GROW Group Leaders

Field Trip (Mark 4:35-5:21a)

kellitempleton — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:02:11 +0000

Pastor Dave Bechtel will be preaching this week and rolling out our upcoming Campaign for Marriage. We are asking people to consider leading a new small group for the six week campaign (April 15-May 20) and/or to start praying.

The “Campaign for Marriage” prayer focus this week is: pray for marriages currently in a storm, for each spouse to trust Him, to think rightly, to be Spirit filled, and to draw near to God.

Here are the questions for this week and some helpful hints as you lead. You are being prayed for!

Recite the memory verses from January and February.

This is the last week to get the February verse, 2 Corinthians 5:21. It is also a great time to recall 2 Timothy 3:16-17. In our small group, we have delegated out the task of “rehearsing” it to a member. It has helped us a ton and the member is certainly using her gift to encourage us!

What boxes did you check for the upcoming “campaign for marriage”? How are you going to participate?

I know, we ask the same question twice:) We are trying to encourage people to participate. The two options are to lead or to pray. We will have a weekly prayer focus, some corporate prayer opportunities, a special day of fasting/prayer on 4/7, and other tools as April approaches.

Share any insights and/or questions you have from the sermon.

We realize you may get questions, especially about spiritual warfare, that you may not be to answer. Ask the group if they have a biblical answer and if none of you do, then defer to next week and give your coach a call:) The insights are always encouraging to hear.

What are some memorable “storms” you have faced in your past? Share with the group what you learned from them.

We are hoping this will be mutually encouraging as we hear about God’s faithfulness and equipping as we learn about possible “disobedience” that we can avoid. A memorable storm for my family was the seemingly impossible task of raising the funds to adopt our two new sons. But God did it, in His perfect timing, through the most unusual humble ways because we learned it is ALL His and He is the provider.

Read Mark 4:35-5:21a and answer the following questions:

Whose idea was it to go to the other side of the lake?Pastor Dave makes a point of saying it was Jesus’ idea, therefore the disciples were obeying God yet it was difficult.
Who is in the boat? Jesus and the disciples (field trip)
Who was on the other side of the lake? the demon-possessed man. Pastor Dave makes a point of saying that Jesus went out of his way to seek and save this man
Describe the man who met Jesus. isolated, possessed, lost his dignity, decency, peace, purpose, self-respect, self-control, reputation; become self-hating and self-destructive; hopeless.
What are the requests made of Jesus and who made them? There seems to be at least 4: Mk 4:37-40 the disciples ask Jesus if he cares; Mk 5:6-12 the demons ask to not to be sent of the country and to be sent into the pigs; Mk 5:17 the crowd asked Jesus to leave; Mk 5: 18 the formerly demon-possessed man asked to go with Jesus.
How did Jesus respond to each request? Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief in His care; yes, yes, no.

Pastor Dave stated that the basic source of “fear” is unbelief (lack of trust/faith in God). Read Mark 4:37-40. What lack of faith is Jesus rebuking? What other unbelief could be revealed through fear?

The disciples almost seem to think Jesus has forsaken them and will not care for them. Note that the storm may have taken their life, but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care, this will be Pastor Dave’s point.

We tend to doubt God’s timing, care, goodness, justice, that He sees, etc.

Break into gender groups for the following questions

What “kinds of fear” on the fear spectrum do you tend to entertain in your life? (anxious, concerned, despairing, discouraged, doubtful, dreading, nervous, stressed, worried, etc.)

Pastor Dave makes a point of stating that we not label our fear as “fear” but mask it in one of these ways “stressed, worried, etc). Its helpful in identifying if you lack faith.

Are you currently in a storm? Share it with the group. Together explore the possible unbelief this storm reveals.

Answers will vary here. You have a great opportunity to either minister to others deeply or yourself be ministered too. For example, Bill and I are currently in a storm as we watch our teenage daughter suffer from Crohn’s Disease. The unbelief for me, is “can I trust God that this is best, for His glory?”

Why is unbelief “sin?” (Hebrews 11:6) Read 1 John 1:9 and Mark 9:23-24. Take time to confess, in prayer, your unbelief and ask for God’s help. How can your group help?

Please do read the Scriptures together. Let the Word minister to you and your people as you pray and confess.

Why can you trust God even when you experience storms? Take time to pray, thanking God that He is trustworthy.

He alone is eternal, all powerful, self-existent, omnipresent, glorious, immutable, creator. He is holy, compassionate and gracious, patient, love, truth, just and righteous. He is the Redeemer, Provider, the one who Heals, who Sanctifies. He is my Shepherd.

The Other Side of the Curtain – Matthew 27:51a (with Hebrews 10:19-25)

amberbruce — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:04:24 +0000

TODAY’S GOOD NEWS: Jesus’ death tore the curtain keeping us from God’s presence.

There are a few announcements this week. The first is about the upcoming Campaign for Marriage. You should have received a letter in the mail describing Bethel’s Campaign for Marriage that will begin next Sunday with corporate intercession for marriages at Bethel. The Campaign for Marriage will continue through May, with three opportunities for you and your group to participate: praying together and separately; attending the Love & Respect Conference April 20-21; and doing a marriage study as a group.

