en To know God & make Him known thru His Son Jesus the Christ http://www.newburghchurch.org © Copyright 2000 - 2008Church Community Builder. All Rights Reserved. http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=162 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=162&article_id=156 LIFE Group/Family Discussion Guide For Moms 5-11-2008 Breaking the Ice: What one quality about your mom did you admire the most and how did that influence your life? Please Read: Deuteronomy 22:6-7 1. What does this passage say to you about God’s character? Please Read: Luke 7:7-11 2. What do you learn about Jesus from this passage? Please Read: Judges 5:6-9 3. Why do you think Deborah chose to describe herself in scripture as “a mother in Israel?” 4. What are the biggest pressures the moms in your group feel or felt as mothers? 5. What are some practical ways your congregation can help the mothers in your midst? Please Read: II Timothy 1:3-7 6. How do you suppose that Lois and Eunice passed their faith on to young Timothy? 7. How effective do you think family devotionals are and are there other ways you would suggest for mothers to pass their faith on to their kids? Please Read: Romans 16:13 8. What do you think Rufus’ mother did for Paul to make such an impression on him as to warrant a mention in this letter? Please Read: Proverbs 23:22 and John 19:25-27 9. What do these verses tell you about your obligation to your mother as she ages? 10. As a mother or grandmother what do you appreciate the most for mothers day from your children or grandchildren? Please Read: Psalm 27:10-14 11. What comfort do you find in these verses? Thu, 8 May 2008 10:23:04 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=160 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=160&article_id=155 LIFE Group/Family Discussion Guide 5-3-2008 Breaking the Ice: What is the hardest part of studying the Bible for you personally? Please Read: II Timothy 2:14-16 & Ephesians 4:14-15 1. With what does the apostle Paul contrast the Word of God in his letter to Timothy? 2. What are the reasons for knowing your Bible well according to Ephesians 4? Please Read: Hebrews 1:1-2 3. What do these verses tell you about how God has spoken to His people? 4. Which three questions can help you understand the Bible? a. Which _________? b. What did it mean ________? c. What does it mean ___________? 5. What are the two obvious main parts of the Christian Bible? 6. Some biblical scholars including Alexander Campbell saw the writings of the Bible further divided into three major time periods (ages or dispensations). These are called? a. Age of the ____________ or patriarchs b. Age of _______________ c. Age of _______________ 7. In which age was the Old Testament written and assembled? Read Mark 7:1-9 8. In addition to the written word in the OT what else did the Jews consider an authority in religion? 9. How did Jesus feel about this other authority? 10. Which age are we in currently? Please Read: Galatians 3:24-25; 5:1-4; Colossians 2:14; and Hebrews 8:6 11. How should Christians interpret events and guidance in scripture which occurred before the crucifixion according to these verses? 12. How can you tell what a Biblical writer meant originally? 13. Give some examples of interpreting the Bible using commands, examples and necessary inferences. 14. What are the limitations of this method of interpretation? 15. How do you determine what in the Bible applies to you today and what doesn’t? Thu, 1 May 2008 08:00:55 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=159 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=159&article_id=154 LIFE Group/Family Discussion Guide 4-27-2008 Breaking the Ice: Of the following in a given week which do you spend more time in and why? Bible study, prayer, worship with other believers, service to others. 1. According to Acts 2:42-47 what activities occupied the earliest Christians in Jerusalem? 2. Which of these activities is it practical for Christians today to imitate? 3. Compile a list from members in your group of what their friends and acquaintances think about the Bible. Please Read: Psalm 19:1-6, Psalm 53, Hebrews 11:6, Romans 1:20-23 & 2:12-16 4. What do these verses tell you about what all people know about God? Please Read: I Corinthians 2:12-12; I Thessalonians 2:13 and II Peter 1:12-21. 5. What do these writers claim about what they were writing? Please Read: II Timothy 3:14-17 6. How does the apostle Paul describe the idea of “inspiration” here and how does that differ from the way we commonly use the term in the English language today? Please Read: Isaiah 55:10-11 and Hebrews 4:12-13 7. What do these verses say about the word of God? 8. What implications do these verses have for people who will read or listen to the Bible? Please Read: John 5:24; 6:63; 14:23&24; Romans 1:16; I Corinthians 15:1&2; and Ephesians 1:13&14. 9. What do these verses tell you about the teachings of the New Testament? Please Read: John 12:44-50 10. By what standard will you be judged in the end? 11. How can we help people know the Word of God better? Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:13:55 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=158 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=158&article_id=153 LIFE Group/Family Discussion Guide 4-20-2008 Breaking the Ice: Of the top most important issues facing the United States today where would you place the war in Iraq and why? Read II Kings 6:8-23 1. As the Army of Aram surrounded Dothan, what did Elisha know that his servant did not? 2. What difference do you think it made to the servant when his eyes were opened to see what Elijah saw? 3. How can you know today whose side the hosts of heaven are fighting for? Read Ephesians 6:10-13 4. With whom is our struggle as Christians ultimately according to this passage? 5. What do you say to Christians who are tempted to stockpile weapons and provisions for an anticipated confrontation with the government or who spend all their time and energy working towards political solutions to spiritual issues? 6. What does it mean to stand your ground when the day of evil comes and how exactly does a Christian do that? Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-17 7. Instead of physical weapons what were the weapons of spiritual warfare Paul refers to here? 8. What does it mean to “demolish strongholds”? Read Ephesians 6:14-18 9. What’s the best way to help equip fellow Christians in a congregation with the armor of God? 10. What spiritual threats do you perceive to the health of our congregation? 11. How should the congregation address those threats? Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:02:48 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=157 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=157&article_id=152 LIFE Group/Family Discussion Guide 4-13-2008 Breaking the Ice: How do you personally determine what pleases the Lord in the areas of your life the Bible does not specifically address? Read Ephesians 6:1-3 1. The Holy Spirit through inspired scripture talks directly to young people here. What does that say to you about how we should treat young people in the church today? 2. Christian young people are to obey their parents “in the Lord” what do you think is meant by “in the Lord.” 3. What would motivate a Christian young person old enough to understand this scripture to obey his or her parents? 4. How do you know as a Christian parent when to rein your kids in and when to let them make their own choices? Read Ephesians 6:4 5. What kinds of things about how your parents treated you as a young person exasperated you? 6. How can Christian parents bring up their children up in the “training and instruction” of the Lord without exasperating them? Read Ephesians 6:5-8 & Colossians 3:17, 22-24 7. Even though the guidance in Ephesians is specifically for Christians who were/are slaves, what principles can you draw from this passage and the one in Colossians for Christian workers today? 8. What advice would you give a Christian who despised his or her current job? Read Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 4:1, and Luke 10:2 9. Again, while the passages in Ephesians and Colossians were written initially to Christian slave owners, how do you feel the verses above apply to your role as a Christian employer or supervisor? 10. Digging deeper. In what ways do you think living in capitalistic economic systems challenges your Christian faith and what can or should you do about it? Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:24:42 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1&article_id=1 Live Services Sundays 10:30 CST Click Here Thanks for visiting our website! Check out our postings, watch an archived worship service, join us for worship live on line each Sunday morning, or better yet visit us in person. Worshipping with us you'll experience a warm welcome, heartfelt congregational singing, weekly communion honoring Jesus, and a biblical message that's relevant to your life. But, following Jesus is so much more than just a once-a-week worship experience. Here we challenge you to transform your life daily as you learn His words, build real relationships with other followers, and find fulfillment in serving others in His name. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-3818915-1"); pageTracker._initData(); pageTracker._trackPageview(); Wed, 2 Apr 2008 14:04:57 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=156 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=156&article_id=151 LIFE Group/Family Discussion Guide 3-30-2008 Breaking the Ice: Of the approximately 3 billion women on the planet what percentage would you say live in social conditions where they are considered and treated as equal with men? How are women in the U.S. treated as compared to how they are treated in most other countries in your opinion? Read Galatians 3:26-28 1. This passage says that Jesus makes no distinction among people according to race, gender, and social standing. How do you reconcile this passage with others like I Timothy chapter 3 and Titus chapter 1 where some church roles were assigned by gender? Read Ephesians 5:21-24 & 33 2. What’s the significance of verse 21 to our understanding of the rest of the chapter discussing the roles of husbands and wives? 3. What is our reason for submitting to others in the church according to this passage? 4. What does it mean for a woman to submit to her husband “as to the Lord?” (NIV) 5. In what ways is a husband the head of his wife? 6. How far does one carry the concept of a wife submitting to her husband in “everything?” 7. What should a Christian husband reasonably expect from a wife who respects him in the Lord? Read Ephesians 5:25-33 8. What should a Christian wife reasonably expect from a husband who loves her as Christ loved the church? 9. What is the significance of citing Genesis 2:24 in this section regarding the role of husbands and wives? 10. Is it important, in your opinion, for husbands to be spiritual leaders of their families? Explain your answer. Read I Peter 3:1-7 11. What light does this passage shed on Ephesians 5:21-33? Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:12:11 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=155 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=155&article_id=150 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 3-26-2008 Breaking the Ice: Think of three friends you know really well. If you asked them who Jesus was/is what would they say? Read: Matthew 16:13-17 1. Judging from this passage who did the average person think Jesus was? 2. Why do you think Jesus narrowed the question from what the crowd thought about Him to what His apostles thought about Him? 3. Peter replies that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. At that moment what do you think he understood about the meaning of those two titles? Read: II Peter 1:16 & John 20:30-31 4. Jesus said that the only way Peter could know that Jesus was more than just a prophet was that God revealed it to him. What implications does that have for people who seek to know who Jesus is today? Read: Luke 9:18-22 5. In Luke’s account of Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah Jesus explains that the Messiah would be killed and raised in three days. Why do you think Jesus explained this at that time? Read: John 2:13-22 6. What did Jesus say would prove He had the authority to drive the moneychangers out of the temple in Jerusalem? Read: I Corinthians 15:1-19 7. What are the most important things to know about Jesus according to the apostle Paul? 8. Why is Christianity useless if Jesus was not raised from the dead? Read John 11: 21-27 9. In grief over the death of her brother Martha looks to Jesus for answers. What did Jesus mean by saying He is the resurrection and the life? 10. What does Jesus say is necessary to live forever? 11. Who do you say that Jesus is? Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:30:15 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=1 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=1&article_id=64 Click Here to hear our latest radio thought. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-3818915-1"); pageTracker._initData(); pageTracker._trackPageview(); Sat, 8 Mar 2008 07:18:25 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=154 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=154&article_id=149 LIFE Group/Family Discussion Guide 3-9-2008 Breaking the Ice: Why do you think so many people are afraid of the dark and do you sleep with a night light on yourself? Read Ephesians 5:1-2 1. Who is the one Christian who influenced you the most to follow Jesus and what did they do to impact your life? 2. Who is the one person in your life right now in the most need of the love of Jesus from you and what are you doing about it? Read Ephesians 5:3-4 3. Why do you think God places limits our sexual expression as human beings? 4. Read I Corinthians 6:12-20. Why do sexual sins effect you differently than others? 5. How do you protect yourself and those you love from the adverse effects of our sexualized media, advertising, and culture? Read Ephesians 5:5-7 6. If we are all creatures of habit, what good habits have you worked to cultivate in your life? What one bad habit would you like the Lord help you to eliminate? 7. On a scale of 1 to 10 from lowest to highest, rate how susceptible you have been in the past to peer pressure? 8. How do you balance the need to reach the lost for Jesus and remaining apart from the sinful behavior of those who don’t know Jesus? Read Ephesians 5:8-13 9. What’s the most effective way for Christians to influence the evil conduct of other people for good? Read Ephesians 5:14-20 10. What do these verses teach you as a follower of Jesus Christ about consuming alcohol? 11. Why does singing have such a powerful effect on people’s lives and what does this say about the kind of music we listen to? Thu, 6 Mar 2008 12:14:23 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=143 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=143&article_id=139 Click Here Thu, 6 Mar 2008 10:22:57 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=153 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=153&article_id=148 LIFE Group/Family Discussion Guide 3-2-2008 Breaking the Ice: Of all the sins which so easily beset us as followers of Jesus, which do you think Christians today especially struggle with? Please Read Psalm 51 1. How does this Psalm reflect your own feelings as you try to walk with Jesus each day? Please Read Ephesians 4:17-19 2. In our current American culture in what ways would you expect followers of Christ to be different from everyone else around them? Please Read Romans 1:18-32 3. Why do you think that some people’s hearts are hardened towards God and others are drawn to Him? 4. What do you think keeps most people from sinking to depths of human depravity pictured in Ephesians 4:19 and Romans 1? Please Read Ephesians 4:20-24 4. How important is to know what Jesus expects from those who would follow Him? 5. Why is just knowing Jesus’ expectation not enough to keep most of us “in line” spiritually? What else is needed to keep you personally on the narrow path to eternal life? Please Read Ephesians 4:25-28 6. Why is one’s relationship with other Christians integral to how one follows Jesus Christ and why do you think these specific areas of interpersonal relationships in the church are mentioned here? Please Read Ephesians 4:29-32 7. How can a mere human being grieve the omnipotent Spirit of God? 8. What are the potential consequences to your spiritual life of grieving the Holy Spirit? Please Read Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:6; Galatians 3:26-27; and I Corinthians 12:12-13. 9. What difference does it make in your life to have the Living God living in you and to have “put on” Jesus? 10. Why do you think it is so difficult to live out the spiritual reality of our salvation in Jesus Christ here on earth? Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:20:50 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=152 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=152&article_id=147 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 2-24-2008 Breaking the Ice: List five things that all of the 2008 US Presidential candidates would agree on. Your Part - Ephesians 4:1-3 1. What are the kinds of things you would expect from someone who was living a life worthy of the calling of Jesus? 2. Why is it important for you to first do a self-assessment before you try to build good relationships with other believers? 3. What’s the relationship between bearing with others in the church and helping keep others accountable for spiritual growth? 4. What strategies have you personally found effective in maintaining peaceful relationships with other Christians? Basis for Oneness – Ephesians 4:4-6 5. List the seven “ones” in these verses which are the foundations for unity in the church. 6. Of these seven core truths of Christianity which have the most consensus in meaning among the Christian community today and why? Which have the least consensus of meaning and why? Tools for Oneness – Ephesians 4:7-11 7. Compare Ephesians 4:7 with I Corinthians 12:4-11. Do you believe every Christian is “gifted” for ministry in the church in some way – why or why not? 8. How can any congregation help people discover and use their spiritual gifts? Use Your Tools for Oneness – Ephesians 12-16 9. What do the verses say the purpose of spiritual leaders in any church is? 10. What are some areas you would like more training in to be more effective in your own ministry? Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:26:19 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=151 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=151&article_id=146 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 2-17-2008 Breaking the Ice: What famous person would you like the opportunity to meet and get to know if you could and why? Read Ephesians 3:1-13 1. What’s your understanding of what the word “revelation” means and how does the apostle Paul use the term in these verses? 2. According to Paul, through whom was the Holy Spirit working to uncover the mystery of Christ in the first century? 3. Here in the 21st century how can you know the mystery and revelation of God? 4. What role did the church have in God’s plans for the world? What role does the church have today in God’s plans? 5. What does it mean to you personally to have bold, confident access to God through Jesus Christ? Read Ephesians 3:14-21 6. List the things Paul prays for the Christians who would read this letter. 7. How does the Holy Spirit strengthen you in the “inner man?” 8. Paul says that Christ dwells in your heart through faith (literally “the faith”). What does He mean? 9. In verse 19, the Paul prays that Christians know the love of Christ which is beyond understanding. How can you know something which is beyond understanding? 10. What role does love play in your ability to know Jesus? Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:02:08 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=150 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=150&article_id=145 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 2-3-2008 Breaking the Ice: In your opinion, how successful are governments at solving racial and religious hostility between citizens? Read Ephesians 2:11-12 1. From your previous studies what was the significance of circumcision to the Jewish people? 2. Read Romans 2:17-29. What is your understanding of “circumcision of the heart?” 3. Why were Gentiles excluded from Israel and without hope? Read Ephesians 2:13-18 4. How did Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection bring Jews and Gentiles together? 5. If Gentiles and Jews are one new people in Jesus Christ what obligations do Christians have today to the nation of Israel or to Jews in general? 6. Read Matthew 5:17-18 & Luke 24:44. If Christ fulfilled and abolished the law then what relevance does the Old Testament have to your life as a Christian? 7. What indications of God in Three Persons or the Trinity are in these passages? Read Ephesians 2:19-22 8. How does God build you together with other Christians into His new temple? 9. If all Christians are part of the same church of Christ then why do they have such a hard time getting along with each other? 10. In your opinion, which groups in our country are hardest to reconcile to each other and why? 11. What can Christians do to promote a spirit of reconciliation among all people? Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:21:36 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=148 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=148&article_id=144 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 1-27-2008 Breaking the Ice: How much influence do you feel you personally have on others to help lead them to Christ and on whom do you feel you have the most influence? Read Ephesians 2:1-3 1. If people apart from Christ are spiritually dead in sin then how do you explain the kindness and decency of some non-Christians? How about the lack of the same in some Christians? 2. What’s your understanding of the way Satan influences people in the world including Christians? 3. Read I John 2:15-17. What do you think makes people sinful by nature? 4. Read Romans 7:1-25. If you agree that you still have a sinful nature as a Christian how do you deal with it? If you don’t agree that you still have a sinful nature as a Christian how do you explain your sins? 5. What does the apostle Paul mean that we were “objects of wrath?” Read Ephesians 2:4-10 6. What are the spiritual things Paul says God does for those who are in Christ in these verses? 7. What does it mean for a Christian to be saved by grace? 8. Read James 2:14-18. What’s the relationship between faith and works? 9. What good works do you think God has prepared you personally to do? 10. How can we keep from becoming conceited about our relationship with Jesus and hardened to the “living dead” around us who are outside of Christ? Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:51:49 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=147 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=147&article_id=143 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 1-20-2008 Breaking the Ice: Share with your group the most powerful demonstration of God’s power you have seen in your own life or in the life of some one you know personally. Read Ephesians 1:15-19 1. Why is love for others a by product of true faith in Jesus Christ? 2. What things does Paul ask the Lord to help these Christians truly understand? 3. According to the Bible how does God reveal Himself to you? Read John 17:3 4. What’s the difference if any in knowing the Lord intellectually and knowing Him emotionally? Read Romans 5:1-5. 5. Discuss what hope means in a New Testament sense and what role the Holy Spirit plays in that hope. Read Nehemiah 8:1-12 and John 5:11. 6. How is the joy of the Lord your strength? 7. Why don’t more Christians experience the joy of the Lord? 8. In Ephesians 1:19-20 the apostle Paul prays that they may know the “surpassing greatness (megathos tes dunameos – megaton dynamite) of His power toward we who believe.” Was this just for Christians then or do you believe it is for us today and why? Read I Corinthians 12:12-31 and Ephesians 4:10-16.9. Many believers today are turned off by “organized” religion. What do you think they mean? 10. How “organized” should the body of Christ be? Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:53:43 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=146 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=146&article_id=142 LIFE Group Discussion Guide Only in Jesus 1-13-2008 Breaking the Ice: Over the past 2000 years followers of Jesus have literally shed each other’s blood over differences in biblical doctrine. How can Christians get along with each other while remaining true to biblical teaching? Read Acts 20:13-37 1. This is the last time Paul would see his friends from Ephesus. What were his concerns for the Christians at Ephesus and those in other areas around it? Several years after the meeting in Acts 20 while imprisoned in Rome Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians. Read Ephesians 1:1-14 2. The concept of “in Christ” is key throughout the letter. According to this passage what things does the one who is “in Christ” have? 3. According to Ephesians 1:13 when were these people included “in Christ?” 4. How does Ephesians 1:13 compare with these few samplings of other scriptures addressing how one is included “in Christ” – or “saved?” Romans 10:8-10; Romans 6:3-8; Acts 2:36-41; Acts 8:35-38. 