Transcendent Life

GATHERING TOGETHER

Welcome one another, catch up with one another, and share personal stories to encourage, strengthen, and support at a time of isolation and discouragement.

PRAYING TOGETHER

Pray for the well-being of our congregation and community (spiritual, emotional, physical), particularly during this holiday season that can be a trying time for many.

IN THE WORD TOGETHER

Let’s focus our attention on this Advent on the wonderful gift of Christ, given by the Father out of his storehouse of love, grace, and mercy for our salvation!

SERVING TOGETHER

Identify a service project to participate in together.

REVIEW QUESTION

What have we learned in the last two weeks about our identity as individual Christ-followers AND as the church? 

STARTER QUESTION

What comparisons did Pastor Joe between climbing Mt. Everest and the good news of the gospel through Christ’s work at the cross? 

IN THE BOOK

Below there are three different types of questions, so we encourage you to seek a balance if possible. In addition, there is a Leader Study Notes section for further study!

  1. The Understanding questions are designed to refresh your group's memory about the text. These can be answered fairly briefly without a need for a longer discussion.

  2. Application questions are structured to draw out the ways the text, as preached, calls us to live. You should make a strong effort in your group to point people to Scripture as they’re discussing these.

  3. We’ve built out Personal Sharing questions that connect with the sermon but make a more conscious effort to allow the members of your group to know each other better. These help to build a sense of trust by giving people a chance to share their lived experiences.

We pray that as you consider which of these questions work best for your group that God blesses your time together so that the Word of Christ “dwells in you more richly” and you become “knit together in love” as a community.

Attractiveness of the gospel to the religious

READ: Acts 16:13-15

UNDERSTANDING:

What do we know about Lydia from this passage? 

APPLICATION:

How would the gospel be attractive to someone like Lydia?

How was the Lord involved in Lydia’s conversion?

PERSONAL SHARING:

Were you a “religous” person when you heard the gospel? If so what was it about the gospel and Christ that was attractive to you? 

Power of the gospel to the oppressed

READ: Acts 16:16-18

UNDERSTANDING:

What was the slave girl’s situation when Paul met her? What was it she needed?

APPLICATION:

We don’t often run into anyone who is demon-possessed. What kind of person might this represent in the Tri-Valley?

How did the gospel address her situation and needs?

PERSONAL SHARING:

Did you fall into the category of the exploited, addicted, or oppressed when you heard the gospel? How did it demonstrate it’s power in you? 

Kindness of the gospel to the morally indifferent

READ: Acts 16:19-34

UNDERSTANDING:

Under what circumstances did the jailer first hear the gospel?

APPLICATION:

What happened to Paul & Silas and how/why did they respond as they did?

How did the gospel meet the needs of the Phillipian jailer? 

PERSONAL SHARING:

Were you morally indifferent when you first heard the gospel? How did the gospel attract your attention and belief?

LEADER NOTES

None this week.

ONE ANOTHERING:

Whether you are meeting together or not, check in with one another to make sure that everyone is cared for and has what they need. Does someone in your group need help with grocery shopping, childcare, or caring for themselves? Keep a list of the ways you can provide care as a comGroup.

Remember that the Benevolence Ministry is a resource for our comGroups.

  • How can we love or serve one another this week?