A conversation on...

Take It Deeper Questions Read John 19:1-27 If you were reading this text for the first time, what questions would you have? Why does Jesus endure what He endures? How does that why impact you? Why would a king choose to be a sacrifice as opposed to demanding sacrifice? How are you challenged, focused, encouraged and/or confused by this narrative? Bible Reading Plan: Numbers 18 Numbers 19 Numbers 2...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 18:12-14,19-24,28-40 As a child, were you ever blamed for something you didn’t do? How did you react? Both Peter and Pilot caved. Who do you identify with more, Peter or Pilot? Why? How does Barabbas’ freedom at Christ’s expense illustrate the Gospel (good news)? How are you focused, challenged, encouraged and/or frustrated by this text? Bible Reading Plan: Numb...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 18:15-18,25-27 What do you see as a point of success in your life? What do you see as a point of failure in your life? Which is easier for you to identify? Which is easier for you to talk about? Why? How does the story of Peter both humble and encourage you? How do you explain the highs and lows of your life? How does Jesus relate with you through them? What do...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 17:20-26 Would you rather be in a room full of people just like you or people who are the exact opposite of you? Why? How does unity happen when people are not exactly alike? What is unity? How is unity achieved? What is an individual's responsibility in progress towards unity? How do you see Jesus' prayer being answered in your life? In our world? Bible Reading...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 16:33-17:5 What going away gift have you given or received that still warms your heart today? What different things do people in your world think about the concept of eternal life? What are some of the risks of ignoring life after this one? What are some of the risks of overemphasizing life after this one? What does Jesus say about eternal life in this text? Wha...

Take It Deeper Questions Read John 15:18-16:11 How would you feel and act if you were at someone else’s family reunion or at a large group event where everyone seems to know everyone while you know no one? What does it look like to expect to be treated better than Jesus was treated? What does it look like to expect to be treated worse than Jesus was treated? How would you feel if all troubles were...

Take It Deeper Questions Read John 15:1-17 What plant best describes you: Towering oak, producing apple tree, sweet cherry tree, weeping willow, tumbleweed, crab apple or other? Explain? What does the picture of pruning illustrate well in our relationship with God? What is your favorite part of living out the pruning illustration? What is your least favorite part of living out the pruning illustra...

Take It Deeper Questions Read John 14:15-31 What are some buttons that cause you to rebell? What are some common things people think Jesus is calling them to do? What are some things you have felt Jesus call you to do? What are some common barriers that stop people from living out what God is calling them to do? Common barriers for you? If you love me (Jesus) follow my commands (love others). How...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 14:15-31 Who are some people that you are confident will never abandon you? Why? What attribute of the Holy Spirit, mentioned here, is the most meaningful, wanted and or needed by you? Why? Advocate, with you forever, you know Him, lives within you, a teacher, a reminder and Peace How have you seen these attributes lived out in the past? How are you challenged,...

Take It Deeper Questions: Think of and share some advice that you have received and you took to heart and have strived to follow. Think of and share some advice that you have received and you didn’t embrace and have not strived to follow. What are some important or notable aspects of Jesus’ love for His disciples? How are you challenged, encouraged, focused or confused as you hear the call for us...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 13:1-17 Would you rather have someone touch your feet or touch someone else’s feet? Why? In your life, who have you seen “washing feet?” What do you admire about them? What obstacles do you face in being like them? How does Jesus’ personality and character being on display impact you today? How can you be Christlike in relationship with the people in your world?...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 12:12-19 What is the general draw and appeal to parades? Do they appeal to you? Why? What were the people celebrating as Jesus injured Jerusalem? What degree of understanding is a prerequisite to transformative belief? What happens when your expectations of God don't match reality? Is following Christ threatening to your lifestyle? How? Why or why not? Who do yo...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 12:1-11 If you had a year's wages to spend on friends, what would you do and why? Who do you identify with most in the story? Mary, Martha, Judas or the crowd? Why? How do you demonstrate that Jesus is set apart in your life? What is something that is costly in your relationship with Christ? How are you focused, confused, challenged and/or encouraged by this scr...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 11:45-57 If you were programming a self driving car, what instructions do you insert when it comes to avoid the crowd or avoid the child? Why? What would you have done if you had been on the Sanhedrin? Why? In what ways are you most likely to misunderstand who Jesus is? How are you challenged, focused, confused or encouraged by this text? Bible Reading Plan: Exo...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 10:1-21 Share a little about your closest relationship with an animal. Hypothesis as much as possible about an ideal sheep and shepherd relationship. Less than ideal sheep and shepherd relationship. What does this picture reveal about a healthy relationship with Jesus? What happens to your relationship with God when you try to make insecurities safe? What happen...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 8:12-30 Share one of your earliest memories? What makes a memory vivid to you even with the passing of time? How is following Jesus like following someone with a light through a dark place? What is the significance of Jesus’ claims? How is following distinct from believing? How does a person follow better? Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 27 Exodus 28 Exodus 29 John 1...

Take it Deeper Questions Read John 7:35-43 How is a follower of Christ identified? How would someone know if you were a follower of Jesus? How does a person recognize Jesus? Do you know God? How do you know you do or don't? How do you get to know God better? Bible Reading Plan Exodus 21 Exodus 22 Exodus 23 John 4 John 5 John 6

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 6:1-24 What do you feel and how do you tend to respond when you are misunderstood? How do fascinations or infatuations tend to evolve over time? If John was focused on the miraculous provision of manna (Exodus 16) and the provision of water (Exodus 17) as he told these stories, how is your understanding of Jesus deepened and/or focused? How are you challenged, f...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 5:1-15 When you are sick, what are you like: Oscar the Grouch? Superman? Eeyore? Buddy Elf? Why does Jesus help this man in the story? How does God help people? How much does a person need to know in order to be helped by God? What does a person need to do in order to be helped by God? How are you challenged, focused, encouraged and/or confused by this text? Bib...

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 4:43-54 How has your definition of “illness” changed over the past year? What does “bringing your need to Jesus” mean to you? How does seeing impact faith? How does desperacy impact faith? How are you challenged, focused, encouraged and/or confused by this narrative in John? Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 5 Exodus 6 Exodus 7 Exodus 8 John 17 John 18

Take it Deeper Read James 4:13-17 How do you become more fully present? How do you live life in such a way that you don't feel like time is always flying? How do you create a life that’s actually worth living? What are healthy things to dwell upon? What are moments in the bible in which Jesus was interrupted? Write out the things you will choose to dwell on.

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 3:16-21 What was scripture to you when you were young? Why is John 3:16 such a popular Bible verse? What is the simplest explanation of John’s words? What are the complexities (elements that call for faith) that still are present in that simplest explanation? If John’s words were meant to be contemplated, meditated on, processed… What do you need to think more a...

Take It Deeper Questions Read John 2:12-25 When have you felt rage that led to action? What set Jesus off? What did the religious authorities demand from Jesus? What does that demand say about their understanding of what just happened? What is the Old Covenant? What is the New Covenant? How is Jesus a reforming of the Old Covenant system? How is that reforming impacting you today? Bible Reading Pl...

In the month in Feb. we are intentionally having conversations about Black history. 

Take It Deeper Questions Read 1 John 4:16-18 How do you respond when you think something is your fault? How do you respond when you think something is not your fault? What is the impact of viewing relationships as merit-based? What are the signs of actually knowing someone in relationship? What does a sustainable relationship over time with people look like? With God? How do commitment and trust p...