5. Ephesians 1:13-14 says when a believer is included “in Christ” he is sealed with the Holy Spirit. What’s the connection between the Holy Spirit and water baptism in the following passages: Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 18:18-19:7; I Peter 3:18-22? 6. Ephesians 1:14 says the Holy Spirit a down payment guaranteeing a Christian’s future inheritance. How is the Spirit a down payment and what is the future inheritance? 7. What does the Holy Spirit do for the Christian according to Romans 8:5-17? 8. How do you account for believers in Jesus you know who have yet to be baptized in water and who seem to exhibit the fruits of the Holy Spirit as in Galatians 5:16-26? 9. How do you account for believers in Jesus you know who have been baptized in water yet exhibit none or few of the fruits of the Holy Spirit as in Galatians 5:16-26? 10. How do can you know you are in Christ? Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:49:10 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=145 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=145&article_id=141 LIFE Group Discussion Guide Love One Another 1-6-2008 Breaking the Ice: Share with your group an example you’ve seen recently of someone putting their Christian love in action. Read John 13:34-35 1. If love for one another is the mark of Christians, how do you think we are doing at it? Read I John 4:7-8; 20-21 2. How is experiencing the love of God in Jesus Christ for yourself linked with your ability to love people in your church family? Read Ephesians 4:2-3; Romans 14:1 & 15:5-7 3. Why is unity so hard to maintain in any congregation? 4. What can you personally do to help achieve and maintain it? Read Ephesians 4:25-27 5. These verses seem to link telling the truth to others in your church with how to handle anger. How are the two related? Read Matthew 18:15-17 6. These verses lay out general principles of conflict management between God’s people. How closely do you think most believers follow this scriptural guidance and have you seen this process work? Read II Thessalonians 5:14-15 7. What different approaches does the apostle Paul urge in dealing with others in the church and why the differences? Read Ephesians 4:31-33 & Colossians 3:12-14 8. Why is forgiveness necessary to maintaining loving relationships? 9. How do you balance forgiveness with holding people accountable for their actions? Read II Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 2:15; & Galatians 6:1 10. How are spiritual leaders supposed to show their love for fellow Christians? Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:46:53 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=142 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=142&article_id=138 Sat, 5 Jan 2008 08:11:58 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=141 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=141&article_id=137 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 12-30-2007 Breaking the Ice: Share with your group where you fall within these categories related to planning for the future? a. have written goals and refer to them often throughout the year b. have a general plan for things but nothing written down or specific c. have no real plan for anything but take things as they come d. some other planning method you care to share with the group Read Matthew 6:25-33, Luke 14:28-33, & II Thessalonians 3:6-15 1. What do these verses say about planning and working for the future? Read Isaiah 32:1-8 2. List the comparisons between good and bad in this passage. 3. What are some examples of noble plans and noble deeds? Good planning involves at least the following three things: a. Principles: Are my plans consistent with God’s Word? Read Psalm 119:65-67; 105; 127-128; & 129-130 4. Why do Christians some times plan things which are in opposition to God’s Word? Give an example of one of those things. b. Prayer: Have I asked the Lord to bless my plans? Read James 4:13-16 & II Thessalonians 3:1-2 5. If everything happens according to God’s plans then what’s the use or benefit in praying about your plans? c. Pay Attention to Good Advice: Read Proverbs 15:22 6. How do you know which advice to listen to and which to discard? Read Proverbs 16:9 & 19:21 7. What do these verses tell you about your plans? Read I Corinthians 16:5-12; Romans 15:23-25; and II Corinthians 2:12-13. 8. What do these passages tell you about how the apostle Paul approached planning for the future? 9. Share with your group a time when things worked out or are working out the way you planned and why you think they are. 10. Share with your group a time when the things you planned fell completely apart and why you think they did. Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:26:37 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=140 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=140&article_id=136 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 12-23-2007 Breaking the Ice: What do you think most Americans believe the “Christmas story” is? Read Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38 1. Compare and contrast these two accounts of how Jesus was conceived. 2. What is the most difficult thing for you to understand about the immaculate conception and virgin birth of Christ? Read Luke 2:1-20 3. How was the birth of Jesus good news of great joy for all people? 4. From this reading what do you think Mary understood about who Jesus would be? Read Matthew 2:1-18 5. Judging from Matthew’s account about how old would Jesus have been when the magi or wise men came to worship Him? 6. The story doesn’t say how many wise men came. Where might the tradition of three wise men have come from? 7. There is no indication that the wise men were Hebrews, yet they knew what the star meant; it led them to Jesus; they worshipped Him; and God spoke to them in a dream. What’s the significance, if any, of Matthew including this event in his gospel? 8. The word Christ (Greek) or Messiah (Hebrew) simply means anointed one. What did that title mean to these people? 9. Distill the meaning of Christ’s birth to you into one word. Compare and discuss your groups’ answers. 10. The observance of Christmas as a religious holiday isn’t commanded in the New Testament. In your opinion how should Christians respond to it? Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:37:18 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=139 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=139&article_id=135 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 12-16-2007 Breaking the Ice: Describe a time when you were absolutely sure that what you were about to do was the will of God for your life and tell how you determined that. Read Luke 1:5 - 25 1. What mission did Gabriel say John would have in life? 2. Why did Zechariah have a hard time believing the angel and what happened to him as a result? 3. Why do you think it was necessary for John to accomplish his work before Jesus did His? Read Luke 1:26 - 45 4. List the things Gabriel tells Mary about this child Jesus she would bear. 5. Some people claim that there was nothing miraculous about Mary’s conception. What details in this reading disagree with such views? 6. Elizabeth calls Mary “the mother of my Lord.” What did she mean by that and how does what Elizabeth meant differ with our Catholic friends’ views of Mary? 7. What are the similarities and difference between Elizabeth’s conception of John and Mary’s conception of Jesus? Read Luke 1:46-56 7. What does this song tell you about Mary? Read Luke 1:57-66. 8. What was the significance of Elizabeth and Zechariah insisting that their child be named John? Read Luke 1:67-80 9. Zechariah refers to a horn of salvation from the house of David. How do we know he wasn’t talking about his new son John? 10. How does Zechariah say that God will bring about the salvation of the people? 11. Gabriel’s appearance is a very rare thing in the thousands of years of history covered by the bible. In the absence of a direct angelic appearance how would you advise someone to determine what God expected from them in a given situation? Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:32:17 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=138 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=138&article_id=134 LIFE Group Discussion Guide12-9-2007 Breaking the Ice: List some reasons you think hinder some Christians from sharing their faith and telling other people about Jesus Christ. 1. When did you come to understand that there was such a thing as God and what led you to that conclusion? 