The letter explained four options for a study on marriage in your GROW Group: Gospel-Centered Marriage, Real Marriage, Love & Respect Building Blocks, and marriage-focused sermon questions. The letter gave pros and cons of each as well as suggestions for use in a GROW Group and ordering instructions. Begin this week to discuss with your group which option you will choose.

Also, give the option of leading a short-term group during the Campaign for Marriage to those in your group who are ready to lead.

[Please keep in mind that Bethel’s Campaign for Marriage is not only for those who are already married. Part of the purpose is to establish the Christian understanding of marriage, which is widely different from our culture’s perspective of marriage. Bethel’s Campaign for Marriage is applicable to all who have been married, will be married, should be married, have children or grandchildren who will be married, or are currently married.]

The second announcement is related to the first. Bethel elder Greg Cullen will speak at the Men’s Breakfast this Saturday, Feb 25 at 7:30 am. He will talk about the reasons for the Campaign for Marriage and what Bethel men can do to strengthen their own marriage and help others strengthen theirs.

Whew! Now to the sermon. Pastor Dave catches onto half of a verse (Matthew 27:51a) in the crucifixion narrative and delves into its meaning and application to us as believers.

Pastor Dave shared six things that happened when we were born again. Recall as many as you can. Can you name some more? Which of those stands out to you and why?
The six that Pastor Dave named are:

1. Our sins were forgiven (Col. 1:13-14).
2. We crossed over from death to life (John 5:24; Eph 2:1-5)
3. We were born as children into the family of God. We have God as our Heavenly Father, and we gained some brothers and sisters in the Lord (John 1:12; Heb. 2:11).
a. We can speak to God as Father (Matt 6:9; Gal 4:7; Rom 8:15-16)
b. God loves us as a Father (1 John 3:1)
c. He understands us (Ps 103:13-14)
d. He takes care of our needs (Matt 6:32)
e. He gives us many good gifts (Matt 7:11)
f. He gives us a great inheritance (Gal 4:7; Rom 8:17)

4. We were given the Holy Spirit as a down-payment of eternal good things to come (Eph. 1:13-14). He helps us understand the Scripture. He prays for us. He guides us.
5. We were given the privilege of access to the Lord, 24/7 (Heb 10:19).
6. We gained a new set of enemies. At least three of them. We once were a part of the world, we are no longer and it hates us (John 17:14). We have a sinful nature inside of us, which the Bible calls the flesh. Before we were God’s children it was used to being in control, getting what it wanted. Now, the Holy Spirit in us wages war against that nature. Our flesh doesn’t like that (Gal. 5:17). The devil, the prince of darkness, who was previously our enemy as a slave-driver has now become an even greater enemy of our soul since we have been rescued from his prison camp and have become soldiers of light.

Some other things that happened:
- We were justified: God declares guilty sinners to be righteous (Rom 3:23-24)
- Sanctification began: God is working in us through His Word and the Holy Spirit to save us from the power that sin has over us. (John 17:17;Rom 15:16)
- Glorification is assured: We will dwell with God in perfect, imperishable bodies and in perfect joy forever. (Rom 8:17, 30)
- God’s wrath against us was appeased (1 John 4:10)
- We were reconciled to God and made one with Him (atonement): Jesus reconciles us, the rebellious and hostile enemies to the offended God; makes us one with God (Rom 5:11)
- Our ransom was paid: Jesus paid the debt we owed to God because of our sin (Mark 10:45)
- We were made clean: Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7-9)
- We were given hope: The hope of glory and eternal salvation is our helmet and comfort (Eph 1:18; Col 1:27; 1 Thess 5:8; 2 Thess 2:16-17)
- We entered into new comfort: Through Christ we share abundantly in comfort (Phil 2:1; 2 Thess 2:16-17; 2 Cor 1:3-5)
- We entered into a new fellowship: We have fellowship with God and with one another through the blood of Christ (1 John 1:3,7)
- We received God’s power: The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is working for us (Eph 1:19-20)
- We were given spiritual gifts: Grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift (Eph 4:7-12)
- We received God’s gift of Himself (Rev 21:3)

Read Matthew 27:51a.
1. What is the symbolism in the veil being torn from top to bottom?
2. What is the connection between this event and Matthew 27:50?
Read Hebrews 10:19-25 and answer the following questions:
1. In the Old Testament, who could go to the other side of the curtain, into the holy of holies? How often? (Hebrews 9:7)
2. Where is the holy of holies now? Who can enter?
3. The sacrifice of Jesus has made believers holy. What keeps us from being in the holy of holies consistently?
Pastor Dave mentioned things that distract us from entering His presence and sinful habits that keep us from coming to Him. This is a good time to make a list of some common distractions and sinful habits (e.g. busy schedules, worries, eating too much/for comfort, filling our minds with unclean pictures and thoughts from TV/movies/magazines/internet).
Pastor Dave gave three trios listing some of the benefits of being in God’s presence. Fill in the blanks:
1. Life and Love and Liberty
2. Peace and Perspective and Power
3. Clarity and Connection and Completeness
4. Give examples of some benefits you have experienced in the presence of God.
Don’t forget joy (Psalm 16:11 and Psalm 21:6)! Also, protection (Ps 31:20), justice (Ps 17:2; 41:12), and awe (Isaiah 64:3). Don’t be hesitant to spend some time on this question. The best and most important gift God gives us is Himself. Meditate on the delights on being in God’s presence.
Read Hebrews 10:22. List the three descriptors of a person who is prepared to enter into the presence of God. Discuss each one and its meaning.

