LENTEN MESSAGE SERIES – NEEDY Spirituality 101 is this: there is a God and it is not you. As human beings, we are creatures; God is the Creator and we are the created. This means that we are not entirely self-sufficient, but we have needs that are outside ourselves. To grow in relationship with God and others requires that we accept the reality of those needs and that we learn to meet those needs well. Through the course of this series, we will look at some of our basic needs and how God instructs us to meet those needs for more successful living. Fr. Carl will be delivering the message at the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. Week 5 – Small Group Video Week 5 Small Group Questions – Die to Self Describe a time in your life where you made a sacrifice and it paid off with a big reward. You looked back and were glad you made the sacrifice. Read aloud Matthew 16:26. What are you tempted to pursue at the expense of your soul? What do you need to die to or let go of? How can you place God more at the center of your life? How do we tell the difference between meeting our needs and when we need to deny ourselves? What about this series have you found most helpful? What is the biggest change you need to make? Week 4 – Small Group Video Small Group Questions Week 4 – Healing Do you have clearly identifiable wounds on your heart or do you find it difficult to identify how you need healing? Read aloud Mark 2:9. Why do you think it is easier for Jesus to heal a person’s body than heal his or her heart and soul? Do you ever have the experience of feeling like a little child? If so when does that happen? Or do you tend to feel strong negative emotions that rationally you know are disproportionate to the situation? When was the last time you remember having your feelings hurt or were misunderstood or criticized by others? Is there someone you need to forgive from your past or present, so you can open yourself up to Christ’s healing? When was the last time you went to the Sacrament of Confession? Is this an action step you need to take to bring healing to your heart? Week 3 – Small Group Video Small Group Questions Week 3 – Work/Rest Read aloud Psalm 127:1. What would it look like to bring God into your work so you don’t work in vain? What are one or two things that refresh and restore your soul? What do you usually do on your days off? How do you withdraw weekly? Read aloud Psalm 127:2. Would you say you are able to enjoy the fruit of your work or do you live anxiously? What can you do on a regular basis to introduce more playfulness into your life? Do you have a plan to abandon annually? If so, what is it? Week 2 – Small Group Video Small Group Questions Week 2 – God Why do think we can find it so easy to forget about our need for God? Read out loud Psalm 63:1. Have you ever felt this type of intense need for God? What is your physical posture in prayer? Should you consider improving your posture during prayer? For example, do you need to kneel more at prayer or would it help you to do a prayer walk or simply to sit when you pray. Where do you go to pray? What places do you find are better for you to connect with God and support you in prayer? What do you do during your time of prayer? What do you use to aid you in prayer? What needs do you bring to God most often in prayer? WEEK 1 – SMALL GROUP VIDEO SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS – WEEK 1 On a scale of 1-5, how good are you at self-care? Why do you answer as you do? Do you agree or disagree that your ability to love others will fall to your ability to love and care for yourself? Does it feel selfish to meet your needs first? How could you be better taking care of yourself? What legitimate need do you tend to neglect? Is there a legitimate need you are tempted to meet in an illegitimate or immoral way? If you observed someone you loved, taking care of themselves in the way you care for yourself, would you be concerned? Why or why not? Additional/ alternative questions: What temptations do you face that stop you from spiritual maturity? Deny a need exists (ex: pride of being dependent? need for rest or help?) Meet you need in an illegitimate way (ex; lie, cheat) Shadow of your needs (ex: need rest by take vacation where there is not rest) Turn needs into gods (ex: money) Is meeting your needs selfish? Or do you feel guilty when meeting your needs over others’ needs? PAST MESSAGE SERIES As we begin a new year, we do not know what will happen in the larger world. So much is outside of our control. And yet we still have the ultimate responsibility over our own lives. We can set the direction for a full life by setting our priorities and focusing on what’s truly important. Our priorities anchor us and help us to remain stable in a sea of uncertainty. Through the course of this series, we will help our parish grow in wisdom, understanding and knowledge of how to set and keep priorities. Fr. White’s Message – Ascension’s Week 6 Small Group Message – Ascension’s Week 6 Discussion Questions 1. Who are your role models? Who do you admire for their character, faith, work, relationships, etc.? 2. What priorities do you see in those you look up to? 3. When you look at your daily schedule how many things on there align with God’s priorities? What are the things that don’t align? 