1 Samuel 17 | The Champion We Need
1 Samuel 17 | The Champion We Need
Pray
Church of the Week
St. John’s Anglican Church & Pastor Josh Miller
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 Samuel 17 out loud together
Invite a few people to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
After listening to Sunday's Sermon, how would you answer the question, What is the point of one of the most famous Bible stories of David and Goliath?
How does verse 37 help us understand that God delivered Israel and it was not simply David's courage?
How can we follow David's example of looking at God's past faithfulness to inspire future steps of faith?
What area in your life are you most tempted to be self-centered? (Depending on your own strength to accomplish things)
What area in your life do you most need to be God-centered this week? (Depending on God's faithfulness to accomplish things?)
Application
Ask God for courage this week to be God-centered in your responses. Ask to be more aware of your deep need and more dependent on Him. Share with one other person where you are asking for God's strength this week.
Luke 3:21-22 | The Prayer Life of Jesus
Luke 3:21-22 | The Prayer Life of Jesus
Pray
Church of the Week
St. James and Father Fabian Nwokorie
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries: Redwood Gospel Mission
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Luke 3:21-22 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Choose 4-8 Passages from the teaching and read them and invite the group to pray together according to the passage. Make sure to take time to talk to God in prayer and listen to God in prayer:
Luke 3:21-22: When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and (1) while He prayed, the (2) heaven was opened. And (3) the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a (4) voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
Luke 11:1: Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Morning (Mark 1:35)
Evening (Matthew 14:23)
Often (Luke 5:16)
Big Decisions (Luke 6:12)
Salvation (Luke 9:18)
Warfare (Matthew 26:36)
Suffering (Luke 23:34)
Luke 11:9-10: So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Luke 11:11-13: If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
Acts 1:14: These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:8: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 4:31: And when they prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.
Acts 8:14-17: Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Application
What is God saying to you? Share with the group and talk about how you can respond to God's word for you this week.
1 Samuel 16:14-23 | The Eyes of Faith
1 Samuel 16:14-23 | The Eyes of Faith
Pray
Church of the Week
Salvation Army & Major Lara Wycoff
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries: Harvest Christian School
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 Samuel 16:14-23 out loud together and Psalm 37:5-7
Invite one or two people to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Where have you seen a God use a hard season in the past for your future good?
Are you currently in a hard season?
How is God cultivating the heart of a servant during this season?
Where is God calling you to grow in a current season of waiting?
Application
Commit to faithfulness in a specific way in this season and pay attention to how God changes you.
1 Samuel 16:1-13 | The King No One Saw Coming
1 Samuel 16:1-13 | The King No One Saw Coming
Pray
Church of the Week
Petaluma Valley Baptist Church & Pastor Alan Cross
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries: Troy and Jackie Tisthammer with InterVarsity Campus Ministry
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13 out loud together and Psalm 23:1-6
Invite one or two people to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What is the difference between descriptive and prescriptive truth and how does knowing that difference help us understand Old Testament narratives?
Remember the big story of the Bible is about God saving the world. How do you think the story of David point us towards this bigger story?
If we know God sees us and sees the future, what confidence does that give us in our day to day lives?
What area of your life do you most prefer to walk in the familiar instead of taking faith filled steps toward a change that God is calling you to?
Application
Pastor Zach shared 5 ways to apply this week’s message from 1 Samuel. Pick one way that is most important for you to respond and share it with your group.
Don’t overlook where God is working. Where is God doing a great work through simple acts of faithfulness?
Don’t disqualify yourself for God’s service just because others have overlooked you.
Trust God in your grieving and answer God’s question for your life, “How long will you grieve?”
Prioritize the presence of God over protecting your image.
Proclaim Jesus as King.
3 John | Vital Signs
Pray
Church of the Week
Petaluma Church of Christ & Pastor George Robertson
Missionary of the Week
Caitlyn Christie (Hernandez) on furlough from Ministry in Guatemala
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 3rd John out loud together
Invite one or two people to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Since knowing the truth is not the same as walking in the truth, what is one practical step you need to take to walk in the right direction?
How are you tempted to sprint in a direction? What would it look like to instead take a slow steady pace that lasts a lifetime?
How is Love overflowing in practical hospitality in your life?
What would it look like for every member of the church to be a fellow worker for the truth? Where is God prompting you to be a start serving?
What is the most important way for us to avoid pride and selfish ambition?
