Geoff continued our Ephesians series by talking about God’s view of relationships, from Ephesians 5 and 6.

 

Groups resource

CONNECT

On Sunday Geoff talked about how our Family of Origin shapes how we act, behave and expect things in new relationships for the rest of our lives. Share with the group what your Family of Origin was like, and one thing you’ve realised has shaped who you are today.

READ

Read Ephesians 5:21 to 6:9 together.

You might like to read it in sections, with different people reading, and pausing to discuss each section. Or you might like to read it all at once and then come back to each section.

DISCUSS

What stands out to you from this section that is the same as what you learned from your Family of Origin?

What stands out to you from this section that is different from what you learned from your Family of Origin?

What one thing could change about your work relationships based on this passage?

What one thing could change about your relationship with your parents and/or your own children based on this passage?

If Paul talked about mutual submission in 5:21, are there still differences in how husbands and wives should relate to each other based on the rest of this passage?

What one thing could change about your marriage relationship (or you may like to reflect on a past relationship or the potential of a future relationship) based on this passage?

If you were starting a new family this year, what do you think God would like you to make part of your family that you would eventually pass on to your kids as their Family of Origin?

PRAY

Pray for each other, that God would keep shaping your relationships in the way that he sees them, rather than in the way your Family of Origin might have taught you to see them.

The post Family of Origin appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Phil Bignill continued our Ephesians series by talking about how we can live with the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Groups resource

CONNECT

On Sunday Phil talked about how the book of Ephesians was written to a whole church community, rather than to just one person. Share with the group a time that you have seen church community at it’s best?

READ

Read Ephesians 5:15-20 together.

You might like to read it in sections, with different people reading, and pausing to discuss each section. Or you might like to read it all at once and then come back to each section.

DISCUSS

Share with the group an experience you’ve had of the Holy Spirit being present in a mundane or boring part of your life.

Does it surprise you when God’s life interacts with your everyday life?

What do you think God wants you to do or change in order that your everyday life is lived for his purposes?

What practices, habits or questions do you use to help you discover where God is at work around you?

Instead of asking, “How much of the Holy Spirit do I have?”, have you ever asked, “How much of me does the Holy Spirit have?”? What conclusion did you come to?

Have you ever tried having a ‘Holy Spirit happy hour’ each day? Did you look forward to it? What was it like?

PRAY

Pray that for each other, that you will live by the Holy Spirit’s power – listening to him, following him and walking in step with him.

The post Living by the Spirit’s Power appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Geoff continued our Ephesians series by talking about how God helps us grow up into maturity in faith and character.

 

Groups resource

CONNECT

On Sunday Geoff talked about noticing strong, calm people in chaotic situations. Can you think of a person you know who is a calm, non-anxious presence in times of difficulty?

READ

Read Ephesians 4:1-16 together.

You might like to read it in sections, with different people reading, and pausing to discuss each section. Or you might like to read it all at once and then come back to each section.

DISCUSS

Apart from strong people in general, who do you know who is strong, calm and dependable in their Christian faith?

Can you think of a time when you ‘behaved badly’ in a difficult situation, and how it made you want to grow so that you could be more mature and faithful next time?

How have you seen God use unity in the church to help people grow?

How have you seen God use people of different gifts to work together in building his church?

What do you most admire about other people’s God-given gifts and abilities?

In what ways has God helped you ‘grow up’ already in your faith in him and your strength for others?

What area would you most like to ‘grow up’ in over the next year?

PRAY

Pray that God would help you stay in unity with the church as together we focus on Jesus. Ask him to help you discover, use and grow the gifts he’s given you. Ask him to help you grow up to be a strong, dependable faithful person that is a blessing to others.

The post Growing Up appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

This individual reflection was created for Church in the Park 2018, but can be listened to any time you want to be reminded that God cares and is involved in your life.

During the time of reflection, we encourage you to walk around the Botanic Gardens & find four different areas. In each area we’ll read a passage from the Bible.

There will be times of quiet reflection in between the readings for you to think, pray & walk.

You can press play on the recording as soon as you’re ready to begin.

The post GOD CARES – an individual reflection appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Geoff continued our Ephesians series by talking about how to live as people of light.

The YouVersion Bible App can be found here.

A Bible reading plan for Ephesians can be found here.

Groups resource

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR GROUP LEADERS

This study could be very difficult and personal. Your Group may share deeply with each other, or you may need times of silence for people to pray and process things with God. Be sensitive to the dynamics of your Group, allowing God to guide the conversation and allowing people space to share only what they are ready to share. I’ll be especially praying for your Group this week. -Geoff

CONNECT

Can you think of a time when you’ve been so set on the future that you missed what was happening right in front of you? It could be a funny story (ie running into a pole) or a serious story (ie missing your kids growing up).

READ

Read Ephesians 4:17-5:14 together.

You might like to read it in sections, with different people reading, and pausing to discuss each section. Or you might like to read it all at once and then come back to each section.

