Hello my name is Cornerstone: CG Discussions

Connection Group Discussions for, “Hello, My Name is Cornerstone Church”

For the weeks surrounding this series, we’re asking Connection Groups to have discussion both prior to and after each sermon. In other words, discuss what you heard in the most recent sermon AND preview the topic for the following week. The following can be used as a guide – just a starting point – to give you some direction:

The week before the sermon  Invite the people in your group to begin thinking about the topic before they hear the sermon. Help people to gauge where they are in relationship to the specific topic. What is their understanding of the topic going into the study? What is there practice of it? What do they lack (understanding, obedience, etc.)? Also, read over the passage that will be used in the sermon and discuss it as well.

In the meeting following the sermon that covers the topic  Find out what people learned. Did it answer their questions? Did it impact them or affect change in them?

Some starter-questions…

Prayer (Key text: Luke 11:1-13)
Prior to the sermon:
1. Try to define “prayer” in one sentence.
2. How often do you pray?
3. What does prayer look like in your life (what do you do)?

After the sermon:
1. What was one new insight you gained concerning prayer?
2. Is there something specific you think you’ll do in your prayer life?
3. How can our Connection Group grow in the area of prayer?


The Gospel (Key text: Romans 3:21-26)
Prior to the sermon:
1. If someone were to ask you, “What is the bottom line message of the Bible?” what would you tell them?
2. As a group, make a list of all the key terms related to the gospel. Once you’ve listed them, narrow down to the 3-5 most important. (This will help to clarify the central truths of the gospel).

After the sermon:
1. Go back and use the same questions (above) and see if you’d change anything.
2. How do churches or Christians mess the gospel up? How do we confuse people when telling them the gospel?
3. Ask yourself, “Have I understood the true gospel before now?” When?


The Bible (Key text: Psalm 19)
Prior to the sermon:
1. What did your commitment to the Bible look like growing up? What about now?
2. What motivates people to know and apply the teachings of the Bible?
3. What motivates you personally to know and apply the teachings of the Bible?

After the sermon:
1. Based on Psalm 19, what motivations are given to know and apply the teachings of the Bible? Share specific verses.
2. What practical lifestyle change could you make to better know God through the Scriptures?
3. How will the members of this connection group help you to follow through with this?


Baptism & Communion (Key text: Acts 8:26-40 / 1 Cor. 11:17-34)
Prior to the sermon:
1. If you were raised going to church, what traditions did you have in regard to baptism and communion?
2. What did you think that theses practices did for you – what was the purpose?
3. Have each one take a 3x5 card and on one side write the Biblical purpose for baptism and on the other side write the Biblical purpose for communion. Share your findings and discuss them.
4. Read the key passages (above) together.

After the sermon:
1. Has your understanding of these practices changed? How so?
2. Have you been baptized? When? For the right reasons?
3. How will you enter into times of communion from now on?
4. Consider having communion together – or at least put it on the calendar for a future meeting. Talk about what would make it meaningful in your group.


Growth (Key text: Phil. 3:7-14)
Prior to the sermon:
1. What are some things that have changed in your life after becoming a Christ-follower?
2. What has been the key to keeping spiritual growth happening?
3. What are the things that you know would help you grow, but frankly it is hard for you to do it?
4. What do you make of people who say they’ve become Christians but have not evidenced any spiritual growth?
5. Read the key passage (above) together.

After the sermon:
1. Did God teach you some things about spiritual growth that you had not considered before? Be specific.
2. How can we sometimes pursue a “righteousness of our own” instead of a “righteousness that comes from God and is by faith” as we seek to grow in Christ? What’s the danger here?
3. How are you going to pursue growth now as a result of hearing the Word?


Worship (Key text: Psalm 33)
Prior to the sermon:
1. Write down the first 5 words that come to mind when you think of "worship." Now as a group, try to define "worship."
2. The Westminster Catechism says, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." What Bible verses support that?
3. What was worship like in the church you grew up in?
4. What helps you engage your heart and mind in worship at Cornerstone? What do you find distracting?
5. If you could create your own "song/set list" for Wally to lead on the weekend, what would it be?

