Next Series

Hi Leaders

Right after Easter, we will begin a series on Sunday mornings called "Between". It's about how we relate to each other, starting with the mental mechanics of relating, to how slight shifts in how we see/speak to each other makes a lifetime of difference.

Whether you have been in your group for weeks, months or years, we're pretty confident the material will be helpful for people wanting to figure out how to manage relationships that happen to involve other human beings, as well as understand how our own minds are the thing that need the most changing, not other people.

Our goal is to have our "upcoming series" portion of this resource site updated in the next couple of weeks, giving you insight to where the series are going for months to come. For multiple reasons, that ball has been dropped, picked up and dropped again, leaving you, the leaders without critical information for having a good strategy for your group discussion time. Thank you for your grace and patience, and know that we're aiming to set this right as soon as possible.

Thanks for leading!

Steve

The Story(ies), Thread 4

This week, the discussion guide is designed to allow people more meditative, reflective space in the scriptures. You may want to email them ahead of time to remind them to bring Bibles, or perhaps make them available if you have them stockpiled. You may find that that's not where your group is in it's stage of maturity and so you'll want to talk more than reflect. Evaluate this as a shepherd that's ok with awkwardness when it's time to create that kind of environment! The idea is that each of our group members will have the opportunity to step out of the story of slavery, and via a spirit-guided holiness, into the story of the free people of Christ.

Below, find longer passages for study and room for as much (or as little) discussion as you see fit for allowing God to speak. Ask in the end, as a humble former slave, who in the group needs freedom and how the group can help. Make sure it's not just a discussion or just reading, but an environment that actually serves as a vessel for transformation.

Video

• Here is the song "Equally Skilled" by Jon Foreman:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toVB_WevG_A

• Here are the lyrics:
• http://www.lyricstime.com/jon-foreman-equally-skilled-lyrics.html

• Here is the passage from the book of Micah that it comes from:
• http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=micah%207&version=NIV

Reading

• Leviticus 18:1-5
• Leviticus 22:31-33
• Ezekiel 37:21-28
• Ephesians 4:11-24
• Romans 6
• Romans 12
• John 8:31-36

Discuss

• What has most stuck with you from Sunday?
• What challenged your previous way of thinking?
• What did you not understand?
• What changes of thought are required going forward?
• What changes of behavior/attitude seem necessary at this point?
• What are the obstacles to embracing freedom?
• What is the appeal of life (or parts of life) lived "outside the temple" (profanely, or Pro Fanus)
• Why is this often easier to see in others than in the self?
• What does discipleship, or real, Biblical sainthood, cost?
• What does the opposite, or slavery, cost?
• What decisions are individuals making based on Christ's invitation for exodus from that which enslaves?
• How is this group being invited into something different where exodus from slavery, and holiness, is concerned?

Leader note: Please consider sharing briefly the kinds of things said/decided/experienced in your group that epitomize individuals (or even the whole group) taking a step. Sharing names and revealing specifics is not appropriate or necessary, but sharing the story of how The Story is changing people, a step at a time, is a great reminder for all of us leading groups week in and week out that the Father is at work in our community. You can email Steve or post comments here.

A good way to spend Good Friday

We have the opportunity to come along side Durham Rescue Mission as they reach out to their community this coming Easter. On April 2nd, (Good Friday), the grounds of Durham Rescue Mission will be converted into a small fair with games, food, clothing and prizes, and they need our help as nearly 3000 people join in the fun.

They have asked Crosspointe Church to oversee the games, and make sure everyone young and old has a little bit of fun. To do this, we need 90 people to fill 1 hour slots. This is a great opportunity for groups/families/and friends to form teams and serve together.

To sign up, please go to the following link:

http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/5-64529078824

Pam McKerring
Pastor of Mobilization
Crosspointe Church

The Story(ies), Thread 3

Week three in this series is meant to give group members a chance to be comforted by the promise of God's presence, as well as face all the ways that they continue to live as though it were not true. That's the challenge part! Make sure as a group leader that you remain mindful of God's Spirit and that He may want to shake things up for those living as though the curtain is in tact and God is in a box somewhere, or He may merely wish to provide a salve for those who don't realize that God is not far and need to know He's here and for us.

