Trinity Church

Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.
What is it and what does it mean for the Church today?

We welcome a number of families and individuals into our Church family and discuss what membership actually looks like and means for followers of Christ. 😀

What will we do with all that we have covered about being an apprentice of Jesus? It needs to be more than “a great sermon”...

Small Group/Personal Reflection Questions

In John 15, Jesus tells us “Remain in me”. What are other things that are drawn/tempted to remain in?

Pete Scazzero, in his book: Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, writes: “Nurturing a growing spirituality with depth in our present-day culture will require a thoughtful, conscious, intentional plan for our spiritual lives.”
- Do you agree?
- Why do you think so many Christians NOT have a plan for their spiritual lives/growth?

Comer writes, “A Rule of Life is a schedule and set of practices and relational rhythms that create space for us to be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did, as we live in alignment with our deepest desires. It’s a way of intentionally organizing our lives around what matters most: God.”
- What are some of your daily, weekly, monthly/seasonally practices and relational rhythms that create space for you to be with Jesus?
- What practices/relational rhythms do you feel God calling you to incorporate into your life?
- What might be some things you let go of to make room for daily, weekly, monthly/seasonal practices that connect you with Jesus?

Consider and discuss the six tips for building a Rule of Life and how to practically implement them:
1. Start Small
2. Think Subtraction, not Addition
3. Take a balanced approach
4. Consider your personality and season of life
5. There is no formation without repetition
6. Do this in community

SEE RULE OF LIFE BUILDER

Being an apprentice to Jesus is not easy, but it is meant to be done together!

Small Group/Personal Reflection Questions:

The Church, like an apple, has three main layers:
Outside Form Layer: Congregation
Inside Nourishment Layer: Small Groups/Bible Studies
Core Transformation Layer: Our Inner Circle.
Do you agree with this comparison?
What might be off base or missing?

What similarities and/or differences do you see between our congregation and the crowds that followed Jesus?

What similarities and/or differences do you see between our small groups and Bible Studies and Jesus’ 12 disciples?

Why do you think Wesley and the early Methodist leaders required people to be a part of a class meeting (small group) in order to join the larger worship gathering?

Do you or have you had a core with which you could be vulnerable, go deep, and be committed to transformation?

Read Mark 3:32-35
In what specific ways is Trinity a church family?
What could we be doing better? How?

No one likes talking about sin, but we have to address it...

As we go deeper into spiritual practices, sometimes painful realities are brought to the surface that need to be addressed. Join in the discussion.

Listen in as we discuss our last practices exemplified by Jesus - generosity and community.

Generosity = people over preferences

Community = embodied grace and peace

Small Group/Personal Reflection Questions:
Over the past few weeks we have looked at 9 practices modeled after Jesus’ way of life:
Prayer, Scripture, Sabbath, Solitude, Fasting,
Service, Witness, Generosity, and Community.

Which of the 9 are you drawn to the most?
Which do you find most daunting/intimidating?
What is your understanding of the purpose of living out these practices?

What is an example of generosity that you have seen or personally experienced?
How were people prioritized over preferences in that situation?

Read Proverbs 11:24-24 and Acts 20:35. How have you been blessed by a willingness to show generosity?

Comer writes: “We simply are not meant to follow Jesus alone…it’s in relationships that we are formed and forged.”
- Who has been an influential and formational voice in your walk with Jesus?

In what ways is Trinity Church a strong community?
In what ways can Trinity Church improve/deepen as a community?


If you would ever like to support Trinity and our ministries locally, nationally, or internationally, CLICK HERE.

Continue in Practicing the Way with us as we discuss what it looks like to work on serving and sharing our testimony to God’s goodness, like Jesus did.

Reverend Steve Taylor, our conference Superintendent shares Jesus' call to "fish for men".

Being a follower of Jesus is a response to the promises of Jesus, as offered and proven by the actions of Jesus. It’s not something we initiate, but something Jesus has already done for us.

Discipleship is relational, transformational, and commissional. If you lost everything in your life, would you still be a follower of Jesus?

If you would ever like to support Trinity and our ministries locally, nationally, or internationally, CLICK HERE.

Small Group/Personal Reflection Questions

How do you react to the statement “The practices are not a measure of spiritual maturity”? Agree/Disagree?

Share your past and current experience with the practice of Sabbath? Is it something you are currently prioritizing? If so, how? If not, what has made keeping a Sabbath challenging?

Discuss Jesus’ practice of solitude described in Luke 5:15-16.
Jesus was God, so why did he need time in solitude to pray?
Would it have been better for Jesus to be more available to people and their needs instead of regularly going off alone? Why/Why Not?
How have you been blessed by the practice of solitude?

What is one word that comes to mind when you consider the practice of fasting?

How have you been blessed by the practice of fasting?