep spiritual rest we “must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives.” Do you agree with this? How are you doing in eliminating hurry?

COMFORT

3. Verse 4 states, "...your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” What does that mean?

4. What kinds of worries and fears keep you awake at 3 o’clock in the morning? How do you find comfort during these times? Have verses 3 and 4 give you peace of mind?

HOPE

5. Has verse 6 ever given you hope in tough times? Please share. What are you hoping for at this point in your life? Pastor Steve referred the following verses to us: 1 Peter 5:4, John 14:1-2, and John 6:40. Please read these verses and share your thoughts about them.

6. In closing, Steve read the 23rd Psalm aloud and asked us to listen for the words that stood out to us. What words stood out to you? What was it about those words that impacted you?

JOHN 16:33

1. This morning Seth candidly related that he sees himself as “an anxious person.” Would you say you experience anxiety? If so, what causes you to be anxious?

2. Read John 16:33 aloud together. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” What portion of this verse speaks to you? If you can, please share a difficult situation in which you forgot this promise. What would you hope to do differently when the next troubling time comes in your life?

3. See Hebrews 4:15-16. What does it mean to you “to approach the throne of grace with boldness?”

4. Seth noted that Jesus has gone before us in difficulties and suffering. He experienced the lack of a home, broken relationships, betrayal by his closest friends and difficulty with his family. Why do you think we are often surprised when we suffer problems and heartbreak? What are our natural responses to difficult times? What spiritual discipline(s) should we employ in the midst of these times?

5. Seth ended his sermon by telling us not to give up, to take heart and God will overcome! What would that look in your life or the life of someone you are praying for right now?

Sermon discussion questions for July 7 – Jeremiah 15:15-19

1. Barb began her sermon stating that Jeremiah had been called by God to a very difficult task. (Jeremiah 1: 4-10). Have you ever been convicted that God wanted you to do something difficult? Did you feel you to up to the task? Please share this experience with the group.

2. Please read Jeremiah 12:1-6. Jeremiah asks God; “Why does the way of wicked prosper?” What is God’s reply to Jeremiah? Why do you think God answers in this way?

3. In verses 15 and 17 Jeremiah feels that he has been rejected by his own people (v15) and is an outsider (v17) because of his obedience to God. Have you ever experienced this? Please share.

4. During a time of trouble in your life did you complain to God? Where did you find solace? Did a particular passage of Scripture speak to you?

5. In concluding today, Barb noted that when we’re in difficult circumstances we should “extract the precious from the worthless.” What did she mean by this? If we do so, what are the results?

Suggested sermon discussion questions for:

JUNE 30 – FAVORITE PASSAGES – JEREMIAH 29:11

(NIV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

(The Message) 10-11 This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

(International Children’s Bible) 11 “I say this because I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.”

1. This morning Barb noted that Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 41:10 are the most read verses in the Bible. Why do you think this is?

2. Please read the three different translations of the Jeremiah 29:11 above. Which one speaks most powerfully to you? Please share why.

3. What is your favorite passage? What is the Biblical context in which this passage was spoken or written? What are the life circumstances that made this passage so meaningful to you?

4. Please read Jeremiah 28. In this chapter two prophets are speaking: Hananiah and Jeremiah. Hananiah tells the Israelites what they desire to hear while Jeremiah tells them the harder truth. Have anyone ever advised you with what you hoped to hear but found the harder reality was, in fact, the truth? If so, what did you learn from this experience?

5. Like the Israelites in Jeremiah, are you now (or have you ever been) in a place you don’t want to be in life? Did you commit yourself to “live in it” as Barb said? Did you bless those around you? If not, what was your response to these circumstances? What would you do differently the next time you find yourself in a place you don’t want to be?

Pastor Steve Ruetschle – Mark 10:13-16

Suggested sermon questions:

1. Please read Mark 9:36-37 and Mark 10:13-16 and compare them. List all that Jesus says and does regarding children and the kingdom of God in these two passages and discuss with the group.

2. See Mark 9:37, 9:42 and 10:14. Today Steve talked about the chiastic nature of Jesus’ teaching on children in Mark 9 and 10. What did he mean by this? What is the main message of these passages?

3. In Mark 10:13-16 Jesus states that ‘the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (little children) and that “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” What does “like a little child” mean to you? What attributes do little children have that qualify them to enter the kingdom of God?

4. Please read Matthew 18:2-5. In what ways to you need to “change and become like little children?”

Pastor Steve Ruetschle – Mark 3:31-35

Suggested sermon discussion questions for:

JUNE 16 – “THE FAMILY OF GOD” – MARK 3:31-35

1. Who is in your family? Where do they live? Do you have a favorite family member? Please share.

2. Steve noted that, in Jesus' time, the family was critical to one’s identity as a Jew, an Israelite and as a child of Yahweh. How has this changed in our time? What role does family play in your life?

3. In our time and culture as a society:

– we are often geographically distant from one another

– so many of our families are broken in various ways

– we live in an age of intense individualism which creates extreme loneliness

Are you or someone you know affected by one of the above? How is the church family important to you?

4. Steve told us of his many ‘borrowed’ family members. Has anyone ‘borrowed’ you and made you part of his or her family? Have you ‘borrowed’ anyone into your family? Please share.

5. In today’s sermon, Steve stated that God’s family is the church. If someone asked you how to become a member of His family, how would you respond?