4. Describe the ways Jesus is an example to you. We most often associate role models as beneficial to children and young people. do you find it easy or difficult as an adult to acknowledge a need for role models? – In what area(s) do you feel you might be viewed as a role model to some, and for which group of people? – Conversely, in what area(s) do you feel the need to seek out and follow a role model? If a role model is making a current impact in your life, who is that person and why? Dive Deeper: How have your priorities changed since becoming a Christian or since you got serious about your faith? Jesus offers an example of humble suffering. What kind of suffering is pleasing to God? Read further in 1 Peter 2&3 for insight. Fr. White’s Message – Ascension’s Week 5 Small Group Video – Ascension’s Week 5 Discussion Questions 1) Discuss what time of day you set aside for prayer. How does this time help you stay focused on God and His plan for your life?2) Do you have a preferred place you go to for prayer? Why is it important to select a place with as little distraction as possible for prayer?3) Discuss ways you can prepare for prayer, and offer each day to God. How can this preparation help you stay focused on priorities that honor God? 4) Why did Jesus make prayer a priority? How did this approach help expand the reach of his message? Questions from the small group video: 1. Share a slogan or campaign message that you remember. 2. Are you one to put the cart before the horse or not? Explain. 3. What are two things we can accept and apply to our lives for the Christian life to click? Share what they mean to you. 4. How can you pursue God’s plan for your life? 5. How can you give your BEST “yes”? Fr. White’s Message – Ascension’s Week 4 Small Group Message – Ascension’s Week 4 SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS FOR ASCENSION’S WEEK 4 Can you identify with ever feeling truly astonished by something as the synagogue-goers were astonished by the teachings of Jesus? What were the circumstances and how did impact you? What is your greatest area or source of authority? Before viewing and reflecting on this video, did you recognize it as an area or source of authority? In what ways or what areas can you “walk in the authority” that God gave you? Fr. Michael’s Message – Week 3 for Ascension Small Group Video – Ascension’s Week 3 Small Group Discussion Questions for Ascension’s Week 3: Where do you need to repent/change your direction? How does God get your attention? What does it mean to you to “walk in the way of love?” What were some of Jesus’ priorities in life? As you think about your schedule and your calendar, what are some ways you can use your time more wisely? Fr. White’s Message – Week 2 for Ascension (video says Week 3) Small Group Message – Ascension’s Week 2 (video says week 3) Week 2 Questions for Discussion Is spending time with God a priority in your life? What ways could you commit to spending more time with God? What are the benefits to spending time with God? What reasons might a person have to not seek God’s council? When has God invited you to hear His voice? How do you go about planning a life with God? Fr. White’s Message – Week 1 Small Group Video – Week 1 WHERE DO I START? – WEEK 1 – SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS Discuss the Stockdale paradox. How can you apply this concept to your lives at this moment? What is the difference between your circle of concern and your sphere of influence? How can you focus on your sphere of influence to help you navigate current challenges? How can setting priorities help you stay focused on the things you can control in your lives? How can this apply to your faith? Describe the difference between the Magi seeking the truth in humility and Herod acting out of fear. How can you use the Magi’s proactive approach versus Herod’s reactive approach in your life? Why is it important to set priorities with a purpose for your life? We grow not only by the commitments we make but those that we fulfill. Committing to a marriage, a job, or a friendship allows us to grow personally. Committing to learning a foreign language, taking a dance class, or mastering martial arts, and then fulfilling this commitment help us to grow as well. Likewise, we come to mature as Christians, in Christ-likeness by the faith commitments we make and keep. In this series, we will look at the power of this commitment and the steps we invite people to commit to in our church community. Commit to a life-long journey of growth. You can’t be committed to everything, be committed to the right things. Fr. Carl’s Message for Week 1 – Staying Power SMALL GROUPS Week One – Staying Power 1. What is your biggest challenge or obstacle with prayer?2. What has been most effective in helping you make prayer a priority in your life?3. “We do not want to be beginners. But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anythingelse but beginners all our lives.” What are your thoughts about this quote?4. If you could give one or two pieces of advice about prayer, what would you say?5. When have you seen prayer make an impact in your life? Where have you seen prayer make animpact on your world?6. What is your prayer plan? How do you pray? Scripture/Quotes:“We do not want to be beginners. But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anythingelse but beginners all our life.” Thomas Merton “Nothing can cure our sick world except saints, and saints are only made by prayer” Peter Kreeft Fr. Carl’s Message Week Two – Staying Power SMALL GROUPS WEEK TWO – Staying Power What is the biggest obstacle that keeps you from sharing your faith with others?2. Do you agree that sharing your faith, will grow your faith? Why or why not?3. A few different ideas were given for how to reach outsiders. Which steps are you most likely to take?4. Who are the people that God