LIFEGROUP

StaringPointLeaderGuideStartingPointSeriesObjectives:BuildaBiblicalfoundationandcommonlanguageforthegrouparoundfaith inChrist(andallowforeveryonetobeinprocessandatdifferentplacesintheir faithjourney).

BuildtowardsaTransparentCommunity(allowthequestionsfromeachweektobecomeawayforeveryonetohearandsharemuchoftheirownstoryandsharetheircurrentpositionintheirjourney).

SetupforStartingPointSeries:It’softenbelievedthatbeingamatureor“deep”Christfollowerismostlyaboutwhat youknowregardingtheBibleandGod.Thetemptationinany“good”smallgroupisto startwithlearningmoreBibleTruths.

ButforwhatweknowabouttheBibleorGodtohaveanyrealmeaninginourday-to-daylife–itmustfirstberootedinatrustingrelationshipthatwehavewithJesus.

WhenwhatweknowaboutGodisnotrootedinrelationshipwithhim–ourBible knowledgeeasilybecomesafalsegodandtheplatformfromwhichwejudgeandmeasureothersandourselves.WeeasilyforgetaboutrelatingtoJesusbecauseofall thegood“BibleStuff”weknownow.

AttheCoreofaLifeGroupisRelationship!ThismeansrelationshipwithGodandwithothers.It’sfromthisfoundationof relationshipthatwelearnandexperiencerealandlastinggrowth=becomingamatureChristfollower.

RealmaturityshowsinhowwetrustandobeyGodfromapositionofgrace,notinBibleknowledge.(Ifyoulovemeyouwillobeymycommand–Ifyouaremydiscipleyouwill followmyteaching–bothrootedinintimaterelationshipwithJesus,notsimplyknowing thecommandsorteaching.)

It’salsofromthisfoundationofrelationshipthatknowledgestartstotakeits’properplace–knowingJesuspersonallyandrelatingtohimgivestherightcontextforallthatwelearnfromHim.

ThisseriesgoesstraighttotheheartofourrelationshipwithGodandhowwethinkof andrelatetoJesus.ItwillalsobeagreatplaceforustobuildrelationshipwitheachotheraswesharewhatwethinkofJesus,howwerelatetoJesus,andhowwegotto theplacewearenow.

Eachweekyou’llstartwithafewquestionsbeforeyouwatchavideothatwillhelpyouconnectwitheachotherandsharesomeofwhereyouareintheprocessofrelatingtoGod.(And,bytheway,there’snorightorwronginhowyourelatetoGod.Allofour relationshipswithHimaredifferent.)

*Accessthevideosforthisseries:http://www.startingpoint.com/member/welcometowatchtheStarting

LIFEGROUP

PointvideoscreatedbyNorthPoint CommunityChurch,AndyStanley.

Startbyreadingthefollowing:Everythinghasabeginning.Everyperson,everyidea,everyjourneystartssomewhere.Whetherit'sonesmallstepinanewdirectionoramajorevent,fromthatpointforwardnothingiseverthesame.It'snotalwayscomfortable.It'snotalwayseasy.Butit'sastart.StartingPointisan8-weekgatheringwhereyourquestionsaboutGodturnintoaconversationaboutfaith.InthisStartingPointseries,youcandiscussyourdoubtsandexplorethetrickiesttopicsoffaith,freefrompressureandjudgment.

We are going to have great conversations in the comingweeks. We’ll spendabout15–20minutes on a few questions, thenwatch a 20-minute video, and wrapupwithafewmorequestions.

Week 1 –START PRE---VIDEODISCUSSIONQUESTIONSQuestionsOptions:1)Readallthreequestionsfirst,andthenhaveeachpersonchoose justonequestiontoanswer(takeslesstime)or2)Readquestionsoneata timeandeveryoneanswerseachquestion(takesmoretime).

1. WhenyouthinkaboutGod’sinvolvementwiththeworld,whatarethreewords thatcometomind?

2. WhatonethingdoyoumostassociatewithJesus?

3. Whatstory,person,orexperiencehasinfluencedthewayyoulookatGod?(WATCHVIDEO)

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONSGeneralthoughtsfromwhatwejustwatched,whatcaughtyourattention–andwhy?

1. Howandwhendidyourfaithjourneygetstarted?

2. Howwouldyoucurrentlydescribeyourperspectiveonfaith?

3. Howwellhasyourfaithheldupundertherigorsoflife?

LIFEGROUP/STARTINGPOINT

Week 2 –PROBLEM Duringchildhood,youmayhavebeenhandedafaithframeworkthroughwhichyou begantoviewtheworld.Foralotofus,thatchildhoodframeworkdidn’tsurvivethe rigorsofadulthood.It’snotenoughtosay,“TheBiblesays...,”inthefaceofreal-life tragedy.Adultsoftenneedanewstartingpoint.ButthestartingpointforChristianfaithisn’t,“TheBiblesays....”It’sbetterthanthat. It’sJesus.

PRE---VIDEODISCUSSIONQUESTIONS

1. Whydoyouthinkourcultureisuncomfortablewiththeword“sin”?

2. Doyouseeevidenceofsinintheworldaroundus?Ifso,where?3. Whatkindofreactiondoestheword“sin”stirinyou?Whatdoyouassociatewithit?

