The Talk With Yourself

Series: We Need To Talk...
Sunday, October 5 2010

Announcements:

• It’s the last week of the Fall Semester.  Plan an end of the year Christmas Party at your meeting this week.
• Winter Session will start January 16 and run through March 6, 2011.
• All participants are encourage to re-register with their current group or a group that works for your schedule.

Ministry Centre Renovations
This week- drywall!  Let us know if you are available to work any weekday or evening.  Plan on helping December 11 @ 1895 Blue Heron Drive.

Boxing Day Special
Boxing Day falls on Sunday, December 26th and the mall opens at 9am.  We have a once-every-seven-years chance to make our presence known.  Show up at 8am to set up a coffee and gift station outside the theatre to reach out to shoppers.

Ark Aid Street Mission
We’ll be serving dinner on December 29.  10-12 volunteers needed.

Bible For Missions Thrift Store
It’s looking more and more like the BFM Thrift Store will be located in North London.  We want 10 people who can commit to being regular volunteers (one or more days each week, in 4 hours shifts).  Call or write the church for more information.

Opening
What did you want to be as a kid growing up?

Learn It
Read Psalm 8
What does this psalm teach us about God?
What does this psalm teach us about ourselves?

How do we simultaneously hold the truths of ‘we are dust’ and ‘we are created and loved by God’ at the same time? Why is it hard to believe both?

If you believed one of these truths without believing the other, what kind of errors could it lead to?

The General Call
Briefly review what this is. Matt 16:24-26

The Immediate Call
Why is this one easy to ignore? Why is it important to remember?

The Specific Call
Read 1 Cor. 12:14-20


Live It
Have you ever felt tempted to want a different gift set?

What is the difference between a job and a vocation? (Vocation = who I am, Job = what I do right now)

Do you know your vocation or have a sense of what it might be?

Have you ever felt like your vocation was not as good/holy/useful as someone else’s?

(if you have older people) How has retirement affected your understanding of job and vocation?

Do you wrestle against a desire for wealth, fame, power? Which is hardest to resist as you pursue your calling?

Do you find it difficult to be fully present in where you are now? Why or why not?

Is there anything specific job/experience you want to try in an effort to discern your vocation?

The God Talk

Series: "We need to talk"
Connection Group Questions
November 28, 2010
“The God Talk”

Take time to go over the church announcements and events.

• The last week of the Fall Semester is December 12.  Plan an end of the year Christmas Party!
• Winter Session will run from January 16 through March 6, 2011.
• Spring Session will run from March 27 through May 22, 2011.
• All participants are encourage to re-register with their current group or a group that works for your schedule.

Opening
Share a life changing conversation you’ve had, preferably a good change.  How did it happen, and how did your life change as a result?

Learn It
Read Matthew 16:13-16.
Who do you say that Jesus was and is?

Romans 10: 9 “...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Have you ever had “the talk” with God?  If so, how and when?  What changed in your life as a result? 

If not, what is holding you back?  What questions do you still have, and would you be willing to talk about them with the group?

Romans 8:14  “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

3 things that give us assurance:
1. Led by the Holy Spirit
Have you had moments when you felt the Spirit’s presence?  Have you ever felt a “nudge” to say something, call somebody, do something?  If you have not, talk about this, and what you can do to “tune in” to the Spirit.

2. Filled with peace
We have a lot of reasons to be stressed out, pessimistic and full of fear.  Where would you rate yourself on the “Full of Fear/ Full of Peace” scale?  Can someone describe what it’s like to be full of peace when going through hard times?  Read John 14:27 if you need assurance of peace.

3. God is “Abba Father”
Do you want to know God as Father?  Do you know God as Father?  Discuss what it means to have this kind of relational connection with God.

Considering these things, would you say you have the assurance of your salvation? 

If not, would you like to have more assurance?  What can you do, according to the bible passages we’ve looked at, to have more assurance?

If you’ve never been baptized, or made a public affirmation of faith, how could that help?

Making it absolutely sure in your heart.
Give group members the chance to have the talk with God.

To learn more about the assurance of our salvation read
2 Peter 1:1-11

Don’t forget about your E100 Bible Reading Plan!