Northgate FMC

Keep the Sabbath Holy

Main Point: Embracing Sabbath rest is a command, not a suggestion, for all of us.
Takeaway: What are two changes that you can make today to prioritize Sabbath rest in your life?
(Suggested Memory Verse) Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28

Discussion Questions 

1. Why did God create us with an inherent need for rest?
2. How are you doing finding Sabbath rest these days?
3. Do your current life circumstances make you more likely to be able to embrace a traditional Sabbath or a modern Sabbath? 
4. What would you say to someone who asked you ““Is the Sabbath still required for Christians?”

Table Discussion Question — Share two changes that you can make today to prioritize Sabbath rest in your life.

Rightly Using God’s Name

Main Point: The way we use God’s name reflects our level of respect for God

Takeaway: Take care to use God’s name to honor and bring glory to God

Discussion Questions 

1. Does your name have any special meaning for you or your family? Do you know why you were given the name you have?

2. How do you see God’s name misused today? How do you feel when you hear God’s name misused? 

3. When you think about honoring the name of Jesus, and the connection with your behavior, are there things in your life that you would like to work on, so that there is less of a disconnect between those things?

4. How aware are you day-to-day of God’s immediate presence with you? How would being more aware of that help you to speak of him with honor and respect?

Table Discussion Question: When people hear your name what would you like them to think? When people hear the name “Jesus” what would you like them to think? What can you do to influence the way people think about Jesus?

Worship The Right Way

Main Point: We are to worship the one true God and we are to worship God in the right way
Takeaway: When we worship God correctly he gets glorified, we get to know his love and others get blessed

Discussion Questions 

1. What are some of the ways you have been tempted to make God into something less than what he is? 

2. John Calvin said “the human heart is an idol factory, always coming up with new ways to imagine false gods.” What do you think he means by that?

3. The jealousy of God is understood to be a holy and righteous jealousy. That’s different from how we typically think of “jealousy.” Can human jealousy be holy and righteous? When is it not that? 

4. What are some examples you’ve seen of generational suffering due to sin? Do you think it’s unfair that God allows this? How do you understand this within your faith and trust in God? What is the hope that Christ provides as an alternative to this?

Table Discussion Question: The bible talks about offering ourselves to God as an act of worship (Romans 12:1). How do we do that?

No Other Gods

Main Point: God demands to be first in our lives.
Takeaway: Stop wavering between two opinions. If the Lord is God, follow him.
(Suggested Memory Verse) Exodus 20:3 — “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Discussion Questions
Do you think the 10 Commandments still apply to our lives today? Why or why not?
Did God give the Israelites the 10 Commandments for their benefit or for his?
Why does God demand to be first in our lives?
What does a life look like where God is truly first? How does that compare and contrast to your own life?
Table Discussion Question: What do you find yourself prone to putting before God in your life? How can you respond to that tendency?

5 Points of Light

Main Point: In our desire to do the best we can as a church, we want to highlight five specific priorities this year

Takeaway: God has blessed our church because we’ve been faithful. Let’s keep moving forward to be the most effective church we can be.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 

1. What is your favorite part of the worship service? What do you most like about that?

2. Have you ever thought about taking part in a short-term mission trip somewhere in the world? Have you already done that? If you have, what was it like? If you haven’t yet, would you like to?

3. When was the last time you invited someone to join you in church? What could our church do to make it easier for you to do that? (Please let us know your good ideas!) 

4. Do you serve somewhere in the church now? If so, what do you do, and why do you do it? If not, where could you serve, or what would you like to do?

5. Do you know your neighbors by name? Brainstorm some ways you as individuals, or you as a group, could serve your community.

 

Table Discussion Question: Of the five things discussed today (gathering weekly, a short-term mission trip, inviting someone to church, serving in the church or serving your community/neighbors, which one is “calling you” to action?

"Our Place"

Main Point: Jesus came to our place, to take our place, and because of that nothing would ever be the sa

Takeaway: Merry Christmas! Celebrate knowing that the birth of Jesus is the greatest gift the world has ever been given!

Discussion Questions

1. What is the best Christmas gift that you have ever been given? 
2. Has anyone ever taken your punishment for something? If yes, share the story! 
3. How does God becoming flesh and dwelling among us help form your perception of him and your relationship with him? 
4. Why was it necessary for Jesus to become the sacrifice on our behalf? 
5. Table Discussion Question: How has Jesus coming to our place and taking our place changed your story?

Heaven

Main Point: Heaven was a busy place as God provided our Christmas
Takeaway: Through Christmas God has expressed his forever love for us

Discussion Questions
1. What are you hoping to experience on Christmas this year?

2. How are you keeping Jesus at the center of your Christmas celebrations?

3. God knows your deepest, most hidden thoughts, attitudes and sins, and yet provided Christmas for you. What kind of responses does that cause us to make?

Table Discussion Question: How can we try to keep the attitude of Christmas all year long?

Egypt

MAIN POINT: Life with Jesus will not always be easy, but we can learn to trust God to lead us to where we need to be.

TAKEAWAY: As the church we need to be a place of safety and refuge for tired and scared people.

(Suggested Memory Verse) 2Timothy 4:18 - The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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Discussion Questions 

1.  In the Charlie Brown comics, Linus is usually seen with his security blanket.  When you were young, what did you cling to or who did you go to for security when you were scared?

2.  Have you been through a difficult, scary time as an adult?  What can you share about that?  Did you look to God for help then?  What happened?

3.  How have you experienced opposition to the things God is doing in your life?

4.  The presence of Jesus brought about real change in the lives of everyone around him.  How has the presence of Jesus in your life changed things? 

Table Discussion:  What makes you feel afraid or scared?  How can it help to know that Jesus is with you in that place?

Bethlehem

MAIN POINT: You may be in a place that you didn’t want or expect to be, but God can use this to be the start of something life-changing. 

TAKEAWAY: Are you somewhere that you would not have chosen to be? Ask God to use these circumstances for his purposes. 

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Discussion Questions 

1. Tell the story of a time when you were stuck somewhere that you didn’t want to be. 
2. What is a situation where your plan was drastically altered by your circumstances? Did time reveal that God’s plan wasn’t overridden? 
3. Are you somewhere that you would not have chosen to be? Have you prayed and asked God to use these circumstances for his purposes? 
4. How does praying that God will use your current circumstances change your attitude about them?     
5. Table Discussion: Tell the group about a life-changing result that came out of a situation in which you never planned to be. 

Nazareth

MAIN POINT: We can’t become so familiar with Jesus that we miss out on who he truly is.  

TAKEAWAY: This year create a new Christmas tradition that will help you keep Jesus in the proper place. 

Table Discussion Question — What are some practical ways that you can make sure that your Christmas is truly about Jesus?