Senior 2020 Tribute
Shout out today to some from the #classof2020 – we asked eight graduating seniors from our ministry at @signalpres to share some “parting words” with the rest of you. Give them your ear as they share their heart with you!
Teaching Questions:
- What is something that you really dislike? (I.e. pineapple on pizza)
- Why do you think that our culture is quick to rally behind things we dislike rather than positive things? (I.e. the news or protests)
- In regards to the theme. “When life goes wrong, God gives us each other”, who are the people/person you think God has given you to walk through the tough parts of life?
- In regards to The True Marks of a Christian (Romans 12: 9-21), what is one “mark” that you think you do well, and what is one “mark” that you want to be better at?
- Why does Paul tell us to rejoice in our sufferings? Do you have an example or story where something you suffered through you actually ended up benefiting from?
Scripture: Genesis 37 – 50 but primarily Genesis 37 & 39 with emphasis on Genesis 39:21
Bottom Line: When life doesn’t make sense, God can be trusted.
- What’s something you find confusing? What’s so hard to understand about it?
- Have you ever struggled to make sense of a painful situation in your life? What happened? What questions did you find yourself asking?
- If you were in Joseph’s position, in what ways do you think you would have responded differently?
- When life gets hard, why do you think it’s so hard to trust God?
- Read Psalm 46:1-3 together. What are some steps you think we can take to develop this kind of trust in God?
- What’s one difficulty you’re experiencing right now? What would it look like to trust God in the midst of it? How can our group help each other when life hurts or doesn’t make sense?
If time allows consider watching this video. It’s Derek Redmon a British athlete who broke records, won gold medals, and made history. In 1992, he participated in the Barcelona Summer Olympics. Watch what happened when, just a few moments into the semi-final, life suddenly gets very difficult.
That was Derek’s hamstring tearing mid-race. After collapsing to the ground, he made the decision to finish his race in spite of his excruciating pain. He stood up and kept going. And what you see happen next is Derek’s father rushing to his side. He didn’t take away his pain, but he held his son close and walked alongside him to the finish line.
When life gets painful and confusing and you can’t make sense of it. It’s helpful to think about this picture of Derek and his Father. In the middle of your pain and confusion, you can trust that …
- God is with you.
- God will carry you.
- God will care for you.
- God will redeem your hurt.
- God can be trusted.
Scripture: Colossians 1:13-20 when Andy reads scripture, put up Colossians 1:13-14 in the corner. When Anna reads it, put up Colossians 1:15-20
Questions:
- Tell the story: have you ever received an embarrassing injury you caused yourself?
- What are some ways we might cause ourselves pain or failure because of our own actions? Or through no fault of our own?
- In your own words, what do you think it means for Jesus to “redeem” someone?
- If you’ve asked Jesus to redeem you, how would you expect life to change? How has your life actually changed?
- What hurt, wrong, pain, or failure do you want to bring before Jesus to ask him to redeem it?
- Read Psalm 13:1-2. Have you ever felt like saying something like that to God? Why do you think passages like this are included in Scripture?
D-Group Questions:
- What is your definition of friendship?
- What’s an aspect of friendship that you or your friends struggle with?
- Jesus has already been a great friend to us, but how can we be a great friend to Jesus?
- What is a characteristic of Jesus that you want to implement in your friendships?
- What’s one thing you wish more people understood about who Jesus is? How can you help more people see Jesus that way?
Scripture: John 18:33-38; John 14:1-6; John 8:32
Bottom Line: Jesus is Truth.
Questions
- With all the misinformation out there, what impact, do you think this has had on our relationship with truth?
- How do you think it might affect people’s ability to believe in truth? What does it mean that Jesus is the truth?
- What can we do about our own (or other people’s) questions or objections that Jesus is truth?
- How can we prepare ourselves to encounter the truth? What about is like Pilate (busy, distracted, overconfident) and what is like Thomas (hopeful, listening, knowing we can’t do it alone)?
- If Jesus is truth, and the true way to God, do you know him? If Jesus is truth, and the truth sets us free, what do you need to be set free from?
- Read Psalm 25:5. How can we let God’s truth guide us “all day long?”
Scripture passages:
Luke 2:8-13; 19:1-10; Ephesians 2:1, 4-10
Discussion Questions:
• What’s some good news in your corner of life? What can we celebrate together?
• Andy said that the word “gospel” means “good news.” So the stories about Jesus – who he is and what he did – are “good news.” How are they good news for all people?
• Today we focused on Jesus as “Savior.” – what comes to mind when you think of someone “saving” someone else?
• Read Luke 19:1-10 again, and also read Ephesians 2:1 and 2:4-10. Based on these two passages … 1) What did Jesus save us from? 2) What did Jesus save us for?
• How is sin both something that is against God and hurts others? Give some examples.
• Based on those passages, 3) how is a person “saved” by Jesus?
• Before today, what would you have said “Jesus is my Savior” means? Has your understanding changed at all? If so, how?
• What’s one thing Jesus has saved you from? What’s one thing you think Jesus has saved you for?
Bottom Line: Jesus is God
Scripture: Matthew 16:13-16, Mark 2:1-12; Hebrews 1:3 Questions
- If someone asked you who Jesus is, what would you say?
- Why does it matter whether or not Jesus is God?
- How does Jesus’ ability to forgive sin show that he is God?
- Why do you think Jesus said that the man was forgiven? Why not just say get up and walk?
- Aside from Jesus’ ability to heal and forgive, how else can we know Jesus is God?
- If Jesus is God (and he is!) what’s one thing you’re going to do in response?
3/25 D-Group Questions:
1) What is one thing that you are missing during the quarantine and what is one thing you are enjoying about it?
2) What is one way your life is reflecting the way Jesus lived his life?
3) In reference to Romans 10: 13-15, how receptive is your world (friends, classmates, etc.) to the Gospel “good news” of Jesus?
4) Share about a time where you were able to encourage someone.
5) During the next few weeks, what is one way you can spread the love of Jesus to someone?
3/18 – Dream Big, Live Small
Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16 https://www.bible.com/111/mat.5.14-16.niv and Hebrews 10:23-25 https://www.bible.com/111/heb.10.23-25.niv
1) Quick check in – who are you making sure you keep in touch with right now? (Your “closest ripple” or two). What’s one way you or they have been a positive or helpful influence on each other?
2) Why do you think it’s important for followers of Jesus to shine like lights in the darkness? What does light do?
3) What are some practical ways we can shine the light of Jesus right now to people who are … A) our family? B) our closest friends we stay in contact with? C) our neighbors or someone who is in need?
4) Hebrews 10:23-25 calls us to hold unswervingly to our hope in Jesus and encourage each other in love – not quitting on gathering together. How can we as a D-Group stay connected and encourage each other in a moment when we cant physically meet together?
5) Take an honest moment and remember influence works both ways. In these last few days, what are some of the negative or harmful voices that have influenced you? Have you been one of those to others? How does Jesus as the Light shine into that darkness?
6) How can we pray for you and one another?
