Discussing Sunday's Message

Hello Small Group Leader,

Every Sunday, we hear a message that is filled with life-giving truth and calls us to apply it to our lives. The Spirit is at work as we hear and apply this message. To facilitate this process, it is powerful for people to discuss the message together.

That said, this post is designed to help you as a leader to come up with small group discussion questions based on last Sunday’s message. Here are some guidelines to come up with great questions.

1. Consider an ice-breaker question or two. This is more than a transition into the deeper conversation. These kinds of questions allow us to get to know one another.

2. Read through the passages that were discussed in the sermon. Have the group read through the passages together.

3. Discuss the main point of the message.

4. What did we learn about God - his character, his desires from the message?

5. How did the message stir you personally? Consider the impact of the message on your life and share that with the group. Brainstorm questions based off your own understanding.

6. Here are three powerful questions that can be applicable all the time. What did you discover, learn or reminded of from the service last Sunday? What are you going to do about it? As a small group, how can we help you with that?

7. Come up with question topics or groups. For instance, you may have 2-3 questions that may focus on a specific conversation. If the conversation is going well, go through all three questions. If not, move to a different topic.

8. Hold the questions loosely. Remember the goal. We are to help everyone discuss truth that impacted us and apply it to our lives. Don’t worry about going through all the questions. Some great questions will not be discussed in group because the conversation went a different direction.

9. Beg the Holy Spirit. Ask for wisdom and direction from the Holy Spirit. Remember James 1…if we lack wisdom, we should ask for it. A posture of dependence on the Holy Spirit is always the right posture.

By praying and preparing thoughtful questions for your group, you will see God not only work in your discussion but you will see him working in you. As leaders, we know that we have an amazing vantage point because as we lead, we are being changed too.

Summer Break

Since many small groups take a break over the summer, this will be the last set of discussion questions until early September. If you would like tips on creating your own discussion questions, contact Patrick at patrick.hukriede@lscckc.org  

Week of May 19th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Mark  

PRIMARY TEXT: Mark 1:12-13 

• Share with the group a time when you feel like you crossed a finish line.  

• Going back to the same examples that were shared, can you now view them as a milestone?  

• Discuss the difference in mindset of a milestone vs. a finish line.  

• Read Mark 1:9-11. We sometimes have the disadvantage of knowing what comes next in the story. What could have the temptation been for Jesus after His baptism?  

• Read Mark 1:12-13. Who led Jesus into the desert? Have you felt like the Spirit lead you to a place where difficulty and suffering is what actually lay ahead?  

• “Arrival Mode” can be very dangerous in life and in faith. Why is this? Share some scenarios or examples of situations where one can slip into arrival mode.  

• What does “Arrival Mode” look like for a Christian?  

• Read Matthew 4:1-10. What helped Jesus resist Satan’s temptations?  

• What idea or thought do you take away from this discussion?  

This will be the last set of small group discussion questions until we resume in early September. If you would like tips on creating your own discussion questions, contact Patrick at patrick.hukriede@lscckc.org  

Week of May 12th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Mark  

MESSAGE: THE MOST IMPORTANT VOICE

PRIMARY TEXT: Mark 1:9-13 

• Growing up, who is someone who routed you on? Who believed in you?  

• Read Mark 1:9-13. What observations does the group have from these verses?  

• What did the Father say to Jesus? Read it again. What kind of impact do those words have on a person who receives them?  

• Take a moment. Read verse 11 out loud. Have some time of quiet reflection to pray. Consider playing a song from a phone or cd. Let these words sink in. If the group is comfortable, share responses with one another.

• Read Romans 8:35,37-39. How do these verses change your outlook? What hope do they give you?  

• Discuss as a group. Who in your life needs to hear some assurance that they are loved, respected or that you believe in them?  

• Take Action: Put one of these verses on a note card to remind you. Or commit to memorizing it. Or commit to sharing this message with someone in your life. Discuss how you can encourage and support each other to follow through.  

Week of May 5th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Mark  

PRIMARY TEXT: Mark 1:2-3  - Prepare the Way

• Do you recall the last time someone had to make an extra effort to get your attention? What were you doing at the time?  

• Read Mark 1:2-3. Interesting illustration John uses. Look back to the reference John is making from Isaiah 40:3. Since this is a reference to Isaiah, it has special meaning to the Jewish people. Consider it’s meaning.  

