UNVEILED Legion

Opening
Have you ever felt like you were in the presence of real evil? Not just something or someone bad, but something, dare we say, demonic? If so, please share with the group what that was like, how you felt, what you did.

Digging Deeper
The passage we are going to look at seems appropriate in the Halloween season. Jesus unveils a dark spiritual reality in the world, one that we might not want to look into or even acknowledge. But for Jesus, it was very real.
Read Luke 8:26-39

• Do you believe in a literal heaven, and hell? Angels, and demons? Why or why not or what questions do you have? How does the biblical narrative demand the existence of these “supernatural” realities?
• Further study/reading on the origin and nature of Satan see Isaiah 14:12-23, Job 1, 1 Chr. 21:1, Eph. 6:10-12

Let’s walk through the story:
• What seems to be the nature of demonic possession, as compared to oppression, or temptation, as we see in Matthew 4:1-11?

The demons (Legion) acknowledge and seem helpless simply in the presence of Jesus.

• Considering this, who then should be afraid of Satan/demons, and why?
• Who has no need to fear Satan/demons, and why?
• Why does Jesus honor Legions request?
• How is their fate symbolic in the Jewish context?
• What is the result for this man?

• How is Legion a metaphor for many lives today?
• Do you think many people in our community struggle with actual demons, or the demons of their own creation?

• Considering now the close of this story, what wouldn’t you give to be found clothed, cleaned, and in your right mind?
• How can Jesus do this for all of us?
• How can we go to our respective homes and tell how much God has done for us?

Closing
This story brings up many controversial and complicated questions. Take time to address any burning questions. Then give assurance that all who commit their lives to Jesus are promised protection from evil and the security of heaven.

Wrap up with announcements and prayer to close this UNVEILED series.

Unveiled Sin: October 18, 2009

Opening
Maybe a few folks from the group could share a story of being “busted.” Maybe it was a humorous experience, something you can laugh about now; or maybe it was humiliating, but God used it for great things in your life.

Digging Deeper
Read John 8:1-11 and take few minutes to review the story:
• Why does the whole set-up seem so suspicious?
• Why are the religious leaders so against Jesus at this point? (Why would they say Jesus needed to be stopped?)
• Why do you think Jesus seems to ignore their question at first?
• Why do think the older ones left first?
• How does Jesus demonstrate a “tough love” to this woman?

Now let’s get a little more personal.
• Share with the group if you ever felt set-up like the woman.
• Share if you’ve ever felt set up like Jesus was, in a catch-22.
• Share if you’ve ever been so angry that you were the one setting someone up for a fall.

Have you been holding onto any stones of hatred, jealousy, or revenge?
Have you ever felt like you life was saved from the brink of death?
Would you say you feel condemned by people or God, or have you experienced the forgiveness of sin that this woman experienced?

Have you left a life of sin, or is there a sin now that you must leave? Can you ask the group for prayer, support and encouragement to walk this new path?

Closing
Make plans for a service and/or social event.
Go over our church announcements.
Close in prayer.

Got Thirst?

Opening: Review
We got a jump on Thanksgiving last week by working to raise our “G.P.A” (Gratitude Projection Average). We offered 3 practical steps. Discuss how you did in each area:

1. Beginning, and ending, each day with thanks? See Psalm 92:1-2
2. Turning griping into gratitude? I Thessalonians 5:18
3. Write a “Thank You” note to God? Psalm 103:2

Share stories about the blessing of becoming a more thankful person.

Digging Deeper: Read John 4:1-42
This passage has two main characters, and 2 main points: Jesus, and the woman.

First the woman: Share your thought on this woman. What do we learn about our own thirst from her?
What are the deepest human thirsts?
How have we succeeded in quenching them?
How have we failed?

Now Jesus: How does Jesus encounter the woman? What does this teach us about our availability to God, and to people?
Discuss Jesus’ use of acceptance, and confrontation. How does he blend the two?
What can we learn about our own witnessing from his example?
Where should we be sensitive?
Where should we be bold?
What can we offer, and how should we offer it?

Before we can offer what Jesus offers, we must first understand our own thirst, and receive Jesus’ initiation. Have you received the gift of living water offered by Jesus? Or do you still feel thirsty in life?

