Below you will find Life Group leader resources for your group.

We are currently providing “Beyond the Sermon” questions for your group to use for further discussion if you would like to download this resource.

 

Download Resource:Life Group Resource Matthew 5_9 Peacemakers February 19 12

                     

Life Group Resource February 19, 2012

The Way of Jesus – Matthew 5:9

 Read as a Group: Matthew 5:1-12 and discuss the Beatitudes up to this point.

Describe a time in your life that you had to either make peace with someone or someone came to you to make peace with you.  Do not feel that you need to share the situation … just the manner in which peacemaking took place and what it felt like to give it or to share it.

Read Acts 2:42-47

Do you see this taking place?  If yes, how?  If no, what is keeping it from taking place?

Read Ephesians 2:11- chapter 3

According to Paul (VS 12) what did we lack before we were added to the Family of God – through Salvation?

How is Jesus our peace? (VS 14)

Are you being built together? Is there a unity of purpose for your group?

Are we / How are we making the manifold wisdom of God known? (3:10-12)

Luke 4:18-19 – Jesus knew the scriptures.  He was trained as a Rabbi.  He knew the book of Isaiah.  When He received the scroll of Isaiah he knew where to turn to so he could read about himself to the people.  Read Isaiah 61:1-2a.  Jesus stopped reading half way through verse 2 because the rest of the passage in Isaiah is concerning His second coming.  He was just preaching the Day of the Lord’s Favor at that time.

If you and I have the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:14-21) then how are we continuing these teachings?
Poor – those who are desperate – look back to Matthew 5:3

Freedom – those who are imprisoned by the law

Sight – those who cannot see the way

Release – those who are living in bondage to sin

Take some time to pray as a group – go back to Ephesians 3:14-21 and pray what Paul prayed for the church.

As a Son/Daughter of God you are an heir into the Kingdom of God.  You have access to the Father right now through the receiving of the Holy Spirit.  Does that show as evident in your life?

 

Download Resource: Life Group Resource Matthew 5_8 Week 2 Feb 12 12

 

Life Group Resource

February 12, 2012

The Way of Jesus – Matthew 5:8

Read as a Group: Matthew 5:1-12 and discuss the Beatitudes up to this point.

Start your Life Group Meeting with a time of praying for each other.

Pray for matters of the heart (not saying that other things are not important to pray for but let’s get to the heart) … doubts, fears, frustrations, faith …

Read Matthew 5:1-12

Discuss what Purity of Heart Is – Definition from Soren Kierkegaard – To Will One Thing

Read James 4:1-6

Why do fleshly desires create stress and tension among the church?

What are some motives that people pray by?

Why does Jesus call them “adulterous people”?  What is friendship with the world (Philia)?

Read James 4:7-10

What can we do to correct our double mindedness?

8 things are mentioned – read it until you get all 8

Through the power of the Holy Spirit you can have a Pure Heart which will allow you to see God.

Once you see God your life will change radically.

1) His Presence will be Desired – discuss Exodus 33

2) His Presence will Amaze – discuss Isaiah 6:1-8

3) His Presence will Comfort – discuss Psalm 27:4:1-4,8 / John 14:26; Romans 15:13

Do you truly desire God?  Do you truly desire to dwell in His presence?

 

Download Resource: Life Group Resource February 5 12 Matthew 5_8

Life Group Resource For February 5th

                     

Life Group Resource

February 5, 2012

The Way of Jesus – Matthew 5:8

Read as a Group: Matthew 5:1-12 and discuss the Beatitudes up to this point.

Although it is Super Bowl Sunday, let me encourage you to continue your weekly meetings.  If you are doing a group Super Bowl Party, plan to meet early to discuss the material or move to a different night to discuss the scriptures together.  The Gospel of Jesus (the good news of Jesus) can become a center of discussion for any Super Bowl party if you are intentional.

As a group discuss the Beatitudes up to this point.

How does knowing who Jesus is teaching to change your outlook on the content of the teachings?

Express what is on your heart … seriously.  Attempt to open up some with your group.  Share what God is doing in your heart.

Read Psalm 16:2 – What do you think David is saying here?  Apart from the Lord he has no good thing.

In the sermon I will mention Matthew 23:25-28.

How do you feel when you either catch someone who is acting this way or it is revealed in some way that a friend is trying to trick you into believing that they are someone different?  How do you think God feels when we do the same thing?  Do you really believe God knows the details of our hearts?

1 Samuel 16:1-13

In this story we see the:

Providence of God …

God’s Sovereign Plan …

God’s Perfect Choice …

What made David the perfect choice?

Read Psalm 62 out loud as a group.  Ask your group to then read it quietly to themselves.  Then ask them to read it a third time and focus on one aspect of the passage.  Let one thing stand out.  As they get the one thing allow for some time to share it.

Let the Word of God penetrate your heart!

Ask God to create in you a pure heart!

Next Week we will look at what it means to See God. (Matthew 5:8)

Life Group Resource For January 29th

Download Resource: Life Group Resource The Way_January 29_12 Mercy

                     

Life Group Resource

January 29, 2012

The Way of Jesus – Matthew 5:7

Read as a Group: Matthew 5:1-12 and discuss the Beatitudes up to this point.

Discuss a time in your life when you received mercy.

