Small Group

Worship • Learn • Serve

the week of October 10, 2021

Last week’s Small Group can be found at this link.


welcome! Get started with this discussion:

A pastor in our fellowship (whom Garrett greatly respects) puts the following in his information about small groups: A small group is not a counseling/support group, nor a Bible teaching class, nor a social club. How does that strike you?


I. Worship


Pick a super-short-term leader so you can speak the following dialogue together.

Leader: Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?

Group: Who may stand in his holy place?

L He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

G who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. (Psalm 24:3-4)

L The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men

G to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

L All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt;

G there is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 4:2-3)

L Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;

G according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. (Psalm 51:1)

L I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths;

G O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. (Psalm 30:1-2)





Here are the fill-in-the-blanks from this week’s message at church:

  • A faith-focused church fills you with the good news.

  • A faith-focused church celebrates the good overflow.

Discuss:

Any pictures that Garrett brought up in this week’s message that help you bring these truths into your life?

Worship along with “The Sower’s Song” by Andrew Peterson.


II. learn








Let’s look at the Bible passage that is the inspiration for that song. Pick a reader for Matthew 13:1-9.

 

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

 

Note: In Jesus’ parable, the seed yields a crop of 30, 60, and 100 what was sown. A hundred-fold crop is large but not unheard of.

Discuss:

Before getting into the details of what exactly Jesus was talking about, what would the hundred-fold crop have meant for Jesus’ agriculturally-minded listeners emotionally? In other words, what emotions would this everyday example have evoked in his original hearers?






Now listen to Jesus’ explanation of the parable’s meaning just a moment later, as you hear Matthew 13:18-23 in the voice a different reader.

 

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

 

Discuss:

What do modern-day bird-exposed paths look like?





Modern-day shallow-earth rocky places?





Modern-day thorns?























What does modern-day good soil look like?











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Switching gears,

let’s dissect the details of the apostle Paul’s helpful words on what faith is.

In this week’s message, Garrett focused us on Romans 4:5.

To the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

The good and classic approach of Martin Luther and other reformers in league with him was to formulate the apostle Paul’s teaching by saying this: we are justified by faith alone.

In the important Reformation text The Formula of Concord, the following 10 statements are supplied to help us parse out this important teaching. However, 5 of these statements are negative (inaccurate and unbiblical) statements. The other 5 are affirmative (accurate and biblical). They are mixed together below. Whoops! :)

As you listen to them being read aloud by Garrett and at the same time you’re looking at them, try to figure out on your own which 5 are biblical and which 5 are unbiblical. Write down your guesses in a notes app on your digital device or on a nearby piece of paper.

Check your answers here.

For any help parsing out the details of these statements, consider reaching out to Garrett.




Discuss:

How do the biblical (affirmative, accurate) statements in that exercise bring a radical and unique hope?













Wrap up your learning with the song “Grant Peace We Pray in Mercy, Lord” written by Martin Luther and the church band Koiné.



III. Serve


Discuss:

Have you ever found a good daily Bible reading plan? Why might such a plan be good for a while but not in all seasons of life?

Do you see your small group as an opportunity to enter into a daily Bible reading plan?

How do the thoughts brought up in this week’s message add nuance to how we think about entering into a daily Bible reading plan?

  • A faith-focused church fills you up with the good news.

  • A faith-focused church celebrates the good overflow.

Quick note: Garrett might have some daily Bible reading plan ideas, if you’re interested.

Speak out loud to one another what things in your life or in your community you are moved to pray about.

Then pray together.

(Keep this prayer session to 5 minutes max.)

Prepare your hearts for lives of service with the song “Living Waters”, by Keith & Kristyn Getty.

Reminders before you go…

Saturday, October 23rd

Family Fun Night 5:00p-7:00p — Ask how you can be a part— Invite friends and neighbors

Sundays

Service time 10:30am

Trinity Kids (kids church) during the service

Trinity Teens (youth group) 5:00p - 7:00p

Foundations Class (Bible basics) with Pastor Garrett is great for inviting guests and friends to, so they can learn more about Jesus.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.

(2 Corinthians 13:14)