Thaw

• What do you notice going on inside yourself as Spring arrives?
• Would you rather live where there were no seasons, or do you prefer the changing weather year round? What season is best and why?

• What has most impacted you from the series so far?
• What affect has this series had on your view of God, yourself, the Bible, prayer, etc?
• What has most stuck with you from the message Sunday?

Read

• John 1:14

Leader note: The phrase rendered "dwell among us" is actually "tabernacled with us", or set up his tent with us. The Greek is σκηνόω ("skēnoō")

• Thoughts?
• How has this passage taken on new dimensions for you?

Read

• Zephaniah 3:14-17 ESV

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

The LORD has taken away the judgments against you;

he has cleared away your enemies.

The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;

you shall never again fear evil.

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

"Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.

The LORD your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

• Thoughts?

Leader note: Help the group note that the encouragement seems to come from the repeated promise of God being in His people's midst, not just being "for" them.

Read

• Matt 28:16-20
• Revelation 21:1-4

Leader note: Revelation 21:3 actually reads this way in the Greek;

"...And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the tabernacle (σκηνή "skēnē") of God is with men, and he will tabernacle (σκηνόω "skēnoō") with them.'"

• Thoughts?

Discuss

• Do you operate with the understanding that God is present, or that God is watching? Is there a difference, and if so , what is it?
• How do we explain that God is currently present in Christ, yet his "pitching a tent" with us in full is a yet-to-be-fully-realized experience?
• When is a time that you have experienced God's presence?
• When is a time that you felt like He was nowhere to be found?

Reflective Reading

• The Book of Hebrews is a complex book. Actually, it's not a book...it was a sermon meant to be read aloud to the early Jewish followers of Jesus gathered in a particular region in the mid-first century. Choose someone from the group to read The Message translation of Hebrews 9 & 10, while the rest of the group listens, takes notes and allows the rich imagery to fill their imaginations. You can find the text here.

Discuss & Apply

• God is with us, and we have access that we didn't have before due to our imperfection. With that in mind, how do you hear this passage from Hebrews?
• Does this passage motivate you, or offend something in you? Why do you think you are responding the way you are?
• How does submission to this affect your life immediately?
• What changes of thought are necessary for this to take hold?
• What is the role of other followers in the group member's lives in all this?

Prayer

• Access is both a blessing and a confrontation. Pray as a group that it comforts and challenges each person and their family as they step into tabernacling with God.

Fiesta at the Good Samaritan Inn

Check out Fiesta in February--a story of how Stan and Lisa Mills' LifeGroup took serving a Saturday Supper at the GSI to a new level. Enjoy and be inspired for your group's next serve there.

The Story(ies), Thread 2

Here's some simple questions do get you discussing part two of the series, The Story(ies).

As a leader, you may benefit deeply from N.T. Wright's discussion on the Exodus theme and how it's central to the New Testament, found here. Wright has been very influential to the staff and to the theology at Crosspointe. Grab a pen and paper and carve out an hour to chew on some really deep, really helpful teaching.

Discuss

• How were you most impacted by hearing from Seth, a Jewish Rabbi that believes in Jesus as Messiah?
• What lights went on for you?
• What questions did it create for you?
• How has it further shaped your view of Jesus?

• How does the Exodus have to do with Jesus and His Kingdom mission?
• How has the theme of Exodus, being enslaved and not living life, followed by rebirth and difficulty leading to new life, played itself out in your journey of faith?

Read

• Romans 7:7-8:39

Leader note: Paul uses the language of slavery, bondage, Exodus and freedom. The language and thoughts Paul shares can get pretty thick, so you may do better as a group reading Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of Paul's letter in The Message Translation. The excerpt can be found here. Enjoy the depths of this, and don't be intimidated by mental fog and the necessity to read some sentences 4 or 5 times. It's not necessary to resolve it all- see if you can learn a few things, and take your questions and other clarity gaps forward.

