Called to Testify (South Fork Campus)

Mark 5:1-20

Intro:

From biographical books to reality TV, many people are fascinated by stories about others' lives. What makes us so captivated by learning about other people? What makes for the most interesting stories?


Scripture Discussion & Application:

Read Mark 5:1-5

What stands out to you about this man's condition?

In this story, demons have seized control of this man in his sinful condition and are pushing him to self-destruction. What's an example of a way that sin has proved destructive in your life?

Read Mark 5:6-13

Jesus had the power to free this man from hurting himself and others when no one else could. What's an example of a time in your life when Jesus has freed you from something that was hurting you or others?

The demons beg Jesus not to torment them. Why do you think they say that?
(For leaders: Jesus saves people by breaking the power of evil – sin, Satan and the world – over them. Only when evil is removed and punished are God's people truly free. For followers of Jesus, our evil has been punished on Jesus on the cross. The demons know that Jesus is right to punish them with eternal hell, so they try to buy time by asking that he not do it immediately.)

Read Mark 5:14-17

After being freed by Jesus, this man is radically changed. What are one or two big changes in your life since you've begun a personal relationship with Jesus?

Read Mark 5:18-20

Rather than letting the Gerasene man come with him in the boat, Jesus sends him back to tell people in his country about what Jesus did for him. Why would that have been hard for the man? Why would Jesus tell him to do it?

Why do you think Jesus has decided to spread his message of salvation through witnesses like the Geresene man, you and me instead of through some other means?


Next Steps:

Although we know that as followers of Jesus we should live bold and share our faith and our stories of life change, sometimes we're resistant to do so. What are some things that keep us from living bold?

Sometimes practice helps. Think through your stories of life change though Jesus and practice telling them to friends or family that you're comfortable with. Make a goal to tell one new person one story involving Jesus every week.


How to Pray This Week:

Reflect on how much grace you've received from Jesus. Then spend time in prayer thanking Jesus for the ways that he's found, freed, changed and sent you.

Ask God to embolden you to share Jesus' story through your story regularly. Ask him to help you look for good opportunities and to confidently take them when they occur.


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Happenings

21 Days of Prayer (Launch Service)
January 6th, 5pm at South Fork Campus

This is the kickoff to our yearly 21 days of prayer as a church. What better way to start off our year than by gathering to focus our hearts and minds on prayer as 2019 is beginning. We will worship through singing, corporate prayer, and hearing stories of answered prayers from 2018. This service is designed to help you see how God works through prayer and how you can apply prayer to your life and relationship with God this year. Prayer guides for 21 Days of Prayer will be in seats at the AM and PM services so we can aim or prayers to the same focus each day.

The Change Formula (North Campus)

Mark 10:46-52

Intro:

What were some of the goals you achieved in 2018?

What were some of the resolutions you did not keep?

Do you typically love or hate change?


Scripture Discussion & Application:

The formula for change is: (Dissatisfaction x Vision) + Next Steps > Resistance


Read Mark 10:46-48

Dissatisfaction:

Can you relate (metaphorically) to Bartimaeus' situation in life? How so?

Is there anything going on in your life that makes you cry out to Jesus?

What areas of sin do you need to become really dissatisfied with in order to change?

What will happen if you don't understand how dissatisfying sin is?


Read Mark 10:49-52a

Vision:

Bartimaeus knew exactly what his vision was – to see. Do you have a vision for your life? What is it?

Is there anything you know the Lord has called you to do?

What's been on your 'radar' for quite some time, and you just can't wait any longer to pursue?

We see in verse 52 that Jesus blessed Bartimaeus' request/vision. How can you be sure that God will bless yours?


Read Mark 10:52

Next Steps:

Bartimaeus immediately followed Jesus after receiving his sight. Is there an area in your life where you received a blessing but have stopped pursuing God with?

Why is taking next steps of most importance to your vision?

What do you think your next step in following Jesus is?


Read Mark 10:48

Resistance:

What's keeping you from taking your next steps?

Which one of the following Resistance Factors is prohibiting you the most?
Procrastination, Perfectionism, Other People, Distractions, No Time, Fear, or Environment

What can you do to overcome the resistance keeping you from what God desires for you?


Which part of the Change Formula do you need to focus on most?
Dissatisfaction, Vision, Next Steps, or Resistance?

What change do you believe God wants you to make in 2019?


How to Pray This Week:

Spend some time in prayer, asking God to help everyone overcome the resistance to the change God desires of them.

Pray for anything specific that a group member has mentioned in your discussion.


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Happenings
21 Days of Prayer (Launch Service)
January 6th, 5pm at South Fork Campus
This is the kickoff to our yearly 21 days of prayer as a church. What better way to start off our year than by gathering to focus our hearts and minds on prayer as 2019 is beginning. We will worship through singing, corporate prayer, and hearing stories of answered prayers from 2018. This service is designed to help you see how God works through prayer and how you can apply prayer to your life and relationship with God this year. Prayer guides for 21 Days of Prayer will be in seats at the AM and PM services so we can aim or prayers to the same focus each day.

