Kettlebrook West Bend

Questions for Discussion: 1. How does our culture usually define someone as being "blessed?" What does that typically look like? 2. How is Jesus' definition and description of who is really "blessed" so different from ours? Read through the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). Which ones make sense to you? Which ones do not? Why? 3. What do you think it means to be 'poor in spirit?' Why would that be a blessing? How is being 'poor in spirit' somehow connected with receiving the Kingdom of Heaven? 4. Why does our culture not value 'mourning' (v.4)? What is gained by mourning? Why is it important? Do you think God mourns? What would he mourn over? 5. If there was an attitude in this scripture which you would like to develop and cultivate in your life, which one would it be and why? 6. In what ways can I live out the values, attitudes, and priorities of the Kingdom of Heaven in my sphere of influence this summer?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion: 1. When was a time when you have been a stranger or outsider? What did you feel during this time? 2. Who helped you feel like an “insider?” What did they do? 3. How well are you doing at telling the story of God through your hospitality? What joys/difficulties are you facing? 4. Who could you partner with or who could you help to grow in telling the story of God through hospitality?

Questions for Reflection / Discussion: 1. What fears does this passage bring up for you? Why? 2. What do you find yourself doing in life that you hope you are repaid for? 3. Between making space, using your place, and receiving and extending grace, which one stuck out to you? Why? 4. What is one way your group could make space, use your place(s) and receive and extend grace to show hospitality? 5. What is one thing you feel like God is saying to you regarding showing hospitality? To your group? What will you do about it?

Additional Resource: https://saturatetheworld.com/2018/05/01/sharing-your-table/ Questions for Reflection / Discussion: 1. Who are the most “hospitable” people you know? The least? Why did you pick them? 2. Growing up, do you remember your home being more open to others (including strangers) or closed? How has this shaped the way you see your own home/life? 3. When you hear the phrase, “A man’s home is his castle”… what comes to mind for you and why? 4. Describe a time when you felt like an outsider, a foreigner, a stranger. What was that like for you? Who do you know in your own life that might be experiencing this? How might you be able to specifically and intentionally empathize with them? 5. What are the two reasons or motivations in Leviticus 19:34 that God commands His people to be hospitable? Why are both of these motivations important? 6. In what ways does Jesus reflect the Father’s heart for hospitality in the gospel accounts? 7. In what ways could you obey God’s commands to be hospit

Questions for Reflection: 1. Have you ever had to forgive someone? What was that like? Was it easy or hard for you to do? Why? 2. Why do you think forgiveness is so hard to do? Why do you think it is so essential for us to ‘grow up?’ 3. What happens when people refuse to forgive? Is there anything gained? 4. Read Matthew 18:21-35. Have someone retell the parable in their own words. What does it tell us about God? About ourselves? 5. If Matthew 18:21-35 is true, what are we supposed to do about it? 6. Is there any area of my life where I have been harmed, wounded or abused that I have not fully dealt with? 7. Have I forgiven the perpetrators of my abuse? If someone were to look at my soul today would they find fresh wounds or healed scarring?

According to Tim Challies, a humble person… 1. accepts ______________ for sin or wrongdoing. 2. complains about their ______________, not their circumstances 3. will serve the lowest __________ and the lowest _________ 4. is content to be ________________ by others magnifies ______________ Questions for Reflection/Discussion: 1. What circumstances in your life have pressed you into growing up and which circumstances have caused that growing up more rapidly than others? 2. If you could “grow up again”, in what ways would you want to grow up differently than the first time around? 3. What are some thing that you might admit that you personally still need to grow up in? 4. Read Luke 14:7-11 a few times. What sticks out to you as you read this parable? 5. As a group, brainstorm the different ways that Jesus does not just teach on humility, but displays humility. 6. Revisit the five points in the “notes” section above. How would you assess yourself in regard to these? In what ways mig

Questions for discussion: 1. What does ‘growing up’ mean to you? Why do you think so many people grow old but refuse to grow up? What prevents them from doing so? 2. When do you feel like you ‘grew up?’ In what ways do you still need to ‘grow up?’ 3. Why do you think repentance is so important for growing up in the Kingdom? Is it possible to grow up in Christ without repentance? 4. Read Luke 13:1-9. What is God looking for in keeping with repentance? What does that look like? 5. Read Luke 18:9-14. Have someone retell the story in their own words. What does this story tell you about God? About people? What do you think you need to do as a result of this teaching? 6. What is one area in your life where you would like to see God’s Kingdom come? What do you think you need to do in order to see that happen?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion: 1. What memories of Resurrection Sunday do you have from your past? What traditions, if any, have played a role in your life with respect to this holiday? 2. Three approaches to the resurrection were suggested today. The approach of the skeptic, the sinner and the scared. Which of these (or perhaps another approach) best describes how you approach the resurrection of Jesus? Why is this the case? 3. Read Mark 9:31-32 and Mark 10:33-34. If Jesus said these words to his disciples, why do you think they weren’t running to the tomb themselves on the third day? 4. Read Mark 16:1-8. Peter appears to receive a word of grace after his denying Jesus. What words of grace do you need to hear in your life? How can Jesus speak grace into your heart and life? 5. In both verse 7 and verse 15 of Mark chapter 16, Jesus’ followers are told to go and share the good news. If you are a follower, do you? If not, what keeps you from doing so? 6. How can the resurrection of Jesus

Questions for reflection/discussion: 1. The very circumstances that cause us to doubt God’s love are God’s loving way to make us like Jesus – agree/disagree? Why? 2. What are other examples in Scripture where God used suffering to make his people more like Jesus? 3. Share a time in your life that you suffered and didn’t understand why? Share in hindsight what God did in you during that time. Share also how you had to depend upon God during that time and how you were ‘not separated from his love.’ 4. Verse 30 talks about a progression: predestined to called to justified to glorified – what does all this say about God? What should be our hearts response? Why? 5. What on a regular basis can help you remember God’s cosmic plan (string example) and that he’s working out his purpose in your life even when you can’t see it? 6. What is one thing God is saying to you? What will you do as a result?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion: 1. What is something you are currently hoping for? Why are you hoping for it? 2. In what ways are you currently suffering? 3. How does Paul try to encourage followers of Jesus with respect to suffering in Romans 8:18? In what ways might this be an encouragement to you? 4. Read Romans 8:17-27. What is something you are “groaning” for/about? We find three things in this text that are “groaning”. What are they and what are they groaning for? 5. Paul uses the phrase “waits eagerly” three times in this text. John Stott noted that we must be both eager and patient. Where on the spectrum of eagerness and patience would you place yourself with respect to Christ’s return? Why do you think this is the case? 6. What are some hopes in your life that might be misplaced hopes? 7. Paul writes that, “We do not know what we ought to pray for…” In what ways can you relate to this statement? What help does Paul suggest is offered to us? 8. Assuming you have the Holy Spirit