Central Speaks

Chunillal Pema 28th June 2020

Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 21st June 2020) Text: Luke 9:57-62 Jesus never pulled any punches in explaining the cost of becoming one of his disciples. How does this compare with your introduction to the Christian faith? How honest or complete was the presentation of the gospel to you? Which one of these three people do you identify with the most? Why? What does v.58 mean for us to...

Discussion Questions   (Week commencing Sunday 14th June 2020)  Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13   Where do you think low self-esteem comes from?  How does our culture contribute to our self-image?   What experiences have you had of forming a quick impression about someone (or something) based on first appearances, only to find out later that your first impression was wrong?  ...

Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 7th June 2020) Text: Matthew 6:33 Time management theories abound in our society. What is the best way you have found to manage your time? If someone asked you to define your primary life goal(s) how would you respond? What is an example of how you “sought first God’s kingdom and righteousness” this past week? What can we do about the shifting goal post...

Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 31st May 2020) Text: Jeremiah 18:1-10 What kind of “pot” best describes you? Kettles? Cracked pot? Frying pan? Cast-Iron? Flower pot? Fine china? Proverbs 1:7 talks about fear of the Lord as the beginning of knowledge. What do you understand to be a holy fear of God? How have you experienced God reshaping your life? What are some of the changes? Are God...

Why do we do what we do? So easy to follow patterns handed on from previous generations without really understand their point. This week pastor Brian unpacks what we do when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper . . . Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 24th May 2020) Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 The Corinthians church had a number of issues/problems, that Paul tried to address. What experience...

Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 17th May 2020) Text: Mark 10:46-52 Where did you first hear about Jesus? What impressed you the most? What might be a contemporary example of someone like Bartimaeus meeting Jesus? Jesus said that it was Bartimaeus’ faith that healed him (v.52). How did he demonstrate faith? What is the biggest challenge to you from James 4:2-3? How would you explain th...

Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 10th May 2020) Text: Luke 1:26-38 In Psalm 127:4-5 the blessing of having children is likened to warrior’s arrows. How would you understand or explain this metaphor? What aspect of Mary’s visitation by an angel captures your imagination the most? Why do some people (even Christians) have difficulty with the idea of Jesus’ immaculate conception (born to...

Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 3rd May 2020) Text: Luke 19:1-10 Think back to before you became a committed follower of Jesus Christ. What, or who, was it that made you curious to find out more about the Christian faith? When Jesus looked up and saw Zacchaeus up the tree what do you think he saw? When the Bible says that God knows all about us (e.g. Psalm 139) how much does he know?...

Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 26th April 2020) Text: Matthew 24:4-14; 1 Timothy 4:1-2 What are some of the alternative theories (conspiracy or otherwise) that you have heard for the Covid-19 pandemic, to that told by government/media? News reporting on doubters and sceptics (and conspiracy theories) of Covid-19 seem to suggest they are disproportionately from conservative Christian...

Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 19th April 2020) Text Matthew 14:22-33 What are some of the “storms” that you have experienced in your life? What did they teach you? Why do you think Jesus sent the disciples into a storm immediately following such a heady experience of participating in the miracle of feeding 5000 people? How do you “consider it pure joy” (James 1:2-4) when going throu...

Discussion Questions Week commencing Sunday 12th April 2020 Text: Mark 14:27-31; 66-72 When in your life have you been most disappointed in yourself? How do you feel, realizing that Jesus knows your weaknesses and failures? Why do you think Peter saw himself as better and brighter than the other disciples (v.29, 31)? How would you explain Matthew 10:32-33 to someone new to the Christian faith? We...

A special Good Friday Message.

Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 5th April 2020) Text: Hebrews 4:14-16 1.  What do you understand by the phrase: “empathise with our weaknesses” (v.15) ? 2.  In what ways do you consider Jesus was tempted? Was it the same as we are today? 3.  Our text compares Jesus to a Jewish high priest. How would you explain that concept to a new Christian? 4.  What are some pra...

Discussion Questions (Week commencing Sunday 29th March 2020) Text: Romans 10:13-15 1. Which part of Romans 10:13-15 impacts or challenges you the most? 2. How do you feel or respond to the challenge of global mission? Be honest! Some people are ‘far-sighted’ and only see mission overseas; others are ‘near-sighted’ and only see mission in our immediate vicinity. What is the right answer, and why?...

Want to watch this podcast? Todays message is also available on HCBC virtual church as a video. www.hcbc.nz/virtual Discussion Questions How do you feel about the suggestion that “God and the Bible has a bias toward the poor”? What do you reckon was Jesus primary point in telling this parable about the rich man and Lazarus? In Luke 16:13 Jesus made a radical statement about loving God or loving mo...

Life Group Discussion Questions Text: 1 Corinthians 12:4-27 1. Why do you think the Bible places so much importance on Christians serving or using their gifts? 2. Read 1 Peter 4:10. What are some examples of God’s grace being displayed to you through the spiritual gifts of another person? 3. How do people find out (discover) what their spiritual gifts are or where/how they can serve? 4. What do yo...

Life Group Discussion Questions Topic: Evangelism 1. Who was the most significant person in your decision to become a follower of Jesus? How did they influence you? 2. What is the best part about being a Christian for you? When the words “good news” are mentioned what really stands out to you? 3. What scares you the most about evangelism? Why? 4. What does 1 Peter 3:15 say to you? 5. Call to mind...

Life Group Discussion Questions Text: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 1. What is your favourite passage in the Bible? 2. If you were asked by a non-churched friend where they should start reading the Bible, where would you tell? Why? 3. How worthwhile is it (in your opinion) placing Bible’s in every motel/hotel room and prison cell, etc? 4. In what ways do you feed your spiritual soul from the Bible? 5. 2 Timot...

Lincoln Badger 2 Kings 4:42-44

Life Group Discussion Questions Text: Romans 12:2 1. If you had one minute to explain what it means to be a Christian what would you say? 2. What were the steps (or links in a chain) that led you to become a follower of Jesus? 3. In what ways have you experienced “being put back together” since becoming a Christian? 4. If Jesus is our model or template for life, how much like him is it really poss...

Life Group Discussion Questions Text: Acts 2:42-47 What are some examples of encouragement that you have felt from other Christians (like geese flying together) that has kept you going? Who is the most significant person(s) in your life in terms of your Christian experience? In what ways is the life of the church described in Acts 2:42-47 similar or dissimilar to ours? What might a historian write...

Life Group Discussion Questions Text: Ephesians 4:12 Tell about your experience with strategic plans and goal setting. How has it been helpful in your life? If you had to describe God’s strategic plan for the church what would you say? Why do you think God gives spiritual gifts to his children? How do you go about finding your spiritual gift(s)? How do you respond to the idea that “works of servic...

Life Group Discussion Questions Text: Luke 15:25-32 Why do you think the religious leaders (mentioned at the beginning of Luke 15) were so concerned about Jesus spending time with “sinners”? How would you describe God’s attitude toward “lost” people in our day and age? Where does “older brother syndrome” occur in our day and age? How important is it to make the church as culturally relevant as pos...

Life Group Discussion Questions Text: Luke 15:11-24 What do you reckon is the hardest thing about being a parent in this day and age? Why do you think God allows us the dignity of free choice? Why not create us pre-programmed to behave in certain ways? Given that Jesus’ parables were aimed at teaching a key point, what do you perceive to be the primary lesson Jesus had in mind in this parable? Wha...