A Thrill of Hope: Baby Soft Skin

2 Kings 5:1–14

Intro:

When you were a kid, what was one of the things on your Christmas list that you hoped for the most? Did you ever get it?


Scripture Discussion & Application:

Read 2 Kings 5:1–7

Put yourself in Naaman's place. How would you feel knowing that you held a position of power and authority and yet suffered a skin disease you could do nothing about?

Have you ever felt hopeless like that? Frustrated that there was something in your life you could not control or fix? How can those times be beneficial in our relationship with God?

Why are we sometimes disappointed with the way God or other people respond to our requests?

What might out disappointment reveal about our hearts? (See Romans 12:3)

Compare and contrast Naaman and the servant girl.

What do you think this girl must have believed to be true about God in order to tell Naaman how he could be helped?

How do her actions remind you of what Jesus did for us in the gospel?

Let's not forget the fact that this girl was a slave, taken from her home. She could have been bitter about her circumstances, but instead she chose the path of hope. How have you let your current circumstances steal your hope in Jesus?

Read 2 Kings 5:8–14

What does Naaman's response to Elisha (vv. 11–12) reveal about his opinion of himself? How might such an opinion produce disappointment – instead of hope – in our relationship with God?

Why do you think God required Naaman to receive healing by dipping in the Jordan River? What was God trying to teach Naaman?


Next Steps:

What are the biggest sources of disappointment in your life right now? More importantly, how can you place your hope in Jesus?

Who do you know that you wish you could share the message of hope with? What keeps you from doing it? What steps can you take towards having the conversation?


How to Pray This Week:

Spend some time in prayer, asking God to help you find hope and satisfaction in Him alone.

Pray that God would humble us so that we would both seek Him and help those around us seek Him.


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Happenings

Christmas Eve Eve Service
Sunday, December 23rd at 5pm at both campuses.
There is no rWorld for the evening service.
(Sunday morning services are still happening that day as well. Normal schedule for those.)

21 Days of Prayer (Launch Service)
January 6th, 5pm at South Fork Campus
This is the kickoff to our yearly 21 days of prayer as a church. What better way to start off our year than by gathering to focus our hearts and minds on prayer as 2019 is beginning. We will worship through singing, corporate prayer, and hearing stories of answered prayers from 2018. This service is designed to help you see how God works through prayer and how you can apply prayer to your life and relationship with God this year. Prayer guides for 21 Days of Prayer will be in seats at the AM and PM services so we can aim or prayers to the same focus each day.

Flip the Switch: Idol Worshippers

Intro:

Have you ever had this thought: If I don't have ______, I won't be happy? If you're willing to share, what was or is that for you? Or what might you fill the blank with if you asked yourself this question?

Imagine yourself literally bowing down to worship a golden idol. What stands out to you about the emptiness of idols and idol worship?


Scripture Discussion & Application:

1 John 5:18

How does knowing that you're a child of God actually keep you from sinning (placing anything above Him)?

What's the danger in trying to find identity and belonging in anything apart from God? How does that actually hurt us?

1 John 5:19

Why does it seem so natural to seek things of this world for our security and comfort?

What does it look like for a child of God to love life but not to rely on things of this world for security and comfort?

1 John 5:20

When we have a relationship with Jesus, our perspective and understanding of life and our purpose begins to be directed by Him. What happens when we find ourselves looking elsewhere for perspective, understanding and purpose?

1 John 5:21

An idol is anything that take's God's place in our hearts. Have you identified any idols in your life? Grab a piece of paper and a pen, and quickly write out your answers to these questions:

1. What do you value the most?
2. What do you think about the most?
3. What are you seeking the most in life?
4. What do you always have time and money for?
5. What would you sacrifice for?
6. What do you trust in?
7. What are you terrified to lose?
8. What do you desire and dream about?

You may have noticed that some of your answers were actually good things. So how can you turn your focus towards God's heart without abandoning important responsibilities?

Can anyone in the group share of a time that Christ set them free from an idol in their lives? How did Jesus help you? What were you like before and after?


Next Steps:

What needs to change in order to remove idols in your life?

How do you need help to make sure idols don't sneak back into first place?

What's one thing you can start doing this week in order to "guard" or "keep away" from anything that might take God's place in your heart?


How to Pray This Week:

Confess to God that your sinful heart draws you away from Him to other things.

Ask God to give you clear sight and remove the "blinders" that keep you on guard against.

Ask God to forgive you for your spiritual adultery.

Pray for help from worshipping the many good gifts God's given you instead of thanking and worshiping Him for them.


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Happenings

Christmas Eve Eve Service
Sunday, December 23rd at 5pm at both campuses.
There is no rWorld for the evening service.
(Sunday morning services are still happening that day as well. Normal schedule for those.)