DISCUSS

On Sunday, Geoff talked about not getting the cart before the horse (with the horse being our salvation and relationship with God and the cart being the way we live our lives). Can you think of a time when you got these confused, and thought that your lifestyle disqualified you from salvation?

Take some time discussing the difference between how and why God saves us through Jesus (ie Ephesians 2:9), and how and why we can live as people of light (ie Ephesians 5:1).

Most of us can identify with at least one of the sins that that Paul talks about in chapter 4 & 5. Is there one of these that you would feel comfortable sharing about and your struggle with it?

Can you remember a time when God was patient with you, until finally convicting you of a particular sin that you had been content with for some time?

Can you remember a time when you asked the question, “Is this pleasing to the Lord?” (Ephesians 5:10). Did God speak to you? What conclusion did you come to?

PRAY

Pray for each other that we would know God’s salvation, and that we would experience his power, freedom and desire to change our lives in ways that please him.

The post Living as people of light appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Laura continued our Ephesians series in Ephesians 3.

The YouVersion Bible App can be found here.

A Bible reading plan for Ephesians can be found here.

 

Groups resource

CONNECT

On Sunday Laura talked about being an unlikely candidate. Can you think of any funny times that you were chosen as an unlikely candidate?

READ

Read Ephesians 3 together.

You might like to read it in sections, with different people reading, and pausing to discuss each section. Or you might like to read it all at once and then come back to each section.

DISCUSS

1. Paul was God’s messenger, showing his light and love. Can you tell each other about people who have been God’s messengers of light and love to you?

2. The church as a whole often seems like an unlikely candidate. Can you think of times that it seems like the church (any church) has got it wrong in showing God’s light and love? What about times when the church has got it right?

3. When you think of yourself as God’s messenger, do you have any idea specifically who he has called you to, or what has called you to do?

4. Is there anything in particular that stands out to you about the access God gives us to himself or the love he gives us?

5. Paul was able to be God’s messenger even when he was in prison. How could God use you despite your limitations?

PRAY

Pray for each other along the lines of what Paul prayed for the Ephesians church. Pray specifically if there are things that group members have shared.

The post What has God called you to? appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Geoff Snook and Kris Tregenza spoke about why God needs to save us, in part two of our Ephesians series.

The YouVersion Bible App can be found here.

A Bible reading plan for Ephesians can be found here.

 

Groups resource

CONNECT

On Sunday Kris shared about feeling like an outsider in a different culture. When have you felt like an outsider?

READ

Read Ephesians 2:1-18 together.

You might like to read it in sections, with different people reading, and pausing to discuss each section. Or you might like to read it all at once and then come back to each section.

DISCUSS

When was the last time you realised how dead and lost humanity is without God?

When did you accept God’s salvation for yourself? Or if you haven’t, is there a reason why?

In what ways do you find yourself still stuck in effort – trying to earn or live up to your salvation?

In what ways have you noticed God setting you free from effort – and just accepting your salvation?

Kris read this quote from Tim Keller, “When the Holy Spirit fuses the full realisation of the Gospel into your soul, our identity fundamentally shifts. And one of the signs that this is occurring is that you begin spending time with people who – in your natural life – you would have nothing to do with.” Have you ever experienced a common bond with a person because of your shared faith, even though you were different in other ways?

In the last few years have you found God challenging you to love and accept others, regardless of differences?

PRAY

Pray that God would keep teaching you about the free gift of ‘spiritual success’ he has given you, and what that means about your own spiritual effort. Pray specifically for each other if there are things that group members have shared.

The post Why does God need to save you? appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Geoff began our Ephesians series in Ephesians 1.

The YouVersion Bible App can be found here.

A Bible reading plan for Ephesians can be found here.

 

Groups resource

CONNECT

On Sunday Geoff talked about getting video messages from his cousin Josh. Ask each other who you would love to get a video message from. How has that person helped you in life and faith?

READ

Read Ephesians 1:1-23 together.

You might like to read it in sections, with different people reading, and pausing to discuss each section. Or you might like to read it all at once and then come back to each section.

DISCUSS

Is there anything that stands out to you today in this passage?

Is there anything you don’t understand in this passage?

Have you ever had a hard time realising that God wanted to adopt you into his family?

Have you ever found yourself taking God’s gift for granted, forgetting how much it is worth?

Which of the things Paul prays for do you think you need most right now? Spiritual wisdom & insight, light or power?

How have you understood and experienced those things in the past?

PRAY

Pray for each other along the lines of what Paul prayed for the Ephesians church. Pray specifically if there are things that group members have shared.

The post What does God want for you? appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

David Ratten was our guest speaker this week, and he spoke about the life giving water that Jesus offers.

The post Life Giving Water appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Geoff finished our series on money by talking about the parable of the dishonest manager, and about how God wants us to be wise and faithful with money.

The post Live Wisely appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.