has placed into your life, so that they may be brought into arelationship with God?5. Why is the Gospel good news and worth sharing?6. Have you ever had the experience of leading someone to faith or seeing someone far from Godcome to know God? What happened in that experience? Scripture/Quotes:For missionary activity renews the Church, revitalizes faith and Christian identity, and offers fresh enthusiasm and new incentive. Faith is strengthened when it is given to others! It is in commitment to the Church’s universal mission that the new evangelization of Christian people will find inspiration and support. Pope St. John Paul II Fr. Carl’s Message – Week 3 Staying Power SMALL GROUPS Week Four – Staying PowerWhat do you think of when you hear the word “engage”? What does it mean to you?What can our group do to deepen our engagement and commitment to one another?Of the obstacles mentioned, which are the biggest for you? Which ones are the biggest for thegroup? What helps you keep your commitment to this group?Read aloud Hebrews 10:24-25. Where are you feeling discouraged in your life? Where do you needencouragement from this group?What are your thoughts on the analogy of a small group being like a retirement plan?Scripture/QuotesLet us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; andlet us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.Hebrews 10:23-24Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good words, not neglecting to meet together,as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawingnearer.Hebrews 10:24-25Two is better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil; If they fall one will lift up hisfellow, but woe to him who is alone when he falls, he has not another to lift him up.Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Fr. Carl’s Message – Week 4 Staying Power Small Group Week Four – Staying Power Read aloud Philippians 2:5-7. Have you ever considered serving as beneath you? How do theseverses challenge us to think of serving?Have you ever had the experience of the Holy Spirit using you to serve someone else? What wasthat experience like?What is the biggest obstacle that keeps you from serving?Do you agree that serving in the Church is vital to spiritual growth? Why or why not?What is your next step in serving in ministry or missions?What tests have you experienced with serving? Have you been able to over come them? If so, how? Scripture/Quotes:“By coming as a servant, Jesus was not disguising who God is, but revealing who God is.”-John OrtbergHave this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form ofGod, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking theform of a servant […] Philippians 2:5-7But grace was given to each of us, according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastorsand teachers. Ephesians 4:11To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:12Until we all attain to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13 PAST MESSAGE SERIES Over the last several years, many of our relationships have changed. We learned brand new ways of connecting with people on Zoom calls and other digital communication platforms. In-person gatherings look different or may have disappeared altogether. All of these changes can create a strain on our relationships. God’s word gives us unchanging wisdom on how to approach and interact with people successfully, no matter where we meet them. Through this series we will look at some biblical principles we can apply to succeed in all of our relationships. The message will be given by Fr. Carl at the 10:00 a.m. Mass each week. This page will have the small group video and the questions AND if available, Fr. Carl’s message. Fr. Carl’s message will also be posted on our Messages and Homilies page each Monday. You can also watch the repeat of the 10:00 a.m. Mass on our YouTube channel, Ascension Boca Fl. Fr. Carl – Week 5 Message Week 5 Small Group Video and Discussion Questions DISCUSSION QUESTIONS – WEEK FIVEGayle Kelly – Invest and Invite Read aloud: “Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as manyas you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom theyfound, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.” Matthew22:9-10 ESV What makes attending a wedding special to you? Who do the servants represent in the parable in Matthew 22:9-10? Share a time when you experienced God inviting you into a relationship with Him. Wasthere a specific person who invited you into a relationship with God? Have you accepted, rejected or neglected God’s invitation to you? Who is God calling you to invite?SCRIPTURE“Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children ofman.” Psalm 66:5 Fr. Carl – Week 4 Message at Mass DISCUSSION QUESTIONS – WEEK FOURKelly Lippenholz – Anxiety Tell about a time in the past or recently when a relationship caused you anxiety orstress. What do you do in the face of a stressful relationship – withdraw, lean in or break up? The scripture from 2 Timothy is a tough one to hear. Read it again. How do you reactto people with these behaviors? How can you change your mindset on how to react tothem? Surrendering your anxiety to God means that we would have total trust and faith in himfor a stressful relationship. What might it take for you to surrender your anxiety to God? SCRIPTUREPeople will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous,without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited,lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith,patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings…2 Timothy 3:2-5 Fr. Carl’s