MID-QUARTER TRAINING
Make sure you attend the Mid-Quarter Training session for Leaders and Hosts (Vista Campus groups only). Click the link to RSVP: lifegroups.northcoastchurch.com/mid-quarter-training

Meeting Notes

DISCUSSION SUGGESTIONS

• Remember you don’t have to answer every question!
• Choose questions best suited to your group.
• Listen to the Audio Guide/Podcast for more discussion suggestions.
• ONLINE GROUP DISCUSSION IDEAS
  • Because you are all looking at screens, continue to use variety in your discussions! (Check out leader audio for more info on this.)
    • Use breakout rooms to break into smaller groups for discussion. You can use it at the beginning, end or middle: northcoastchurch.com/pro-tips/
    • Remind your group about some of the little things that help make your meeting personal even online – not walking around while you meet, saying goodbye when signing off (it’s not polite anywhere in person to just walk away without saying goodbye), speaking up while you talk, etc.
    • How get extra time with your people – Let your group know you’ll be on 10 minutes early or stay on after to connect or talk with anyone that would like to. You could use the idea of having coffee before the meeting, etc.

PRAYER

• Take prayer requests.
• If you haven’t divided into male/female groups already, you may want to do so for prayer.

ATTENDANCE

Submit your group’s attendance online at northcoastchurch.com/attendance. If you’re not sure how to post attendance, you can check out the guide here: lifegroups.northcoastchurch.com/how-to-post-attendance

Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or something that caught your attention, challenged or confused you?

1. The quote Chris shared in the sermon talked about “securely standing in the midst of our trials.” Is there someone you know who has securely stood in the midst of a difficult time with God’s help? Is there anything you can learn about standing securely from their example?

2. Chris talked about each of us writing our own Chapter 19 as a record of God’s work in our lives. Take a few minutes to do that on the space provided on the sermon notes and be prepared to share your answers with your group.

Discussion Note: This will be a valuable exercise, so be sure to allow enough time for it. This would be a good question to split up into smaller groups (use the breakout rooms if you’re meeting virtually) to discuss and then have everyone come back together to share one item on their list with the whole group.

Additional Question: Is there a time in your life where you have clearly seen the hand of God at work?

1. As Chris mentioned this weekend, we have a rare opportunity to learn how David responded to a challenging situation in Psalm 59. In this Psalm, he wrote down his prayers and thoughts on Saul sending the men to his house to kill him. As you read through portions of this Psalm below:

• Underline what David thinks about God.
• Circle the things David asks God to do for him.
• Highlight what David is already doing or says he will do.

Psalm 59

¹ Deliver me from my enemies, O God;
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.
² Deliver me from evildoers
and save me from those who are after my blood.

³ See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
⁴ I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
Arise to help me; look on my plight!
⁵ You, Lord God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,
rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
show no mercy to wicked traitors.

⁶ They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
⁷ See what they spew from their mouths—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,
and they think, “Who can hear us?”
⁸ But you laugh at them, Lord;
you scoff at all those nations.

⁹ You are my strength, I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,
¹⁰     my God on whom I can rely.

¹⁴ They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
¹⁵ They wander about for food
and howl if not satisfied.
¹⁶ But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.

¹⁷ You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.

Discussion Note: Take some time to find out what people underlined, circled and highlighted.

Additional Question: In what ways does this passage reveal David to be “securely standing in the midst of our trials?”

How would you summarize David’s attitude and response to this unjust and undeserved situation?

How do you think David was able to respond the way he did to this challenging situation?

What can you learn from David’s response that will help you face your own inevitable trials and suffering?

Discussion Note: Good questions to have everyone answer.

2. We’re better able to stand securely in the midst of trials when we understand how God can use them to grow us. In what ways do you see God using trials and suffering to grow us from the following passages?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 New International Version (NIV)

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Additional Question: Have you ever had the opportunity to use your suffering and comfort to help comfort others?

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Additional Question: In what ways have you experienced God’s strength in your weakness?

Romans 5:3-4 New International Version (NIV)

³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope.

On a scale of 1-10 (highest), how challenging is it for you to maintain the perspective on trials and suffering these passages talk about?

Additional Questions:

• What has affected the rating you picked?
• Was there a time in your life when your rating was higher or lower than you rated it today?

If you are facing a great difficulty or challenge, what would you want someone to do (or not do) in their attempt to comfort or help you?

Additional Passages: James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 1:8-10; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Additional Questions:

• How can we tell if the difficulties we’re facing are trials designed to grow us or evidence that the hand of God is against us?
• How do you think our attitude affects our willingness to accept trials as God’s tool to benefit us?
• What would you say is a way you’ve grown from going through trials?
• Can you think of how any of the ways God uses trials to grow us from these passages have played out in your own life?

1. Is there an area in your life where you’d love to see the hand of God at work? Or is there an area of your life where you’re wondering if the hand of God might be working against you?

2. Looking back on this week’s sermon and study, what’s most important for you to remember?