Continue the Conversation Discussion Questions

11.13.22 Elephants Discussion Questions

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS

Share a high and low from the previous week.

Different people all have different struggles. How do we as followers of Jesus have compassion for people in different situations? 


Read Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 2:23-25. Discuss God’s desire and design from these verses? 


Why do many in the church think marriage is the ultimate goal for the Christian? In what ways can that attitude affect people negatively?


Why do you think we want people to behave before we welcome them? What can we learn from how Jesus interacted with people? 

Read Romans 3:23-24. How should the truth of these verses affect how we treat others? Why is self-righteousness so difficult to see in ourselves? 


How do we know if we’ve placed our identity in something other than Jesus? What does it look like to find your identity in being a son or daughter of God?

11.6.22 Communion

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Share about various experiences/traditions of communion you have experienced in your lifetime. What was similar? What was unique?

One of the names of communion is "Eucharist" which means "to give thanks." What are you thankful for this week?

Passover is a time to remember slavery and freedom. Would you be willing to share any ways in which you have been a slave to something and anything you have been freed from?

Take 1-2 minutes to silently pray and confess your sins to the Lord.

As mentioned in the sermon, we need to examine ourselves as listed in 2 Cor. 13:5. Challenge everybody to clear their minds of distraction, and to examine their motives and heart prior to partaking of Communion.

Partake in Communion as a group. Just use a small piece of bread and small amount of grape juice (or other liquid). Pray for the group prior to partaking of the bread and juice. If needed, you can use I Corinthians 11:23-29 as a guide.

10.30.22 Elephants Part FIVE

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS
Open with prayer for a discerning, humble, teachable spirit.

Share about a “high” and/or “low” from the previous week.

Discuss what Charles Spurgeon wrote and meant. Can you relate? “The mind can descend far lower than the body, for in it there are bottomless pits. The flesh can bear only a certain number of wounds and no more, but the soul can bleed in ten thousand ways, and die over and over again each hour.”

Read Psalm 88 out loud together. What would you say to a friend who expressed the same feelings as Heman, the author of this Psalm? Is what you’d say to your friend the same thing you would want said or done for you? Why or why not?

What other passages of Scripture have encouraged you when you have been worried, sad, anxious, depressed, or struggling? Share the passage and how it helped you.

What tangible step can you and/or will you take to come alongside a person, couple, or family to encourage them in their struggles?

Pray for one another.

10.23.22 Elephants Part FOUR

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS
Open with prayer for a discerning, humble, teachable spirit.

Share about a “high” and/or “low” from the previous week.

What definition or explanations have you heard of related to when life begins? Do you agree/disagree? Why?

In your opinion, what ways have followers of Jesus Christ in the United States been complicit to a culture of death (think not only of abortion) and in what ways have they stood for life?

God doesn’t want you to go through life punishing yourself for your abortion or for any other wrongs you have done. Christ has already been punished for your sins. How can we not dwell on past sins? Read Philippians 3:13, 14; 4:8, Romans 12:1-2. What are some practical ways to do this? Read Hebrews 10:22.

As believers, what kind of hope do we have to offer those who are guilt-ridden and need to be free? Read Romans 5:8, 10, Psalm 62:5, Ephesians 1:18, and Galatians 5:1.

What tangible step can you and/or will you take to come alongside a person, couple, or family to encourage life?

10.16.22-Elephants Part THREE

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

Open with prayer for a discerning, humble, teachable spirit.

Share about a “high” and/or “low” from the previous week.

How has the subject of racism personally affected you?

Read Genesis 1:26-27. What does it mean to be made in the image of God? How should these verses affect how we treat people?

Discuss what Russian novelist and critic of communism Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn wrote: “The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart. . . . And even in the best of all hearts, there remains . . . an un-uprooted small corner of evil.”

Read James 2:1-9. What do we see in these verses about God’s heart for people? What are some practical things we can do when we are “in” and others are “out”? How do you respond when you are “in” and then when you are “out”?

Read John 17:20-23. How is this kind of unity possible? What’s one step you can take to pursue the kind of uncommon unity Jesus describes?

10.9.22-Elephants Part TWO (Generosity)

10.9.22-Elephants Part TWO
-Open with prayer for a discerning, humble, teachable spirit.
Share about a “high” and/or “low” from the previous week.

-Take time to discuss how we view wealth/money in America? In your opinion is money (wealth, investments, stuff, etc) an idol in our culture? Why or why not?

-Read Mark 10:17-27. Why would Jesus ask the man to sell everything? Imagine you were the man in this scenario. What would you feel, think, do?

-What has Jesus asked you to give up or give away to follow Him? What is Jesus asking you to give up or give away to follow Him?

-Read Colossians 3:1-5. What does this mean that “You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God”? How do we set our minds on things above?

-What does the Bible tell us to do when we identify that we have made an idol of wealth/money? (1 Corinthians 10:14) Why does fleeing seem so difficult? What have you done to gain freedom in your life a consumption of wealth/money?

Some Scripture Relating to Money, Wealth, Generosity, Stewardship and More!

Jesus taught:
Matthew 6:1-4; 12:41-44: God honors sacrificial giving.
Matthew 13:44: The Kingdom of God is worth selling everything.
Matthew 22:21-22: Life is more than money. Give to those who ask.
Matthew 26:6-13: Be generous to those in need. Keep your heart open.
Mark 8:36-37: Choose your soul over money.
Mark 10:17-31: Give it all away to follow God’s law perfectly.
Luke 6:20: God draws near to the poor.
Luke 12:13-21: Your life is more important than your investments.
Luke 12:22-31: God will take care of you. Do not worry about money and provision.
Luke 12:32-34: Invest in what lasts.