• Now consider the non-Jewish person reading this. One who doesn’t have the context of the Old Testament. What meaning can someone take from this...a voice of one calling in the desert? Picture this example.       

• Day 2 of this week’s devotional reads, “This unusual figure, John, begins to proclaim a new King is coming, and the people should take notice and prepare themselves for His reign – for this new reality. In the US we elect a president in November, and they take office toward the end of January. We have real-time coverage of the election and the administrations transition into office. At the time this was written, when a new King took the throne, a proclamation would be made throughout the Kingdom. It was news as well as a call to the people to prepare themselves to live under the new King’s reign. This is the call of John the Baptist, to repent, to prepare for the new reality that is coming. What goes into your preparation to live in Jesus’ Kingdom’s ways?” 

• What is your view of repentance? Is it easy for you to recognize? What does resistance to repentance look like in your life?  

• If appropriate to share in the group, what is the last thing you’ve repented of? And what attitude or behavior did God call you into that looks more like Him? 

• Discuss what the kingdom of God looks like in your life? What is He calling you to? Can you describe it?   

Week of April 28th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Mark: The Beginning of the Gospel  

PRIMARY TEXT: Mark 1:1  

• What does the group know about the book of Mark? Who has read it before? Discuss.  

• Does anyone have a Bible that contains some background or context? If available, read some of the background information about the author and themes of the book.  

• Have a conversation about reading the book together whether that is on their own during the week or even as the group...maybe reading a chapter a time.  

• Mark 1:1 says, “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” A translation of gospel is good news. Break up into groups of 2-3 and discuss. How do you describe this good news? As you discuss, consider a specific person in your life. How does that affect the way you tell the story?  

• Take a few moments and pray for the people who you were thinking of in the previous question. Pray that God would show up in a way that they would see and understand the message. Since you have a relationship with this person, what do you think could be holding them back from receiving the message of good news? 

• Mark’s audience was the Gentiles in Rome. Matthew’s audience was the Jews in Jerusalem. How can the audience change how the story is written?  

• Talk about the different audiences, the different groups of people today who need to hear the good news. Ask God to burden your heart for a specific person or a group of people in your life. Would you be willing to move towards these people if God direct you to?  

Week of April 21st - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Final Week  

Easter Sunday

PRIMARY TEXT: Luke 24:13-35 

Share a good memory from the past Easter weekend. 

For those at our Easter service on Sunday, you saw several people get baptized. They were asked if they have made a decision to trust in Jesus as their Savior and commit to follow Him as their King. What does that look like in your life right now? How are you following Him currently?   

Read Luke 24:13-35. What observations do you have about this passage? What part of this story intrigued you?  

Verse 27...”beginning with Moses and the all the Prophets, he explained to them all what was said in the scriptures about himself.” As a group, discuss what in the Old Testament described the coming of Jesus.  

We know very little about the Emmaus travelers. We do know that they were so impacted by their encounter with Jesus that they made the 7-mile trip back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples of their meeting with him. How has Jesus changed you? What personal characteristics are present in your life because of faith in Him?   

What fears, doubts, or questions has Jesus answered in your life in coming to faith or developing a deeper faith in Him?  

As a group, share some current fears, doubts, uncertainty and pray together as a group.  

Week of April 14th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Final Week  

PRIMARY TEXT: John 13:1-20  

• We learn from each other. Students learn from teachers, athletes learn from coaches, children learn from parents. Where good or bad, we learn by example. Pick a person in your life who has influence with you. What are 1-2 things you’ve learned from them? Go around the group and have everyone share.  

• With what you shared in the first question, did you learn more through their actions or their words?  

• Read John 13:1-20. What clues do you get from the passage that Peter is not listening to Jesus? 

• Can you relate to Jesus? You ask someone a question, and they don’t understand. Their own perspective and attitude is set like concrete, and they interpret the question through their lens without fully listening. They respond almost instinctually, defensively. Can you think of an example where this has happened in the last week? (Give a few seconds.) What is your response when you see that you are not getting your point across?  

• Jesus says that He has given them an example, specifically and tangibly washing their feet. Consider the stories in the gospel. How do you think Jesus served the disciples over the three years of knowing them? List the ways.  

• Although we haven’t had His physical presence, share with the group the ways Jesus has expresses love to you this past year? How has served/met you?  

• There is a difference between serving out of obligation and as a response to Jesus. Talk about the difference.  