2. What do the following scriptures tell you about the existence of God? Hebrews 11:6 and Romans 1:18-20. 3. When did you come to personally believe that the Bible was the word of God? 4. What do the following Bible verses say to you about the word of God? Psalm 199:89-84; Luke 1:1-4; John 20:30-31; Romans 1:16, 10:17; and II Peter 1:13-16. 5. When did you come to believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God? 6. What do the following Bible verses tell you about Jesus Christ? Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:1-2; John 14:6, 23&24; and I Timothy 2:3-6. 7. When did you first come to believe that Christ was crucified, died, and was raised from the dead for your sins? 8. What do the following Bible verses tell you about the gospel? I Corinthians 15:1-11. 9. How did you respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ? 10. What do the following verses tell you about responding to Jesus? I John 5:13; Luke 13:5; Acts 2:37-38; Romans 10:8-11; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 22:1-21; Revelation 2:8-11. Wed, 5 Dec 2007 14:40:34 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=22 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=22&article_id=9 Foreign Mission - Baja Baja Trip Report November 2007 Preparation: Shannon Townley of Providence Road was in charge of organizing the trip. The Newburgh and Providence Road teams were prepared by meeting each Sunday afternoon where details of what to expect were covered. Travel to Vicente Guerrero: The PR team arrived at the San Diego airport on two different flights and John Webster and Brian Ginsburg arrived a day earlier. The Newburgh team arrived on three different flights. Everyone arrived and we were able to get on the Balboa bus on schedule before 1:00pm. Upon arrival at Ensenada, John Webster headed up a group that immediately left for Costco to purchase food. The remaining teams loaded the other vans, plus the trailer for construction. There was a slight delay at Costco and everyone headed south by 4:30pm. The trip was uneventful and we arrived in Vicente Guerrero before 8pm. Friday: This day was dedicated to visitation to the homes of the church members. The day began by sorting meds, purchasing benevolence food packages, sorting the clothes that were taken, and planning the construction. After these tasks were complete, everyone was able to go on benevolence runs, since we used 3 vans. At each home we visited, prayed, and enjoyed the time with the people. After we completed these visits, we spent the rest of the time handing out medical clinic flyers at different locations. We returned to the mission, then went to the church building for our evening activities. Afterwards, we returned to the mission and enjoyed the carne asada that was prepared by Juan and his family. Saturday: This day began with a few of the medical team members going to the church building early to set up for the clinic. The men who remained participated in a Men's Breakfast with the men of the VG church. Gary led a devotional on how Jesus offended the religious, but attracted sinners. After the breakfast, the construction team moved to their first location and the medical team moved to the church building by 8:00am. At 10:00am, Kristi Fowler and Ruthie Sommers conducted the Ladies' Tea at the mission. During the visit by Shannon and Mark a month earlier, they learned that Gerardo and Beatriz's hot water heater had not worked for nearly a year. We purchased a new one and Terry and Rick installed it for them. Shannon, Chris, and Gary went to the propane refiller and filled their tank. All went to the church building for classes and a special program honoring Micaela on her 15th birthday. The entire church then went to the mission to celebrate her Quinceanera. Sunday: Everyone started the day preparing the hot dogs that we served to the church. We went to the church building at 9:00am. After classes and services, we fed everyone hotdogs, chips, and a drink. This was Gerardo and Beatriz's anniversary. We surprised them with two cakes that was shared with the church. We departed for Ensenada around 2:30pm. The trip was uneventful and we arrived at dark. After returning the vans and trailer, we all went out to eat dinner, together. Quinceanera: In this culture, this is a very special celebration. It marks the passage of a young girl from childhood to that of being a young lady. Gary worked with Beatriz to purchase a dress, and all the accessories associated with the celebration. Mike Corona ordered two cakes, enough to feed the entire party of 125 people. The ladies from the church prepared a meal that can best be explained as hominy soup. It was delicious. It was a great time and was appreciated by church members, as well as Micaela. Construction: The primary goal for this trip was to make two houses rainproof. The construction team put tarps over these homes and completed their tasks well ahead of schedule. This freed up Terry and Rick to install the hot water heater at Gerardo and Beatriz's house. Medical Clinic: The medical team saw a record number of people for a one day event. There were over 215 people treated on Saturday. Kathy Willits, Walter Fernandez and Maurie Luecke provided the primary medical services, and went without breaks for the majority of the 8-9 hours the clinic was open. Teaching: The teaching of the people of Vicente Guerrero was accomplished as follows: Teens were taught by Kristen Main, Ashley Collins, and Heather Offerman. The biggest issue with this class was that there was no classrooms they could use. They sat in one of the vans for the class. Ladies were taught about The Significance of Being a Christian by Kristi Fowler, Heather Offerman, and Kaye Collins. Men were taught about The Significance of Being a Christian by Terry Parkinson, Monte Collins, and Steve Offerman. Rick Townley and Armondo Perdoma preached the Friday evening and Sunday morning lessons. Angie Chambers was absolutely unbelievable in her teaching of the children. The morning and evening devotionals for the group were conducted by Mark, Ashley, Shannon, Bailey, George and Gary. God really blessed us. Other comments: There were two baptisms on Sunday. On this trip, we used a computer and projector. It was used to project songs, show a slide show from the summer trip, and a slide show during Micaela's recognition on Saturday evening. This was well received and added a lot to our effectiveness. God has really blessed us, again. We were allowed to go and participate in His work at Vicente Guerrero. Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:40:22 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=53 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=53&article_id=45 Warrick County contact information: http://www.warrickcounty.gov/domestic.violence/dvhelp.html Relationship advice with Joe Beam: http://www.giveandtakeradio.com/ Struggle with sexual addiction: http://www.loveinaction.org/ Homosexuality or lesbianism: http://www.exodus.to/ Disclaimer: We do not control the content of the websites listed on our links pages. The websites listed are ones our members have found helpful or edifying in the past. The fact that they are listed is not an endorsement of their teaching. As always one must view any teaching in light of the scriptures. Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:45:11 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=52&article_id=44 Jim McGuiggan: http://www.jimmcguiggan.com/ Christian Chronicles: http://www.christianchronicles.org/ Christian Literature on the internet GospelCom: Devotionals GospelCom: On-Line Bible (6 versions) Gospelnet.com Heartlight - Daily Internet Magazine Herald of Truth God's Yellow Pages - Topical scripture studies Promise Keepers Bible Study Guides Drama Share - Christian drama theater resources Blue Letter Bible - Commentaries, maps, Greek and Hebrew interlinear, word searches Disclaimer: We do not control the content of the websites listed on our links pages. The websites listed are ones our members have found helpful or edifying in the past. The fact that they are listed is not an endorsement of their teaching. As always one must view any teaching in light of the scriptures. Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:44:37 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=137 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=137&article_id=133 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:59:33 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=136 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=136&article_id=132 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 12-2-20078 Breaking the Ice: Why do you think there are still so many black, white, and Hispanic churches and relatively few completely integrated churches today? Read Acts 15: 1- 3 1. Why do you think that the Jewish Christians from Jerusalem believed Gentile converts to Jesus needed to be circumcised in order to be saved? 2. If it had been simply a matter of the external act of circumcision, Paul and Barnabas might not have argued with the Pharisees about it. What do you think some underlying issues were? 3. Why didn’t the church at Antioch just settle this issue themselves? Read Acts 15: 4 - 11 4. Why do you think the church leaders in Jerusalem had to meet with “much discussion” in considering whether or not to require Gentiles converts to observe the Law of Moses? 5. Peter contrasts the Law of Moses and salvation by grace. What’s the difference between the two? Read Acts 15:12-21 6. According to Peter and James who decided that the gospel should go to the Gentiles? What showed this to be true? 7. James says that they shouldn’t make it difficult for Gentiles turning to God – as in requiring them to observe the Law of Moses. How do we sometimes make it difficult for people turning to God today? 8. What point do you think James is making by saying that Moses has been preached in every city and read in the synagogues on the Sabbath day? Read Acts 15:22 - 29 9. The apostles and leaders in Jerusalem only required four things of the new Gentile converts. Why so few and why these particular things? 10. How do you suppose James and the others knew what “seemed good to the Holy Spirit?” 11. We can’t send folks to Jerusalem today for answers to our spiritual questions. Where should we turn? 12. What does this event teach us about how to maintain unity in the church today? Tue, 20 Nov 2007 10:32:15 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=135 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=135&article_id=131 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 11-18-2007 Breaking the Ice: If the world’s wealth was equally distributed among all people, millions would be lifted out of poverty. Why do you think there are poor people in the world? Read: Leviticus 9:9-10; Exodus 23:10-11; & Deuteronomy 15:7-11 1. Why do you think God instructed the people of Israel to make provisions for the poor and the aliens living among them? 2. Sum up the spiritual principles of these verses in one sentence. 3. How would those principles apply to how we treat illegal aliens in our country today? Read: II Corinthians 9:1-8 4. How can people be encouraged to give without being compelled to give? 5. “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” What implications does this have for your giving? Read: Philippians 2:1-8 6. What should be our motivation as Christians for serving others? Read: Acts 10:1-8 7. What actions of Cornelius prompted God to send an angel to him? Read: I Peter 4:7-11 8. Verse 10 implies that we all have received some gift from God. What do you think yours are? 9. How does using your gift/s “administer God’s grace in its various forms?” Read: Isaiah 58:9-12 10. In the context of God’s teaching His people about fasting what benefits are there to serving others (giving yourself away)? Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:24:58 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=134 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=134&article_id=130 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 11-11-2007 Breaking the Ice: Describe a time when you were part of a group of people who were united in order to accomplish something. Read: John 13:1-16 1. Why did Jesus wash the disciple's feet? 2. What are some practical ways you can follow this example today? Read: John 13:34 3. How should we demonstrate love for each other and how does our relationship with one another in the church effect other people? Read: John 14:1-13 4. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." What did He mean? 5. What implication/s does this section of scripture have for people who follow religions other than Christianity? Read: John 15:1-17 6. Jesus urges His followers to remain in Him. How does He say to do that in the context of this scripture? 7. Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:1-4 record what is commonly called the Lord's prayer. What might be some more accurate titles for this prayer and why? Read: John 17:1-26 8. According to this prayer who has the authority to grant eternal life and how does one obtain it? 9. What statements in this prayer indicate that Jesus is God? 10. What does Jesus pray for God to grant His followers? 11. In your opinion what will it take for Christians to be united in the way Jesus desired? Fri, 9 Nov 2007 07:15:55 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=133 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=133&article_id=129 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 11-11-2007 Breaking the Ice: Describe a time when you were part of a group of people who were united in order to accomplish something. Read: John 13:1-16 1. Why did Jesus wash the disciple's feet? 2. What are some practical ways you can follow this example today? Read: John 13:34 3. How should we demonstrate love for each other and how does our relationship with one another in the church effect other people? Read: John 14:1-13 4. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." What did He mean? 5. What implication/s does this section of scripture have for people who follow religions other than Christianity? Read: John 15:1-17 6. Jesus urges His followers to remain in Him. How does He say to do that in the context of this scripture? 7. Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:1-4 record what is commonly called the Lord's prayer. What might be some more accurate titles for this prayer and why? Read: John 17:1-26 8. According to this prayer who has the authority to grant eternal life and how does one obtain it? 9. What statements in this prayer indicate that Jesus is God? 10. What does Jesus pray for God to grant His followers? 11. In your opinion what will it take for Christians to be united in the way Jesus desired? Thu, 8 Nov 2007 16:07:16 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=131 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=131&article_id=127 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 11-4-2007 Breaking the Ice: Physical Death is an unavoidable experience of life on earth. Share with your group the impact the death of someone you loved had/has on you. Links: Read John 10:22-42. 1. What proof does Jesus offer his detractors that He is the Messiah? 2. What reason did they give for wanting to stone Jesus? 3. Skeptics today say that Jesus never really claimed to be God. What’s the Apostle John’s view in John 1:1-3, & 14 and how would you answer these skeptics? Read John 11:1-16 4. What evidence is there in the New Testament that Jesus didn’t need to be physically present to heal someone? 5. Why did Jesus let his good friend Lazarus die, Lazarus’ sisters go through the grief of his death, and say He was glad He wasn’t there for the death? Read John 11:17-37 6. From what Martha says here, how much do you think she understood about who Jesus really was? 7. What do you think Jesus meant by saying “I am the resurrection and life?” 8. Jesus says those who believe in Him will never die and yet we all do. What did He mean and how do these words comfort you as you consider the death you will one day face? 9. Why do you think Jesus was troubled in spirit (or angry) and wept? Read John 11:38-44 10. How is this miracle even more amazing than the others Jesus performed and what was its impact on the people there? Deep Question. 11. Lazarus was reunited with his dead physical body only to die a physical death again later. Read John 5:24-30; I Corinthians 15:35-58; and I Thessalonians 4:13-18. How do these verses contrast with Lazarus’s resurrection in John 11? Read John 11:45-55 12. What was the reaction of the people present to this event? 13. Why does John say the Jewish rulers would not accept the evidence that Jesus was sent from God? 14. How important is this event to your faith in Jesus’ power as the death slayer? Mon, 5 Nov 2007 12:15:26 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=130 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=130&article_id=126 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 10-28-2007 Breaking the Ice: Describe what your idea of a pastor is and what a pastor does. Foundations: Read John 9:40-41. Jesus’ teaching about the good shepherd in John 10 follows His miracle of healing a man blind from birth in John 9. 