Vineyard Church Messages

We were made for community!

Question of the week: You have to sing karaoke, what song do you pick?

Message clip: What is one take-away for you from the message clip this week?

Start talking: Read the weekly verses and discuss the questions together.

Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together.

Hebrews 10:24-25A GNT

• What benefits have you seen in your life from meeting with other believers regularly?

• Share a story of when you were encouraged in your faith by someone in your church family.

• Have there been times in your life when you pushed away from your church family? If so, what brought you back into community?

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:35 NLT

• What do you think Jesus means by this statement?

• How does loving like Jesus look different than loving like the world?

Diving deeper: Write down (on paper or on your phone) one answer to each of the following:

Have each person ask Jesus the following question. Give people about two minutes to listen. Give people an opportunity to share what they heard, saw, or felt!

“Jesus, how much do you love me?”

We are more than just a collection of individual Christ-followers who gather together to celebrate Jesus at the same time on the same day. We are a community. We are a family. We are a church. We are the body of Christ. You and I are designed for community.

Question of the week:

Growing up, what was the first thing you bought with your own money?

Start talking: Read and Discuss together

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and . . . soul and . . . mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37A-38 NIV

• How does living in community with other Christ-followers help you obey the Great Commandment?

You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. 1 Peter 3:8B TLB

• What does it look like to love someone else with a “tender heart” and “humble mind”?

Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they believe in him if they’ve never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? Romans 10:13-14 TLB

• What type of thoughts are indicators of a Spirit-controlled mind?

Action Step: Write down an answer to the following!

1. Who is one person God is calling you to better love with a tender heart and a humble mind? How can you begin doing that this week?

2. What is one way you can serve others in God’s family this week?

3. Who is one person that you can share the Good News of Jesus with this week? Pray for God to open up opportunities!

Question of the week:

What is the worst haircut or hairstyle you ever had?

Start talking: READ THE WEEKLY VERSES AND DISCUSS THE QUESTIONS TOGETHER

God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 NLT

• You are so valuable that God sent Jesus to die in your place as a sacrifice! That is an amazing kind of love! What areas in your life do you need to sacrifice to show love?

(Jesus) included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.

2 Corinthians 5:15B MSG

• God has a plan for everyone’s life—yours, mine, and even the family member you don’t want at Thanksgiving Dinner. What kind of a life does a Jesus’ centered, “resurrection life” look like?

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 NIV

• Have you ever felt far from God? What was a way that God drew you back to Him? If you feel far away now, what can you do to come closer?

• Nothing can separate us from God’s love—nothing. How does knowing that God loves you no matter what make you feel?

Action Step:

WRITE DOWN (ON PAPER OR ON YOUR PHONE) ONE ANSWER TO EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:

Love is action-oriented. What are some ways you can show God’s love this week?

Getting strong isn’t just about being physically fit—it’s about having God-strength in every area of life. Join in as Pastor Jim talks about getting financially strong in 2020.

Talk It Over

Read the verses and questions together!

“This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing—everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing?”

Matthew 6:25 (TPT)

• When you were growing up, what was communicated to you about money? Was money a topic of stress or peace?

• How does what Jesus says in Matthew 6:25 differ from what you were taught about your resources?

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Psalm 24:1-2 (NIV)

• Everything we have belongs to God! How does this principle affect how you think about and deal with your finances?

Billy Graham once said, “Every person’s checkbook is a theological document. It tells you who and what they worship.”

• Do you agree or disagree with this quote?

• If you’re being honest, what does your checkbook say about who and what you worship?

Action Step

Write down an answer:

With your finances this month, what is one way you can:

1.) Plan your spending?

2.) Remember the Lord?

3.) Pay off debt?

Prayer Focus

Step 1) Split up into groups of threes.

Step 2) Take turns praying for each person. Always begin by inviting the Holy Spirit and expecting Him to show up!

Step 3) When you finish praying, ask each person what they experienced and if they heard God speak to them. Share your experience.

Getting strong isn’t just about being physically fit—it’s about having God-strength in every area of life. Join in as Pastor Elisha Hale talks about 3 ways we can become stronger relationally.

Ice Breaker

If you could kill any fashion trend forever what would it be?

Talk It Over

Read the weekly verses and discuss the questions together

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:34-35 (NLT)

• How does loving one another prove that we are followers of Jesus?

• What does this kind of love look like?

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with

your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

• What does it look like to honor your body?

