A Night of Prayer, Planning, and Bottle Breaking

rGroups,

There are three things we need you guys to do tonight that could take up the majority of your group time:

-In light of the huge announcements Pastor Nathan made on Sunday we'd love for you guys to spend some time in prayer. Thank God for what He's already done, and plead for guidance as we move forward into some uncharted territory this year. Of course we'll need to continue to give and volunteer and serve, but the one thing we absolutely cannot move forward without is God's power and blessing so as a church lets be faithful to step up in those tangible ways, but even more importantly, let's be a church that prays and acknowledges before God that all of this is for Him and that we cannot accomplish anything worthwhile without Him.

-Next week our rGroups have a party week! Spend the time you need to this week nailing down the details for that party.

-Pastor Nathan preached out of Mark 14:3-9. We saw a prostitute offer her life to Jesus. As a symbol of this she broke open her "vocational perfume" (which cost almost a year’s salary) and used it to anoint Jesus. The disciples viewed this act as a waste of resources, but Jesus affirmed her decision to break bottle, spend the money, make the sacrifice for Him. The only question tonight is about personal evangelism: have you been willing to break the bottle to see others come to know Jesus? Not on a mission trip, not indirectly through a ministry your church provides...have you pursued made the sacrifices of time and awkwardness to see people who are currently dead in sin find life in Jesus?

Tough Sayings: First is Last

Mark 9:33-37 & Mark 10 35-45

-After hearing this week’s sermon how would you answer someone if they asked you what it meant when Jesus said that the first will be last?

 -Your level of humility reveals what you think about yourself, but your level of service reveals what you think of others. What does your level of service reveal about your viewpoint of others?

 -In Mark 9:37 Jesus says that we should serve in His name. What does that mean?

 -In America altruism and humanitarianism are extremely popular. How do we ensure that Jesus receives honor and glory from our service rather than simply being caught up in the trend of social action?

 -How is God glorified in our service to others?

 Still Askin’ Em’:

-What did this text teach you about God?

-What did this text teach you about yourself?

-What are you going to do about it?

Tough Sayings: Less is More

Mark 12:38-44

-Explain the relationship between our actions and our motives

-In your opinion, do impure motives nullify right actions?

-Since your opinion doesn't matter...does Jesus suggest in this text that impure motives nullify right actions?

-How does one go about changing his or her internal motivations?

-The scribes in Mark 12 were extremely passionate about how they were perceived. Do you ever find that you are more concerned with the image of spiritual maturity that you project than you are with the substance of your relationship with Jesus?

-What did you think when Pastor Nathan said that we often ask God to fill us but neglect to acknowledge the fact that we have already filled our lives with other things?

-What things have you filled your life with that really don't matter, don't get you closer to Jesus, and don't get anyone else closer to Jesus?

You knew it was coming:

-What did this text teach you about God?

-What did this text teach you about yourself?

-What are you going to do about it?

Tough Sayings: Sell All You Have

Mark 10:17-27

1. Read verse 17. How do we confuse "doing" and "inheriting" sometimes when it comes to life in Jesus?

2. Read Deuteronomy 10:14. Pastor Nathan talked about this truth in terms of "leasing" from God. He owns it all, but we use it and steward it. We will have to give an account for how we used those things He gave us. What are you doing a good job "leasing" in your life?  What are the areas in which you struggle with "ownership"?

3.  Read verse 25. Why would it be so difficult for rich people to get to heaven?

4. Read verses 26 & 27. What does Jesus' answer mean?

5. Unpack this saying: "Giving is a heart issue, not really a money issue."

 

You know it's coming:

 

-What did this text teach you about God?

-What did this text teach you about yourself?

-What are you going to do about it?