1. What question from the Pharisees does Jesus address with His allegory of the Good Shepherd or Noble Pastor? Read John 10:1-6 2. List the characters in this allegory. 3. Why would someone sneak into a sheep pen? 4. Why do the sheep follow their shepherd? 5. Where would a shepherd lead his sheep? 6. Why do you think the Jewish leaders didn’t understand what Jesus was talking about in this story? Read John 10:7-21 7. How is Jesus both the good shepherd and the gate for the sheep pen? 8. To whom do you think Jesus was referring when He said “all who came before me were thieves and robbers?” 9. Jesus said whoever enters through Him will go in and out and find pasture. What do “going in”, “going out”, and “finding pasture” represent? 10. Read Psalm 23. How does this relate to what Jesus says in John 10:10? 11. Read Jeremiah 23:1-4. Who are the hired hands Jesus is speaking of in John 10:11 and what happens to the sheep as a result of their actions? 12. What are some views you have heard about who the “other sheep” are in John 10:16. Which is the most likely explanation for who they are? 13. Read Ephesians 4:1-5. To what does the “one flock” in John 10:16 refer? 14. Read Isaiah 53:4-6 and I Peter 5:6-9. What do sheep need? 15. Read I Peter 5:1-4, Acts 20:25-31, & Ephesians 4:11-13. What do good pastors do for their sheep? 16. Read I Peter 5:5-11. How do good sheep behave? Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:03:41 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=129 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=129&article_id=125 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 10-21-2007 Breaking the Ice: List some things that are associated with darkness in our culture. Read John 7:53 – 8:11 1. These verses are not in the oldest manuscripts of the New Testament and are not quoted by the earliest Christian writers. How should you view this section of John? Read John 8:12 2. Jesus tells people He is the “light of the world.” How do the following scriptures provide a context for Jesus’ claim? Isaiah 42:6-7; 49:6; 60:1-3; 9:1-2; and Matthew 4:12-17. Read John 8:13-30 3. What explanation did the Pharisees give for not accepting what Jesus taught? 4. What explanation did Jesus give for why people should listen to Him? Read John 8:31-47 5. How does the truth Jesus was speaking about set people free? 6. In what ways did these people show that they really weren’t at all like their forefather Abraham? Read John 8:48-59 7. What did Jesus mean that anyone who keeps His word would not see (experience) death? 8. In verse 25 the people asked Jesus, “Who are you?” In verse 53 they ask the question in a different way. What’s the difference? 9. How does what Jesus says in verse 58 relate to John’s stated purpose for writing this gospel in John 20:30-31 and to Isaiah 43:10-13? 10. Why would what Jesus said in verse 58 cause the people to want to stone Him then and there? Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:18:55 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=127 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=127&article_id=123 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 10-14-2007 Breaking the Ice: Describe a time for your group when you were really dehydrated. What happened and how did you feel? Read John 7:1-13 1. Why did Jesus remain in the region of Galilee for so long? 2. Read Deuteronomy 16:13-17; & 31:9-13. Describe the mood and events of the Feast of the Tabernacles. 3. John refers to Jesus’ brothers. Read Matthew 13:55-56 and list the names of Jesus’ half-brothers (His father was the Holy Spirit). How many sisters did He have? 4. Why do you think His brothers didn’t believe in Him? Read John 7:14-25 5. What about Jesus surprised the people who heard Him and why? 6. Some time before this feast Jesus had healed a man lame from birth on a Sabbath day. What was Jesus’ point in comparing their performance of circumcision on the Sabbath to His healing on the Sabbath? Read John 7:25-36 7. Why do you think the crowds in Jerusalem were so confused about who Jesus really was? 8. How is Jesus different from any other so-called religious figure people today follow? 9. What could Jesus mean by “where I am, you can not come?” Read John 7:37-44 10. Historical sources tell us that this feast involved priests pouring water on the altar symbolizing God’s provision of literal water in the wilderness and of spiritual water from the temple in Jerusalem. How does Jesus claim to be the fulfillment of the meaning of this festival? 11. How is the Holy Spirit a stream of living water within a Christian? Read John 7:45-52 12. How did the Jewish leaders feel about the crowd of people they were supposed to be leading spiritually? 13. What was it about Jesus that so incensed them? 14. What seems to bother people most today about Christians and what can you do about it? Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:27:08 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=124 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=124&article_id=120 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 10-7-2007 Breaking the Ice: What one food would you consider a staple of your diet – in other words what do you eat so often you couldn’t do without? Read John 6:1-15 1. What drew the large crowd of people to Jesus? 2. Some scholars have tried to dismiss the feeding of the 5,000 as something other than a miracle. What in John’s gospel tells you that it was a genuine miracle? 3. Read Exodus 16:1-31. What’s the connection between Jesus feeding the 5,000 and God providing manna in the desert? Read John 6:16-24 4. What is miraculous about this event? 5. Read a verse from Matthew’s account 14:33. What is the significance of Jesus telling them not to be afraid – “it is I” – literally “I am.” Read John 6:25-59 6. The people to whom Jesus was speaking were only interested in Him because He gave them a free lunch. How does this compare to what some religious people today expect from Jesus? 7. What kind of work did Jesus say was required to do God’s work? 8. How exactly does one “eat of Jesus’ flesh” and “drink of His blood?” 9. How did the people react to Jesus’ sermon? 10. How do we reach our culture for Jesus while not diluting the gospel so that it becomes inoffensive and ineffective? Read John 6: 60-69 11. Why didn’t the 12 abandon Jesus like many of the others? 12. What does it mean to you that Jesus has “the words of eternal life?” Thu, 4 Oct 2007 13:00:19 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=123 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=123&article_id=119 Simple, New Testament Christianity The Newburgh church of Christ is an independent congregation of Christians trying to follow Jesus Christ according to the New Testament. We have no church authority beyond the Bible. Our leaders are chosen from the congregation according to the qualifications found in Scripture. We believe that all Christians are members of the one body of Christ and that we can be united spiritually if we return to biblical teachings. Our goal is to be Christians only while recognizing that we are not the only Christians. Our faith and worship are drawn from our understanding of the New Testament. We meet together on Sundays to remember Jesus in the Lord's Supper, pray, sing, and hear a message from the Bible. Our commitment to two practices of the first century church distinguishes us from some groups of believers today: a cappella singing in worship and adult immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins as a believer's response to the gracious work of God. We consider ourselves a part of a larger fellowship of New Testament congregations, all which grew out of the Restoration Movement in the US in the 1800's. Their premises were "Speak where the Bible speaks; remain silent where the Bible is silent," and "In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; and in all things, charity." The Newburgh church of Christ first met as a congregation in the early 1990s at Camp Brosend in Newburgh. Later it met for a time at the Seventh Day Adventist facilities in Newburgh. In the mid-1990s the congregation purchased and renovated its current facility - a former barbeque restaurant - at 5111 S. Plaza Dr. in Newburgh (two blocks east of SR261 off Robin Hill Rd.). The auditorium seats 250. While we look to the past in the New Testament for our guidance we work now to help