Co-Ed Bible Study is Coming Back! 6.5.12

The moment you have all been waiting for has arrived!  We are excited to get back together as a whole community for fellowship, Bible study, great discussion and prayer this summer!  We will be taking a break from small groups for 8 weeks during the Co-ed Bible Study but there will be many opportunities to connect within your groups during the study.  Starting on Tuesday, June 5,  from 7:30-9:30pm.  Invite your friends!  Info- nate.keeler@mcleanbible.org.

The Broken Clock: Week 2 Discussion Questions and Leader Guide (4.22.12)

 

Discussion Questions & Leader Notes

Speaker: John McGowan

Leaders: This week, we will build on the discussion in Week 1 to begin to realign our calendars. We suggest that the Biblical way to realign our calendars requires two simultaneous steps: (1) to fall more in love with Jesus and His priorities and (2) to schedule around the Spirit’s desires for our life. There are tough concepts this week. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself! Remember that whenever God’s Word and Godly relationships get together, it is the Spirit’s work to transform people. We’ve designed these questions to take about 70-85 minutes. Given your group dynamic, you may spend more, or less. As the group leader, feel free to use the questions you like, don’t use the questions you don’t, expand discussion on certain areas, limit discussion on other areas, and go on Spirit-led tangents.

Leader Prep Time: Watch message here (35 minutes), Review questions and guide here (30 minutes). Download member questions only here
Leader Questions/Comments:

• Women contact caroline.seymour@mcleanbible.org
• Men contact nate.keeler@mcleanbible.org
• Couples contact nate.keeler@mcleanbible.org

In this message, John McGowan outlines:

• A Biblical theology of rest
• The spiritual discipline of “worshipful rest”

1. This past week, John reminded us of the importance of the discipline of “worshipful rest,” creating space to reflect on His work and His goodness. What do you think about that definition?
   Leaders: Use this question to engage your group in discussion.
2. Let’s look at our activity logs that we did last week. How did you engage in “worshipful rest” this past week? How did your calendar line up (or not line up) with your priorities? (optional: Did anyone notice anything unexpected or surprising from doing this exercise?)
   Leaders: The point of this exercise is to see if people had alignment between their priorities and their calendars. Somebody in the group might have had perfect alignment. Celebrate that! Ask them to share with the group how they do it. But probably most people will not have had alignment. Engage every person in the group on this question. If group members did not complete the exercise, that’s ok – ask them to guess and move on to the next question.
    
   On the issue of priorities, your group members will probably notice that most of their time was not spent on “Priority #1” but on “work/ministry.” For most of us, “work/ministry” will consume the bulk of our time. Calling something “Priority #1” doesn’t mean that it has to get more time than all the other priorities. It just means that we give “Priority #1” all the time it needs: in a conflict between two priorities, our preference is to devote the necessary time first to the higher priority.
3. Most of us battle with keeping our calendars in line with our priorities. Why is that so? John McGowan explained that the reason is that “our sinful flesh constantly betrays our heart’s priorities.” How do we deal with our “sinful flesh” so that we can live out our “heart’s priorities?” What does Romans 8:6-12 tell us about the flesh?
   Leaders: The relevant points from this passage are: the repeated use of the word, “mind” (8:6-8); that the Christian is not “in the flesh” but “in the Spirit” (8:9-11); and the exhortation not “to live according to the flesh” (8:12). Essentially, the application of this passage is that we are more able to live out our “heart’s priorities” as we focus on making choices (the “mind”) that reflect an increasing love for Jesus and His priorities. We do that not to get Jesus to love us more (legalism) but because He already loves us and has transferred us from a life “in the flesh” to a life “in the Spirit” (grace). Depending on the spiritual maturity of your group, you may choose to focus on any one, or all three, of these points in your discussion—but all groups will focus on the “mind” element in Question 4 below.
4. Let’s dig a little bit deeper into this conflict between our “sinful flesh” and our “heart’s priorities.” In Romans 8:6-8, we see the repeated use of the phrase, “set the mind.” Let’s read also Romans 12:1-2 and 1 Peter 1:13-16. (Read these passages out loud.) Clearly there is something to the mind’s role in putting to death the “sinful flesh.” How do we practically engage our minds in this battle against the “sinful flesh?”
   Leaders: Some ideas how we might do that: renewing our resolve to fight each morning, seeking accountability with other Christians, memorizing and reminding ourselves of the truth, remembering the Lord’s past faithfulness, intentionally savoring the sufficiency of Christ, etc.
    
   Engage your group appropriately on this point, leaving no room for legalism but inspiring action based on the person and work of Jesus Christ. If your group struggles on this point, we’d suggest supplementing this study with Galatians 5:16-18 where (here and in Romans 12) it is the Spirit Himself that is an actor against the flesh. Only the person who by faith believes in the person and work of Jesus Christ has the Spirit and His power to wage this battle against the “sinful flesh.” Remember that the ultimate battle against the flesh has been won by Christ’s death and resurrection!
5. What changes in your calendar do you need to make this next week? How can this group hold you accountable?
   Leaders: Engage every person in the group, and ask them to be specific. Remember that even one small change this next week is a great step.

