For Week 1 of Like A Child we are reading, "Extra Yarn." There are so many parallels in this story to the teaching of Jesus. What do we do with what we have? Do we give freely? Do we store up for ourselves in fear of scarcity? But ultimately we should be asking ourselves and others, "What are you investing in?"

Join us for Church Online as we transition our buildings and get ready for The Well Church's Grand Reopening on July 11th!

For our final week on Messiah, we decided to have a Q&A to discuss your questions about the New Testament and things we've learned throughout this series.

In our final week of Messiah, Pastor Meredith tackles the often controversial book of Revelation. We certainly ended this series with a bang!

1. How can understanding ancient Israelite religion give us a deeper appreciation for certain passages in the New Testament?

2. Did anything strike you from the explanation of the Tabernacle or the video clip explaining the “Day of Atonement?”

3. We looked in Genesis 4:2-5 at the story of Cain and Abel and the first animal sacrifice. How does knowing that humans instituted the first animal sacrifices affect your view of God and the sacrificial system of the ancient Israelites?

4. After reading the story of Cain and Abel, Ashley wondered what giving “our best” as a sacrifice would look like in our 21st century context. What would you consider to be the best you have to offer God? Think about your work/livelihood. (things you have worked hard for, things that sustain you, etc.)

5. At the end of the message, Ashley quoted Bruxy Cavey as saying, “We no longer worship God by killing. We worship God by living.”

This is in reference to Romans 12:1- “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”

What does “living and holy sacrifice” mean to you?”

6. Read Hebrews 4:14- 16

“So then, since we have a high priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

In light of this passage, what does it mean to “come boldly to the throne of our gracious God?”

Small Group Discussion:

1. What has been your experience with healing and faith? Did you grow up believing God can heal? Have you had a positive healing experience? Have you been disappointed by a healing that did not happen?

2. Pastor Meredith shared 6 hesitancies we have around healing: Exploitative, Unruly, Reserved, Unfaithful, Ineffective, and Unnecessary. Which of these hesitancies do you bring to the table? Why do you think you might have them?

3. Jesus’ healing ministry is intended to establish his authority as The Messiah. Read the story of Jesus healing the paralytic Matthew 9v1-8 [starting at the bottom of p.325]. In what ways does Jesus establish his authority in this interaction? What can we learn about the good news of Jesus’ salvation through this healing?

4. Pastor Meredith said that faith is a contributing factor in healing, but not a limiting factor. Remember, faith is synonymous with trust. Read the story of the healings of the hemorrhaging woman / the leader’s daughter / the two blind men in Matthew 9v18-31 [staring at the bottom of p.326] Where do you see faith at work? Where do you see that Jesus is not limited by faith?

5. God’s will is always to heal. However, while God is consistent, there is complexity when it comes to the world, human decisions, and angelic decisions. Pastor Meredith shared that it might not be that God will not heal - it might be that God cannot break through without taking away free will of people and angels. How does this shift your understanding of God’s will and human will? How might you pray differently with this in mind?

6. Pastor Meredith gave seven things to consider as we pray for healing: Find the Root, Be Specific, Be Positive, Be Confident, Be Discerning, Leave Nothing Out, Always Be Grateful. Which of these comes most naturally to you? Which one can you grow in?

7. How will you pray for healing this coming week? In what ways can your group pray for your healing (physical, emotional, spiritual)? Who in your life needs healing prayer?