Closing:
Review announcements and upcoming events.
Share prayer requests and pray for each other.
Make plans for a service project or some social activities for your group.

UNVEILED, October 4, 2009

Opening:
Maybe start with a game - give everyone a handful of candy. They must share something for which they are thankful for every piece they get.
Would you say you are a thankful person?

Digging Deeper:
Fill out your report card: (A is outstanding, B is good, C needs improvement, D is, well, you know what a D is.)


1. Writing thank-you notes to people when appropriate: A B C D
2. Beginning each day with thanksgiving: A B C D
3. Thanking God for what is good, instead of complaining about what is wrong: A B C D
4. Remembering what you are thankful for: A B C D
5. Thanking God when times are good: A B C D
6. Thanking God when times are bad: A B C D
7. Thanking God when times just are: A B C D
8. Thanking God and taking nothing for granted: A B C D

So what is your GPA (Gratitude Projection Average)? Where are you doing well with gratitude? Where can you make improvements?

Read Psalm 100.
Go through this verse-by-verse and discuss what it teaches us about God, ourselves, and the importance of giving thanks and expressing gratitude.

What do the following teach us about gratitude?
Psalm 92:1-2
I Thessalonians 5:18
Psalm 103:2
Romans 1:21

Closing:
Give thanks. Go around and share how you will improve your GPA. Spend time actually giving thanks and praising God.

It would be especially appropriate to praise God in song if someone in the group can lead.

UNVEILED, September 27, 2009

Opening:
Welcome new comers. Play an “ice breaker.” Review the Connection Group Commitment if necessary.

Reflection: What material or earthy possession is most important to you? Maybe it’s your money, your home or hometown. Maybe it’s more abstract, like your career. It’s the thing, more than anything else, that you would hate to give up, let go or lose.

Digging Deeper:
Read Mark 10: 17-22
In the belief system of the original audience, what does being Jewish, male, young, wealthy and influential say about a person? How is this the model of the “blessed’ life? In our own day, what is typically associated with the blessings
of God? Where do cultural and scriptural definitions of blessing meet? Where do they diverge?

Is the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” a burning question in your life? Why, or why not? Do you agree with George’s observation that it is usually busy middle-aged folks who ignore this question?

Jesus points the man to the commandments. How do you view the commandments: are they a “to-do” list that gets you into heaven? A fence that keeps you safe and in line? A mirror that reflects your shortcomings? Something else? What is the connection between eternal life and the commands?

John 17:3. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” What does that even mean? How is eternal life akin to knowing God through Jesus Christ?

The man is adamant that he has kept the commands. Yet the question of eternal life still weights on him. What does Jesus tell him to do? What do you think the other disciples thought about this? How does this fit your answer to the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
What does Jesus’ answer reveal about this man’s heart?

Now, being as honest as we can with ourselves, what might Jesus tell us to sell, give up or change if we are to experience eternal life, i.e., knowing God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent? In other words, who or what stands between you and Jesus? What can you do about it?

If you have 10 more minutes: Read Mark 10:23-31 and discuss verse 27.

Closing:
Pray for one another and share updates on what’s happening in our church community.

UNVEILED, September 20, 2009

Opening:
Welcome new comers. Play an “ice breaker.” Review the Connection Group Commitment if necessary.

Reflection: Have you ever had an experience where you got more than you expected? Or, maybe you’ve had that more common experience, you didn’t get what you wanted, but you got what needed. Share a few stories.

Now get into the text- read Mark 2:1-12.

Digging Deeper:
Have you ever hoped for a miraculous healing, for yourself or for someone else? What specifically did you want God to do? Did it happen? If so, how.
If not, what did that do to you r faith? What happened to you or the person for whom you wanted healing?

In the story the friends have great faith in Jesus, and were willing to go to an extreme to bring their friend to him. To what lengths have we gone to bring a friend to Jesus?

When Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven,” we know how the teachers felt, but what about the man, his friends, the crowd? What do you think they were thinking?

Let’s get into this issue of sin. What is sin? Is the forgiveness of our sins really the harder thing? Is it really our greatest need? Really work this one over in the group.