(WATCHVIDEO)

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONSGeneralthoughtsfromwhatwejustwatched,whatcaughtyourattention–andwhy?

1. Duringthemessage,Andysaid,“Jesus’agendainpointingoutoursinwasnotcondemnationbutrestoration.”Isthatstatementdifficultforyoutobelieve?Whyorwhynot?

2. ReadLuke15:11–32.What’smostsurprisingtoyouaboutthisparable?HowdoesitchallengethewayyouviewGod?

3. Doyouresisttheideathatyouareasinner?Istheresomethingoffensiveaboutthat?If

so,why?Ifnot,whynot?

LIFEGROUP

Week 3 –TRUSTThreemajorworldfaithtraditions—Judaism,Islam,andChristianity—claimthesamestartingpoint:amannamedAbraham.AllthreeagreethatsinmadeamessoftheworldandGodstartedhiscleanupoperationwithAbraham.GodmadeaseriesofpromisesandAbraham’sresponsetothosepromisesdidn’tjusthaveimplicationsforhispersonal startingpointorthestartingpointsofJudaism,Islam,andChristianity.Ithad implicationsforyourstartingpointaswell.Thatiswhatwe’llbetalkingabout tonight– soletsstartwithafewquestions:

PRE---VIDEODISCUSSIONQUESTIONS

1. Whichofthefollowingreflectsyourview?

• Godacceptsmebaseduponmybirth.• Godacceptsmebaseduponmybehavior.• Godacceptsmebaseduponmybelief.• Godacceptsmebaseduponsomecombinationoftheabove.

2. Why-howdidyoucometothatview?

3. Haveyouevertakenafirststepinrestoringarelationship?Ifso,whatwasit likeforyou?4. DoyoubelieveadversityispartofGod’splan?Whyorwhynot?

(WATCHVIDEO)

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONSGeneralthoughtsfromwhatwejustwatched,whatcaughtyourattention–andwhy?

1. Inwhatarea(s)oflifedoyoustilllacktrustinGod?Why?

2. WhatexperienceshaveyouhadthathavemadeitdifficulttotrustGod?

3. InwhatareaofyourlifeisGodcurrentlycallingyoutotrusthim?Whatisone thingyoucandothisweektotrusthim?Whatcanthisgroupdotosupportyou?

LIFEGROUP

WEEK4–RULESPracticallyspeaking,rulesareoftenthecenterpieceofreligiouslife.Manypeoplethink theTenCommandmentsarerulesthatmakearelationshipwithGodpossible.Ifyoufollowtherules,Godwillbehappy.Ifyoudon’t,hewon’t.ButwhatifarelationshipwithGoddoesn’tdependonourobedience?

WhenitcomestoyourrelationshipwithGod,whatistheroleofrules?Thatiswhatwe’llbetalkingabouttonight–solet’sstartwithafewquestions:

PRE---VIDEODISCUSSIONQUESTIONS

1. Ingeneral,howdoyoureacttorules?Whatrulesarethehardestforyoutokeep?

2. Whatisitaboutarulethatmakesitfeelcontrollinginsteadofcaring?

3. Whathappenstoarelationshipwhensomeonebreaksarule?

(WATCHVIDEO)

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONSGeneralthoughtsfromwhatwejustwatched,whatcaughtyourattention–andwhy?

1. Talkaboutatimewhenyoumaderulesforsomeoneelse.Whatwasthepurpose

ofthoserules?

2. Growingup,didyoufeellikereligionwasbasedonthefamilymodel,theclubmodel,ortheneighborhoodassociationmodel?

3. Howaboutnow?Whichmodel–family,club,HOA–bestreflectshowyou relatetoGodnow?

4.DoyouprimarilyrelatetoGodthroughthemeansoffaithorhaveyoubeentryingtobehaveyourwayintotherelationship?

LIFEGROUP

WEEK5–JESUSGuiltispowerful.Shamecanbecrippling.Weallhavethingsinourpaststhathauntus.Wehavesin.Itonlytakesaword,apicture,oranametobringitallback.Weknowwecandobetterfromthispointforward,buthowarewesupposedtofixthepast?Wecan saywe’resorry.Wecanaskforforgiveness.

But some of the things we’ve done hang over our lives like a cloud.What canwash awayoursins? Thatiswhatwe’llbetalkingabouttonight–soletsstartwithafewquestions:

PRE---VIDEODISCUSSIONQUESTIONS

1. Growingup,didChristianityseemtobeaboutwhatGodwantedfromyouorwhatGodhaddoneforyou?Explain.

2. Whataresomepotentialconsequencesoflivingwithguiltandshame?Howhaveyouseenguiltandshameaffectyourlifeorthelivesofothers?

3. IsthereanythingaboutJesusyoufinddifficultorconfusing?Ifso,what?

(WATCHVIDEO)

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONSGeneralthoughtsfromwhatwejustwatched,whatcaughtyourattention–andwhy?