The three descriptors Pastor Dave focused on are: 1) A sincere heart full of faith, 2) A heart sprinkled and cleansed from a guilty conscience, and 3) our bodies washed with pure water.

Pastor Dave explained sincere as “not divided; with one focus.” He said when we have other things on our minds, in our schedules, and in our hearts, we aren’t hungry for God. Notice that this heart is “full of faith.” This isn’t a command to do better, try harder and pull yourself up by your bootstraps. It’s a command to rest in the work that has already been done for us. It’s a command to become more fully what we already are in Christ.

“A heart sprinkled and cleansed from a guilty conscience” points back to the requirements for the High Priest’s entrance into the Most Holy Place: he had to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on himself before going in. That is a picture of the way we as Christians are sprinkled with the blood of Christ’s sacrifice to receive forgiveness (be cleansed from a guilty conscience). This happened at our new birth, but it also happens over and over again as we confess our sins (1 John 1:9). Confession should be a frequent – at least daily – habit for followers of Christ.

Pastor Dave correlated “our bodies washed with pure water” to the ongoing clean-up process of the Christian life. We can present our bodies to God for His purposes (Rom 6:13; 12:1-2) or to sin (Rom 6:13,19). Bodies presented to God for righteousness are washed with pure water.

Read Hebrews 10:24-25. This verse commands us to meet together and spur one another on toward love and good works (NIV). In other versions, what words are used for these commands? How can a small group help to accomplish this?

See the translations in parallel on Biblegateway here.

NIV (2011 & 1984) – spur one another on toward love and good deeds

NASB – stimulate one another to love and good deeds

ESV and NKJV – stir up one another to love and good works

HCSB – promote love and good works

NLT – motivate one another to acts of love and good works

As we often say at Bethel, small groups are the best way to practice the “One Anothers.” In a small group, we can all get to know each other. Because we have a close relationship, we can stimulate/stir up/motivate/spur on one another to love and good works. We can give each other reminders and “pokes”, emails and phone calls. We can help each other see our blind spots. We can set an example for one another. We can hold each other accountable. We can plan acts of love to do as a group. What are some other ways?

Break into gender groups to discuss the following questions:

Pastor Dave called us to “Clean up and go in” to God’s presence.
1. Did you stand at the end of the sermon?
2. Confess any sin areas you need to clean up before you can go in.
3. Identify any distractions that keep you from closeness to God and keep you from going in.
4. Discuss ways you can help each other in these areas.
Spend time in prayer, confessing to God and interceding for one another.

February’s Monthly Missions Focus is Bethel-supported missionary Amy Brock-Devine. You can pray for one request each week or for all four this week.

Please pray:

For the team to have unity, harmony, and perseverance in doing day-to-day tasks.
For the protection of the children they are mentoring. Some children have been left by their parents in the slums for an indefinite amount of time with little to no money while they go seek work or medical treatment.
For Amy to have understanding in all she does: study of the Thai language, study of God’s Word, and knowing when and how to speak into people’s lives.
For Amy to keep her eyes focused on God’s grace. That she will be filled with the knowledge of God’s love and grace, then let that flow from her to her team members and the families and children she works with.

February Monthly Missions Focus: Amy Brock-Devine

amberbruce — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:28:54 +0000

Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave the Great Commission:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Based on this command, Bethel is committed to making disciples both here and around the world. As Christians, we are each commanded to participate in this global mission. Our individual roles are usually some combination of praying, giving, mobilizing, and going. This month and next month we will look at some missionaries that were sent out from our own body at Bethel. Following the example of the Antiochan church in Acts 13:1-3, we pray for and send out men and women to preach the gospel among those who have not heard.

Amy Brock-Devine grew up in the Tri-Cities. She was attending Bethel and was part of a small group when she heard God’s call to full-time ministry over-seas.

Amy says putting her dreams in the hands of God was one of the hardest things she has ever done. She was “successful” in her career for 13 years, but felt like she was missing something important. She says, “The Lord kept saying, ‘Come, I will show you how to fish…’ It took me 3 years to obey. And in 1994 I quit my 6 -figure job to go to follow that command. As we are called to go ‘… in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”

During a 6-month training course with a youth ministry in Northern Argentina, she was surprised to find God reminding her of Thailand – a nation she had visited 5 years before. After the training course and a short time back in the States to pray and determine where to go, she went back to Argentina for 3 years. There she tutored, taught, and discipled foster children, children at an elementary school, and adults while supporting herself by teaching English and selling fruit smoothies.