• God bought us by the blood of His Son, Jesus. How does knowing Jesus paid the ultimate price for us make you feel about yourself?

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)

• Why do you think the early church had a high value of meeting together?

• What are some practical ways we can encourage one another?

Action Step

Write down (on paper or on your phone) one answer to each of the following:

What is one way that you can daily practice:

1.) Honoring God above all everything else?

2.) Honoring yourself and keeping boundaries?

3.) Honoring others and showing God's love?

Prayer Focus

This exercise can be done in silence or with worship music playing softly in the background.

Step 1) Have each person close their eyes and sit relaxed.

Step 2) Take a deep breath in and hold it.

Step 3) As you exhale, breathe out the words “Jesus, I belong to you.” Do this 3 times as a group. (You can also continue with more as the Holy Spirit leads you.)

Step 4) Conclude by leading the group in a prayer of thankfulness to God.

Getting strong isn’t just about being physically fit—it’s about having God-strength in every area of life. Join in as Pastor Jim talks about we can get strong emotionally.

Ice Breaker

If you could add a word to the dictionary, what would you add and what would it mean?

Talk It Over

Read the weekly verses and discuss the questions together.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

John 11:32-36 (NIV)

• You and I were created in the image of a God who has real emotions! In John 11, we see Jesus mourning his friend’s death RIGHT BEFORE He resurrects Him from the dead. How does this idea that God has real, active emotions affect the way that you see Him?

If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NCV)

• How does believing that you are a brand NEW creation help you live a life that is emotionally strong?

• How has believing this truth impacted you in your daily life?

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Romans 8:6 (NLT)

• What type of thoughts are indicators of a Spirit-controlled mind?

• Take a minute to reflect on the thoughts that went through your mind today. In what areas do you think the Holy Spirit wants more influence on your thoughts?

Action Step

Write down (on paper or in your phone) one answer to each of the following:

What is one way that you can daily practice:

1.) Experiencing situations in life through God’s emotions instead of yours?

2.) Seeing yourself as a NEW, blameless creation in Christ?

3.) Letting the Holy Spirit control your thoughts?

Prayer Focus

This exercise can be done in silence or with worship music playing softly in the background.

Step 1) Have each person close their eyes and sit with their palms facedown on their lap.

Step 2) With palms facedown, instruct people to think about all the worries, fears, anxieties, and broken situations going on in life. (Wait for about 30 seconds to a minute for people to think.)

Step 3) Then, have each person turn their palms over as a symbolic act of releasing those worries, fears, and situations over to God and to receive His peace. (Leave space for silence.)

Step 4) Conclude by leading the group in a prayer of surrender and thankfulness for God’s faithfulness.

Getting strong isn’t just about being physically fit—it’s about having God-strength in every area of life. Join in as Pastor Jim talks about 7 ways we can grow spiritually strong in 2020.

Talk It Over:

Ice Breaker

If you had to delete all but three apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?

Biblical Focus

READ THE WEEKLY VERSES TOGETHER

Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important . . . So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too.

1 Timothy 4:7B-8 (TLB)

Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.

Isaiah 40:31A (NIV)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. Colossians 3:23A (NIV)

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think that Paul stresses being spiritually fit? What

do you gain by being spiritually fit?

• An eagle flys differently than other birds. Rather than striving to gain altitude by flapping its wings, an eagle catches upward drafts of wind to soar on. How does hoping in the LORD allow you to soar (rise above) in life?

• Working can be tough—even draining sometimes. How does shifting your mindset to work for Jesus allow you to succeed and develop your talents?

Action Step PUT A PLAN INTO ACTION!

List 3 areas in your life that you need to spiritually exercise more.

Prayer Focus TAKE PRAYER REQUESTS!

Pair off into groups of 3 and share at least one area of spiritual exercise you listed above. Spend time listening to the Holy Spirit and praying for each other in those specific areas.

(PRAYER TIP: Ask what people experienced during the prayer time. If they received a mental picture, word, or feeling during prayer, many times that is God! Encourage others to share what they experience.)

Want More?

Spend time with Jesus by doing the following steps, either in your

LifeGroup OR on your own during the week:

Step 1) Read 1 Peter 3:15B slowly at least 2 or 3 times until a word, or

a phrase, seems to be highlighted or “jumps off the page.”

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15B (NIV)

Step 2) What word or phrase is God highlighting to you?

Step 3) Take time turning those phrases or words God highlighted to you back into prayers.