Big Idea: Five things that should never change about the church. 1. Worship: God wants me to focus on Him. 2. Discipleship: God wants me to take steps of spiritual growth. 3. Fellowship: God wants me to love others. 4. Evangelism: God wants me to help others cross the line of faith. 5. Ministry: God wants me to contribute something back. Community Group Questions 1. What words or images come to mind when you think about “church”? 2. When and how did you first experience church? When did you first experience Grace Community Fellowship? 3. Pastor Steve talked about the five purposes of the church. In your own words, how would you explain the purpose of the church? 4. Read Matthew 28: 18-20. What did Jesus mean by “make disciples”? 5. What steps for spiritual growth can you take this year? Do you have any spiritual goals for 2022? 6. Have you ever served in a ministry? If so, which one(s)? What “gifts” would you say you have (re: 1 Peter 4:10). 7. Of the five purposes of the church (worship, discipleship, fellowship, evangelism, ministry), which do you want/need to focus on? What might that look like this upcoming year?

Big idea: The Golden Calve has snuck into modern day Christianity. What is ‘Warped Worship?’ God was on the throne of the Israelites Hearts The Israelites quickly put their faith and trust in an idol We too, may have idols God’s heart breaks when we worship idols When God is on the altar, He shows off

Watch here!  Scripture: John 1:4-5 Big Idea: During dark times, step into the light. 1. Light illuminates. 2. Light gives life. 3. Light guides during uncertainty. 4. Light gives hope. 5. Light gives me a clean start. Questions  [Icebreaker] Do you have any traditions about lights during the Christmas season? Do you go anywhere to see lights or decorations? Read John 1:1-13 for questions 2-4 In this passage Jesus is constantly being referred to as light. Why is Jesus called light? What qualities/attributes of Jesus compare to light? What is the “darkness” mentioned twice in John 1:5? In John 1:10-11 people resist and hide from the light. Why is this a common human tendency? What examples do you see of this in our world? What have been some “dark days” in your life? Share as you feel comfortable. How has Jesus been like a light to you during dark times? Of all the ways Jesus is light (see main points), which way do you need Jesus most today? What opportunities do we have to be light to others during this season?

Big Idea: Jesus’ birth was the best thing that could happen to you—or the worst. 1. Seeing the real Jesus produces joy. 2. In the manger, heaven came to earth. 3. Jesus—the fulfillment of everything. Discussion Questions 1. When do the Christmas decorations go up at your house? Are there any special or meaningful traditions for the “kids” in your family?   Read Luke 2:21-35 for questions 2-4 2.Mary and Joseph dedicate Jesus to God. What role (if any) did your parents play in your spiritual life growing up? 3. If you were Joseph or Mary, what might your reaction have been to Simeon’s words? 4. What do we learn about Jesus from this passage? What does it foreshadow? 5. In what ways is Jesus the “fulfillment of everything”? What needs and desires does he fulfill in your life? 6. In this week’s message, Pastor Steve contrasted the real Jesus with other “artificial Jesuses.” What are some artificial Jesuses that you see in our culture?

Watch here!  Big Idea: A rough start prepares for a life journey. 1. You are more qualified than you think. 2. God will give you confirmation. 3. Everyone needs an Elizabeth. 4. Trust God when faced with the impossible. Questions 1.Share a “rough start/time” in your life (as you feel comfortable) 2.What specific emotions do you think Mary & Joseph felt leading up to Jesus’ birth? 3.Have you ever experienced God confirmation a direction you felt called to move in? 4.Mary and Zachariah both respond with the word “how?” when presented with the angel’s message of what God was doing.Have you ever had an experience of God working in unexpected ways in your life? (even if you only realized it afterwards) 5.Do you have an “Elizabeth” in your life? Someone who encourages and supports you (specifically in your faith). 6.How can Mary, Joseph, and Zachariah’s story give us hope about how God is working in our life? 7.How does trusting in God change how we face things that seem “impossible”? 8.Is there a current circumstance that you need to trust God with?

Watch here!  Scripture: Micah 5:2-5 Big Idea: Behind the scenes, God is putting it all together. 1. Wait for God to intervene. 2. Trust the person in charge: Jesus. 3. Look back for confidence. Look forward for hope. 4. Jesus brings peace to a conflictual world. Questions 1. What is something that you are waiting for? 2. Did anything stand out to you from the historical background of the Christmas story? 3. Have you ever experienced God working “behind the scenes” in your life? 4. What does it look like to trust Jesus in our waiting? 5. How does looking back on what God has done in the past give us hope for the future? 6. As we enter the Christmas season, where do you want to see God bring peace?

Watch the sermon here!  Let go of anger to embrace freedom Speaker: Josh Mitchell Questions 1.  What is something that has made you angry in the past 30 days? 2.  What do you think about the idea of anger being a secondary emotion? 3.  How are you most prone to act in anger (are you an “exploder” or an “imploder”)? 4.  What do you think about the phrase: “be careful when listening to your emotions”? 5.  What mistakes can we make when we leave anger unchecked? 6.  Read Ephesians 4:26-27. What truths stand out to you in these verses? 7.  What are some practical ways that you can be a peacemaker? 8.  Is there something you need to change regarding anger in your life?

Watch the sermon here! Discussion Questions What are you more afraid of: snakes, spiders, or heights? What do you think are the most common fears that people you know have? Read Matthew 14:24-26. Why were the disciples so afraid? What fears do you think they had in these verses? What fears have you had recently? How do you normally respond to fear? (ex: avoidance, obsession, self-medication, etc.) In what ways does faith in Jesus combat fear? What should a Christian do when afraid? How does following Jesus change how we react to fear? What “next steps” do you need to make based off our discussion on fear today?

Watch the sermon here!  Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14 Big Idea: My biggest sins are not bigger than God’s grace. 1. You are not what you’ve done. 2. Failure is not final. 3. Grace gives me a new way to live. 4. Move beyond failure by forgiving yourself. 1. Share an embarrassing moment with the group. 2. How does failure effect our view of God and ourselves? 3. What do you think about the fact that so many biblical characters were failures? 4. What failures have you experienced in your life? 5. Read 2 Corinthians 2:17-19. What does it mean to be a “new creation?” How might these verses change how we view our failures? 6. How does accepting God’s forgiveness help us move past our failures? 7. Steve asked the question, “Are you harder on yourself than Jesus is?” How would you answer that question? 8. What actions do you need to take based off our discussion on failure today?

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 Big Idea: Worry suffocates faith. 1. Practice Relaxed Concern. 2. Pray, Pray, and Pray. 3. Prioritize your life. 4. Practice Real-time Trust.Questions Questions 1.What things do you often worry about? Where is your “worry level” on a 1-10 scale? 2.How does worry impact your life? How does it impact your faith? 3.Read Matthew 6:25-34. What truths stand out to you from this passage? 4.What does it mean to “practice relaxed concern” when we feel worried? 5.How can prayer combat worry? 6.What does worry reveal about our priorities? What priority shifts might be needed? 7.How can you practice “real-time trust” in God during times of worry? Watch the sermon here!