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?