A new phase of God’s plan started in 2008, when her time in Argentina came to an end. She finished her Master’s in Education while doing ministry and living in three different hemispheres. She spent some time travelling to visit missionary friends in Brazil and El Salvador, and then spent the Olympics in Beijing. She came back to the States to raise support and finish her classes.

In March of 2009, Amy went to Australia to train at the School of Frontier Missions in Perth. After that, she joined her team already on the field in Bangkok, Thailand.

Amy now works with Ark International in Bangkok to love, educate, restore and advocate for children at risk. These children are at risk of: poverty, poor health care, sexual abuse, lack of education, labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and a life without Christ. Amy and her team employ three strategies to reduce the risk to these children:

Personal one-on-one relationships
Opportunities like job and life-skills training and sports ministries
Education in the truth of God’s Word and academic kills

Amy and her team love underprivileged children in the Name of Christ. Their work is difficult and demanding. They see children in dangerous and difficult situations. They work with children with emotional damage from abuse and neglect. They are often under attack from the enemy as they bring the love of Christ into areas of darkness. This month, please lift up Amy and her team in your small group.

You can follow Amy on Facebook or her blog, Making A Big Difference.

Please pray:

For the team to have unity, harmony, and perseverance in doing day-to-day tasks.
For the protection of the children they are mentoring. Some children have been left by their parents in the slums for an indefinite amount of time with little to no money while they go seek work or medical treatment.
For Amy to have understanding in all she does: study of the Thai language, study of God’s Word, and knowing when and how to speak into people’s lives.
For Amy to keep her eyes focused on God’s grace. That she will be filled with the knowledge of God’s love and grace, then let that flow from her to her team members and the families and children she works with.

Dressed for the Occasion – Matt 22:1-14

amberbruce — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:10:13 +0000

This week, Pastor Dave again gives insight into the mysterious parables of Jesus by looking at the context. This time, the parable of the wedding feast.

It’s time to start thinking about ShareFest (coming up on March 24^th). Discuss whether your group will serve together or not. Remember each family needs to fill out the ShareFest card next Sunday, February 19th.

Take some time to practice the memory verses from January and February (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Cor 5:21).

If your group made a plan of how you will help each other learn the verses and has been doing it each week, good for you! If you haven’t been using your plan – or you never made a plan – now is a good time to do so. Some ideas are: have a prize basket for those who can say it correctly or are the first to memorize it that month; go around in a circle and each person say the next word in the verse; recite it out loud together each week. Have any great ideas or something that’s working for your group? Let us know by commenting below.

Read Matthew 22:1-14 and answer the following review questions:

There are a lot of review questions on this parable because it is a particularly long and complex parable with many characters and plot twists.

Who is the king? The king is God the Father.
Who is his son? The son is Jesus, the Son of God.
Who are the servants? The servants are the apostles – and afterwards all Christians.
Who are the first guests? The first guests are the Jews.
What did the first guests do? They refuse to come to the wedding, and some even beat and kill the servants who are inviting them.
What were the consequences of their action? Because they have rejected Him, God rejects the Israelites and turns away from them to the Gentiles (see Rom 11:25). He also sends punishment on “the murderers and burned their city,” (v.7) Jerusalem. Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70.
Who are the second guests? The second guests are Gentiles and the remnant (Rom 11:5,25) of Israel.
What do the wedding clothes represent? The wedding clothes represent righteousness (Ps 32:9; Is 61:10).
Where do the wedding clothes come from? From historical context, Pastor Dave shows us that the wedding clothes are a gift from the king. In the same way, the righteousness of Jesus is a gift we are given by our Father (see this month’s memory verse, 2 Cor 5:21).
What is the cost of not putting on the wedding clothes? The man who refused to wear the wedding clothes was bound and thrown into the outer darkness, i.e. hell (v.13).
Is the invitation still open today? Absolutely. Until the wedding supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:1-10), invitations are still being sent out. The only requirement is acceptance of the invitation and of the wedding clothes.

The repeated invitations to the first group of people are dramatic evidences of “wave after wave” of God’s grace. Share about “grace waves” from your own experience.

The riches of God’s grace are glorious and abundant (Eph 1:7-8)! He continues to be gracious to enemies (Luke 6:35) and sent His Son to die for us while we were in rebellion against Him (Rom 5:10). This is a good opportunity to fellowship with one another as you relate stories of God’s grace in your own lives. We hope you will get to know one another better and love God more because of it.

Was anyone in your group involved in the “altar call?” If so, how? In retrospect, do you wish you had been involved?

Pastor Dave gave an altar call for both new believers and young believers who are stagnant and unconnected.

If someone in you group does have regrets, ask what held them back. Be sure to emphasize God’s forgiveness if your group member seems frustrated or guilty.

If someone in your group was involved as a “baby” Christian, make plans to follow up with them to help them grow. Find a parent for them (it doesn’t have to be you!); help them choose a Bible; help them read/study their Bible; invite them to participate in a quiet time with you/the parent; meet with them a couple time to help them confirm their decision; meet them at church to sit with them; go through One-to-One Discipleship; talk to them about baptism.