Tech Volunteers Needed

Do you enjoy working behind the scenes?  Have you been looking for an opportunity to serve with your campus?  If so, we have a few opportunities with our tech team.  No experience is necessary and we will train you.  If interested, please email Jessica.Corkey@mcleanbible.org.

The Broken Clock: Week 1 Discussion Questions and Leader Guide (4.15.12)

Mark 1:29-39

Speaker: John McGowan

Leaders: The primary purpose of Week 1 is triage – drawing everyone out to see that there is a problem and then identifying the core areas that need to be addressed. Week 2 will begin the process of realigning our priorities and our calendars. We’ve designed these questions to take about 60-75 minutes. Given your group dynamic, you may spend more, or less. As the group leader, feel free to use the questions you like, don’t use the questions you don’t, expand discussion on certain areas, limit discussion on other area, and go on Spirit-led tangents.

Leader Prep Time: Watch message here (35 minutes), Review questions (30 minutes) (Download PDF here)
Leader Questions/Comments:

• Women contact caroline.seymour@mcleanbible.org
• Men contact nate.keeler@mcleanbible.org
• Couples contact nate.keeler@mcleanbible.org

In this message, John McGowan outlines:

• How our priorities dictate our calendars
• Jesus’ example in setting and living by God’s priorities

1. What in the message stood out to you?
   Leaders: Use this question to engage your group in discussion. If your group hasn’t listened to the message, you may want to spend some time in Mark 1:29-39 before moving on.
2. Where do you wish you could spend more time? Where do you often give the “I want to, but I just don’t have time” excuse? Be specific.
   Leaders: This question is intended to warm-up your group to discuss the topic but also give you a sense of where people are. Ask everyone in the group to contribute something to this question and keep basic notes on each person’s response.
3. In Mark 1:37, the entire crowd of Capernaum was looking for Jesus. The crowd represents those people that place demands on our time (whether good or bad). John McGowan asked us the following question in his message, “Who is the crowd in your life?” So let’s answer that. Who is the crowd in your life?
   Leaders: Expect answers such as “my boss,” “girl/boyfriend,” “spouse,” “friends,” “teachers,” “pastor,” “parents,” etc. The discussion might be quick on this question, but again ask everyone to participate to the discussion.
4. We often follow the crowd, because we don’t have clear priorities for our life. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:12. What does this passage tell us about our priorities?
   Leaders: The goal of this question is simply to align everyone in the group around the concept that the Christian’s #1 priority is to live for God (5:15). Feel free to ask the question and get general feedback before turning to Scripture. Also feel free given your group and your comfort level to turn to other Scriptures to answer this question. From the 2 Corinthians passage, expect answers such as: not to live for myself (5:15), reconciliation (5:19), ambassadors (5:20), servants of God (6:4), etc. Given where your group is at, you may want to focus on the first section: that God’s priority for Christians is to live for Him, as His ambassador. Or, you may want to focus on the second section: that God’s priority for Christians is servanthood/ministry (6:4) with character through suffering (6:4-10) . In either case, make sure to highlight to the group that the entire passage is written in the second person, which tells us that community is an essential priority our lives.
5. (optional) John McGowan shared with us the 5 priorities he has for his life: faith, health, people, ministry, recharging. Would your list be the same? Differ? How or how not?
   Leaders: If you have time, this question moves the group beyond talking about the #1 priority into #2-5. But because we will discuss this topic next week, you may want to skip it if you are running short on time.
6. Time for homework! To prepare for next week, we need to figure out where we actually spend our time. We’re not going to change anything this week – just observe. So for at least 4 of the next 7 days (and be sure to include the whole weekend!) write out an activity log. You want to be as specific as possible, so aim for 30 minute increments. For each time period, simply write down what you were doing (getting ready for work, eating breakfast, sitting in traffic, Bible study, small group, XBox360, staring blankly at the wall, etc.). You may want to use your phone to keep track, or you may want to keep a notecard handy to keep notes. At any rate, bring your activity log with you to group next week.
   Leaders: You’ll need to impress that completing this exercise will help them get the most out of next week. You may get pushback that you’re adding to an already packed scheduled. Respond that this is the first step in freeing space in their schedule and that the reason their schedule is so packed just might be because they’re not intentional with their time. You may also get pushback that they’ve done this before. Respond that they’ve probably not done it in the context of Biblical community, or that it never hurts to revisit whether their time spent is lining up with their priorities.

Frontline Worship Auditions – April 28

Are you looking to serve your Frontline Community and feel that God has gifited you musically?  We will be holding auditions for Frontline Musicians on Sat. April 28th. at the Tysons Campus.  For more information and  to register, contact Jess Corkey at jessica.corkey@mcleanbible.org.

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