Today Dave joins us from a special location to talk about the key, and perhaps unexpected, quality to live the life God has for us.

Verses for Reflection:

• • 2 Samuel 22:26
  • 1 Chronicles 29:17
  • Proverbs 28:6
  • Colossians 3:9

Discussion Questions:

• • Where are we likely to see people project a false image of themselves? What is their motive fro this?
  • Where are you tempted to try to hide your mess? Which of the 5 areas of insecurity do these effect?
  • Where are you going to choose to be honest this week? What area of your life was God prompting you about?
  • Who could you encourage by speaking the truth to them this week?

 

Our next instalment of Ephesians. Dave talks about the gifts God has given the church to help us be discipled and disciple each other.

Discussion Questions:

• • Which of the 4 gifts do you resonate with? What has helped you decide? Can you share experiences of how you’ve seen this gift outworking in your work, family or even church life?
  • How might you use this gift in your Hub to strengthen and encourage the Hub?
  • What specific thing could you do this week?

Today Colin looks at the next section of Ephesians and thinks about how our attitude towards the Church compares with what Paul writes in the passage.

Discussion Questions:

• • Colin contrasts the way Paul understands church with the perceptions people – whether it’s us or Noel Edmunds – might have. How would you describe what church is to a visitor from another planet? What are the important aspects of church? What is not so important? Could you sum up the church in one sentence or a few key words?
  • What would it be like to really think of Church as family? Think about what this means for connection and commitment? They say you can’t choose your family, but obviously we can choose our church. How do we balance this to find ourself connected and committed to a church, but not being a consumer?
  • Colin tried to say, “Top to toe in tattoos” twice, but didn’t manage it. Can you manage this tongue-twister?

Dave continues our journey through Ephesians, thinking about why Paul was so excited about stuff that seems a bit irrelevant to us now.

Verses for Reflection:

1 John 4:16-21

Discussion Questions:

• Dave talked about how church can act like an insider/outsider environment. What ways can church make people feel like outsiders? Have you ever felt like this?
• Think about parts of following Jesus that can seem distant, mysterious or difficult – these are prime areas for people to feel like inadequate outsiders as they compare themselves to others. How do we de-mystify these to make them more approachable and encouraging to others?
• Paul’s embracing of what God is doing led him to leave a successful and comfortable life and he ended up in prison! Dave talked about 3 fears that might stop us embracing God in our life – fear of missing out, fear of failure and fear of discomfort. Are any of these effecting how you follow Jesus? What could you do about it?
• Dave’s list of how the world works with Jesus was as follows. Can you think of Bible verses for each of these?
  • Close & Intimate
  • Revealed
  • Direct Contact
  • Already Pleased
  • He did the Hard Work
  • Love is the Antidote
  • Empowered Individuals

Joe continues our journey through Ephesians and considers the walls that contrive to separate people.

Verses for Reflection:

1 Peter 4:7-11
John 15:9-13

Discussion Questions:

• • When you’re in church communities, what “walls“ are you aware of that make you feel like you don’t belong? How do they manifest and what effect do they have? What insecurity in you are they illuminating?
  • Where else in your life do you sometimes feel “imposter” syndrome? What insecurity is at the root of this? What does God say about you that should, if you really believed it, make you secure?
  • What judgements do you find yourself making about others. What walls might this put up for community and how can you actively dismantle them, even if they’re just in your head?

Hannah looks at the next section of Ephesians and considers how what God has done for us should result in thankfulness and opportunities to co-work with God for his kingdom.

Verses for Reflection:

Romans 5:1-11

Discussion Questions:

• Jesus is good news! How are you aware of this good news in your everyday life? Sometimes we can just get used to our lives that perhaps we take what God has done for granted?
• What about your life, your character, your priorities and your outlook is because of your faith? How are you grateful for these things?
• What would your life be like if you didn’t follow Jesus? In some things it might actually feel like our life could be easier or better! How can we understand these as ‘good news’?
• Hannah talked about how being thankful gives us the strength to do things God has for us. How might the specific circumstances of what your thankful for be relevant to people around you? Might they have similar circumstances where you’ve experienced God’s good news? Pray for opportunities to share