Message for Week 3 REALIGN WEEK 3 – SMALL GROUP VIDEO AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Week 3 Discussion Questions Did your mom or dad have a favorite saying they always shared to guide you? Paul said: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as ChristJesus”. Jesus came to serve. He serves like a servant serves their master. What wouldthat look like in your home or at your place of work? What do you wish you could do for all people? How can you do it for one? In what ways do you feel you need to be served right now? How could you translatethat to serve others? What do you find challenging about our call to value others before ourselves? SCRIPTUREPhilippians 2, Paul says Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not lookingto your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.Paul continues,In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature[a] God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7rather, he made himself nothingby taking the very nature[b] of a servant,being made in human likeness.8And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himselfby becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Week 2 – Small Group Video and Questions DISCUSSION QUESTIONS – WEEK TWOGenerosity Recall a time when your parents were unfair to you. Now recall a time when you feltthat God was unfair to you or to someone you know. Our definition of fairness often relates to what we have compared to someone else orour circumstances compared to someone else’s. In the parable of the workers in thevineyard, it is not fair that the workers who only spend one hour in the vineyard werepaid the same wage as those who worked all day. Tell about a time when you weregiven extravagant generosity. Where are you feeling the most unfairness in your life? How can you counteract your experience of unfairness with generosity?SCRIPTURE9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received adenarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more.But each one of them also received a denarius.11 When they received it, they began togrumble against the landowner.12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of thework and the heat of the day.’ Matthew 20: 9-1213 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agreeto work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hiredlast the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my ownmoney? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ Matthew 20: 13-1516 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20: 16 REALIGN – WEEK 1 MESSAGE FROM FR. CARL, SMALL GROUP VIDEO AND QUESTIONS FR. CARL’S MESSAGE SMALL GROUP VIDEO AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS – WEEK ONE On a scale of 1-5, how stressed are you feeling today? Why do you feel that way? What in this season tends to make you angry? What does it mean to you to be angry but not sin? How can we keep Christ’s forgiveness front and center in our relationship with others? Who do you need to forgive?SCRIPTURETherefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we aremembers of one another. Ephesians 5:25Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger; and do not leave room forthe devil. Ephesians 5:26-27No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needededification, that it may impart grace to those who hear. Ephesians 5:29All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along withmalice. Ephesians 5:3 Past Message Series Confessions of a Control Freak Week 1 What are your initial thoughts about the “Confessions of a Control Freak” series? Are you already aware of your tendency to be controlling in certain areas or is it astretch for you to believe that you might be a control freak? There is definitely an upside to controlling some things in life. What are the prosand cons of being a control freak? Putting yourself in the shoes of Peter, what do you think it would be like for Peterto enter the house of a Gentile when all his life he had been taught not to? Doyou think this series might stretch you to do something you’ve never donebefore? What would you like to get out of this series? Write it down. There is typically acost or need to give up something in order to gain something else. How can your group be praying for you to grow in this area? Confessions of a Control Freak Week 2 What are some classic characteristics of a “control freak” as it relates to tasks? Have you been a control freak in any task or project recently? How does it feel to be working alongside a control freak? Describe the balance of accomplishing a task and not controlling it. What does Jesus mean in Mark 10:43a “But it shall not be so among you.” How does surrender to God happen when trying to see a project through? Share your thoughts on: “But whoever would be great among you must be yourservant…” Mark 10:43b Describe a time when you surrendered a task to God. Confessions of a Control Freak Week 3 Do you consider yourself to be a control freak when it comes to what others think ofyou? On a scale from 1-10, how tightly are you holding on to your image? We all want to be liked, to be well thought-of, to be popular with people that we love(and maybe some that we don’t). Name a few ways that you attempt to control yourimage or control what others think of you. In what area of your life are you most tempted to try to control what others think? Is ita social circle? Work? Around other parents or grandparents? Why? In the message, Kelly mentioned that controlling our image comes down to twothings – fear and pride. What are