Who are you imitating? What influence should you be most affected by and how will you do it?
Who are the godly men and women in your life that are worth imitating? What most stands out about them to you?
Application
Pick a godly person whose life you can imitate this week.
Galatians 1:13-16 | There’s More to the Story
Galatians 1:13-16 | There’s More to the Story
Pray
Church of the Week
Petaluma Christian Church & Pastor Ryan Oelschlager
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Galatians 1:13-17 out loud together
Invite one or two people to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Who is "reading your story?" How would the people watching you live your life describe what they observe?
In your life what do you need to repent of (turn away from)?
Are you tempted to look at salvation as something that needs to earned or have you received it as a gift.
What has changed in your perspective as a result of walking with Jesus?
How would you answer the questions, for what purpose has God saved you?
What is the best way this week you can let your light shine so that when people look at your life they glorify God?
Application
Share the light of Christ with someone in the next 24 hours.
Share the light of Christ with someone daily this week.
2 John 1-13 | Firm in Truth Faithful in Love
Pray
Church of the Week
Penngrove Community Church & Pastor Conor Anderson
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries InterVarsity Campus Ministry, Harvest Christian School, Redwood Gospel Mission, & Salvation Army
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 2 John 1-13 out loud together
Invite one or two people to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Have you experienced the truth without love? What about love without truth?
How does an out of balance truth and love create problems?
What kind of un-important priorities have you seen people unite around?
What would you say the main message of 2 John is?
How does gathering together in the Church community unite us together with Christ and unite us with fellow believers?
How would you describe the truth of the Gospel? How does the Gospel abide in us? How is the Gospel eternal?
Application
Where do you need to prioritize gathering with the Christian community in Petaluma to continue in the truth and in love together?
Romans 6:1-4 | Experiencing Baptism
Romans 6:1-4 | Experiencing Baptism
Pray
Church of the Week
Village Baptist Church & Pastor Shola Akognon
Missionary of the Week
Caitlyn Christie (Hernandez) on furlough from Ministry in Guatemala
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Romans 6:1-4 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
If you have been baptized describe your experience?
Why was Jesus Baptized if He had no sin?
How would you explain the purpose of baptism based on the Sunday Sermon?
Read the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch from Acts 8 :26-40, how does this exchange show there are no other conditions to get baptized other than salvation?
What stood out to you most of the symbolism of baptism?
If you have not been baptized, what prevents you from getting baptized?
Application
If you haven't been baptized make a plan to respond in faith to Jesus' command to get baptized. Talk to a Pastor or fill out the form online: https://www.calvarypetaluma.org/baptism-1
2 Timothy 3:16-17 | Experiencing The Word
2 Timothy 3:16-17 | Experiencing The Word
Pray
Church of the Week
Hillside Church & Pastor Doug Manson
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What is your favorite verse, passage of scripture, or book of the Bible and why?
What is your personal experience with reading the Bible?
Have you read the whole thing? Do you currently have a daily practice of reading?
What was most impactful to you about Sunday's Sermon?
What is the most important area of your life for you to surrender to God's authority?
Application
Spend this week asking God to reveal Himself in His Word and then takes steps of faith to respond to Him.
Find the latest discussion guide online at www.calvarypetaluma.org/discussionguide
1 Cor 11:23-26 | Experiencing Communion
1 Cor 11:23-26 | Experiencing Communion
Pray
Church of the Week
Eastside Baptist Church & Pastor John Aranda
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries: InterVarsity Campus Ministry, Harvest Christian School, Redwood Gospel Mission, & Salvation Army
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 Cor 11:23-26 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Did you have a history and experience of Communion growing up?
Share the experience you had when you first took communion whether that was in the distant past or very recently.
How would you explain the significance of Communion
In what ways can you keep Christ the center of Christian worship in Communion? What about in other areas of your life?
How does communion help you confess your new identity in Christ?
Application
Ask God to help you enter in to communion in a worthy manner full of celebration and reverence.
Find the latest discussion guide online at www.calvarypetaluma.org/discussionguide
1 John 5:18-21 | Reborn
1 John 5:18-21 | Reborn
Pray
Church of the Week
City Parish & Pastor Daniel Huskey
Missionary of the Week
Shalom Christian Center on Mfangano Island
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 5:18-21 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
How would you answer the question, "what does it mean to be born again?"
Why must we be born again?
How do we know if we have been born again?
Who can be born again? Is it just for those whose lives are falling apart or is it for those who have it all together?