1. WhatareyourthoughtsonGodprovidingasaviorsoyoucanexperiencea relationshipwithhim?

2. Duringthemessage,Andysaid,“Thesindebtweholdoverourownheadshasalreadybeencanceled.Wedon’thavetoforgiveourselvesbecause, through Jesus,Godhasalreadyforgivenus.Yourroleistoacceptwhathasbeendonefor you.IfGoddoesnotcondemnyou,whoareyoutocondemnyou?”Ifthat’strue,howmightitchangethewayyouliveandhowmightitshapeyourrelationshipwithGod?

3. Whatisonethingyoucandotobegintobuildnewmemorialsofforgiveness toreplacethememorialstoyourpastfailuresandsin?Whatcanthisgroupdotosupportyou?

LIFEGROUP

WEEK6–GRACEAtsomepointinyourfaithjourney,youwillsettleintoabargainingposturewithGod.

“God,ifyouwill...,IpromiseIwill....”Wealldoit.That’sjustpartof religion—everyreligion.Infact,it’ssomuchapartofhumannaturethatevensomeatheistsandagnosticsdoitwhentheyfindthemselvesindesperatecircumstances.Butis thatreallyhowGodwantsustorelatetohim?Theproblemwithabargainingpostureisweneverkeepupourendofthebargain,dowe?Thatiswhatwe’llbe talkingabouttonight–soletsstartwithafewquestions:

PRE---VIDEODISCUSSIONQUESTIONS

1. Talkaboutatimewhensomeoneletyouoffthehookorforgaveadebt.Howdiditmakeyoufeel?

2. WhatdoyoubelieveGodwantsfromyou?

3. DoyouseeyourselfasapersonwhoneedsGod’sgrace?Whyorwhynot?

(WATCHVIDEO)

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONSGeneralthoughtsfromwhatwejustwatched,whatcaughtyourattention–andwhy?

1. Inthemessage,Andysaid,“Goddoesn’tnegotiatebecausehedoesn’twantsomethingfromyou.Hewantssomethingforyou.”Respondtothatstatement.If it’strue,howwoulditchangethewayyouviewGodandyourrelationshipwithhim?

2. WhatstandarddoyoumostoftenusetodetermineyourstandingbeforeGod-YourbehaviororGod’sgrace?Whatcircumstancesorsituationscauseyoutomovefromonetotheother?

3. Mostpeoplerespondtotheideaofunconditionalgracewith,“Butwhatabout...?”

What’syour“Butwhatabout...?”What’syourpushbacktounconditionalgrace?

LIFEGROUP

WEEK7–FAITHTheabilitytobelieveisthemostpowerfulforceatmankind’sdisposal.Everythingthathasbeendone,forgoodorbad,wasdonebecausesomeonebelieveditcouldbeorshouldbedone.Everyproblemthathasbeensolvedwassolvedbecausesomeonebelievedit couldbeorshouldbesolved.Weconstantlylookforevidencetosupportwhatwebelieveistrue.Inthecaseof religiousbelief,thatmeansifyoubelievedeeplyenoughanyreligioussystembecomesa self-fulfillingprophecy.Ifthat’strue,isn’titpossiblethatChristianityisjustanexample ofgroupthinkonamassivescale?Thatiswhatwe’llbetalkingabouttonight–solet’sstartwithafewquestions:

PRE---VISIONDISCUSSIONQUESTIONS

1. Thinkofabeliefyouhold—religious,political,economic—thathasamajor influenceonthewayyouliveyourlife.Inwhatwaysdoyoulookforevidencetosupportthatbelief?Inwhatwaysdoyoufilteroutevidencethatcontradictsthat belief?

2. WhenyouthinkaboutJesus,doyoutendtofocusonhisteachingsorhisdeathandresurrection?

3. Howdoesthatfocusinfluencethewayyouanswerthequestion,“Whois Jesus?”

4. ReadActs17:31.Doyouagreethatthe“proof”ofJesus’resurrectionisa compellingbasisforpersonalfaith?Whyorwhynot?

(WATCHVIDEO)

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONSGeneralthoughtsfromwhatwejustwatched–whatcaughtyourattention–why?

1. Didyoufindpartsofthismessagedisturbing?Ifso,whichpartsandwhy?

2. Inthemessage,Andysaid,“Wedon’tbelieveintheresurrectionbecausetheBiblesaysso–thatwouldbeeasy.Webelievebecauseoftheeyewitness accounts.”Howdoyourespondtothat?

3. ThegospelsrecordthatwhenJesusdied,hisdisciples’faithdied.Butwhen theyfinallycameoutofhiding,theirmessagesweren’t,“BelievewhatJesus taught.”Itwas,“Youkilledhim.Godraisedhim.We’veseenhim.Sayyou’resorry.”Inwhatwaysdothedisciples’behaviorandmessagechallengeyour assumptionsaboutChristianity?

4. Inthemessage,Andysaid,“Asingleevent—theresurrection—changedhowthoseclosesttoJesusansweredthequestion“WhoIsJesus?”.Howmuchdoes thatsingleevent,theresurrection,shapethewayyourespondtothequestion“WhoIsJesus?”