Discuss a time in your life when you gave mercy.

As we took a look at the book of Hosea, what stood out to you as highly impressive in Hosea’s life?

(As you think through this question, pay attention to Hosea’s obedience and persistence.

Read Luke 10:25-37 – The Story of the Good Samaritan

In the parable Mercy does 4 things:

1) It sees the Distress – VS 33 -

2) It has Compassion – VS 33 -

3) It Responds Physically – VS 34 -

4) It Overlooks Boundaries – VS 33- The Samaritans and the Jews did not interact with each other

As you look at what mercy does also look at what the opposite of mercy does within the other characters in the story.

What is God calling you to do with this?

Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Life Group Resource for January 22nd

Download:  Life Group Resource The Way _ January 22

Life Group Resource

  Week 4 – Matthew 5:6

Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is the way the truth and the life.  As Jesus taught both his disciples and the crowds of people who followed, Jesus taught with intentional truths that we can apply to our lives as we seek to be the light of the world – which we are called to be.

If you missed the first 3 weeks please visit http://www.lighthousechurch.net/sermons.

Life Group Discussion:

Read Matthew 5:1-12 … Focus on 5:6 for this week

Recap your understandings of why Jesus taught the disciples using these “beatitudes” rather than starting with other doctrinal teachings.

What are some “things” you have tried to fill your life with as you were seeking satisfaction?

For great understandings on the battle between pursuing stuff rather than God you can dig deeper into the book of Ecclesiastes.  Solomon went through every form of hedonistic pleasure available but ended with the truth that all is like chasing the wind …

For other resources to aid in discussion take a look at Jeremiah 2:11-13.

As you discussed the things you tried to receive satisfaction from, which “things” did you pursue due to the thought that the “grass is greener on the other side”?

Beatitudes 1-3 describe us coming to God empty and in need.  Beatitude 4 (5:6) explains to us how we are filled with satisfaction.  In knowing this, how can you explain Mercy, Purity and Peacemaking as the definition of Righteousness.  (This will be explained in the sermon on Sunday.)

Read Psalm 37:4 – Do you delight in the Lord?  Really think through this.  Do you delight in His Word … how much do you meditate on it?  Do you delight in hearing from the Spirit … how often do you sit in silence?  Do you delight in community … how often do you receive or poor into others?

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 Read as a group … discuss your your role as a Christ follower.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me jgresh@lighthousechurch.net

Have a great discussion as you “do life together”!

 Previous Weeks Discussion Notes: January 15, 2012

The Way of Jesus
Week 3

Matthew 5:5

___________________________________________________________________

 The Way of Jesus is a close study of the life of Jesus,
the teachings of Jesus and the response of those around Jesus as He taught and
lived according the to work of the Spirit.
The purpose of this series is to 1) assist you in knowing more of Jesus
which will result in our loving Jesus with all of your heart 2) once you love
Him deeply you will desire to live like him – according to the Father’s
instructions 3) you can then be the flesh of Jesus as you Go into all the world
…

For this week’s study:

Read Matthew 5:1-12

Before today’s message what was your first thoughts
regarding a person who was “meek”?

What changes did God do in your heart regarding your
understanding of “meek” today?

Think about “pop-culture” … who do you know
of that would be the opposite of meek?

What characteristics sum up this person’s life?

When you compare the above person to Paul’s explanation
of himself in Philippians 3:1-6 what are some similarities.

But with Paul he goes on to say 7-14 … no how does that
change?

The 4 discoveries that a “meek” person makes
regarding God: Psalm 37

1) The Meek know that God is for them

2) The Meek know that God is trustworthy

3) The Meek know that God has all things under control

4) The Meek know that God handles their setbacks

Have you made these same discoveries … explain?

James teaches us that a person who is meek is both 1)
Teachable 2) Wise.  Teachable spirits
lead to great wisdom as seen in James 3:13-18.
Which one of these would you have to work on to become more
“meek”?

Pray as a group that God will give you the desire to be
meek: teachable and wise

Life Group Study Notes

 

As we begin our studies
within the gospels we open up with the teachings many people call the
“Beatitudes”.  As the crowds and the
disciples heard Jesus begin his teachings they were unaware of many of the
theological terms that we know so well today.
Remember, all these individuals had was Jesus … but for them it was
enough!  As you read Matthew let go of
the “Sunday School” type stories you may have heard of Jesus and try to imagine
yourself as one of the early followers of “the Way”.

 

Read Matthew 5:1-11
(focusing on 3-4 for this week)

 

When was the last time you
had to depend greatly upon someone else to help you?  Explain what happened and what the other
person did

 

The word “poor” in this
verse comes from the Greek word “protos” which means “to be empty, or to be
broke (financially)”. 

 

Read Romans 7:15-25

Can you relate to Paul? How
/ When

Who is Paul’s salvation?

Who is your salvation?
Explain

 

Re-Read Matthew 5:3-4

The poor in spirit receive?

Why does Jesus go to those
who mourn next? Do you ever mourn when you fail at something?

What is the promise for
those who are poor in spirit and those who mourn?

___________________________________________________________________

Pray as a group that you will 1. Fall in love with Jesus 2. Live Him
Out 3. Become the Flesh (John 1:1) to the world around you.