Group Discussion & Life Challenge
Use these notes as discussion prompts for your group, or in your personal time with God.
Connect:
Get to know each other. Connect, warm up to each other, fellowship.
Care:
Carry each other’s burdens. Share life’s challenges and practice Soul Care. Pray together.
Challenge:
Dive into God’s Word. Use these discussion questions. Learn from each other’s insight.
- Bryce shared how Jesus’ teaching astonished His first audience. These blessed statements did not reflect the cultural values they would have had about who was fortunate in life. How do these nine Blessed groups differ from our contemporary culture’s understanding of the fortunate/happy in life?
- Digging deeper: Matthew presents Jesus as a new and better Moses throughout his gospel. As a group, read Hebrews 3:1-19 and discuss how the author of Hebrews continues developing this theme of Jesus as a new and better Moses.
- As you reflect on these nine groups, called Blessed, which do you find most compelling in this season of your life? Which is most difficult to embrace?
- We are currently experiencing a time of increased persecution and injustice in our society. How does Jesus’ teaching take on new meaning and application for us? How should it shape our response to those who persecute us?
- As a group, reflect on how God’s presence in your life has made a difference while going through difficulty. How has God’s presence blessed you even in the midst of hardship?
Clarify:
Does anyone need clarity on something? Are there any big God questions you are wrestling with?
Celebrate:
Celebrate life’s successes and God’s provision. Worship God’s presence. Time to brag about God.
BibleApp
Through the Bible in one Year
Join us in reading through the entire Bible in one year. Each day of this plan guides you through passages from both the Old and New Testaments, allowing you to see connections between the history of our faith, and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Readings average four chapters in length, so it is posible to do. When you use the YouVersion Bible App, you can even have the app read the Bible text to you – very useful when you are in the car or otherwise occupied with your hand.
All you need to do is click the link to the Bible Plan, which should lead you straight to the Bible app. Your two options are now (1) to read the plan on your own, one day at the time. Or (2) you can make it more fun and rewarding, by sharing the plan with one or more friends, and then even “Talk about it”.