• Share examples of others serving in your neighborhood/workplace, at your church, in your home? Take time to discuss each different setting. Talk about specific ways you’ve seen them look to serve rather than being served.  

• As Jesus has loved and served you, has God put a specific person or a setting (ie. Work, school) in your mind to display that serving mindset?  

Week of April 7th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Final Week  

PRIMARY TEXT: Matthew 26:6-13  

• Have a couple of people describe the “Kingdom of God” from the previous week’s message. It’s an abstract idea and one difficult to understand. Recall or retrieve the message outline notes. Where did you see the kingdom of God displayed this week?  

• Read Matthew 26:6-13. First notice the surrounding passages in Matthew. How does this give some context to the story?  

• Since this story happens in the distant past and a distant culture, it can be hard to relate to this woman’s response. With that said, discuss possible motivations for her actions. Take into consideration, Jesus’ own response to her.  

• Can you think of a time in your life when you witnessed an extravagance response to God?  

• When has your breath been taken away upon realizing what God has done in your life? When have you been so moved or had such resolve to worship God because of what He did for or in front of you?  

• Share as a group some more elaborate, intentional ways to respond to God. As you discuss, consider your personal daily worship (reading, prayer, serving) and corporate worship service on Sundays.  

• Plan a small group time for a night set aside for solely worshiping God. Brainstorm some ideas and think out of the box.

Week of March 31st - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Final Week

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: Not that Kind of King

PRIMARY TEXT: Luke 19:35-42, Mark 1:14-15

• Does anyone have an example of a relationship or a situation in the last few days where there were differing expectations?

• Read Mark 1:14-15. What did Jesus mean by saying the time has come? What had come?

• Many of us know this story well. As you read this passage, put yourself in the present moment. The crowd didn’t know what was going to unfold later in the week. Read Luke 19:35-42.

• Do you know what kind of king the people of Jerusalem were looking for?

• On Sunday, we heard a definition of the kingdom of God. Do you remember it? How would you describe the kingdom of God? How would you describe it to a middle or high school student?   

• Besides coming to bring the kingdom of God, Jesus came to…

  · Demonstrate His Kingdom exists not thru the power to kill or destroy, but thru the power of sacrificial love, mercy and forgiveness,  

  · To bare our sins, to break the power of sin, and to offer grace, forgiveness, and freedom from sin and self-serving religion,

  · To usher in and empower his movement – the church – to begin their work of helping one another live in His Kingdom’s ways.  

• Where in your life do you look for God to be a certain way? In five minutes of quiet reflection, when do you want a different king than who Jesus is and what he came for.

• Consider the community you live in. What kind of kingdom does our community need? Think of our schools – athletics and fine arts departments, neighborhoods, retail stores, local business, city government. After your discussion, take time to pray that God’s Kingdom would be felt here.

Week of March 24th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: By Faith  

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: A Simple Theology of Faith  

PRIMARY TEXT: Psalm 62:11  

• When was the last time your group shared your testimonies or how God has been at work in your life in the past few months? Discuss the idea as a group.   

• What is one point or story you recall from the message? Why did it stand out to you?  

• We heard on Sunday of the greatness of God and the goodness of God. How would you describe God’s greatness and his goodness? How do you differentiate between the two?  

• Read the entire chapter of Psalms 62. List some of the references to the goodness of God and the greatness of God from this Psalm and other passages.  

• As you consider your season of life, how has God’s goodness and greatness shown up in your life?  

• After sharing take some time to thank God in prayer.  

• With your phone, find a song or two that draws you into the greatness and goodness of God. Play and listen before or after your time of prayer.  

• Discuss the upcoming week with each other. Have everyone identify one event, conversation, meeting, etc. that you want to see God’s greatness and goodness. Pray for each other.  

Week of March 17th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: By Faith  

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: The Price of Faith   

PRIMARY TEXT: Joshua 5; Romans 2:25-29  

• Recall David finding strength in the Lord? Have you found strength in the Lord this past week? Share with the group.  

• Give the task of a small group member the task of refreshing the group by explaining to the group the process of circumcision, then giggle like middle schoolers as he squirms explaining it. (Just kidding…just trying to loosen up the mood. We can be so serious!)

• Read Joshua 5:1-12. We pick up in the story as the Israelites have just crossed the Jordan River (miraculously) and are advancing into the Promised Land. This is a long-anticipated event, and they have erected some huge stones as a remembrance. Are we given a clear reason why the Lord commanded this act of circumcision?   

