6/22 - 6/26 Life Group Questions
^ Click “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. Slow To Speak Not Silent
James 1:19-20
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
If you had to choose one, is your problem being too quick to speak or not speaking at all? (Each individual)
On Sunday Pastor Vaughn talked about both of these extremes being problematic and how the answer for both is actually being filled with the Spirit or having the fruits of the Spirit active in our lives. Especially the fruit of self control.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, SELF-CONTROL; against such things there is no law.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
Why is the warning connected to speaking too quickly associated with anger? Where does anger usually come form in our conversations & interactions with others? What does silence or being slow to speak offer in regards to anger? When you do not speak about things that anger you, does the anger typically decrease, fester & grow, or disappear? What does it actually look like to be slow to speak? Why is being slow to speak so hard? What are some practical things you can do if you are not slow to speak OR if you have a tendency to go silent and not speak at all? (Group Discussion)
3. Let's Talk About Our Fathers
James 1:27
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the FATHER is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
On Sunday Pastor Vaughn drew our attention to the role father's play in the plan of God for humanity. He said that fathers seem most clearly connected to children but the assumption is that the father has a primary relationship with the wife/mother that informs the father's relationship with his children. We were reminded of the relationship between the Heavenly Father, the only begotten Son, the Spirit, His bride (the Church), and all His adopted sons & daughters in order to help us reflect on God's plan for our families & fathers.
Our stories related to our fathers can be glorious or devastating and often involve a bit of both. Knowing this, while we'd like to hear from everyone we also need to taper down this conversation. Please share 1 thing worth celebrating about your relationship with your father and 1 thing you lament about your relationship with your father? Just one of each please. Feel free to share if your father was or is in your life and of course if they have passed away. The goal here is to get a glimpse of the different father son & father daughter stories represented in this life group. (Each Individual)
In 2026 how do you think the role of "father" is seen here in America? Exalted or diminished? Necessary or optional? Healthy or toxic? Lifelong or temporary? Why? Do you agree or disagree with the cultural narrative? Is it in line with the biblical narrative of fatherhood? If our cultural narrative is different than the biblical narrative, why is that? (Group Discussion)
4. Speak Life
James 3:7-10
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
On Sunday we were told that God gives us two clear paths towards taming the tongue and speaking life. First, the Holy Spirit has to change our hearts because out of the heart the mouth speaks. Second, we need to see everyone we talk to as an image bearer made in the likeness of God. Even when they resemble the devil instead of Jesus, remembering that at one point so did we.
Choose 1 person in the group and Speak Life to them right now. (women speak to women and men speak to men even if the group numbers are odd and life gets spoken to someone more than once). Start of your sentence by saying the name of the person and telling them that they are an image bearer of God and then Speak Life to them and over them in any way you feel the Holy Spirit leading you. (Every 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!