Here are a few more passages…
Money, Wealth, Blessing
A wise man saves for the future – Proverbs 21:20
Money little by little grows – Proverbs 13:11
Ability to produce wealth – Deuteronomy 8:18
The blessing of the Lord brings wealth – Proverbs 10:22
Diligent hands bring wealth – Proverbs 10:4
Pursue righteousness and find prosperity – Proverbs 21:21
All hard work leads to profit – Proverbs 14:23
Oh, that you would bless me indeed – 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Then you will be successful – Joshua 1:8
God gives any man wealth and possessions – Ecclesiastes 5:19
A generous man will be blessed – Proverbs 22:9
Enduring wealth – Proverbs 8:18
Trusting God leads to well being- Proverbs 30:8-9
Steady plotting brings wealth – Proverbs 21:5
Trying to get rich quick – Proverbs 28:20, 22
Do not boast in riches – Jeremiah 9:23-24
No hope in wealth – I Timothy 6:17-19
Generosity, Contentment, and Giving
More blessed to give than receive – Acts 20:35
Give and it will be given to you – Luke 6:38
The righteous eat to their heart’s content – Proverbs 13:25
A generous man will be blessed – Proverbs 22:9
Support those who teach the word – Galatians 6:6
Sow generously and reap generously – 2 Corinthians 9:6
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat – Matthew 25:35-40
Godliness with contentment is great gain – 1 Timothy 6:6
Content with your pay – Luke 3:14
Be content with what you have – Hebrews 13:5
I have learned to be content – Philippians 4:11
Everything we have and give comes from God – 1 Chronicles 29:11-17
Rich in all things, generous on all occasions – 2 Corinthians 9:11
God loves a cheerful giver – 2 Corinthians 9:7
Excel in the grace of giving – 2 Corinthians 8:7
Greed and Coveting
Greedy man brings trouble to his family – Proverbs 15:27
Put to death greed – Colossians 3:5
Be on guard against greed – Luke 12:15
The love of money – 1 Timothy 6:10
Dishonest money – Proverbs 13:11
I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold – Acts 20:33
Can’t serve two masters – Matthew 6:24
Free from the love of money – Hebrews 13:5
Do not trust in riches – Proverbs 11:28
Where your treasure is – Luke 12:34
Money and Possessions
The Unmerciful Servant – Matthew 18:23-35
The Shepherd and His Flock – John 10:1-18
The Parable of the Talents – Matthew 25:14-30
The Rich Young Ruler – Mark 10:17-30
Everything Belongs to God – Psalm 50:10, Psalm 24:1
Don’t Worry About Worldly Needs – Matthew 6:25-31
God’s Lordship and Ownership
The Cost of Discipleship – Luke 14:28-33
The Faithful and Wise Servant – Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48
The Great Banquet – Luke 14:16-24
The Master and His Servant – Luke 17:7-10
The Shepherd and His Flock – John 10:1-18
The Tenants – Matthew 21:33-44; Mark 12:1-11; Luke 20:9-18
The Thief – Matthew 24:42-44; Luke 12:39-40
The Two Sons – Matthew 21:28-32
The Unfruitful Fig Tree – Luke 13:6-9
The Unmerciful Servant – Matthew 18:23-35
The Watchful Servants – Mark 13:34-37; Luke 12:35-40
The Wedding Banquet – Matthew 22:2-14
Human Well Being and Poverty
The Lost Sheep – Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:4-7
The Rich Man and Lazarus – Luke 16:19-3
Contentment
The Workers in the Vineyard – Matthew 20:1-16
Tithing
New Cloth on an Old Garment – Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36
New Wine in Old Wineskins – Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37-38
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14
Generosity
The Friend in Need – Luke 11:5-8
The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:30-37
The Moneylender – Luke 7:41-43
The Owner of a House – Matthew 13:52
The Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32
The Son’s Request – Matthew 7:9-11; Luke 11:11-13
Funding the Great Commission
The Growing Seed – Mark 4:26-29
The Kernel of Wheat – John 12:24
The Mustard Seed – Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
The Yeast – Matthew 13:33 ; Luke 13:20-21
Revival and Reformation
The Discarded Salt – Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34-35
The Fig Tree – Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-31
The Lamp Under a Bowl – Matthew 5:14-16; Mark 4:21-22; Luke 8:16 , 11:33 -36
The Lost Coin – Luke 15:8-10
Eternal Reward
The Hidden Treasure – Matthew 13:44
The Lowest Seat at the Feast – Luke 14:7-14
The Sheep and Goats – Matthew 25:31-46
The Valuable Pearl – Matthew 13:45-46
The Wise and Foolish Builders – Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49

10.2.22-Elephants Part ONE (introduction)

Discussion Questions
-Open with prayer for a discerning, humble, teachable spirit.

-Share about a “high” and/or “low” from the previous week.

-What was your big takeaway from the message? How is this issue personally affecting you (or those around you)?
What’s your biggest fear when talking to someone about a controversial topic?

-What does it mean to have compassion for people? How do you see Jesus’ demonstrating compassion to people? What can we do to have better empathy toward people?

-Read 1 John 5:3. How does keeping God’s commands show our love for Him? What does it mean that God’s commands are not burdensome?

-Read 1 Peter 3:15. What does it practically look like to defend our convictions with gentleness and respect?