2/10 - 2/14 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. The Time Is Now
Luke 13:6-9
6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Mark 11:12-14
12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
On Sunday Pastor Vaughn said that Jesus expects true believers to bear fruit at all times. Jesus tells a story about a vinyard owner looking for figs and finding none and then Jesus Himself comes looking for figs and finds only leaves. Even though it wasn't "fig season" Jesus expected figs. In our lives the idea is that if we are connected to the vine which is Jesus (John 15) it is always fig season because our source is supernatural. We can, and are expected to bear fruit in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. When things are good or bad for us personally. Whenever Jesus comes looking He says to us "Now Is The Time"!
What type of fruit is Jesus looking for and expecting true believers to be bearing at all times? (Group Discussion)
Share 1 area of your life that you think you are bearing good fruit and 1 area that needs to be manured and watered and pruned so that fruit can begin to grow? (Each Individual)
3. Now & Later
Luke 13:10-13
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.
On Sunday Pastor Vaughn said that when Jesus brings healing into our lives He is doing something "Now" that ultimately points to a more complete work that He will do in the life of every believer "Later". Most Christians have experienced some real healing and breakthrough and victory in some area(s) of their lives and most would say that there are also many areas where things don't seem to have gotten better yet. If we do the pruning required for fruitfulness like we talked about in question #2 above ⬆️ and we still have areas unchanged in our lives it is likely that some things Jesus wants to give us "Now" and some things He has determined will be ours "Later".
If this is true, what do you think some of the reason why Jesus would give His gifts of healing and transformation this way? How do we know the difference between a lack of "pruning" that leads to know change and a blessing that is currently in the "Later" category in our lives? How does the "Later" reality make us feel/think/behave in the "Now"? (Group Discussion)
4. Give It Some Time
Luke 13:18-19
18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
Jesus describes the kingdom of God as something that starts off so small but over time grows into something huge. Many non-believers see the suffering and darkness and disease in our world as proof that God does not exist. They claim that the "innactivity" of God in these and other areas proves that He does not exist or that He is not "good" if He does exist. On Sunday Pastor Vaughn said that time and being bound by time often causes people to sin for fear of running out of time or wasting time. He said that God is not bound by time, nor does He operate out of fear because of limited time because He is eternal.
With the "kingdom" mustard seed taking time to grow into a magnificient tree story in mind, how should Christians process the amount of time that has passed since Jesus ascended and the wait for His return? Why the wait, and should Christians be praying for His return or praying for Him to "Give It Some Time" before He comes back for His church? (Group Discussion)
* 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!