Week 4: Off with the Old. On with the New

Connection Group Questions

October 23, 2011

Opening

Remind folks of upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.  

Option for opening discussion: Connections Ministry Centre.

In the past five months we’ve seen a lot happen on this front- after the building was destroyed we entered into a long negotiation with our insurance company.  We were able to recover the costs of our materials.  However, we could never put a value on all the volunteer time and energy that so many gave.

Since settling, our Leadership Team has been actively praying and seeking God’s will for the next season of Connections.  Our mission continues, but our plan to live it out has been in discussion.  In the midst of these prayers we have pursued several avenues to see what would turn up.  We talked with several churches about renting office space and using their facilities for programming.  We’ve looked at several office leases.  We’ve looked at several warehouses for doing another renovation project.  In summary: no great partnership has emerged, and nothing has been within our budget or “felt right.”

We invite our groups to pray for our church and discuss possible plans for moving forward with our mission.  Those of us in leadership do feel it’s time to find facilities to have a presence in our community, and space for our church to grow through more programming.  

What kind of facilities would you like to see our church find?  In what ways could this advance our mission in our city?

Digging Deeper: Read Colossians 3:1-14

Last week we learned some simple bible reading study tools.  It’s really about reading the text intentionally and asking the basic “When, who, what, why?” questions.  

Only after we have established what the bible actually says can we ask the more personal, “What now/what about me?” questions.

Use these questions to go over the text and make sure we’re all learning to become bible-readers for ourselves.  Here’s some help:

1-4: How can we be of good to God and our neighbours if we set our minds on “things above?”  

Would you say that Jesus Christ “is your life?”  Or is he more just a part of your life?  

Discuss what this kind of faith looks like.

5-11: How have you struggled with these “earthly” things: sexual immorality, anger issues, lust for power, ungodly talk?

How much of your old self do you still wrestle with?

What does it mean to call these things of earth “idolatries?”

Are you feeling growth in becoming your new-self in Christ?

What does v. 11 mean?  Is this about identity, salvation, a future hope?

12-14 How can we put on each of these virtues: compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience?  Does one stand out as something you need to pray for and apply?

What is the significance of forgiveness in the text and in the life of the Christian?  

How has forgiveness changed you and your relationships with other people?

How can we “put on love?”  Give some practical examples for daily life, and for different areas of life- works, family, friendship...

Close with a time of prayer for one another, our church and our world!