LifeGroups

Week 1 // Standing Firm in a Shifting Culture

1. The sermon highlights the lives of David, Joseph, Esther, and Daniel as examples of young believers who decided to follow God. What common traits do you see in these individuals that enabled them to stand firm in their faith? How can we cultivate similar qualities in our own lives?
2. Can you share a time when you felt pressured to conform to a cultural norm that conflicted with your values? How did you respond?
3. Daniel made a decision in his heart to honor God despite the pressures around him. What are some specific convictions you hold that help you stand firm in your faith? How do you cultivate courage in the face of societal pressures?
4. How important is community support when standing firm in one’s beliefs? In what ways can we support each other in our LifeGroup?
5. The sermon emphasizes the struggle with truth in our culture. How can we discern truth in a world filled with conflicting messages? What role does Scripture play in this discernment process?
6. How does Daniel’s story inform our understanding of identity in Christ amidst a changing culture? How does understanding your identity as a child of God influence your daily life? How does understanding others as a child of God influence your interactions with them?
7. What are some practical steps you can take this week to ensure that you are living in a way that honors God, similar to how Daniel did? How can your LifeGroup support you in this endeavor?
8. In what ways do you think standing firm in one’s faith can influence the broader culture, as seen in the outcomes of Daniel’s choices?
9. How can we pray for one another regarding the challenges we face in standing firm in our faith? Are there specific areas where you feel you need support or accountability?

Week 8 // Family and the Sabbath

1. What does the concept of “Sabbath” mean to you personally? How do you interpret the idea of “ceasing” or “stopping” in your own life?
2. In what ways do you find it difficult to rest in today’s fast-paced world? How can you incorporate more intentional rest into your weekly routine?
3. The sermon mentions celebrating the deliverance from sin won for us at the cross. How do you personally celebrate or remember this deliverance in your life?
4. How does our culture view rest and work? In what ways do you think this perspective aligns or conflicts with biblical teachings about the Sabbath?
5. The sermon discusses how technology contributes to our overworked lives. How do you manage technology in your life to ensure you are taking time to rest and be still?
6. Read Psalm 46:10. What does it mean to “be still” before the Lord in your life? How can you create space for this stillness amidst your daily responsibilities?
7. The sermon mentions the principle of reaping what you sow. How does this principle apply to your spiritual life and your commitment to rest and worship?
8. What are some practical steps you can take this week to honor God through rest? How can your LifeGroup support you in this endeavor?

Week 7 // Building Family Traditions and Routines

1. Reflect on the analogy of childbirth and parenting. How does the statement “this is the easy part” resonate with your own experiences in parenting or caregiving?
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of helping children recognize the “ONE voice” that has their best interests in mind. What practical steps can parents take to ensure their children hear this voice amidst the many other influences in the world?
3. Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Discuss the significance of the Shema as a confession of faith. How can this passage inform our daily lives and parenting practices?
4. The sermon mentions four key moments for teaching children (mealtime, car rides, bedtime, and morning). Which of these moments do you find most effective in your own life, and why?
5. The sermon suggests that acting out love can lead to genuine feelings of love. How can this principle be applied in family dynamics or relationships outside of parenting?
6. The sermon notes that we live in a “hostile land” where many voices can be destructive. What are some specific challenges you face in raising children or influencing others in today’s culture?
7. The metaphor of following the light is powerful. What are some practical ways you can keep your focus on God’s law and teachings in your daily life?
8. How can the church or community play a role in supporting parents and families in their journey of raising children to be like Jesus?

Week 6 // Grace and Forgiveness at Home

1. Can you recall a time when you experienced pain within your family? How did that impact your relationship with them?
2. How do you differentiate between intentional and unintentional hurt in family relationships? How does this distinction affect your feelings toward those involved?
3. What does “knowing grace” mean to you? How has your understanding of grace changed over time? Can you share a moment when you felt you truly experienced grace in your life? How did that affect your ability to forgive others?
4. What steps do you think are necessary to truly forgive someone who has hurt you?
5. Read the story of Joseph in Genesis 45:4-8. How does Joseph’s story inspire you to approach forgiveness? What can we learn from his response to his brothers?
6. Why is it important to recognize that forgiveness is not the same as forgetting? How can this understanding help in the healing process?
7. What are some practical ways you can begin to forgive someone in your family? What barriers do you anticipate facing?
8. How can your LifeGroup support you in your journey toward forgiveness? What specific prayers or actions can help you?

