Late Spring Message Series – THE BOOK CLUB When you think of a modern “book club” you probably don’t think of the Bible as something exciting to read as a group or otherwise. Yet when you invest more time in Scripture and God’s word it becomes a powerful way to grow spiritually and become a more fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. To receive these gifts we need to read God’s word, engage through study, meditation and ultimately application. Join us as we read scripture together! This is a Small Group series only. We are including the Small Group video as well as the full Mass video where you can watch Fr. White’s message. The reading plan is pictured first, followed by the videos and questions. WEEK 4 – THE BOOK CLUB Small Group Video and Discussion Questions, followed by Fr. Michael White’s Message Video Week Four What has your experience with the bible been throughout your life and faith journey?(It may be none at all) Talk about a time when you have made a plan for yourself (to workout, eat healthy, to stop yelling at your kids). Did you follow through? What led to success or failure? Do you have an action plan when it comes to prayer and scripture? Most people have no plan and have never had one. What do you think an action plan for prayerand scripture would look like? What does it mean to you that scripture requires our action and response? Do you agree with that statement? Who is an enemy you have faced in your life? When is a time you have felt excluded, hurt or mistreated? How did you react to those enemies? Do you think you would have acted differently if you had been applying scripture in that moment? Allie shared about a scripture that challenged her to read with “an eye to apply”, is there a scripture in your life that has challenged you to understand or apply to your life. Share a favorite verse; a challenging one or a scripture you know well. Now reading it with an eye to apply, what is your action plan? WEEK 3 THE BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND SMALL GROUP VIDEO, FOLLOWED BY FR. WHITE’S MESSAGE VIDEO Week Three Name (or sing) a song that you know by heart. How much effort did it take tomemorize it? What are some reasons for memorizing scripture? It’s a skill. How good are you atmemorizing? Kelly mentioned that there are a few verses that she calls to mind in certain momentsor areas of her life when needed. In what area of your life do you need some truth orwisdom? What moments have you had recently where you wished you’d made adifferent decision? How do you wish God had spoken to you in that moment? We are all lost in some ways and hopefully, we are seeking God in those lost areas.Choose a scripture that speaks to the lost area of your life and memorize it. What is your plan for memorizing?Ideas: play it on the app every morning put in on post-it note on your mirror or on the dashboard in car break a verse up into smaller pieces and repeat those pieces to yourself choose a small section of scripture that relates to the area of life in which you needGod. Study that section for days until you’ve used that scripture in real time. Then moveon to another area of your life and do it again Small Group Discussion – Week Two: Study the Author along with the passage 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall Ichoose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with 1Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for yourprogress and joy in the faith. – Philippians 1:21 – 25 Who is your favorite author, writer, artist, or singer? Why is that person your favorite?Name something about them that helps you connect with their art. What is your experience with reading scripture? Have you read the whole Bible,studied a specific book of the Bible or specific verses? Why do you think it’s important to study scripture? And how is knowing the authorand the context helpful when studying? Grab your bible and a pen and practice studying Ephesians Chapter 1 together. read it aloud underline or highlight words or phrases that stand out to you go back to those words/phrases – why does it stand out? what might God be saying to you? how might God want you to respond?*Write down the answers to those questions right in the margin of your bible or discuss with your Small Group. Fr. White’s message – Week 2 Book Club Week One – Small Group Video and Discussion Questions If you have ever been in a book club, what did you like about it? What fact(s) about the Bible stand out to you? Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. What benefits do the scriptures provide? Consider the 4 reasons to study God’s Word. Which one resonates with you andwhy? We get to know God through His Word God speaks to us through His Word God’s Word brings life God’s Word never changes. Share a time when God spoke directly to you. If time allows, share your progress with the reading plan for Acts. Fr. White’s message for The Book Club begins at about 29:00. Go! Easter Message Series – In Small Groups only Jesus came to serve, bring the goodness and grace of God’s kingdom from heaven to earth. Throughout his life, he served others most practically through his preaching and teaching and most spectacularly in his healings and miracle works. In his ultimate act of service, he laid down his life on the Cross and rose from the dead, once and for all breaking the power of sin and death. Easter celebrates Jesus’ example of selfless and life-giving service, calling each of us to serve in this same way. Through the course of this series we’ll look at the new and more successful life we can live in the light of Jesus’ Resurrection, who it calls us to be and what it calls us to do. We will post the links to Fr. Michael White’s weekend message as soon as they are available for this series. The Small Group Podcast will also be posted each week as soon as it is available. Leader Guide and Small Group Podcast for Week 5 of “GO” SG-Conversation-Guide-Go-Week-Five.pdf Fr. White’s message for week 5 of “GO” (Forward to 27:30 to hear the message without the repeat of the prior weeks.) 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.