ANNOUNCEMENTS

NO LIFE GROUPS OVER THANKSGIVING
Just a reminder that there will be no Life Groups held over Thanksgiving Week, from November 19-25.

END OF THE QUARTER PLANNING – Last Week of Life Group is November 26– December 2. Begin talking to your group about the end of the quarter and confirming who is returning. Let us know any changes when you submit your attendance.  

FEEDBACK FORMS COMING NEXT WEEK
Next week (Nov. 12) everyone in your group will receive an email with a link to the Feedback Form. Please take the time in your Life Group to fill out the form online together. More info next week.

LEADER INFO

WINTER QUARTER DATES

• Winter Sign-Ups: January 6-14
• Winter Quarter: January 14 – March 9

 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

ONLINE GROUPS
Check out our Tips and Tutorials for Online Groups here: lifegroups.northcoastchurch.com/pro-tips/

 

Reminders – What makes a great group meeting? Hearing from everyone every time we meet and keeping God’s Word at the center! 

Want some extra hints on leading your group this week? Listen to the leader audio podcast.

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?

* Special Discussion Note – this week could be a good week to vary your discussion in your group in Digging Deeper. Listen to the podcast for more details.

1. This week, we heard about the incredible power of Jesus’ angels, ready to move with great force and volume in a moment’s notice. Besides the spiritual world, there are also a variety of ways power is created and generated all around us. And the experience of it can be quite incredible! What are the first two things that come to mind when you think of “experiencing a power surge”?

Have fun with this one.  Make sure you hear from everyone.

Additional Scripture: 2 Kings 6:15-18 is another great story of the power of the unseen realm and the spiritual support we have as followers of Jesus.

2. As followers of Jesus, we live both in God’s Kingdom here on earth and with the hope of being in God’s kingdom for eternity. What was your response to the statement that as followers of Jesus, we are “not of this world” (choose any that apply)?

Another good question to hear from everyone. 

• Yes!
• Feels odd
• I think about it all the time
• I rarely think about it
• Good news
• A bit confusing
• Other

Note – the Digging Deeper section will help guide your group in understanding what it means to live the truth, while not being part of this world.

Just as Jesus knew the power of the angels was at His disposal, as followers of Jesus, we too have the power of His truth and spirit to lead and guide us to follow Jesus and keep Him as king. Yet, most of us know that it can be a challenge or even confusing to know what it means to live this way and sense that God is at work or even present at times. As you read the passages, jot down what is helpful in each passage in following Jesus and answer the questions below each one.

Adding variety to your group discussion: If you haven’t changed up how your weekly group discussion flows, this would be a great week to do that. Divide your group into three groups if you have enough for each group to have at least three. Set a time limit of about 7 to 10 minutes (time needed could vary) and have each group read the passage, then each person shares what is helpful for them with their group and their answer to the follow-up question. Have people switch groups and repeat the same process for the next passage of Scripture – The Life We Live – 1 Peter 4:8-13.  Repeat the same thing for the next passage of Scripture. If you have time at the end have everyone come back together and share a highlight of what they are taking away from the study. See notes below each section to set up next section. 

The Hope We Have – Psalm 46:1-3, 9-11

Reading option – if you would like include the entire chapter, see blue text below.  

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

⁹ He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹ The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

What above is most helpful to keep you hopeful that Jesus is present?

There are going to be a variety of answers here.

How are you doing at “being still”?  (Know it may not mean literally being still.)

Set the context up to help people understand this is not about necessarily being literally completely still. It’s about cutting out the distraction and to take the time to be in the presence of God and hear what He might want to say to them. For some, it may actually include walking, being with a friend, running, etc. And the expectation isn’t that something has to be said but being in their presence— just what happens in any meaningful relationship or friendship at different times, but not necessarily all the time. Working on your Life Group homework, being in Life Group, times of worship during weekend service, listening to worship songs on your own, listening to weekend message, all could be part of this. Have groups share what works best for them.       

The Life We Live – 1 Peter 4:8-13

⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. ¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Additional Verse option:  add verses 14-17

14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

There’s a lot in this passage. What is catching your attention the most and why?

What to Learn – Philippians 4:12-13

¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Paul, the author of Philippians, was not automatically content because he was following Jesus. It was something he “learned”. That’s good news for all of us. Is there anything you have worked on or are working on being content about? If so, explain.

Looking back at this week’s teaching, is there anything you specifically want prayer for?

To Conclude – Share highlight of reading through these different Scriptures – If you broke into smaller groups to go over these verses, you can have everyone come back together and share a highlight then move into a prayer time.

Prayer time Option – Use the three topic headings – The hope we have, The life we live, and What to learn – to be the topics you pray through. You can do this as an entire group or break into small groups.  If you broke into smaller groups to work through this, you can stay in the small groups and have them pray there and take prayer requests.  

Sharing personal needs or prayer requests – If you haven’t done this lately in group, make sure you take time to do this also.