Every Nation Vancouver

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. Main Verse: John 21:15-17 Sermon Summary: Organizations pursue a purpose but the Church pursues a person. Discussion Questions: 1. How is the Church different than an organization or charity? 2. Is the tension that's held in family necessary for discipleship? If so, why? 3. How does Jesus response to Peter in John 21 loving? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? Pray together. [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. Summary: A better image comes through reflecting a better identity. Discussion Questions: 1. How does Luke 20:46-47 describe the teachers of the law? Why might being a law-based person lead to an image-based life? 2. Who does Romans 8:15 say we are? How does that identity set us free from trying to maintain an external, law-based image? 3. What does it practically look like to move from improving our law-based image to resting in our God-given identity? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? Pray together. [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ: John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Sermon Summary: "Peace" is about the absence of anxiety, "Shalom" is about relationship. Discussion Questions: 1. If we define peace as the "absence of conflict," why is that unhelpful in our understanding of the gospel? 2. Defining Shalom as relational connectedness, why is this a better form of peace? 3. How could you pursue Shalom more in your life? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? Pray together. [Record responses and prayer requests.] (edited)

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. Summary: It takes faith to have a past. Discussion Questions: 1. What does 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 say about our past? 2. How do we put the past behind us? Matthew 16:24; Galatians 2:20 Describe what “denying” and “crucifying” practically means. Why is that an act of faith? 3. Are there areas of the past that “feel” present? How do we switch our faith from our feelings to God's Spirit? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? Pray together. [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. Philippians 2:1-11 Summary: Relationship is perfectly designed to fall apart when it’s used to our advantage. Discussion Questions: 1. Read Phil 2:1-2 - Why do you think Paul correlates being a Christian with being unified with other believers? 2. Read Phil 2:3-4 - Why is humility essential to unity & building the Church? 3. Read Phil 2:5-8 - How did Jesus model humility? What would following his example look like in your life? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? Pray together. [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. 2 Timothy 1:7 – today we are looking at the Spirit’s gift of love. Summary: We receive love as we give love in faith. Discussion Questions: 1. According to Romans 5:5, what does the Holy Spirit pour into us? Using Matthew 6:14 as an example, what restricts the amount of love that God can pour into us? (See also Galatians 6:7-8) 2. What does Hebrews 11:6c say faith is? How does faith impact how we give love? When we get tired of loving others, what does that say about our faith in who God is? 3. What does it look like to love God and others “in faith”? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? Pray together. [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. 2 Timothy 1:5-7 Summary: The Spirit redeems power by being a loving source. Discussion Questions: 1. How do you feel that the Spirit exercises power through the Church (flawed people)? Is the messiness worth it? 2. Read Ephesians 2:1–2. Where else does power come from if not the Spirit? 3. 2 Timothy 1:8–9. Why is it loving for God to exercise his power through us? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? Pray together. [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. 2 Timothy 1:5-7 Summary: Timidity quenches our faith; Spirit-filled courage ignites it. Discussion Questions: 1. What is Timothy commended for in 1:5? In 1:6, what would help Timothy grow his faith? In 1:7, what does God's Spirit does not give us? 2. How are faith and timidity opposites? How then, do we grow our faith? 3. Where do you feel timid? What would faith in God's Spirit look like there? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? Pray together. [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. Ephesians 5:21-25; 6:1-9 Summary: To reverse the cycle of dominance and oppression we give and receive love. Discussion Questions: 1. Paul gives three examples of people submitting: wives to husbands, slaves to masters, and children to parents. Describe the attitude of those leading and those submitting. 2. How does EVERYONE relate to Christ? Why is that critical? How do we reverse the classic cycle of dominance and oppression? 3. Where does this apply in your life? What will you need to believe about God to walk in this new way? What will this new way practically look like? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? Pray together. [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. Ephesians 4:20-32 Summary: What we wear reveals what we think our life purpose is. Discussion Questions: 1. What are Christians to “put off” and “put on”? 2. What are those new “clothes” meant to reveal (4:24)? 3. If we choose to wear our old “clothes” what does that say about what we think our life purpose is? 4. What has God given you to wear at home, work…? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? [Record responses and prayer requests.]

