Community Group Discussion Questions

For the week of March 8, 2020

Read Matthew 17:1-9

Pray that the Spirit would open your heart and mind to what He wants you all to see in this passage.

Discussion Questions:

1. Who does Jesus bring with him up to the mountain? Is there any significance in this?

2. In verse 2 Jesus is transfigured. How does the text describe this?

3. Who appears in the midst of them in verse 3?

4. Why do you think Peter wanted to build tents?

5. What does the voice from the cloud say to those gathered and what do you think the significance is of this?

6. What would have been like to be on the mountain with Jesus, Peter, James and John that day?

7. How does the meaning of the transfiguration help us on our journey through lent?Watch at: https://vimeo.com/396530595 File Downloads: https://churchos-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/11/18/06/57/49/ccea710d-d40c-4d6a-a593-0a1c3854d96d/March%208%20Community%20Group%20Questions.pdf

Community Group Discussion Questions

For the week of March 1, 2020

Read Matthew 4:1-11

Pray for insight and wisdom as you talk and study together

Discussion Questions:

1. What is Lent? How have you experienced it, or not experienced it, in your Christian journey?

2. In 4:1-2 Jesus is taken into the desert and tempted for forty days. Where else in the scriptures do we see these themes of forty days and the desert? What might this mean for the way we interpret this passage?

3. Jesus is tempted with three things, what are they and what do you think they represent?

4. How are these temptations applicable to your Christian journey?

5. As we begin the journey toward the death and resurrection of Jesus, and walk with him along this path, do you think there is something you could fast that will help you focus your heart and mind on Christ?

6. How might God be trying to shape you more into his image over this lenten season? More humility? More generosity? More patience? Begin today by asking him how he wants you to journey over the next number of weeks.Watch at: https://vimeo.com/394807325 File Downloads: https://churchos-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/11/18/06/58/22/2d3cfa40-00b6-4c31-a565-4385071cc0be/20200301%20Community%20Group%20Questions.pdf

Community Group Discussion Questions

For the week of February 23, 2020

Read James 5:7-20

Say a prayer that God would open your heart to hear His voice from the Epistle of James

Discussion Questions:

1. On a first reading of the passage, what are you curious about? What strikes you as important?

2. In what ways does James draw together some of the themes of the Epistle in these last few paragraphs?

3. James tells us to be patient in suffering and to not destroy each other in the midst of such suffering. But he does not leave us alone. How do verses 13-20 help us in the midst of suffering?

4. What is your experience of praying for the sick? Have you ever received healing?

5. What do you think the connection is between praying for the sick and the forgiveness of sins? Where else in the scripture is this connection alluded to?

6. What is you biggest take-away from our time in the book of James? How did God change you through this series?

7. What do you think the book of James means for the way the church deals with:

The poor

Partiality

Suffering?

The use of our tongues

Watch at: https://vimeo.com/393474559 File Downloads: https://churchos-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/2021/01/12/03/04/50/fd80084b-663d-40f7-af3e-2dc24e05bce4/20200223_CG%20Questions.pdf

Community Group Discussion Questions

For the week of February 16, 2020

Read James 4:13-5:6

Say a prayer that God would open your heart to hear His voice from the Epistle of James

Discussion Questions:

1. What confuses or puzzles you about this text? What would you like to understand more?

2. Why is it 'arrogance' to assume you know what tomorrow might bring? (verses 13-15)

3. In this passage (5:1-5), is the problem that it is wrong to be rich? Or, is it something else?

4. Why are the actions of the rich so problematic in this situation?

5. Consider this text in relation to the Old testament prophets, are there connections you can make? Does James sound 'prophetic' in this passage?Watch at: https://vimeo.com/392255818 File Downloads: https://churchos-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/2021/01/15/08/44/36/234649f2-c7c8-4694-96b2-426a33890cbe/20200216_CG%20Questions.pdf

Community Group Discussion Questions

For the week of February 9, 2020

Read James 3:13-4:12

Say a prayer that God would open your heart to hear His voice from the Epistle of James

Discussion Questions:

1. In verses 13-18 James speaks about two kinds of wisdom; describe the differences between these two kinds of wisdom.

2. How do you think verses 13-18 are connected to the previous passage 3:1-12 on taming the tongue? How do these verses (13-18) help us with the challenges of verses 1-12?

3. Where does James root quarrels and fights in the church?

4. How would you summarise 4:1-10? What is the main message James is trying to communicate?

5. There is a theme of submission in the text: submitting to passions and/or submitting to God. Try to articulate the difference between these two and the outcomes of each.

6. What are you personally hearing for your own life from this text? How might God be calling you to grow, change, adjust the way you live?

7. What might God be saying to us as a church through this text?Watch at: https://vimeo.com/390527922 File Downloads: https://churchos-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/12/16/09/21/52/a591b728-555f-42ec-b1d7-94b164e4b8c5/20200209_CG%20Questions.pdf

Community Group Discussion Questions

For the week of February 2, 2020

Read James 3:1-12

Say a prayer that God would open your heart to hear His voice from the Epistle of James

Discussion Questions:

1. Read verse 1-2. Why is it important for those who teach to control their tongues? Why are they judged more seriously?

2. What are the metaphors used for the power of the tongue in verses 3-6?

3. What are the characteristics used to describe the tongue in verses 7-8?

4. What is the contradiction between the blessing and cursing in verses 9-10. (Hint: Image of God.)

5. What do verses 11-12 tell us about the root causes of negative speech?

6. What are the implications for us in verses 11-12 about how we might be able to clean up our speech? What is the root problem? How do we deal with it?

