2/24 - 2/28 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 listen to Sundays message if you missed it or just to refresh your memory. (Each Individual)
2. Seeking The Source
Matthew 14:13-14
13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and FOLLOWED on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Matthew 7:8
8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who SEEKS, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
On Sunday Pastor Gary said that "Following" Jesus might be different from "Seeking" Jesus. He told us that going to church and reading our bibles and praying are things that most Christians do as followers of Jesus. He even told us that the group of people that stayed home in the story probably still went to synagogue/church that week even though decided not to go find Jesus. Pastor Gary told us that truly seeking Jesus will always end in finding Jesus. We can follow Jesus without ever encountering Him and this is sadly what many "believers" experience as they follow Jesus week after week. We could say that those that started by following after Jesus in this week's passage moved from followers to seekers and they eventually found Him. We know they found Him because they felt His compassion for them and then they were healed and then they were fed.
Is there a difference between following and seeking? How often are you "finding" and actually "encountering" the presence of God? How do we know that we've found God on any particular day or week? What do we think most Christians are experiencing more often in their walk with God, following or finding? Why? (Group Discussion)
3. Serving While You're Suffering
Matthew 14:10-14
10 So John was beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12 Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. 13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
On Sunday Pastor Gary told us that it is right to mourn and even ok to isolate ourselves because that's exactly what Jesus did when John was killed. However, Pastor Gary warned us that many of us have a tendency to stay isolated too long and to stay in our mourning and suffering too long. Jesus mourned and suffered but He moved out of those areas relatively quickly as we look through the scriptures. Even when Lazarus died, Jesus wept but then He engaged the family and encouraged them and blessed them. In this week's story Jesus came to the people and got off of the boat and began to serve the people and meet their needs. Pastor Gary challenged us to consider if serving others is actually the remedy for our suffering and mourning. So the question is not just should we move out of mourning or suffering but, does Jesus give us another way other than serving others to "truly" move out of mourning or suffering? Pastor Gary told us to ask ourselves when we are suffering or mourning, how am I also serving others in this season?
How are you suffering or mourning in this season AND how are you serving others at the same time? If you aren't currently mourning or suffering thank God for that! Try to think back to a previous season and answer both questions. (Each Individual)
4. When Good Isn't Good Enough
Matthew 14:15-18
15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” 17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. 18 “Bring them here,” he said.
On Sunday Pastor Gary said that it was "good" that the disciples considered the situation the people were in who had sought after Jesus and found Him and were healed by Him and stayed to listen to Him. The disciples wanted them to be sent home so they could all but Jesus took the disciples "good" consideration for the people and ultimately said it wasn't "good enough". Jesus wanted the disciples to do something for the people and Jesus wanted the disciples to feel the cost of providing for others. Jesus understood the cost and He was often drained after healing and feeding people. Jesus also knew the cost and sacrifice of the cross which was ahead of Him so it shouldn't be shocking to us that Jesus expects His followers/disciples to sacrifice and realize the cost associated with blessing and helping others. The story progresses from Jesus doing everything for everyone, to the disciples asking for the people to be allowed to go home and do for themselves, to Jesus compelling the disciples to give what they had in order to do for others. Pastor Gary told us that if we bring what we have to Jesus (5 loaves and 2 fish) He will use it to bless way more people than we ever could on our own and ultimately we will end up with more than we started with (a basket full of food). Pastor Gary told us that two major barriers for Christians in this area are selfishness and a poverty mindset. He also told us that faith or faithlessness plays a part because even though we understand the story, some of us don't think Jesus can actually provide for everyone, and we don't think what we have to offer can really help because so many people have needs.
If this is Jesus progression and expectation for the 12 disciples should we believe that this is His desire and progression for all of our lives? How big of a problem is selfishness? How big of a problem is a poverty mindset? How does God get us to a place where we shift from "considering" others and wanting the best for them, to a place where we as individuals/families actually "do" something about it? What is an appropriate amount of your 2 fish and 5 loaves to give to Jesus for others? (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!