If someone in your group was involved as a mature Christian and is following up with the younger Christian, support and help them. Show them the above suggestions for “parents.” Encourage them to invite the younger Christian to your group.

Be sure to pray regularly for both “babies” and “parents” in your group.

Read Romans 10:9-10. How do you put on the wedding clothes? What do you need to believe? What do you need to do?

Often in the American church, people will have some kind of response to an altar call like the one on Sunday that is not necessarily saving faith. It is good to clarify that those who say they are Christians actually understand what it means and how it affects their life.

A Christian needs to know and believe the following:

There is one, tri-une God
All humans are sinners and in rebellion against God
The penalty for sin is death (both physical & spiritual)
Christ (the 2^nd person of the Trinity) came as a man, died on the cross to pay for our sins, and conquered sin and death by rising to life on the third day.

What a Christian needs to do: put our total faith and trust in the work of Christ on our behalf through confessing that He is the Lord and repenting (turning away from evil and pursuing holiness).

An excellent Scriptural summary of salvation is found in the “Romans Road.”

Read the following Scriptures and list some of the benefits of being clothed in Christ:
1. Romans 3:23-24
2. Romans 5:1
3. Romans 5:11
4. 2 Corinthians 5:21
5. Ephesians 1:3
6. Ephesians 2:5

February Memory Verse Devotional

amberbruce — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:01:15 +0000

The first half of this month’s memory verse devotional is up on the Richland campus blog. Head over and be encouraged by the mercy AND grace that are ours in Christ!

Shift Workers – Matthew 20:1-16

amberbruce — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:36:18 +0000

In the application of this sermon, Pastor Dave addresses an area that is becoming an issue at the Richland campus, LIVE venue. There are too many questions for groups to discuss all of them during their meeting time, so we are asking you as the leader to take time to address questions 8-10, and choose which others your group should focus on.

1. After hearing the sermon, did you learn anything new? Have any questions?

We have been including this question for the past few weeks because parables are especially mysterious. If your group needs to spend some time understanding the parable, focus your time on the first few questions, which are all review.

2. Read Matthew 20:1-16 and answer the following review questions:

What does the vineyard represent?

Pastor Dave taught that the vineyard represents the church.

Who owns it?

God (either the Father or the Son) is the owner.

Who do the vineyard workers represent?

Workers in the church.

What does the denarius represent?

Pastor Dave called these “earthly benefits.” He said these are benefits workers receive for working in His kingdom, e.g. We have social connections, the protection and covering that being in the church can bring, the relative relational peace of working around fellow church folks, the morality that church folks usually maintain, good friends, good business, small groups.

3. Read Matthew 19:16-30. Pastor Dave pointed out several clues that give insight into the purpose of the parable. What are the clues? What is the purpose?

The biggest clue is the repetition of the phrase “the first shall be last and the last shall be first.” This shows us that the parable is connected to the events that precede it. The parable is intended as a caution to Peter to change his attitude.

4. What attitude is Jesus warning against in this parable? Matthew 20:15 literally asks “Is your eye evil?” Read Matthew 6:1-2, 5, 16, 19-24. What does it mean for an eye to be dark? How does a little darkness impact your whole being?

Pastor Dave calls this the “what’s in it for me?” attitude. More specifically, it’s the “what’s in it for me now?” attitude. The focus is on what I receive now. In New Testament times, there was a phrase to describe this attitude of greed and selfishness:

Jesus warned about it in the Sermon on the Mount. He portrayed the hypocritical religious leader as giving, praying, and fasting for the purpose of receiving earthly glory (Matt 6:1-2,5,16). He said those people wanted the reward now, so that’s the reward they will get – the

reward they will get. He then goes on to apply that attitude toward money and other earthly treasures in Matt 6:19-24. He makes the connection to the evil eye in v. 23.

Jesus says having the evil eye – being greedy, selfish, and only concerned with what’s in it for me now – makes your eye dark. It keeps the light from getting in. What we might call a “little” darkness actually fills our whole bodies and impacts every area of our lives. It can destroy us physically (e.g. anxiety leads to all kinds of physical trouble). It can destroy our relationships (marriage, children, friendships). It can make us less productive at work or even destroy a career. It can destroy our relationship with God. As Jesus said, we can only serve one master. If we are controlled by this dangerous attitude, we are not under the command of God (v. 24).

5. What are some symptoms of this dangerous attitude in Matthew 20:1-16? What are some other symptoms? Are you infected?

Symptoms in this parable include: grumbling, doubting God, blaming God, being envious of others. Other symptoms include: anxiety, criticism of others, ignoring the needs and feelings of others, disdain for others.

6. Read Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:13, 3b-4. What is the antidote for this dangerous attitude? What are some practical ways to apply this antidote to your life?

The antidote for the evil eye is to fix our eyes on Jesus. Hebrews shows us the example of Jesus as He suffered humiliation and anguish for our good and His glory. 1 Peter 1:13 exhorts us to look at the hope that Jesus purchased for us by that suffering. 1 Peter 1:3b-4 defines that hope: we have been born again to a living hope of an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, unfading, and kept especially for us.