Now let’s get into the issue of our sin. Do we feel we need forgiven? Have you accepted the forgiveness Jesus offers?

Now let’s directly compare our lives. How has Jesus meet a felt need in your life that confirms his power to meet your deepest need of forgiveness?

If you had to compare yourself to one of these people/groups, who would it be and why- the paralytic, his friends, the crowd, or the teachers of the law? Have you always been in this group, or has your view changed recently?

Closing:
What are your felt needs right now? Share as much as you are comfortable, so that this group may take your need to Jesus in prayer with you.

Set a date now to volunteer at the London Food Bank! Think about whom you might invite to your group.
Review the announcements from worship- Volunteer Round-up, Volunteer Opportunities, the 100th Service Celebration.

UNVEILED, September 13, 2009

Opening:
Since this is your first meeting take the time for introductions. If there are a lot of familiar faces in your group make sure you truly welcome the new comers.
Play an “ice breaker.”

If this next part takes the whole meeting, fine.
Read over the “Connection Group Commitment.”
Make sure the group is clear on the purpose of the Group and the expectations of participants.
If you feel the need to add to the commitment, go ahead- just make sure folks are in agreement.
Address childcare needs if relevant.
Send around a sign-up for snacks!

This is really the purpose of tonight’s meeting!
Digging Deeper:
If you have time to get into the study, start by sharing some of your own “Unveiled” moments- a time, an experience, an event that opened your eyes and you saw yourself, life, or Jesus in a whole new way. If anyone has a great story we might ask you to share it during a worship service!

Get into the text- read all of Matthew 3.
Tell us about your baptism? Share 2-3 different stories- perhaps some was baptized as a baby, another as a youth, and someone as an adult.
What do you believe regarding baptism?
Why does the church see this as such an important event? Do you see this as an important moment in the life of a Christian?

For more background on baptism you can read Connections Statement regarding this practice at Connection Articles. You can also read Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:37-47, Acts 8:35-39, Acts 16:14-15, Romans 6:1-9, Ephesians 4:4-6 (and this is just a small sampling!)

Now focus on Jesus’ baptism: Why is Jesus baptized?
What does this teach us about the meaning and purpose of baptism?
What does this baptism “unveil” about Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, and reality, as we know it?

How is our baptism different than Jesus’?

Closing:
Set a date now to volunteer at the London Food Bank! Think about whom you might invite to your group.
Review the announcements from worship- upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
Pray for one another.

UNVEILED, September 13, 2009

Opening:
Since this is your first meeting take the time for introductions. If there are a lot of familiar faces in your group make sure you truly welcome the new comers.
Play an “ice breaker.”

If this next part takes the whole meeting, fine.
Read over the “Connection Group Commitment.”
Make sure the group is clear on the purpose of the Group and the expectations of participants.
If you feel the need to add to the commitment, go ahead- just make sure folks are in agreement.
Address childcare needs if relevant.
Send around a sign-up for snacks!

This is really the purpose of tonight’s meeting!
Digging Deeper:
If you have time to get into the study, start by sharing some of your own “Unveiled” moments- a time, an experience, an event that opened your eyes and you saw yourself, life, or Jesus in a whole new way. If anyone has a great story we might ask you to share it during a worship service!

Get into the text- read all of Matthew 3.
Tell us about your baptism? Share 2-3 different stories- perhaps some was baptized as a baby, another as a youth, and someone as an adult.
What do you believe regarding baptism?
Why does the church see this as such an important event? Do you see this as an important moment in the life of a Christian?

For more background on baptism you can read Connections Statement regarding this practice at Connection Articles. You can also read Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:37-47, Acts 8:35-39, Acts 16:14-15, Romans 6:1-9, Ephesians 4:4-6 (and this is just a small sampling!)

Now focus on Jesus’ baptism: Why is Jesus baptized?
What does this teach us about the meaning and purpose of baptism?
What does this baptism “unveil” about Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, and reality, as we know it?

How is our baptism different than Jesus’?

Closing:
Set a date now to volunteer at the London Food Bank! Think about whom you might invite to your group.
Review the announcements from worship- upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
Pray for one another.