Grand Lake Church

Read Psalm 147: 1-6. 1. The Psalmist begins by praising the Lord (Hallelujah) even amid what seems to be some difficult circumstances. Why is this praise important? Do you find it easy to praise God in difficult times? 2. Have you ever been wounded or heartbroken by others? How about by the church? What would healing look like in these situations? 3. Sometimes we choose to hang on to our anger, wi...

Scripture for Study and Reflection: A team from GLUMC is participating in a reentry grant program through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections; training, mentoring and grant reporting has been facilitated by All In Community. 1. What is a reentry coalition? It is a group committed to helping people reintegrate into society after incarceration. What is recidivism? It is the rate at...

Scripture for Study and Reflection: Read Romans 15: 1-6, 12-13. 1. What does “hope” mean to you? Why is hope important? What is life like without hope? 2. What is your hope for Grand Lake UMC as we go forward? 3. Read Isaiah 43: 19. How does that verse make you feel? Can you see it relating to Grand Lake UMC? 4. Read Romans 8: 28. Does that verse give you hope? If so, in what ways? 5. Pastor Mick...

Read Philippians 2: 3-8. 1. What does humility mean to you? Why is humility important, especially in the church? 2. What does it mean to truly forgive? Why is forgiveness important, especially in the church? 3. Do you ever find it hard to ask for forgiveness and/or forgive others? If so, why do you think that is? 4. Pastor Mick said that forgiveness is transformative. What do you think he meant by...

Scripture for Study and Reflection: A lot of attention is given to Easter's Sunrise, celebrating the Risen Lord; however if we read a little further, we see a powerful interaction later that Easter at sunset. 1. Read John 20: 19-21. What were Jesus' first words to his disciples? 2. How did the disciples react? What were the disciples to do? 3. Read John 20: 22-23. What did Jesus do? What did the d...

Scripture for Study and Reflection: Friday before Palm Sunday, Arrival in Bethany – John 12: 1-11 Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before the Passover to spend time with his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Sunday, The Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday) Matthew 21: 1-11, Mark 11: 1-11; Luke 19: 28-44; John 12: 12-19 On the first day of the week, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling an a...

1. What chaos is in your life, or affecting you? 2. Read: James 1:19-20 Colossians 2:7 John 10:10 Romans 5:4-5 Mark 8:34-35 Deuteronomy 30:19 3. After reading these, how can you let Jesus calm your chaos? 4. What repeated mistakes or same choice, are you continuously choosing, over and over, that is affecting your life in a negative way? 5. Will you allow Jesus to finally lead the way? 6. How will...

1. Read Psalm 22: 1-22. In what ways have you felt these same ways? 2. Read Psalm 22: 23-31. Have you ever praised God in the midst of being forsaken, despised, mocked, insulted, and/or bullied? It’s hard. How does the Psalmist respond? 3. As we approach Holy Week, what parts of Psalm are parts of the Passion Story (of Jesus’ suffering and death)? 4. In what ways have you been healed through praye...

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. What is your idea of a better life? 2. What does Jesus want for you? 3. What has Jesus done for you? 4. Have you had a spiritual experience? What happened? What was it like? Read Romans 8: 1-6. 1. In what ways have you been set free through Jesus Christ? Read Hebrews 12: 1-2. 1. In what ways is God calling you to deepen or strengthen your faith?...

Read 1 John 1:1 – 2:11. 1. In what ways have you been living in the darkness? 2. What have you done differently to live into the light? 3. What else might you do? 4. What is stopping you? Read Matthew 11:28-30. 1. John Wesley taught his followers to ask one another, “How is it with your soul?” So how is it with your soul? 2. In what ways are you weary? 3. How heavy is the baggage you’ve been carry...

Read Ephesians 4:4-7, 11-17 and Mark 7:1-23. Communication is like 'a process by which information is confused by individuals through a conflicting system of emotions, behaviors, backgrounds, and desires.' The six distinct messages heard when we speak are: 1. What we mean to say; 2. What we actually say; 3. What the other person hears; 4. What the other person thinks he or she hears; 5. What the o...

Read Matthew 5: 23-24. 1. Have you witnessed anyone going to another during a worship service to make amends? 2. How would you feel if someone came up to you during the offering to make an apology? Read Hebrews 12: 14-15. 1. What are some of the disagreements, issues, and problems which have spread throughout our church? 2. How did they make you feel? 3. Did you and others feel defiled? 4. People...

Read Matthew 6: 5-15 1. The Lord’s Prayer is broken down into four sections, regarding how one should pray to God. Jesus taught the first thing is to offer praise to God. Do you begin your prayers with praise, or do you get right down to the reason for your prayer? How might your prayers begin if you began with praise? 2. The second part of Jesus’ prayer is to ask God for your needs. What are the...

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. What is the hardest thing you have ever done or been asked to do? 2. Read 1 Samuel. Have you heard God speak to you audibly or in your head? What did God say? 3. Read the Book of Jonah found between Obadiah & Micah in your Bible. What country would you refuse to go to if God wanted you to go to them and ask them to repent? Why? 4. Has God ever g...

1. Read Daniel 1. When have you stood fast in your faith, yet worked in an environment that was different? What was that like? 2. Read Daniel 3. Have you considered whether you would suffer or die for your faith? Would you stand fast, no matter what? Why or why not? 3. Read Daniel 6. When has God rescued you? 4. Read Psalm 34. How do you glorify God for the times and ways He has rescued you? 5. Re...

Read John 1: 6–28 and Matthew 3: 1-17. 1. What surprises you about these accounts? 2. Have you been baptized? When were you baptized? Where were you baptized? What led you to be baptized? 3. How did you feel? If you were an infant, how did you feel today as you reaffirmed your baptismal covenant? 4. In what ways have you lived out your baptismal covenant as your ordination to ministry? 5. Being ba...

Read Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:10-14; Micah 5:2-5a; & Matthew 2:1-12. 1. These are the prophetic scriptures and the story from Matthew - to the Jewish people - to show from scripture Jesus was the Messiah. Write down how you are certain that Jesus is the Messiah. 2. What new background information, regarding the time of Jesus’ birth, did you learn through today’s sermon? 3. How have you...

Decide How You Want Your Holidays to Look: 1. List words or phrases of how you’d like your life to look from Thanksgiving to the New Year: 2. List words that describe how you do not want your holidays to be/ look: 3. List what you like the most about the holiday season. What do you absolutely love or want to do? 4. Consider/admit what you don’t like about the holidays. List them: 5. I am thankful...

1. Read John 14. 2. Verses 1-4 are often read at funerals. In what ways do these verses give you comfort and assurance that Jesus will guide you to the place He is? 3. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life; and the only way to the Father.” Do you believe this as a foundational Christian principle of faith? 4. How would you explain this to a non-believer? 5. Verses 15–19 are often re...

1. Read Matthew 14: 13-21. 2. What would you have said if Jesus asked you to feed 20,000 people? 3. How did one offering become a miracle? 4. Read Luke 14: 16-24. This parable is more than a meal; it’s about accepting God’s invitation to include others. 5. When have you included people in your home gatherings that are not of your family or friends? 6. Why does this feel or not feel comfortable? 7....

1. What is your favorite Christmas memory? 2. What is your least favorite memory? 3. Why are the holidays so difficult for you or another? 4. What is your focus regarding the holidays? 5. Read Mark 13: 24-37. Jesus said to expect His return - at any time. If He comes at 5:00pm today, will you be ready? Why or why not? 6. Have you done as He asked? In what ways? 7. Read Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3...