Think about some practical ways you can fix your eyes on Jesus. Encourage group members who are practicing this spiritual discipline to give specific examples to help the rest of the group. You may want to sing a song like “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” together, reminding yourselves that “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” For more ideas, see the posts in the Gospel-Saturated GROW Group series from last fall. Also take another look at your Influencing the World toolkit to find a list of books and other helpful tips to keep you centered on the gospel: the good news about Jesus and what He has accomplished for us.

7. Do you feel that the owner in this parable was unfair? If you were God, how would you answer the workers who said the amount of money they received wasn’t fair? What Scripture would help support your answer?

For most of us, our initial reaction to this parable is the same as that of the first workers: that’s not fair! It is important, however, to get God’s perspective. He was being gracious to those workers who were desperate enough to wait around all day for a little work. We need to remember that God has the best interests of His people in mind (Rom 8:28), that He is generous (2 Cor 9:8-10) and merciful (Luke 6:35), and that He is wiser than we are (Rom 11:38-40).

8. Review Bethel’s purpose, strategies, and targets for each venue. Have you been guilty of grumbling about these? How can your group help you?

This will be your biggest challenge as a leader – how to listen, emphasize, discern spirits, discern truth, and sift it while protecting your group. Be sure to keep the group focused on the truth of Scripture and minimize grumbling. Often, all you can do in the moment is to ask someone to stop sharing/grumbling and ask if you can talk one-on one later. Please do call your coach if you have problems arise. We are praying for you as you discuss these questions.

Our purpose: Make Disciples
Our strategy: GROW people through the stages of spiritual growth into mature, reproducing disciples.
Those four stages are: infant, child, young adult, parent

Included in our strategy at Bethel, we have three basic assembly groupings which we employ to promote growth:

Large groups (our different venues on Sundays, at all our sites, in all our venues): Large groups are the primary place where the infants come to be fed; where those who don’t know the Lord come to hear about Him. So, in our large assemblies there will be a bias to help those spiritually younger groups grow.
Small groups: Small groups help disciples of all ages to grow. Infants grow into children as they learn more spiritual truth and exercise their spiritual muscles. Young adults practice, parents guide. Most of the “one another” commands to disciples, which can’t be done in large assemblies, are accomplished in small groups.
Mentoring: Especially relevant for young adults. Mentors focus on specific areas in which young adults of the faith need to be trained as they move toward spiritual parenthood.

Our Targets in Each Venue:
Unplugged: Designed to be more attractive to those in the older generations. The leadership there, the song selection, the volume, the pace, are each aimed toward what will connect with the older generations. When we invite older-aged non-believers or spiritual infants, the Unplugged venue might connect with them the best. Remember: our large group venues are the primary place where non-Christians and infants are grown. Those of us who are further along in growth should be mature enough not to be asking “What about me?”
Wired: Designed to be more attractive to the younger-aged generations.
Connected: The generation of people with young children.
West Pasco: Designed to be relevant and attractive to the unique set of people who live in that geographical setting.
Prosser: The target is people who live in the lower valley. They’ve even begun singing some Spanish lyrics in their music, realizing that many people they might reach are Spanish-speaking.
Sunday PM: The target includes the younger generations as well as those who because of personal schedule find a Sunday night service to be practical for them.
Live: The Live services are held in the Richland auditorium, which is our biggest venue. In the last few years, the Lord has asked us to focus on reaching those “lost generations”: young adults ages 18-40ish who are the least likely group in America to attend church. We’re doing what we can to make the Live venue attractive to those who are spiritually young of the younger generations. We’re doing what we can to speak their language. We’ll see it in the music, its style, song selection, technology and volume.

9. Read 3 John 4. What should our attitude be when we see other generations enjoying their music and worshiping the Lord? What is the Lord’s attitude?

John shows us what our attitude should be and what the Lord’s attitude is: an attitude of joy when we see others walking in the truth. We should rejoice when we see others truly knowing and loving God. When we delight in others’ worship of God, we are truly worshiping, even if the songs don’t fit our ideal of worship.

10. Read Philippians 2:3-4. What are some reasons for laying down our own desires and accepting things we don’t prefer in Bethel services?

Philippians 2:3-4 gives the command, but the rest of the chapter gives the reasons: our encouragement from Christ, our comfort in love, our participation in the Spirit, our affection for one another, our sympathy with one another (all from v. 1), the example of Christ as He humbled Himself for our good and His glory (vv. 5-11), and the power of God working in us to obey the command (v. 13)

A note for those who are protest that it is not just their preference, but the safety of others about which they are concerned: It is helpful to realize that, while unpleasant sounds come across as “loud,” it is not necessarily the decibel level that is making us uncomfortable. Often it is the frequency (for example, low bass frequencies tend to bother older adults, while high-pitched tones tend to bother younger ones). The decibel level in each service is regularly checked and kept under 90 dB. This is well below standards for hearing protection and is perfectly safe.

For those that have younger groups, it might be good to ask them “what preferences might they have a hard time giving up?” since this was the main point of the parable. We don’t want our younger groups to miss the point because the primary application from the sermon was directed to a different generation.