you afraid of when it come to your popularity? Whatis the biggest source of pride in your life? Read Mark 13:13. Tell about a time you felt hated because of your faith in JesusChrist. What do you think about the idea that a true Christian cannot be popular? Read James 4:4. How does our friendship with the world put us in danger with ourfaith? Confessions of a Control Freak Week 4 Would you describe yourself as a person who controls others or do you tend to becontrolled? How did the religious leaders try to control people in the Old Testament? Take a look at the 10 Commandments in Deuteronomy 5:6-21, which commandmentsrefer to our relationship with God, and which to one another? What is the greatest commandment? Deuteronomy 6:1-9 How can ‘You love your neighbor as yourself’? Do you believe God has a unique plan for you, that is different than anyone else?Why or why not? What does it mean to surrender a relationship to God? How do you do it and notcontrol it? Is there a relationship you need to surrender to God? If you’re comfortable, sharewho and take time to pray as a group. Confessions of a Control Freak Week Five On a scale of 1-5, how much are you a control freak about money? One means it isnot a problem at all and 5 means you are a total control freak. Why do you answer asyou do? Has there ever been a time where you felt powerless because you didn’t haveenough money? When was that? How does that impact your attitude towards moneynow? When do you find it easy to give? When do you find it to be a challenge? How does giving money to God show our faith and trust in him? When have you given money away and been glad you did? How do you review your giving? Why does Jesus praise the widow for her giving? What does that teach us about howhe wants us to give? Confessions of a Control Freak Week Six What environments, programs or habits have helped you grow closer to Jesus? What areas of your life do you find it easy to trust Jesus with? What areas do youstruggle with? When would you say your faith in Jesus became personal and your own? Who of your family, friends, and co-workers needs a relationship with Jesus? How areyou investing in them right now? What are your thoughts on Wow 1? What can you do when you come to Mass in yourministry to make Wow 1 a reality? Of the goals mentioned in the video, which ones most excite you or interest you? In what areas of your life do you feel like you have enough or are doing enough? Whydo you believe those areas are in good shape? Is there an area or areas of your life where you don’t feel like you have enough, or youare doing enough? If so, what are they? If not tell, the rest of us your secret. Where do you feel the most pressure from others to have or do enough? Where do youfeel the most internal pressure to have or do enough? Read aloud. 1 Kings 19:11-12. Where do you go to hear the still, small voice of God?What do you do to position yourself to hear from God? As we begin this series, are there any hopes or expectations you have for the series?What do you hope to get out of it? Week Two If enough isn’t our goal in life, why do we so often make it our goal or focus? What does following Jesus look like to you? If someone asked you how do you followJesus, what would you say? Would you describe your relationship with Jesus as a personal one? If so, what makes itpersonal? Psalm 23 speaks of “paths of righteousness.” How does this help free us fromperfectionism or thinking that we have to follow perfectly? Read aloud Psalm 23:5. What images come to your mind as you read that verse? What is the promise for you personally? Week Three On a scale of 1-5, how difficult do you find it to ask God for help? 1 means you find iteasy to ask for help. 5 means it is difficult for you. Have you ever asked for help and been rejected or told, no? How does this impact ourability or desire to ask for help? Where is there not enough of something in your life? Where are you struggling to haveenough, do enough or be enough? What do need to ask God to provide for you? Dallas Willard writes, “God does not give us what we need without being asked.” Whatis your reaction to that statement? When have you asked God for something, and he gave it to you? When have you asked,and he didn’t? How have you interpreted why God provided in one case and did notprovide in the other? Week Four Do you resonate with the good deeds verse bad deeds mentality? Why or why not? Who do you identify with in Luke 18, the religious leader or tax collector? Why? Who are you tempted to compare yourself to? What affect does comparison have onus? Why is Jesus and living in him enough for God? How does believing this help us get ridof the concern of being “good enough” for God? What is God’s position? What is man’s condition? What is God’s provision? Week Five On a scale of 1-5, how difficult do you find it to ask others for help? 1 means you find iteasy to ask for help. 5 means it is really difficult for you. Is there an area of your life where you feel like Elijah that you are overwhelmed andbattling all on your own? Work? Family? Finances? Another Area? Who are the people God has already put around you that help you? If you don’t knowwho can help you, have you prayed and asked God to send people to help you? Where do you feel like you don’t have enough knowledge or resources? How can thisgroup help you? Immediately following a great victory, Elijah became depressed because he worehimself out and shut others out, which of these two are you more likely to do? As we wrap up, what has been your biggest insight or lesson you have learned fromthis series.