9/15 - 9/19 Life Group Questions
^ Click Take A Note ^ Remember to write down some short notes for each of the questions below before heading to life group.
1.
Share 1 thing that stood out to you about Sunday's Message. (1 minute max please) Also press play button in image above to watch or listen to Sundays message if you missed it or just to refresh your memory. (Each Individual)
2. To Be Known
1 Corinthians 8:3
3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
On Sunday we discussed knowing God and knowing things and not knowing things but Pastor Vaughn said he is convinced that there is nothing more encouraging and comforting and fulfilling than "BEING KNOWN" and that deep down we all desperately desire to be known by our spouses and friends and children and parents and coworkers and teammates.
How does being known by God or not being known by God impact your Christianity on a day to day basis personally? Is it something you think about often or rarely? Does it impact the way you feel about yourself and life and other relationships, and if so, how? (Each individual)
3. Only One God Actually Exists
Isaiah 46:9
9 I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me
1 Corinthians 8:4-6
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
On Sunday Pastor Vaughn talked about the fact that scriptures says there are no other gods and the idols people have worshipped throughout history do not actually exist. Pastor Vaughn also talked about fallen angels, demons, and satan himself as realities in the world we live in. Pastor Vaughn said that these "so called" gods and lords have real impacts in our lives and particularly in the lives of unbelievers.
Do you typically see the battle of good verses evil as a battle that God is sometimes winning and sometimes losing? Do you see the forces of darkness & evil as having close to the same level of power as God? The bible forces us to consider things like spiritual/demonic possession and oppression. What is the biblical perspective on the battle between God & evil and how should that inform the way we live and pray for ourselves? How we interact with and pray for other believers? How we interact with and pray for unbelieving friends and family and strangers? (Group Discussion - Consider all the above as parts of the discussion)
4. It's About Love Not Food
1 Corinthians 8:8-13
8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
On Sunday Pastor Vaughn said that this passage teaches us that e don’t have to only consider what is good and bad for us but also what is good and bad for others. Not only what our temptations and pitfalls are, but the temptations and pitfalls of others. Based on Verse 12 Pastor Vaughn said when we don't it’s not just “not nice” or “inconsiderate” but an actual sin against others and a sin against Christ. When the commitment to never eat meat again is made in Verse 13, the point isn't about a food lost forever, its about a decision to love one another more than anything else forever.
Is the bar set too high here? Is it hard enough to just figure out what's best for you and then try to live that way? Why and how does something that is not a sin become a sin just because someone else is challenged by it? how might living this way help you as much or even more than it helps the person you are sacrificing something you don't have to for? How is this way of living and this expectation rooted in love or the fulfillment of true love? (Group Discussion - Consider all the above as parts of the discussion)
5. What is 1 area you feel God is calling you to take specific action in, based on Sunday's message and tonight's Life Group gathering? (Each individual)
* Remember to pray for each other before heading home from life group and to stay in communication here in the app throughout the week on your life group messaging thread!