Main Passage: Ephesians 4:1-3 (w/ comments on Ephesians 3:6,16). Discussion Questions: -Did anyone feel like God was getting their attention with something that was said or happened on Sunday? -When you consider why people come together and unite, what are examples of the foundation of their unity? What is their unity built upon? -It seems Christians keep dividing. Speaking from your personal experience, why do you think it is difficult for us to remember and live like Jesus' work is the foundation of our unity? In regards to maintaining the unity of the Spirit, Paul mentions humility, patience, and bearing with one another in love. Brett commented on how the idol of power can attack humility, the idol of control can attack patience, and the idol of comfort can attack bearing with one another. If you had to choose, which idol is most dangerous in your life? Why? -What excites you when you think about where increased unity could lead us as a kingdom family? Summary Statement: Living as a Family

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. Passage Address: Ephesians 2:8-9 Discussion Questions: 1. In his letter Paul is making a case that the narrative of God provides for our life is better than any other narrative we could be a part of. Why does Paul begin chapter 2 with the word ‘dead’ . What do you think of that? 2. Paul uses the archer’s term ‘to miss the mark’ to describe sin. How has sin stopped you from hitting the target in life? 3. God’s grace takes the place of our guilt, renews the longings of our hearts and restores the broken relationship sin causes. How does God’s grace give us the significance and security we are looking for in our lives? 4. Paul is writing to two kinds of people, those who have experienced God’s grace but keep adding to it because they don’t trust it fully, and those who don’t understand grace because they don’t feel worthy because of the wrong things they have done. Which one do you relate to more?

Discussion questions forthcoming...

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. 1 Samuel 24:1-20 Discussion Questions: 1. How did David respond to Saul’s unjust attack? 2. According to verse 6, what was David’s motive for acting this way? 3. Where have you been unjustly treated? How does David’s example help you know what to do? (See Matthew 5:38-42 for further insight) Summary: Active goodness is the only way to overcome evil. RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. 1 Samuel 20:12-16, 22:14-16 & 20-23. Summary Statement: During fearful times refuge is found in covenant relationships (1 Sam 22:23). Discussion Questions: It is easy to believe that the quality of our Life is based on the quality of our faith. Similarly we imagine that better planning and strategies will help us avert disaster. However, as the chosen King of Israel, David's life was fraught with uncertainty and threats. What we discover is that his refuge is not found in better plans but in right (covenant) relationships. 1. How would you describe David's qualities? How do you explain his circumstances based on those qualities? (19:4-5) 2. Be it Goliath or King Saul what was David's primary motivation when faced with difficult circumstances? (20:41) 3. David found temporary relief as he ran from town to town. But ultimately his refuge was secured, why? (22:14-15) 4. When faced with fearfu

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. Passage Address: 1 Samuel 19:1-10 Summary Statement: We have a selfish instinct to kill our liberators. Discussion Questions: 1. Why is Saul so committed to killing David despite the benefit that David’s brought to the kingdom? 2. Read Acts 2:36 - What does Saul have in common with the people of Israel in Jesus' time when Peter preaches in Acts 2? 3. Where in your life does Jesus story of liberation confront your desires to self-rule? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. 1 Samuel 17 Discussion Questions: 1. 1 Samuel 16:7 says that God values our hearts more than our image. To know what kind of heart God values, contrast David’s heart (17:26,32, 37,45), Goliath’s heart (17:10, 42), and Eliab’s heart (17:24,28). 2. Why did David only use a sling? See 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. 3. Where are you to fight for God's honor? Summary: To fight for God's honor, we engage in battles only He can win, with our weapon being the knowledge of God. RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. 1 Samuel 16 Summary: Sadness, fear, and assumptions can distract us from anointing Jesus as our King. Discussion Questions: 1. In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel struggled to anoint David as the new and better King for Israel. Verses 1, 2 and 7 each describe a struggle; what are they? 2. What does 1 Peter 3:15a tell us to do? How do we let sadness, fear or assumptions complicate that command? 3. Why must we anoint/revere/set apart Jesus as our Lord as our first response, not our future goal? Where do you need Jesus to be Lord? Confess that in prayer now. RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. 1 Samuel 15: 22-23 Summary Statement: Obedience is better than sacrifice. Discussion Questions: 1. Why do you think this passage says that obedience is better than sacrifice? What's the difference? 2. Do you ever see obedience as an attempt to appease God? How is that affecting your ability to obey Him? 3. Where are you called to be obedient to God's word in your life right now? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? [Record responses and prayer requests.]

REVIEW. “What did you take away from last time?” [Refer to last week’s responses.] “How did that go?” READ. Summary: Rely on God's Word, not external “evidence.” Discussion Questions: 1. Describe Israel’s first king, according to 1 Samuel 9:2; 10:1,6. What does Samuel then say about Saul in 1 Samuel 13:13-14? 2. What looks good at the beginning can turn out to be bad. Upon what then, should we build our confidence? Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 119:42; 1 Corinthians 1:22-23 3. What things, other than God's truth, are you tempted to build your confidence upon? What does it look like to rely upon God's truth? RESPOND. “How can today’s discussion further your relationship with God, one another, and the world? [Record responses and prayer requests.]