Sermon Based Small Group Questions – January 23 & 24 Messages

Ice Breaker: Tell your best “ticket” story (or other run-ins with the law!). What traffic law did you violate? Did you talk your way out of it? What were your feelings following the episode? Were you thankful for the law and those who enforce it? What was the approach of the police officer?

Note to the Leader: Before you dive into the questions below. Take some time to ask your group what their impressions were from the message. Did they have questions? Did they write any highlights in their notes?

1. Why do you think Leviticus 19 starts with the respecting parents and observing Sabbaths?

2. What significance was there in not wearing clothing of woven of two kinds of material? V. 19 Is there an eternal principle we can take from a command like this?

3. The phrase “love your neighbor” looks like a footnote on not holding a grudge and yet Pastor Kris made it a centerpiece of the chapter. Do you think that is accurate and why? (Matthew 22:34-39)

4. Do you think there is a legitimate link between Leviticus 19:1 and 1 John 4:8? Describe the connection between holiness and love. Give examples of people in our world you would describe as holy.

5. We have an “ancient hunger”. We want to see the power of God revealed. We want to see God Himself break through into the natural world. We want to see splashes of glory in a world that is scarred by suffering and shame. Those who display God’s power to overcome what burdens us most are called “holy.” They are holy because they are the power of God revealed in this world.

As you read this quote from Gary Thomas (Holy Available) what comes to mind? How has God’s power come through you in the past and how will it in the future?

We have around 100 folks participating in some form of sermon based small group!  You can still get on board.  Even if you are not able to join a group I hope you’ll take the study guides from the website and use them in your personal devotions or family devotions.  Let’s get all  that God has for us from Leviticus! J

Sermon-Based Small Groups:  Sermon-Based small groups will start this weekend!  These short-term (6-8 week) small groups are a great way to meet other Crossroads attenders and dig deeper into the messages heard on Sunday mornings.  To sign up to attend a group, contact Tiffany at tnottingham@aboutccc.com.

DivorceCare:  We will be starting a new session for adults, teens & kids on Tuesday, January 18^th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.   If you would like to sign up, contact Tiffany at tnottingham@aboutccc.com

Brickhouse Winter Retreats (WinterXtreme) Our Jr Highers will be heading to timber-lee (East Troy, WI) for a fun winter retreat on January 22-24 and our Sr Highers will go on February 12 – 14.  Our jr high retreat is completely booked.  We are hoping to get more spots if they become available.  If your jr higher would like to attend, please let us know and we will put them on a waiting list. Sr highers shouldn’t wait to sign up!  We only have 10 spots left! Information for jr high students attending the retreat will be sent home today!  You can read more about this fun winter retreat at http://www.timber-lee.com/youth_programs/winterXtreme/index.html

Women’s Bible Study is beginning a new study called Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks by Pricilla Shirer on Tuesday, January 12 at 9:15 am. All women are invited to join us. If you would like to order a workbook or want more information, please contact Kathi Poplar at kspoplar979@gmail.com or 219-775-1449 no later than Sunday, January 4. Consider joining us for this 6-week study as we connect and grow with one another.

Crossroads Camping If anyone would like to camp with the church group on Memorial weekend at the Indiana Dunes State Park please make some camping reservations at the Indiana Dunes website.  http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2980.htm Book for Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights, leaving Monday (May 28,29,30).  We currently have folks on the following campsites: 52,53,65,86,87,88,89,90,122,134

Monday, January 11  6:30p.m.  Highland Christian School invites you to a Preschool and Kindergarten Open House. Come meet our teachers, visit our classrooms and discuss how a Christ centered education would benefit your child.  All are welcome.  For more information please call Jodi Lineburg at (219) 838-0356 x165.

There are several obvious benefits of this type of format. First, there is a church wide focus on a particular topic or passage of Scripture for the week. In most church settings, one topic/passage is discussed in the weekend message, another in the Tuesday morning Bible study or weekly small group, another in children’s and youth gatherings. With one singular topic being discussed in multiple venues and in different ways, we can move beyond mere exposure to actual knowledge. Here’s a test: What was the topic of last weekend’s message? The message a month ago? It’s gone before we can ever truly apply it.

Another plus is that each group still maintains its own flavor or personality that makes it unique and impacting. People are more attentive during the weekend services, because they know they will be discussing this later in the week. There is more note-taking to have as a reference for further discussion. The neat thing in this format is that anyone can discuss what they heard – everyone has an opinion – no matter where they may be in terms of spiritual maturity. The study is not a rehashing of the weekend message, but rather takes biblical passages that are either complimentary or parallel to the main text but not covered. It allows the hearers, to take the discussion deeper than what can be covered in a large group. In other words, it takes the Word of God and plants it in our hearts and lives better than any thirty minute message could ever do.

Are you ready to jump in and see how this works? I’m pleased to say that over 50 of you said YES just last weekend. You can continue to sign-up at the Resource Desk the next couple of weekends. These groups will kick off after the weekend services of January 9-10.

If you have signed up, or are interested in being a leader/facilitator or host, we will be having a meeting on Tuesday, December 15th at 7PM at the church. We’ll answer any questions you might have or contact me at dbrown@aboutccc.com.