What would it look like for you to say to Jesus nothing is off limits in my life?
Application
Invite Jesus into every area of the house. What drawer or a closet in your life that 'off limits'? Surrender that area to Him and invite Him to give you a new mind, heart, and way of life.
Find the latest discussion guide online at www.calvarypetaluma.org/discussionguide
1 John 1:1-4 | The Confidence of John
1 John 1:1-4 | The Confidence of John
Church of the Week
Calvary Chapel Petaluma & Pastor Zach Vestnys
Missionary of the Week
Caitlyn Christie (Hernandez) on furlough from Ministry in Guatemala
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 4:1-4 out loud together
Invite a one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
When did you put your confidence in Christ as the one who has “the words of eternal?”
What does it look like day by day to have a relationship with Christ?
What do you know that gives you confidence in Christ?
Share with the group your experience that gives you hope in Christ.
Do you have the same confidence and joy that John has?
Where are you tempted to rely upon someone else's confidence in following Christ and how can you make it your own?
Application
Take this week to practice walking in confidence and joy in Christ. Surrender areas of doubt and walk in faith.
Find the latest discussion guide online at www.calvarypetaluma.org/discussionguide
1 John 5:13-17 | Is There A Sin That Can't Be Forgiven?
1 John 5:13-17 | Is There A Sin That Can't Be Forgiven?
Pray
Church of the Week
Adobe Christian Church & Pastor Sean O’Kelly
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 5:13-17 out loud together
Invite a one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What warning lights have you gotten used to ignoring in life?
Is there a reset needed so you pay attention to the important things?
Read 1 John 5:13 and share how it can give the believer comfort.
Read 1 John 5:16 and share how it warns believers against hardness of heart.
How would you describe the sin that can’t be forgiven based on Sunday’s sermon?
Application
Respond to the message in 3 ways mentioned by Pastor Zach
We Should Pray
When you see brothers and sisters fall into sin.
We Should Wait
For them to return like the father with the prodigal son.
We Should Believe
When you find sin in your life, confess and repent believing that God forgives.
1 Peter 1:3-12 | The Living Hope
Pray
Church of the Week
Trinity Presbyterian & Pastor Reid Hankins
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries: InterVarsity Campus Ministry, Harvest Christian School, Redwood Gospel Mission, & Salvation Army
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 Peter 1:3-12 out loud together
Invite a one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What new perspective have you gained from Jesus?
Are there any perspective shifts that you need to adopt in light of the resurrection?
How have past trials created resilience in your life?
How does the example of the disciples resilience after the resurrection help you have joy inside of trials?
Try reading 1 Peter 1:3-12 in one breath as an act of praise.
Share what you are praising God for today.
Application
Spend some time in prayer together simply praising God for all He has done in light of Easter. Be purposeful in not asking God for anything but simply praying prayers of praise together.
Matthew 21:1-17 | The King You Can’t Ignore
Matthew 21:1-17 | The King You Can’t Ignore
Pray
Church of the Week
St. John’s Anglican Church & Pastor Josh Miller
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Matthew 21:1-17 out loud together
Invite a one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What were the different ways groups understood Jesus on the first Palm Sunday?
Jesus was forcing them to encounter Him on the first Palm Sunday, where is He confronting you in your life this week?
Why is it so easy to focus on the sin's of the city around us and why is God concerned first with the house of God?
Palm Sunday leaves us with two choices, to crown Jesus as Lord or Kill Him as impostor.
How does crowning Him as Lord make us clean?
In what ways does crowning Him as Lord bring hope?
Application
Pray the prayer of boldness this week:
Lord we pray for the boldness to speak Your word.
Give us eyes to see what You see
Give us ears to hear what You say
Give us faith that believes what You can do
As we lift up Your Name Jesus
We pray that you would stretch out Your hand to heal
Holy Spirit come and fill us
1 John 5:6-9 | Water, Blood, & Spirit
1 John 5:6-9 | Water, Blood, & Spirit
Pray
Church of the Week
St. James Catholic Church (Fr. Fabian Nwokorie)
Missionary of the Week
Caitlyn Christie (Hernandez) on furlough from Ministry in Guatemala
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 5:6-9 out loud together
Invite a one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What person or organization has the biggest daily influence on you today? How does it compare to the influence that Christ has on your day to day life?
How do you know who Jesus is? When did you discover who he was?
Share scriptures that God has used in your life to testify about him.