Fitting Benevolence Ministry and GROW Groups Together

amberbruce — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:48:51 +0000

I hope you all enjoyed the video highlighting the Benevolence Ministry on Sunday! I learned a lot about what the Benevolence Ministry is and how it works. Building on that, we would like to help you as a GROW Group Leader learn how the Benevolence Ministry fits with the GROW Groups Ministry.

When someone in your small group needs assistance, what’s the best way to help out? Join Local Outreach Coordinator Angie Hufford as we explore together what resources are available from Bethel and the community and how we can best maximize our efforts to help others.

Come hear “Small Group Leaders: How Do We Help?” on Sunday, March 4th at 11am in the Mountain View Room.

From Seed to Shining Seed – Matthew 13:24-30, 36-44

amberbruce — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:20:10 +0000

This week, Pastor Dave teaches on the parable of the weeds from Matthew 13:24-30, 36-44.

What did you think about the placement of the sermon outline on the back of the bulletin? How is that placement symbolic of the passage this week?

After some practical feedback was given, it was decided to try out a new placement on the bulletin: sermon notes on the back rather than on the inside. That makes it easier to take notes – you don’t have to open it, remove the inserts, and fold it inside out to write on it. Pastor Dave also noticed that the placement makes the bulletin structured sort of like a parable: There is “truth” on the outside. To get that truth takes the work of listening attentively to the sermon and to what the Lord has to say through His Word. But that is the first level of teaching, and on the inside there is even more to find. If we dare to open it up, dig a little deeper, study and answer the questions inside – which is what your GROW Group is doing together – we will understand more and have more opportunity for that truth to change our lives.

After hearing the sermon, was there something new or surprising to you? Do you have any questions about it?

This is a great way to find out which direction the Spirit is moving among the members of your group. It also gives an opportunity for everyone to talk.

Read Matthew 13:24-30, 36-44 and answer the following review questions:

These are simple review questions to get everyone thinking about the text and remembering the sermon.

What is the field? Who owns it?

The field is the world – all the people in the world, not the corrupt world system (i.e. John 3:16). God owns it.

Who are the sowers?

The first sower is Jesus (the Son of Man, v. 37). The second sower is Satan (v. 39).

What are the two seeds?

The good seed are the sons of the kingdom (true Christians, v. 38). The weeds are the sons of the evil one (v. 38).

What was the purpose of each seed (Matt 13:26, 41)?

Don’t get too caught up debating this one, as there are a lot of questions this week, and the most important ones are at the end. Common sense will tell us that wheat is sown in order to produce grain. In looking at verse 26, we see Jesus specifically point out that the seeds bear fruit. (Also interesting that the bad seeds are not recognized until they fail to bear fruit along with the rest.) In verse 41, we see that the weeds are law-breakers and causers of sin. This is likely at least one reason the evil one sowed them.

In one or two sentences, what would you say the central theme of this passage is?

There are likely to be as many answers to this questions as there are people in your group who are willing to answer it. Some possible themes include: the interplay between good and evil in the kingdom of God; the need for patience and enduring hope as we look to the final outcome when evil will be brought to justice and God’s people will be glorified.

Who specifically are the “sons of the evil one” (see Matt 13:38, Acts 13:6-10)?

On first glance, it may seem like these are all non-Christians, but Pastor Dave points out that a more likely interpretation is false teachers and false prophets (e.g. Bar-Jesus in Acts 13:6-10 [interesting but rather useless rabbit trail: Bar-Jesus means "son of Jesus." It was fitting and ironic that Paul would call him a "son of the devil."]).

Why does He instruct His workers not to pull the weeds? What would be some implications for us?

The reason He gives is so that the wheat would not be torn up along with the weeds. One implication for us is that it is not our job to eradicate evil from the world. Rather than following the poor example of churches who spend their time and energy protesting at military funeral and gay rights events or plotting against abortion doctors, we should focus on producing the fruit of righteousness and on multiplying the seed.

How does this parable help answer the questions: Is the world getting better or worse? Why does the Lord allow so much evil in the world?

To the first question, this parable answers: Both. The kingdom is growing, and the weeds are growing. To the second question, this parable has a partial answer: for the sake of the wheat. God is unwilling to destroy all evil people because in doing so, He would also destroy those He came to save.

Read Matthew 11:11. How is it possible that those who are sons of the kingdom are greater than John the Baptist? (2 Cor. 4:6; 5:21; Gal. 3:26-27; Eph. 2:6; Col. 1:27)

Jesus says in verse 43 that “the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Pastor Dave points out that if we could see with spiritual eyes, we would see the sons of the kingdom shining in the midst of the dark field (cf. Matt 5:14-16). He goes back to Matt 11:11, where Jesus shows the contrast between the Old Testament age and the new age of the Kingdom.