After the sermon:
1. What's one thing from the message that stuck out to you?
2. Looking back on your life, when was a time you were closest to God in worship?
3. What has been the most difficult time in your life to worship?
4. How can you grow as a worshiper in your: personal life? family? car? workplace? connection group?

Hello my name is Cornerstone: Prayer

Passage: Luke 11:1-13

Luke emphasizes the amount of time Jesus spent in prayer. Whether He was getting up early in the morning or spending the entire night in prayer, Jesus’ prayer life was of crucial importance to maintaining His connection with the Father. Through faith in Jesus, we can address God knowing that he listens to us, and wants to provide for us as His adopted as sons and daughters. Asking God for houses, cars, jobs, health, and comfort is safe. Asking for the Holy Spirit to guide you and empower you will change your life. With that in mind, here are some possible discussion questions for group discussion.

1. Have you ever had someone provide a good model of prayer life for you, like Jesus did for His disciples? What did you learn?

2. How would you feel if you got a chance to pray with Jesus? Do you think that you would pray for the same things Jesus prays for?

3. If we make time for what we value, how does your prayer life reflect what you value in life?

4. How does what we pray about reflect what we value in our lives?

5. Inside each of us is a desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves. If God were to answer all your prayers today, how would it affect God’s Kingdom?

6. How does our pride (self-reliance, perfectionism, and arrogance) hinder the boldness with which Jesus wants us to pray? What does this say about our dependence on or trust in God to provide for the things we need(or want)?

7. What would Jesus say is the ultimate goal of prayer?

8. Prayer is powerful and God is infinite in power and resources. How often do you ask to be filled with and led by the Spirit with greater power for ministry and intimacy with God?

9. Do you ever hesitate to ask for the guidance of the Spirit, afraid of where it will lead you?

10. Do you ever limit the power of your prayers because what God might want for you, could be different what you desire?

11. In those situations, how hard is it to trust that what God wants for us is better than what we want for ourselves?

Philemon

Onesimus, a newly converted Christian and runaway slave, had two options. He could keep on running, or return back to his master as Paul calls him to do what is right in God’s eyes. Philemon, a Christian, has the legal right to immediately execute him or brand him a fugitive for life if he returns. Paul writes this letter on behalf of both parties to call them to do what is right in God’s eyes.

1. Do you feel the weight Paul is putting on Onesimus by writing this letter to his master(Now he pretty much has to return, right)?

2. Do you feel the weight Paul is putting on Philemon by writing this letter to do the right thing?

3. Do you feel that Paul, by stating, “I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,” undercuts the sincerity with which he requests Philemon to welcome back Onesimus? Is this letter really a request at all?

4. What do you think about Paul using this kind of diplomacy/pressure?

5. How does this compare with how you deal with co-workers or friends when requesting a favor that they ought to carry out as a Christian?

6. What do you think Paul is hinting at in verse 22: “And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.” ?

7. How would you feel if a Christian brother approached you in this manner with a request to welcome back into your home, someone who once wronged you(stole from you, vandalized your house, etc.), but has since come to Christ? Would you be skeptical? Would you be obedient?

8. Would you trust that God would bless you for being obedient to how the word calls you to forgive, even though you have the legal right to press charges?

9. From Onesimus’ perspective, would you be able to trust God enough to return to your master and except the consequences of your actions, knowing legally you could be put to death for what you have done?

10. Read verse 15. Think about Onesimus and ask yourself, “Have you ever found yourself running from something, or even away from God, and found He actually used that to bring you closer to Him?”

11. Think about Philemon. How has God taken a problem in your life and solved it in a way that was better than what you could have or would have done, but in a way you did not expect?

12. How has God used a trial or failure in your life to bring you closer to Him?