• On the precipice of taking the Promised Land, these men were circumcised. Consider some of the emotions going through these men. How was this testing their faith?  

• Does anyone have any questions or insights from this passage?  

• In Romans 2, Paul talks about the act of circumcision. He uses it as a metaphor of circumcising the heart. Read Romans 2:28-29. What is a circumcision of the heart?  

• In smaller groups (3-5 people), share what is one of the biggest obstacles, giants or challenges facing you. Or maybe you aren’t facing a big trial, but someone close to you is.  

• In these same groups, identify and read 3-4 verses that strengthen your trust or faith in God. Take time to pray for each other. Discuss ways that you can support each other over the next few days.  

• Write down how you are going to support one another. This is the church being the church.  

• If time, consider doing communion as a group remembering what Jesus has done for us on our behalf and the trust we can have in Him at this very moment.  

Week of March 10th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: By Faith  

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: He Strengthens Me  

PRIMARY TEXT: John 10:10, I Samuel 30   

• What has been the most challenging situation you encountered this week? Share with the group.  

• Read Luke 6:46-49. Without judgment, share about your current spiritual practices. How did they influence your response to the challenges you encountered this week?   

• Read I Samuel 30:1-4. Discuss what has happened to David and his men as they returned home.  

• Is there a time when you found strength in the Lord or are you in the middle of such a time?  

• How has God’s love, goodness, etc shown up in your life during trials?  

• In what ways have you lost sight of God? Where have you seen yourself struggle or waiver?  

• In light these questions, how has your faith been affected?  

• Consider this quote and spend time praying for one another. “Faith is looking at the darkest, blackest fact in the face without it damaging God’s character.”  

Week of February 24th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: By Faith  

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: Crossing Your Own Red Sea 

PRIMARY TEXT: Exodus 14  

• Share with the group what you’ve learned about faith during the current message series.  

• Moses is about to lead the people out of Egypt. Read Exodus 14. What instructions does God give to Moses?   

• How does God reassure the Israelite people of His presence and care while they are fleeing?  

• What reassurance has God given to you in this season of your life? Consider scripture you’ve read, songs that are meaningful to you, relationships that encourage you, habits that restore you.  

• Discuss as a group. Is it harder to trust God when you’ve run out of options or when you have 3-4 options?  

• Are you facing your own Red Sea?  

• Is there a step of faith, a step into the Red Sea that you are feeling led to take?  

• Take time to support each other and pray as a group.  

Week of February 17th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: By Faith  

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: The faith stealer of failure  

PRIMARY TEXT: Genesis 37-50  

• Share with the group what you’ve learned about faith during the current message series.  

• Joseph’s brothers are jealous of him and are filled with contempt. Choosing to not deal with their own heart, they seek to rid themselves of Joseph. Read Genesis 37:19-32. What role did Judah play in this scene?  

• Discuss the guilt that Judah might have endured after this incident, especially when in the sight of his father.  

• Judah and his brothers kept this secret from their father. Talk about how a secret contributes to the lingering feelings of guilt.  

• This story can conjure up emotions and memories of mistakes that we’ve made. Take a few moments of silence to privately reflect on past mistakes you’ve made.  

• Without sharing the mistakes, what emotions rise up in you as you wrote out that list?  

• Read Ephesians 2:4-10. In light of our lists, discuss what grace means to you?  

• The title of this message is, “The faith stealer of failure”. How can failure and guilt rob someone of faith?  

• What does this conversation do to the “faith” that you have in God?  

• Take a few moments to share of how failure or pain is threatening to steal faith from you or in the lives of loved ones. Discuss ways to support and pray for these people.  

• Consider sharing in communion together as a group tonight or at a future meeting. 

Week of February 10th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: By Faith  

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: There’s Value in the Process 

PRIMARY TEXT: I Kings 18  

• Share with the group what you’ve learned about faith during the current message series.  

• Read I Kings 18:41-43. Elijah promises rain to show King Ahab of the power of the one true God, over the other gods popular of the day. Describe the scene in these verses.  

• Has anyone had a conversation in the last week where you were attempting to show the power, goodness or love of the one, true God? If so, describe how you explained yourself? Do you feel like you were understood?  

• How many times did Elijah send his servant to check to see if God was bringing rain? Consider the duration of time from the first prayer to the seventh. We don’t know what lesson Elijah learned, but share with the group a frequent prayer you’ve prayed. What have you learned in the process?  

