Central Speaks

Sunday May 22nd - Faith That Overcomes

Facing Faithward - Faithful Endurance

Discussion Questions:   DISCUSS Discipleship:  Learning how to live a life that loves and obeys Jesus and helps others do the same.  How do you follow Jesus?   How does the gospel both free and motivate you to love and obey Jesus?   DIVE INTO THE TEXT  Read Matthew 28: 16-20  Who is this command given to?  What is the link between Jesus’ authority and his co...

Discussion Questions:   Luke 10:25-37    1. How many times have you heard this story of the ‘Good Samaritan?’ Did you learn something new this time?   2. Often, the first part of verse 27 – “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind’” – gets lost in the story. How is it important to the setup of the parable?  ...

Re-Look is our new teaching series on what it means to be God's church -who we are, how we relate to one another, and how we follow Jesus together.

Discussion Questions:

Discussion Questions:

Discussion Questions:

Discussion Questions:

Discussion Questions:   1. Paul writes to Titus who is on the island of Crete.  He gives a small insight into the Cretan society and culture when he quotes a poet of the time.  He says: “Someone said from out of their own, a prophet from among them: Cretans always are liars, evil beasts, idle bellies. This testimony is true. What do you make of this statement? What does this tell us...

Discussion Questions:   1 When you hear songs about peace during the Christmas season, what do you imaging that looking like? In light of this week’s message, what now surprises you most about that?   2 How have you experienced God’s peace in your life? Where has he been your refuge?    3 Peacemakers are desperately needed in our world. Peace-making is something we actively pur...

Discussion Questions:   1. What does the idea that sin is the reason for the season make you think about?   2. Now what does the outrageous love God has for you make you think about?   3. Have you accepted how valuable you are in light of God’s love shown to you? What difference does that make, or could make, for your life?   4. What are a couple of ways you could demonstrate t...

Discussion Questions: As a kid, what was an ultimate, fun, dream present you hoped to receive? (and received or still haven’t received it yet)? Why is hope based upon things that have happened in the past and always future oriented? (Romans 8:24-25) How are hope and faith related? How are they different? (Hebrews 11:1-2) What are some things you are waiting for from the Lord? (Lamentations 3:22-26...

Discussion Questions Luke 7:36-50 Two people make an effort to be around Jesus in Luke 7:36-37. One wants to know about him, while the other wants to know him in worship, humility, devotion, gratitude and service. Which of these two better describe the way you feel around Jesus? Why? When you look at people, do you see more of their past or what God is doing now and can make of them in the future?...

Discussion Questions: 1. How do you maintain a close listening ear to The Shepherd? 2. How might attending small groups help us to remain Christ centred? 3. In what way has lockdown given you an appreciation of  your church community? What have you missed the most? 4. What does Christ’s ownership of you look like in your life? 5. How might challenging times reveal God’s protection of His Chur...

Discussion Questions 1. What does it mean to have faith in Jesus? 2. Think about the characters of the bible that you know. Which stories help us understand faith? 3. In the contemporary world, what characters come to mind that through their lives we get an understanding of faith God? 4. In your own life, are there any instances where you felt God was teaching you about faith. If comfortable recou...

Discussion Questions: 1. What will you take away from the story of Rich Mullins life and how will you apply it to your life? 2. Do you have a hero of the faith? How did they come to faith? 3. How does the apostle Paul's message apply to you today? 4. Rich Mullins talked of others being "nuts and bolts” for him. What examples can you think of when someone was a nut or a bolt for you? 5. Can you be...

Discussion Questions: Discuss your picture and understanding of Jesus: Before he was born. Find, list and discuss the verses that describe him … in the beginning (the Word of God). As a man. Find, list and discuss your favourite verses that communicate Jesus to you. After his ascension. Find, list and discuss the verses that describe Jesus, particularly Revelation 4, 5 and 19. Having developed the...

Discussion Questions: Why did the Church at Laodicea cause Christ to utter such harsh  judgement? We all agree we should be a friendly Church. What was meant by the statement, “In trying to be relevant we must be careful not to become irrelevant”. How might a Church become irrelevant: - by ceasing to engage in worship lest others feel embarrassed? - by diluting the true meaning of Scripture l...

Discussion Questions: 1. How does the Lord Jesus describe Himself (7)? What does the “key of David” open, and what does this mean (vv.7-8; cf. Isa. 22:22-24; Matt. 16:19)? What doors has Christ placed before you? How have you taken advantage of these “open door” opportunities? 2. How is the church able to persevere? What did Jesus mean by, “you have but little strength” (v.8)? 3. What does it mean...

Discussion Questions: John 2:1-11 John makes the comparison between John 1 and Genesis 1.  In your group have someone read Genesis 1 aloud, and then someone read John 1 aloud.  List all the similarities you can find.  What do you make of this? The servants do what Jesus asks despite the seeming irrelevance of the actions to the problem. What are the insignificant acts of obedience t...

Discussion Questions: In verse 4, Paul tells us to rejoice in Lord always. Where else in scripture, and not just the obvious, does this instruction get stated, in one way or another. Discuss what this really means. How can we  rejoice particularly in the tough times, the sad times. Share some of your own stories around this. Paul suggests that as Christians we should let our gentleness be evi...

(Revelation 2:18-29) Discussion Questions How does the Lord Jesus describe Himself in verse 18? How do you interpret this description? Why is this appropriate for the church at Thyatira? What were the strengths of the church at Thyatira? What were the weaknesses of this church? What were the characteristics of the OT Jezebel in 1Kings 2:5-25, and 2Kings 9:7-37? What does the symbolic name “Jezebel...

Discussion Questions: Share a story about a sports team or group who had a reputation far better than its performance? In verse 1 what did the Lord mean by, “you have a reputation for being alive?” What are the implications of a church that has a reputation for aliveness, but the Lord has to tell them they are dead? What was the contrast between reputation and reality in the church at Sardis? What...

(Revelation 2:12-17) Discussion Questions Can anyone share the illustration of a frog being slowly heated in a pot of water? How is this similar to the temptations we face as believers? What was the teaching of Balaam (Num. 22-24; 31) that was being introduced to the believers at Pergamum? How do you think it affected the Pergamum church? What issues or sins do you think the Lord Jesus would point...