How could it be that we, those who are sons of the kingdom, are greater than John the Baptist? It’s not because of anything extra special about us or anything good that we have done. It is because of what Jesus has done in us and for us. We are clothed in Christ. Christ lives in us. His righteousness covers us. His light dwells in us. We are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms right now. That’s who we are. That’s our eternal identity. (2 Cor. 4:6; 5:21; Gal. 3:26-27; Eph. 2:6; Col. 1:27)

Pastor Dave reminds us that these truths must soak in us. That’s who we are, forever. That’s reality. We must not let the devil or anyone else tell us otherwise. Think about ways that you can help yourself soak in that truth.

Read Matthew 13:43. What enables us to shine (2 Corinthians 4:6)?

Looking more closely at 2 Cor 4:6, which was also referenced in the answer above, we are reminded of the source of our light. When we are told to “let our light shine,” it is vital to remember that the light is not something that we produce in ourselves. It is our reflection of His glory. It is allowing His light to shine through us. Doing good works isn’t the same as shining our light unless His Spirit is doing them through us.

What are some of the circles in which the Lord of the Harvest has planted you? Read 1 Corinthians 3:5-7. What can you do to be influential and fruitful?

Think about the places the Lord has put you: your neighborhood, your workplace, your circle of friends, your family, your ministries. 1 Cor 3:5-7 is another reminder that our work is secondary to and dependent upon God’s work. As “wheat,” we ought to both bear fruit and produce seed to plant more wheat. We can take a lesson from nature, and realize that there are certain things we need to do to help plants (or children or pets) grow healthy and strong, but we cannot control the mysterious process of growth. In the same way, there are things we ought to be doing to help ourselves grow and be fruitful and to influence others in their growth. Yet in all our working, we trust God to provide the actual growth and fruit.

January Memory Verse Devotional

amberbruce — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:52:26 +0000

How are you doing memorizing this month’s memory verse, 2 Timothy 3:16-17? You have a few days left in January! To keep you not just memorizing but also meditating, GROW Group Leader Allan Tuan will be writing a monthly devotional based on the memory verse. You can see January’s here. Enjoy!

“The Way to Abundance” Matthew 13:12

kellitempleton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:22:11 +0000

As a group, recite our memory verse, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. (Suggestion: go around in a circle and have each person supply the next word of the verse.)

We have one more week to memorize this Scripture together. The news on the street is that the kids are getting it memorized ALOT quicker than us adults!

Share any new insight you’ve gained through the sermon. Ask a question about anything you didn’t understand.

This is intended to be a starter question, have folks open up with general impressions, review the outline, etc. It is also a good time to find out who didn’t get to hear the sermon.

Read Matthew 13:1-3, 10-15 and answer the following sermon “review” questions:

a. Pastor Dave gave an outline of Jesus as King from Matthew. Match the following chapters with the corresponding outline.

Matthew 1-4                                      The King’s power (Matthew 8-9)
Matthew 5-7                                      The King’s credentials (Matthew 1-4)
Matthew8-9                                       The King’s presentation to the nation (Matthew 10)
Matthew 10                                       Rejection/opposition and the King’s judgements (Matthew 11-12)
Matthew 11-12                                 The King’s principles (Matthew 5-7)

Again the purpose of these questions is review of the sermon. Pastor Dave provided alot of background that is worth reviewing.

b. Why did Jesus change His teaching strategy to parables? (Matthew 13:10f) due to the rejection/opposition, he started to teach truth differently for those that had ears to hear.

c. How did most of the Jews demonstrate they were “refusing to listen to Jesus?” (Matthew 11:20, 12:14, 24 & 38) Why did they do that? (Matthew 13:15) each verse shows growing opposition – did not repent, plotted how to kill Jesus, aligned him with Satan, asked for “signs”. They did so because their hearts were hard and their spiritual eyes/ears were not working.

d. Consider the “cow principle.” (Matthew 13:12) What will happen if you apply what God’s telling you? What if you don’t? This is the main point of the sermon – we either get more truth or we lose it.

Why does Matthew make such a big deal about Jesus being “King?” How can you show that Jesus is your “King?” answers will vary, but the big idea is this is the purpose of Matthew -to show Jesus as King. Today, “kingship” doesn’t really impress us, but to the readers of that time it was everything.

Break into gender groups to discuss the following questions:

What are some of the gifts the Lord has given to us to steward? Describe what good stewardship might look like for each. gifts might include the Bible, our church, religious freedom, jobs, spouse, kids, friends.

Read James 1:22-25. Pastor Dave said; ‘When it comes to truth, we have been given the most of any generation.’ He also challenged us in Point III c to “Do something with the truth He has given.” What are you currently doing? What more do you need to do?

Bonus questions for groups with kids at home:

God gives parents the responsibility for training their kids in biblical truth. Engage in answering the following diagnostic questions based on the way you prioritize your life: These questions have obvious answers, but they are to be diagnostic or revealing to the parent reading them. It might cause some to repent or ask for help. Be prepared as a leader for what God might do….

Have I filled my children’s lives so full of things that we never have time to talk about Jesus or other spiritual truths?
Do we ever talk about God in an informal way, as we walk along, watch TV, or travel in the car?
What do I most want for the children God has given me – academic or athletic success, a great career, a loving spouse and family, an exciting life…or faith in Jesus?