• Discuss the mindset of the person who focuses on the results vs. the person who focuses on obedience.  

• Read I Kings 18:44-46. Share your response to these verses.  

• Take some extended time to share prayer requests. Pray for those requests and for understanding and clarity in the process.  

• Consider praying for the elders, staff, leadership and church body at LSCC. 

Week of February 3rd - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: By Faith  

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: Faith Leads to Action  

PRIMARY TEXT: James 2:14-26  

• Share with the group something you’ve learned about faith during the current message series.  

• Read James 2:14-17. How does James explain or describe faith in these verses? What is the correlation he is making?  

• Consider a parent-child relationship for a moment. View it from the perspective of a son or a daughter.  What message does a child hear when a parent’s actions don’t match their words?  

• Choose another role or life circumstance. What are the implications when words and actions don’t match? Employer – Employee, Coach – Player, Teacher – Student, Friends, Spouses.  

• Take 5 minutes to quietly pray and reflect. Privately consider any areas in your life where your actions don’t match your words.  

• If the group is comfortable, gather into groups of 3-4 and discuss the reflection time.

• Read James 2:18-26. Discuss as a group how Abraham and Rahab’s actions demonstrated faith.  

• If your group has met for a while and knows each other well, go around the room and share how your group sees faith being demonstrated by each group member.   

• Go around the group and share one situation in the coming days that will be an opportunity to put action to faith. Encourage and pray for each other. 

Week of January 27th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Journey of Faith

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: God Can    

PRIMARY TEXT: Matthew 8:5-13, 8:23-27, 9:18-26, 9:27-30, Hebrews 11:40

• Does anyone have an insight about “faith” from this past week or from the message?

• Read Hebrews 11:40. Often in our lives, God has something else, something different, something better in mind. Share of a time when you wanted and prayed for something, but God had something different in mind?

• From those who shared, what did you learn about God or yourself through it? Did the experience grow or weaken your faith?

• Read Matthew 8:5-13. Discuss the faith of the centurion. What does he understand of Jesus’s power and authority?

• Why do you think Jesus commends the centurion of such great faith?

• Some prayers we don’t know how or if God will answer them. For instance the outcome of a specific situation. However, there are other prayers that we can have confidence that He hears and desires to respond. Give some examples of those prayers. (If stuck, consider the next exercise.)

• Here is an example of such a prayer. God, help me to know and understand you better. Help me to love people like you love people. Show me specific situations where you can love someone through me. Is this a prayer that we can have confidence God will answer? Discuss.

• In groups of 3-4 or a big group, spend time praying prayers that you can have confidence God desires to answer in your life.

Week of January 20th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Journey of Faith  

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: Lack Of…

PRIMARY TEXT: Matthew 8:5-13, 8:23-27, 9:18-26, 14:22-33

• Does anyone have any thoughts or insights about “faith” from this past week?  

• Read Matthew 8:5-13, 13:53-58, and 14:22-33. What do you learn about faith from these passages?  

• Read Matthew 8:23-27. If you were in the boat, how would you have reacted? What do you learn about your faith through your answer?  

• Staying on the Matthew 8 passage, what mindset would someone have to have in order to express faith in that moment?  

• In smaller groups of 3-4... 

  • Bring this to your life. What is a current stress, problem or issue for you? You have many legitimate reasons for the emotions you have, but what would it look like to have “boat-like” faith in your situation?  

  • Take some time to pray for each other’s faith. 

Week of January 13th - Small Group Questions

CURRENT SERIES: Journey of Faith  

SUNDAY’S MESSAGE: The Foundation    

PRIMARY TEXT: Romans 4; Hebrews 11:1 & 6  

• During the service, Cory and Patrick talked about setting intentions or goals. Talk about what has help you in the past set an intention or accomplish a goal in your life?   

• In general terms, how would you define the word faith?  

• What helps grow your faith in another person or in God?  

• Read Hebrews 11:1. What do you learn about faith in this passage?  

• Read Hebrews 11:6. What do you learn about faith in this passage?  

• Read Romans 4:1-17 and 22-25. What do we learn about Abraham’s faith in this passage? Why does Paul point to Abraham and his faith as an example?  

• Did God stir you or show you something? Is there an action to take? Or going back to the first question, is there an intention that you’d like to make in the next 30 or 60 days. Share with the group or break into small groups.