starting point guide · 2018-09-04 · life group point videos created by north point community...
TRANSCRIPT
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?”