ANNOUNCEMENTS

Need help with anything?  We’re here to help!  Don’t hesitate to contact your life group pastor if you need some extra help leading the discussion, or addressing a specific topic or personal issue that has surfaced in your group.   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. Hear from everyone every time you meet! Setting time limits can help make this happen.     Begin to FINALIZE PLANS FOR YOUR SOCIAL and/or SERVICE PROJECT Begin to think about what service project you would like to do. Check our website for some options: northcoastcommunityservice.org   SOCIAL OPTIONS Online Social Ideas: https://lifegroups.northcoastchurch.com/group-socials/ In-person Social Ideas: https://lifegroups.northcoastchurch.com/suggestions-for-socials/ COMING SOON: SERVE YOUR CITY In the next week or so, you will be getting an email letting you know how you and your group can participate in Serve Your City, coming this spring! 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: https://lifegroups.northcoastchurch.com/pro-tips/   White Water Vacation Adventure for Leaders & Hosts! July 19-23!Join us for an adventure of a lifetime whitewater rafting down the Klamath River! Led by Life Group Pastor Dave Enns and his wife Koreena, enjoy nature, community, and a time to be refreshed and encouraged spiritually! Click HERE for more info.

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. Damean ended with two blanks left on your note sheet. What words, if any, did you write? If you did write something, what is the significance of those words to you?

This question can be interpreted several different ways, so be ready for a variety of responses. One person may answer generally with a broad brush stroke, while someone else may give a specific sin issue or traumatic past they have been transformed from.

2. When you think of the word “worship,” what comes to mind?

Most people will generally think of singing songs, but make sure to affirm other ways in which someone may worship. The goal here is to establish what our base understanding of worship is.

Additional Questions:

• You may want to touch on the different attributes of Jesus that Damean mentioned in the sermon, and which one was most impactful to hear.
• Do you currently have, or have you ever in the past, had anything that you’ve dedicated time, attention, and affection to? It could be a celebrity, band, game, or favorite sports team, for example.

 

1. This weekend, we saw that Jesus cares deeply about our access to God in worship. Worship isn’t just something we do; it’s who we are, as we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. As you read Romans 12:1-8, circle phrases or take notes on anything that speaks to what worship might look like in our lives.

Romans 12:1-8 New International Version (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Check out The Message version of Romans 12:1-8. It could give you a helpful picture of how this relates to our lives today.

Our “true and proper worship” does not just happen at church. Have you ever thought of ways to worship God outside of a church setting? If so, what came to mind?

Is there something you do regularly that you haven’t thought of as worship to God before but could be? What might it look like to turn it into a time of worship?

The thought behind this question is to help us see that there are many seemingly mundane and unimportant things that in reality have the ability to be worshipful. Something as simple as taking out the trash or changing a baby’s diaper can reflect the gospel to us and what Jesus has done. In remembering His grace, our hearts then enter into a posture of worship. 

In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, we read, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Write down some examples of ways we can worship the Lord:

• With our bodies

serving the homeless, for example

• With our minds

studying God’s word, learning about creation

• With our speech

sharing our faith or even offering an encouraging word to someone

• With our relationships

making time for someone even though it cost us something 

There really are no right or wrong answers outside of sinful actions or thoughts.

This weekend, Damean showed us that the things Jesus removed from the temple weren’t openly bad or sinful, but they were a distraction that kept the Gentiles from being able to worship God. Do you have any seemingly harmless distractions in your life that Jesus may want to flip over or drive out that keep you from worshipping or being truly present with Him?

A lot of times we notice the big “sin” issues in our lives, but the distractions here can be more subtle. Worry is a big one. We worry about our kids, our finances, jobs, singleness, and we want to honor God with those areas. Oftentimes, these “good things” can drown out our ability to truly enjoy and worship God’s grace in our lives.

 

2. We were reminded that we don’t just show up to the temple at church on a weekend, but we ourselves are the temple of God. Read 1 Corinthians 3:16-19 and answer the following questions:

1 Corinthians 3:16-19 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”

We can often fall into thinking that there is a “church” version of us and a “regular” version. Rate yourself on the following scale:

—————————————————————————————————–

Only worship at church                                                               Always worshipping

Based on your rating above, what are some of the biggest differences, if any, between how you speak, think, and act on Sunday and the rest of the week?

Discussion Note: Everyone should be able to place themselves somewhere on that scale and so there could be great insight from some of your quieter people on this one. It could also be a cool opportunity to be vulnerable as a leader here and invite an opportunity for accountability and change in one or more areas.

Additional Scripture: Another passage to look into could be Philippians 4:8-9.  Paul makes a list of ways Christians should think in Philippians 4:8-9. Make your own list of specific things you can think about that would fall under Paul’s description and invite your group to add some things that come to their minds.

Additional Question: Have there ever been times when you’ve been able to think on the things of God as opposed to worldly advice and cultural norms? What was the outcome of trusting in His leading and wisdom?

Scripture talks a lot about the importance of focusing our minds on Christ and the things of God (Matthew 22:37, Colossians 3:1-4, Philippians 4:8-9). What can you do daily this week that will help you focus on God’s presence in your life and the access you have been given to worship Him?

This question invites a doable plan that group members can encourage one another in throughout the week.