Week 5 // The Power of Prayer

1. How has prayer impacted your life personally? Can you share a time when you felt a specific answer to prayer?
2. What role does prayer play in your daily routine? What challenges do you face in maintaining a consistent prayer practice?
3. In what ways can we support each other in our prayer lives? How can prayer influence community and relationships among believers?
4. How do you approach prayer during difficult times?
5. Read James 5:13-18. What lessons about prayer is James’s highlighting in these verses?
6. Spend time in prayer with your LifeGroup; pray for one another’s needs, the church, and the country. Write the requests below so you can pray throughout your week

Week 4 // Conflict Resolution

1. Why do you think conflict is an inevitable part of relationships? How can embracing conflict lead to growth?
2. What does it mean to be a peacemaker in your daily interactions? Can you share an example where you acted as a peacemaker?
3. The sermon suggests that anger can be a normal emotion. How can we differentiate between healthy and unhealthy expressions of anger?
4. Reflect on the four styles of conflict (win, yield, withdraw, resolve). Which style do you tend to use most often, and why?
5. How does unresolved conflict affect your relationship with God and others, according to the sermon? Have you experienced this in your life?
6. Discuss the importance of tone and the initial moments of conversation. How can we improve our communication to ensure it remains positive?
7. How do selfishness and pride manifest in your conflicts? What practical steps can you take to combat these tendencies?
8. Why is forgiveness crucial in maintaining healthy relationships? Can you think of a situation where forgiveness played a key role in resolving conflict?
9. How can you teach your children or others the principles of conflict resolution discussed in the sermon?
10. The sermon mentions that conflict can block prayers. How does prayer fit into your approach to resolving conflicts in your life?

Week 3 // Communication in Relationships

1. How do you personally experience the power of words in your daily life? Can you recall a tie when someone’s words either built you up or tore you down?
2. According to Matthew 12:36-37, our words reflect what’s in our hearts. How can we become more aware of what our words reveal about our inner selves?
3. In Genesis, God uses words to create and bring life. How does understanding that God uses words in such a powerful way affect your view of your own words?
4. How does Satan’s use of words in Genesis 3 serve as a warning about the potential for words to harm? How can we guard against using words in destructive ways?
5. John 1:1-5 describes Jesus as the Word who brings light to darkness. How does knowing that Jesus is the Word influence your approach to speaking and listening?
6. Proverbs 18:21 suggests that our words produce fruit. What kind of fruit are you currently producing with your words, and what changes might you need to make?
7. What impact do you think daily affirmations like those mentioned (e.g., “God has BIG plans for you,” “You are a gift from God”) would have on your relationships with family members?
8. How can you apply the principles of using words that bring life and encouragement in your interactions with your spouse and children?
9. What strategies can you use to overcome the negative impact of hurtful words, either spoken by yourself or others?
10. The sermon mentions that technology can interfere with relationships. What steps can you take to ensure that you are present and connected with your loved one, free from distractions?

Week 2 // Parenting with Purpose

1. The sermon highlights that a significant percentage of youth and young adults are disengaging from religion and church. What do you think are the primary factors contributing to this trend, and how can we address them within our own communities?
2. How does Ephesians 6:1-4 guide our understanding if parental roles and responsibilities? What practical steps can parents take to align their parenting with this scripture?
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of a father’s role in a child’s development. How can fathers or male role models positively influence their children? In what ways can the church support fathers in fulfilling this role?
4. The sermon mentions that “faith is not taught, it is caught”. How can we ensure that our children and youth see authentic faith in action? What are some specific behaviors or practices that might help demonstrate this?
5. Discuss the idea that parents and mentors should model what it means to be a follower of Jesus. How can we effectively embody and demonstrate Christlike behavior in our daily lives?
6. What are some common obstacles parents face in maintaining a strong spiritual influence over their children? How can these challenges be overcome?
7. The sermon emphasizes the importance of building a strong, loving relationship with children. Which of the suggested methods (e.g., expressing love, scheduling time, eye contact) do you find most effective? Share any personal experiences or strategies that have worked for you.
8. How important is it for parents to admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness? How can this practice impact a child’s understanding of grace and humility?
9. How can regular prayer together enhance the spiritual growth and connection within a family? What are some practical ways to incorporate prayer into daily routines?

Week 1 // Love and Respect

1. Read Ephesians 5:25. Now reflect on the verse, which calls husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. What does this sacrificial love look like in practical terms? One of our Core Values at Central Community is “Unconditional Love”, how can we show this unconditional love to those who are in our home, church, and community?
2. Why do you think it’s important for husbands and wives to try to understand each other’s different perspectives, like the differences in how a woman and a man might express the same need?
3. The sermon describes how without love, a wife reacts without respect, and vice versa, leading to the “crazy cycle” in relationships. What do you think the “crazy cycle” is, and how can it affect a marriage when love and respect are lacking? Have you identified any patterns like the “crazy cycle” in your own relationship? What steps can you take to break that cycle?
4. Discuss how love and respect can influence communication styles and conflict resolution in relationships. What strategies can be practiced ensuring that both feel valued and heard?
5. Examine the importance of mutual respect in relationships. How can couples cultivate an environment of respect, especially during challenging times?
6. Consider how the principles of love and respect in Ephesians 5 can extend beyond romantic relationships to family dynamics. How can these principles shape interactions between parents and children?
7. Encourage group members to share personal experiences where they felt loved and respected or where they struggled to show these qualities. What lessons can be learned from these experiences?