URGENT – If you have not finalized your roster for Spring Quarter, Please contact us IMMEDIATELY. Call or email your Life Group Central Coordinator or Station-in-Life Pastor. Find the contacts here: lifegroups.northcoastchurch.com/staff. You can also let us know of any changes to your group or indicate “NO CHANGES” when you submit your attendance.

LIFE GROUP SURVEYS FOR NEW GROUPS – During Winter Quarter, we typically ask only the new groups to give feedback on their last night of the quarter. If your group is new this quarter, look for an email from Life Group Central regarding completing the forms.

REMEMBER TO GET COMMUNION SUPPLIES FOR THIS MEETING

SPRING QUARTER DATES:

• Spring Sign-ups: March 19-27
• Spring Quarter: March 27- May 28               

New Leaders & Hosts: Do you know someone who would be great at leading or hosting a Life Group? If so, please let your Life Group Pastor know. 

MEETING NOTES

GOALS FOR THE EVENING:

• Finalize Group Plans for Spring
• Get Communion Supplies
• Discuss the Study Questions
• Take Communion – See the end of this guide for more details or listen to the audio podcast.

PRAYER

• Pray for Ukraine
• Take prayer requests

ATTENDANCE

Submit your group’s attendance online at northcoastchurch.com/attendance. Verify changes or no changes for spring quarter if you have not already. 

This week is your last meeting of the Winter Quarter. We hope you’ve found your time over these past nine weeks to be spiritually and relationally encouraging. We’ll take a one-week break, then the Spring Quarter begins the week of March 27 and runs through May 28. Please be sure to confirm your plans for the Spring Quarter with your group leader.

Fun Discussion Starter Option: If you want to start your group off in a fun way this week as you conclude the quarter, pick out the six questions from this link. Number them 1-6. Have people roll a dice and whatever number they roll, they need to answer that question.       

Printable Conversation Cards: thirtyhandmadedays.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Conversation-cards.pdf

Discussion Note: Make sure you leave time to take Communion this week. And remember, our goal is to hear from everyone every time we meet.   

1. We had another incredible message this weekend. 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?

Make this an option as you normally do. 

2. This week we heard how God’s Word will remind us of His presence, promises and provision. When you think of the promises of God, are there one or two you typically remember or depend on, that are important themes for you as a follower of Jesus? If so, explain.

Everyone may not have an answer to this, but know that once people start sharing, they may come up with some answers. If your group spends considerable time on this, you may want to then transition directly into the Digging Deeper question or Communion.   

3. Over these past nine weeks of this Life Group quarter, a lot has happened in our world and each of our lives. Can you think of any specific ways you’ve experienced God’s presence, promises or provision?

This question can be combined with the sub question below when asked. This question is similar to the one above but goes beyond just focusing on promises. 

Can you think of any specific ways your time in your Life Group has played a similar role for you as Jonathan did for David?

This question can be rephrased to ask, “Can you think of specific times and ways your time in your Life Group helps you experience God’s presence, promises and provision?”

As you read Psalm 40 below, circle, highlight or underline anything that catches your attention about God’s work in our lives. Then go back and identify if anything you “marked up” represents God’s presence, promise or provision?

This is a good question to have everyone answer. Yet, if you don’t have time to do this one, feel free to go directly to the Communion option. 

¹ I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. ² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. ³ He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

⁴ Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.⁵ Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

⁶ Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened— burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. ⁷ Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. ⁸ I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”

⁹ I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.

¹⁰ I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.

¹¹ Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. ¹² For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. ¹³ Be pleased to save me, Lord; come quickly, Lord, to help me.

¹⁴ May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. ¹⁵ May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame. ¹⁶ But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!”

¹⁷ But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.

Looking back at what you “marked up,” which two are most important for you to remember?

Good question to have everyone answer.

How does knowing these move and/or motivate you to action and not just knowledge?

Work on helping people think through not knowing this, but also how it moves them to action. An example would be if someone says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry” is what caught their attention because God pays attention to them.  Application options could be – am I being patient to hear from Him, am I stopping to tell Him what I’m really thinking/feeling, am I taking the time to listen to Him, what does that look like, etc.? Try to have fun with this and get your group to brainstorm what it could look like. 

As followers we can choose to live in how we see ourselves or how God sees us. Yet, all too often we forget we have this choice and the incredible forgiveness, grace and value we have because of what Jesus has done for us.  Jesus knows we forget! That’s why He told His disciples to take Communion and “do this in remembrance of me!” Communion is the very symbol and reminder of our need for God and all that He has done for us— forgiveness, a costly sacrifice, a new life and a new relationship with our almighty God (and His family)!

To prepare for your time in taking Communion in your Life Group together, read the following verses and jot down what stands out to you about how much God loves us and what Jesus has done for you.

You can ask your group which of these catches their attention the most and then use their answers for your closing prayer time after Communion. See Creative Prayer Option below. (Listen to Audio for more instructions.) 

Luke 15:8-10 New International Version (NIV) ⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

John 10:10-11 New International Version (NIV) ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Hebrews 4:14-16 New International Version (NIV) ¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

1 John 1:8-10 New International Version (NIV) ⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 New International Version (NIV) ²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

(Read this when you take Communion.)

Explain how you’re going to do Communion and read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

See creative prayer option below.

1. Take Communion: Pass the bread, thank God for it and eat together. Pass the cup, thank the Lord for it and drink together.
The bread and juice can also be set on a table in the middle of the group and people can take Communion after you read the Scripture and pray, or while the group sings or listens to a worship song.
Video/Music Worship Option: You can use this to play while you pass out the Communion supplies or while you take Communion for a time of reflection.  

                         When I Know You / Resurrection Power  – North Coast Worship Team

 2. Prayer: Move into prayer time, thanking Jesus for His example of love and how He has worked in people’s lives based on what was shared throughout the meeting.

Creative Prayer Option: Instead of one person or a few praying what they are thankful for, have them read one part of the verse above that caught their attention the most and then thank God for that. Remind people to keep their prayers short. Let them know they can do this more than once. Listen to leader audio for more details. 

Finalizing Spring Quarter Plans: Reminder to confirm who is returning to your group and let them know the specific date, time and any potluck plans for your first meeting back for the Spring Quarter.

Spring Quarter Meeting Dates: March 27 – May 28

Spring Sign-up Dates: March 19-27