Which response that Pastor Zach mentioned is most challenging, which is most encouraging to you?
Be careful what voices your trust
Anchor your faith in reality
Rest in the finished work of Jesus
Expect the Spirit to speak and confirm the truth
Publicly identify with Jesus
Participate in the ongoing witness of God
Application
Respond to the testimony of the water, the blood, and the spirit in your day to day life. What is God calling you to walk out in response to His word?
Find the latest discussion guide online at www.calvarypetaluma.org/discussionguide
1 John 4:7-12 | Living in the Love of God
1 John 4:7-12 | Living in the Love of God
Pray
Church of the Week
Salvation Army and Major Lara Wycoff
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 4:7-12 out loud together
Invite a one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What is your default when you feel challenged to love, withdraw from people or pretend to love people?
How does our struggle to love reveal our need to receive Gods love in a greater way?
What have been the most fruitful practices for you personally that fill you with God's love?
Where do you most need to experience God’s love (examine the areas or people where you struggle to love the most)
Pastor Wes challenged us to make Love more than an activity. Discuss how to make it our identity.
How does our identity as beloved change how we think about ourselves?
How do we let this identity get down in our hearts?
How do we "keep ourselves in the love of God"? (Jude 21)
Application
Examine the areas of your life where you feel most challenged to love and ask God to fill your heart to overflowing with His love.
1 John 5:6-13 | Whoever Has The Son
1 John 5:6-13 | Whoever Has The Son
Pray
Church of the Week
Petaluma Valley Baptist Church & Pastor Alan Cross
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries CRU Campus Ministry, Harvest Christian School, Redwood Gospel Mission, & Salvation Army
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 5:6-13 out loud together
Invite a one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What area of your life do find yourself acting like the little league parent, letting something temporary and un-important take control of your attitude, attention, and life?
Pastor Zach shared three questions on Sunday, share your personal responses to the questions
How can we have know the we have eternal life? (Read John 14:1-3)
What does it mean to, "have the Son?" (Read Romans 8:28, 34-35)
How do we come to the Son? (Read 1 John 5:12-13 again)
Discuss the three ways of rejecting the son that Pastor Zach mentioned on Sunday. Which are you most tempted to say?
"I can handle it on my own" (Romans 14:7-9)
"I'm too far gone" (1 Timothy 1:15-16)
"I want help but I won't give up control" (Psalm 37:5)
Application
What is troubling your heart today? Speak that to God and ask Him to bring comfort with the truth that Jesus is preparing a place for you and will come for you.
1 John 5:1-5 | This Is The Victory
1 John 5:1-5 | This Is The Victory
Pray
Church of the Week
Petaluma Church of Christ & Pastor George Robertson
Missionary of the Week
Caitlyn Christie (Hernandez) on furlough from Ministry in Guatemala
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 5:1-5 out loud together
Invite a one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What is one way you have complicated the commands of God, either in the past or presently?
Are there any personal traditions or practices that lead to a stronghold of pride in your life?
Read John 13:34 and discuss what is the heart of the law? How do the great commandments from Matthew 22:34–40 add more clarity?
Read Matt 11:28-30 and discuss how we can carry out the work of God without being crushed by the burden of the law?
How does our Faith in Christ give us victory over the world?
What can sustain your hope when you know that Jesus is victorious but you still see pain and suffering around you?
Application
Ask God how your faith needs to be more connected to your relationship with Jesus this week and respond with faith filled actions.
Find the latest discussion guide online at www.calvarypetaluma.org/discussionguide
1 John 4:13-21 | Fearless Love
1 John 4:13-21 | Fearless Love
Pray
Church of the Week
Petaluma Christian Church & Ryan Oelschlager
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 4:13-21 out loud together
Invite a one or two people to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Have you ever thought or even said aloud, "my life will be over if…" what was the circumstance and how does it prove out the point of the message on Sunday?
How does love compare to fear as a fuel for our actions? What is similar and what is different in actions fueled by each?
According to 1 John where does our assurance of our identity in Christ come from?
Read Jesus’ own words about the day of Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. How can knowing he will Judge ultimately give us more confidence in the day to day?
If you trust God for the biggest rescue (Salvation) how can that help you to trust Him in lesser areas?
Application
In response to Sunday's message ask God to reveal what fuels your life. What fuel do you live by, fear or love? Practice asking God about your actions, "is this motivated by fear or is it motivated by love?"