7. What does this passage mean for you? Where has the Spirit convicted you as you have read and taken in these words?Watch at: https://vimeo.com/389039029 File Downloads: https://churchos-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/2021/01/17/10/51/41/9ff5be4e-ba7b-434b-abf1-142993a44ca6/20200202_CG%20Questions.pdf

Community Group Discussion Questions

For the week of January 26, 2020

Read James 2:14-26

Say a prayer that God would open your heart to hear His voice from the Epistle of James

Discussion Questions:

1. In verse 14, what does James mean by the question, Can that faith save him?

2. How does our passage today connect with the previous passages?

3. What is the relationship between faith and works in this passage? Can you have one without the other?

4. What is James trying to say by referring to the shema (Lord our God is one) and shuddering demons?

5. What illustrations does James give from the Old Testament as examples of what true faith looks like? What words stick out to you in the passage that help to clarify the meaning for us?

6. What challenges does this text give you personally?Watch at: https://vimeo.com/387469029 File Downloads: https://tachurch.ca//df_media/W1siZiIsIjIwMjAvMDEvMjcvMTEvMzQvMDUvNzQ3MzU4ZTEtMmRiNi00ZmUwLThiMDEtMThjNTIxMDI0ZDVmL0NvbW11bml0eSBHcm91cCBRdWVzdGlvbnNfSmFudWFyeSAyNi5wZGYiXV0/Community%20Group%20Questions_January%2026.pdf?sha=fba1ade466165c98

Community Group Discussion Questions

For the week of January 19, 2020

Read James 2:1-13

Say a prayer that God would open your heart to hear His voice from the Epistle of James

Discussion Questions:

1. Sum up the different sections of the passage in your own words: 2:1; 2:2-4; 2:5-7; 2:8-13

2. In verse 1, it seems that showing partiality toward one person/group over another goes against the gospel of Jesus. Why is this? What is the contradiction between partiality and the gospel?

3. In verses 2-4 James highlights a distinction that is being made between the rich and the poor. While this will always be a problem (The poor shall be with us always!), what are some distinctions that are made in our church of which we may need to repent?

4. What do you think it means that the poor are heirs of the kingdom?

5. Why is what the rich are doing (vrs 6 7) called blasphemy?

6. What is the connection between loving your neighbour as yourself and partiality (vrs 8-9)?

7. In this context what does it mean for mercy to triumph over judgement?Watch at: https://vimeo.com/386021428 File Downloads: https://tachurch.ca//df_media/W1siZiIsIjIwMjAvMDEvMjAvMTUvMTIvMjEvZWUwNDZiZDEtZDg1OC00ZDQ2LWE3NzItNjhjZmViNGI3ODM2LzIwMjAwMTE5X0Nvb2sucGRmIl1d/20200119_Cook.pdf?sha=af9b2ac73074253c

Community Group Discussion Questions

For the week of January 12, 2020

Read James 1:19-27

Say a prayer that God would open your heart to hear His voice from the Epistle of James

Discussion Questions:

1. What aspects of the passage confuse you or do you find interesting?

2. James is speaking about the word being implanted in us (vs 21). What does this mean?

3. What illustration does James use to help us understand the relationship between hearing and doing?

4. If the underlying encouragement James is offering is about the relationship between hearing and doing, how does that help us understand, or inform, verses 26 and 27?

5. After reading, thinking, and praying about this passage, how would you describe what true religion is? Watch at: https://vimeo.com/384551264 File Downloads: https://churchos-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/11/02/09/13/15/d2a3f2d9-b910-4900-a91a-5ea78abbb2dd/20200112_Cook.pdf

Community Group Discussion Questions

For the week of January 5, 2020

Read James 1:2-15

Say a prayer that God would open your heart to hear His voice from the Epistle of James

Discussion Questions:

1. In your own words, try to sum up verses 2-4. Do the same with verses 5-8 and 9-11, respectively.

2. What is the connection between these verses?

3. If the background of the Epistle of James is that there are poor members of churches in Syria and Palestine, who are severely suffering their poverty, how does this help us understand our texts today?

4. What does James teach us about how to understand our trials?

5. How do our trials help us to mature?

6. What do verses 13-15 teach us about the way that sin works?

7. Allow every person in the group to share how this text has helped them (or not!).Watch at: https://vimeo.com/383107088 File Downloads: https://tachurch.ca//df_media/W1siZiIsIjIwMjAvMDEvMDYvMTUvMTUvMjgvYzQ5M2U3MjYtODY5OS00NDExLWJiNTgtZjZlZmUxYmNlY2ZkLzIwMjAwMTA1X0Nvb2sucGRmIl1d/20200105_Cook.pdf?sha=b43df0786572d8e9