Gcf Austin

Life Group Questions 1. We are four weeks into the "Joy Ride" series. Have these biblical truths caused your joy to increase and how? 2. What does Philippians 1:21 (“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”) mean to you personally after hearing Sunday’s message? 3. Have you ever found yourself believing in or repeating any of the below philosophies on death? • Universalism • Annihilationism • Second Chance (reincarnation or purgatory) • Soul Sleep How has this message changed your understanding, or reaffirmed your thinking? 4. Paul says, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”. Do you fear death? If not, why not? And if yes, why so?

Life Group Questions Key Thought: There is a way to suffer for a Christian so that our suffering is purposeful and not purposeless. 1. What is the main thing you got out of Sunday’s message? 2. Share an example from your life where you suffered in a way that was purposeless. In other words, you didn’t allow God to do something good in you or through you when you went through that period. 3. Share an example from your life where you suffered in a way that was purposeful. In other words, through that suffering, you ended up loving Jesus more, or you became more humble, patient, kind, and compassionate (more Christ-like). 4. Share an example from your life where you personally witnessed a Christian going through suffering, and they went through it in such a way that it powerfully impacted your life. 5. How will you handle suffering differently in your life after Sunday’s message?

Life Group Questions Key Verse: Philippians 1:3-6 – “I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 1. What’s your single biggest takeaway for you personally from this teaching? 2. What are some practical ways that you combat loneliness when you’ve experienced this in your life? 3. Pastor Matt made this statement on Sunday: “Joy is not so much an emotion, as it is a lifestyle.” Do you agree? What’s the practical interpretation of this in your life? 4. Another statement that was made on Sunday was, “Nothing in your life – not even the darkest, most difficult, or painful situation – is without purpose.” What does this mean to you personally? (Hint: everything becomes an opportunity for the Gospel!)

Life Group Questions 1. Take a minute, and define what the word “joy” means to you personally. 2. During Sunday’s message, we talked about the 4 P’s that culture offers to us in our pursuit of happiness: Processes, Possessions, Places, and People. Which of these avenues have you tried over the years, only to find they didn’t bring true joy in life? 3. Do you really and truly see yourself as a saint, as God’s word declares about you? Why or why not? 4. Pastor Ryan made the statement on Sunday that “slavery to Jesus Christ is the answer to true freedom.” How does this statement strike you? Are you living your life today “chained” to Him, as your true Master?

LG questions for 4/13: 1. Be honest...is this a "word of wisdom" that you told people? That you believed? 2. How did this message impact you? 3. Why does God allow you to be overwhelmed? Explain. 4. When someone is overwhelmed, how can you best encourage them? 5. Do you rely on your Holy Spotter? How?

Life Group Questions 1. What impacted you the most out of Sunday’s message? 2. God is the builder and creator of everything. He builds by the revelation of who Jesus is. Who is Jesus to you? 3. God also builds relationally. John 15:16 says, “You didn’t choose Me, but I chose you, and appoint you.” What does “God appointing you” mean to you? 4. God also builds generationally. Galatians 4:7 says, “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir” and in Romans 8:17 Paul calls Christians “joint-heirs with Christ.” You are a son or daughter of the Lord most high! Think about your family, work, school, church, and relationships. Do you live your life like a son/daughter or do you live like a slave?

LG questions for 3/30: 1. What is your biggest takeaway from this teaching? 2. If forgiveness doesn't remove the consequences of the wrong, then what good is it? 3. Should you quickly forgive a wrongdoer that doesn't know better? Why or why not? 4. Must you forgive an unrepentant wrongdoer that knows better? Why or why not? 5. Is there anyone that you need to forgive? Make that decision. Get yourself off the hook. 6. Which of the teachings covered in this "8 dumb things" series has had the biggest impact on you? And why? -- Faith can fix anything -- Everything happens for a reason -- Christians shouldn't judge -- Let your conscience be your guide -- If you take care of God's house, then He will take care of mine -- God brings good luck -- A valley means a wrong turn -- Forgiving means forgetting

Life Group Questions 1. When listening to the message, what struck you the most? 2. Have you ever gone through a valley (difficult life situation) thinking I must have done something to cause God to put me here? 3. Stephan mentioned three things that you must do when facing a valley (difficult life situation). - be quiet, calm down - gird up the loins of your mind - protect your integrity Which one is the hardest for you and why? 4. Your promised land is a land of mountains and valleys. How does God want to use the valleys in your life?