• Thoughts?

Meditate

• Read (and re-read) Psalm 77 quietly for a few minutes. Note what begins in verse 10 when the author of this poem can no longer see God presently working in his life, and doesn't feel very hopeful about the future. Reflect (meditate) on how this is applicable to your life, or the life of someone close to you. Reflect on how it doesn't seem to bother God when you feel empty or weak in faith. Then spend time and think historically about how you have seen God move and let God encourage you starting there.

Discuss

• Share what you experienced in meditating on Psalm 77.
• Share how you sense the group can be a mutual encouragement to follow Jesus out of slavery and disconnectedness, into life and Kingdom.

Video Post. Genesis 1,2...THEN 3

The Story(ies), Thread 1

The Bible is a grand narrative, taking the same themes farther and farther with every page. Once we get to Jesus, and his life, death, burial and resurrection, we find that rather than it being some strange new twist on a convoluted book, it's where the various themes have been playing out.

As we head toward Easter Sunday, we will be exploring these themes and how they braid together to form the overarching narrative. Each week, we will spend time n one particular vein, and watch how it not only plays itself out through scripture, but how it adds to the composition of our faith.

As leaders, this will stretch us. We may find that we don't grasp the themes as well as we would like to. So, to be in a position of discussion leader around concepts that we aren't comfortable with may seem like something we'd naturally want to avoid. However, instead of recoiling, embrace your role as a shepherd. Where you may not have the answers and the ability to teach, you can guide the group toward understanding and benefit from the discovery yourself. You can encourage the group to seek pursue as a team, and as individuals Don't feel the pressure to be a professor. DO feel the pressure of creating an environment where the group, yourself included, can listen to the Holy Spirit and engage their mind to comprehend more of the story than they knew yesterday, as well as the implications of that knowledge on their faith!

For week one:

You may find that the following outline is perfect for your group. You may also find that it's not. This is heavy on reading, probably 15-20 minutes worth. Assuming you deem it appropriate to create some space for the members of your group to read multiple passages like a highlight reel, it will help the group establish a thread. To best grasp the narrative, reading for themselves is most helpful...even if it feels like a lot of work. If it isn't a fit, then walking through the themes in discussion may work as well. That will take more prep work on the part of the leader so that the passages can be discussed with competence. You may also want to email these passages to the members so they can read them ahead of time if they wish to do so.

Communion together, based on the theme of curse and redemption, is recommended.

Thaw

• What has most stuck with you from the message Sunday?
• What did you learn?
• What do you sense the message has to do with your faith in the immediate? Long term?

Extended Reading

• Genesis 3:6-19
• Genesis 12:1-3
• Exodus 2:23-25
• Exodus 3:1-10
• Exodus 12:40-42
• Exodus 20:1-21
• Jeremiah 31:31-33
• Matthew 26:26-28
• John 19:1-17
• John 19:38-42
• John 20:1-16
• Revelation 21:1-5
• Revelation 22:1-6

• Thoughts?

Discuss

• How would you describe this particular theme of Scripture?
• What does it have to do with our lives today?
• God seems to be working in and through the problem of sin. What does this say about the junk we face?
• How does this affect how we pray?
• If God has a pattern of showing up in the midst of ugliness to bring salvation, why do we view our difficulties as God's absence?
• Where are we in the story?

Communion

• Take a few minutes and celebrate the One who surrendered himself to the curse on our behalf. The One who doesn't remove himself from our pain and difficulty (whether we're victims or or agents of of the pain and difficulty) but resides in the midst of it. This is an ancient meal where followers recognize that the undoable has been done for them. The curse has been addressed, and will someday be removed- all outside of our own cunning and willpower and by the very God whom we rebelled against in the first place. Grace.