Life Group Questions 1. What was the biggest thing you got out of Sunday’s message? 2. One of the reasons for the misuse of the phrase “everything happens for a reason” is due to a misinterpretation of Romans 8:28 in the KJV. Read Romans 8:28 KJV and Romans 8:28 NIV. What is the difference and why is it important for us to understand? 3. Pastor Ryan said, “When it comes to the consequences of the fall of man, we aren’t offered immunity, we are offered eternity.” Did hearing that change your perspective on life? If so, how? 4. Describe a time in your life when you blamed God for your sinful choices, living in a fallen world, or for your foolish decisions and what you learned from that experience. 5. What is the good news that Pastor Ryan shared? How does this give you hope?

Life Group Questions 1. Pastor Chris Sparks taught from John 8 where we find Jesus’ encounter with an adulterous woman. Jesus told her, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” What most impacted you from Sunday’s message? 2. Jesus judged this woman’s sin, declared no condemnation of her sin, and instructed her what to do next. Describe a time in your life when the Holy Spirit convicted you, you turned away from your sin and experienced freedom. Are you still free from that sin? 3. Pastor Chris went through multiple examples of people in the Bible needing to pick themselves up. Why should we have confidence and faith in picking ourselves up in the midst of our toughest moments in life? 4. What is your “Go And…?”

Life Group Questions 1. Reflect on the three topics of this series: First Things First Breaking the Spirit of Mammon The Miracle of Multiplication Which topic is currently impacting you the most? Why? 2. Under 10% is stealing. 10% is returning. Over 10% is when generosity starts. This may sound upsetting for some. How do you feel about this statement? 3. Sometimes, we think about money in a purely natural way. I make a certain amount and have to cover a certain amount of bills/expenses. When God calls you to give, do you believe that He will provide for you although it may not mathematically make sense? 4. Luke 16:11 - “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? Why do you think God makes this connection and why is it important to him?

Life Group Questions 1. What is mammon? 2. In Sunday’s message, Pastor Rob taught us that the spirit of Mammon will try to get us to look to money to fill our needs, rather than looking to God to fill our needs. Share an example (the more recent the better) of how you caught yourself thinking that way. 3. Have you ever thought, “If I had more money, I wouldn’t have as many problems?" How do you see that differently, or more clearly, after Sunday’s teaching? 4. Pastor Rob explained Luke 16:9, “....so that when it is all gone, they may receive you into an everlasting home.” How did this truth inspire you? 5. The four keys to breaking free from the spirit of Mammon are: - Deal with any selfishness in your heart - Never allow your heart to grieve from giving - Develop a liberal heart - Maintain a grateful heart Which of these is the biggest battle for you?

Life Group Questions 1. What was the main thing you got out of Sunday's message? 2. In Sunday’s message, Pastor Ryan taught us that there are over 2,000 verses in the Bible dealing with money – more than four times that of verses on either prayer or faith. Why do you think that is? 3. The three principles (Principle of the Firstborn, Principle of the Firstfruits, and Principle of the Tithe) are all speaking to the fact that God should have first place in every area of your life. Share with everyone when that happened for you in the area of your finances. 4. What has been the biggest struggle for you in being faithful and consistent in giving the tithe to your church? 5. Keeping in mind that the three underlying issues for people not tithing are Education (not knowing what the Bible says), Faith (not trusting God to provide for you), and Disobedience (not caring what God commands you to do), which of these is (or was) the real issue for you? How can you (did you) get victory over it?