people and look forward to when Jesus comes again. The congregation is dedicated to foreign mission work having sponsored missionaries all over the world. Since 2004 the Newburgh church of Christ has been involved in mission work in Vicente Guerrero on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. In 2007 we sent three teams including members from our own congregation, other churches of Christ, and other churches in the Evansville area. We conducted medical clinics, handed out food packages, taught adult and children's bible classes, and helped build a new bathroom facility for the church building. In addition to sending mission teams to build relationships with our Mexican brothers and sisters in Christ in person we also provide annual financial support to the full-time minister for the congregation there. Locally, in 2007 the Newburgh church of Christ gave more than $30,000 towards and provided the bulk of the labor for a Habitat for Humanity home in Chandler, IN. Nearly half the members of the congregation worked on the Habitat house at some time over the course of the build. In response to the November 2005 tornado which hit Evansville and Newburgh, the congregation in conjunction with the churches of Christ Disaster Relief, Inc. of Nashville, TN donated 24 sets of brand new refrigerators, washers & dryers, and electric ranges to tornado victims. We maintain an interactive website at www.newburghchurch.org where one can watch our services streamed live at 10:30am on Sundays or archived on line. Our Senior Minister since 2005 is Paul DeHart and he can be reached for further information at 812.858.0181 or via email at pauld@newburghchurch.org. Thu, 4 Oct 2007 07:55:19 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=122 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=122&article_id=118 www.acappella.org Mon, 1 Oct 2007 19:57:14 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=117 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=117&article_id=113 Sat, 29 Sep 2007 18:37:39 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=44 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=44&article_id=30 Our purpose is to clasp the feet of Jesus and worship Him like the ladies in Matthew 28. Our goals are:1. Relevance – to meet the needs of this church. 2. Environment – a worshipful attitude. 3. We need to plan some special services. 4. People sharing – we need testimonies giving people role models for expressing our faith. 5. We need to be based in the scripture. 6. We need planned spontaneity. 7. We need more involvement of people. . Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:25:42 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=119 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=119&article_id=115 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 9-30-2007 Breaking the Ice: Describe a time when you were in court either as a defendant, witness, or jury member. Foundations: Read John 5:16-47 1. John 5:1-15 describes Jesus healing a man at the pool of Bethesda on a Sabbath day. From the reaction recorded in John 5:16-18 what objections did the Jewish leaders have to Jesus performing this miracle? 2. To what did the Jewish leaders look for their religious authority? 3. To what kinds of things do people look for religious authority in their lives today? 4. What specific areas does Jesus say in John 5 that God the Father has given Him authority over? 5. What testimony does Jesus provide for this authority? 6. What is the difference between thinking one has eternal life by studying the scriptures and having eternal life by coming to Jesus? 7. So, what place does Bible study have in your salvation and life in Christ? 8. What was it about these Jewish leaders which caused Jesus to tell them they didn’t have the love of God in their hearts? 9. How can religious teachings get in the way of seeing the real Jesus? 10. Read Romans 14:9-12; Philippians 2:9-11; Daniel 7:13-14; John 12:42-50; and Revelation 20:11-15. What do these verses tell you about your future? Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:14:11 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=116 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=116&article_id=112 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 9-23-2007 Breaking the Ice: Each member of your group list the first three images that come to mind in response to the word “water.” Combine lists to come up with the top three images for your group. Foundations: Read John 4:1-42 1. Jesus chose to go through rather than around Samaria. Jews and Samaritans hated one another. Share with the group what you know about why. 2. List some racial or religious groups today where a similar animosity between them exists. 3. What are some possible reasons the woman in this story came to the well alone? 4. What clues in this story reveal that it was unusual for Jesus to be talking with this woman? 5. Jesus offered her “living water.” What did he mean? 6. How does Jesus get through to this woman? 7. What do you think is significant about Jesus revealing to a Samaritan woman that He is the Messiah? 8. What was Jesus’ message to his disciples when they came back from buying food and why do you think they needed to hear that? 9. What happened as a result of this woman’s encounter with Jesus? 10. Nicodemus represented religious people who needed to be born again. Whom do you think this woman represents spiritually? 11. Who were you more like when you met Jesus - Nicodemus or the woman at the well? Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:44:27 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=114 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=114&article_id=110 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 9-16-2007 Breaking the Ice: Why do you think the term “born again” Christian has become so popular in America since the 1970s? Foundations: Read John 3:1-22 1. What are some reasons you’ve heard why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night? Which of these makes the most sense to you? 2. From John 3:2 what would you say Nicodemus’ initial attitude towards Jesus was? 3. Why do you think Jesus opened his dialog with Nicodemus by what He said in John 3:3? 4. What attitude do you think Nicodemus’ question to Jesus in John 3:4 reveals about himself? 5. Why do you think Jesus tells Nicodemus he shouldn’t be surprised or marvel when Jesus said “you must be born again?” 6. According to Jesus in John 3 what does the Holy Spirit have to do with rebirth? 7. What are some possible meanings of the phrase “born of the water and the Spirit” in John 3:5? Explain which makes most sense to you. 8. Read John 7:37-52 & 19:38-42. How had Nicodemus changed from his meeting with Jesus in John 3? 9. Read Numbers 21:4-9 and explain why Jesus alluded to this in John 3:14-15. 10. List all the action verbs in John 3:16-18. Which apply to God and which apply to you? Fri, 14 Sep 2007 07:54:00 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=112 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=112&article_id=108 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 9-9-2007 Breaking the Ice: What's the hardest thing for you to understand about Jesus? Foundations: Read John 1:1-18; 20:30-31 1. Compare the reasons John and Luke give for writing their gospels in John 20:30-31 and Luke 1:1-4. What’s similar and what is different? 2. John begins his gospel by referring to Jesus as the Word (logos in Greek). What similarities do you see between John 1:1-3 and Genesis 1:1-3? 3. Read Hebrews 4:12-13. How could logos translated “word” in this passage be considered a reference to Jesus? 4. Read Hebrews 1:1-3. How does the Son (Jesus) hold all things in the universe together? 5. Read John 6:66-69. Why does Peter say he won’t leave Jesus? 6. List the “was statements” about Jesus in John 1:1-3. 7. Read John 8:56-59 and John 10:30-33. What was the reason the Jews wanted to kill Jesus according to these passages? 8. Read I John 4:2-3. Why do you think it was so important to emphasize that Jesus actually became a human - came in the flesh? 9. What makes Jesus different from the founders of other religions people follow today? 10. Why do you think there is so much confusion today in the world today about who Jesus was/is and why He came to earth? Fri, 7 Sep 2007 14:00:49 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=109 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=109&article_id=105 9-2-2007 Breaking the Ice: Tell the group who your favorite artist is and what you like about his/her work. Foundations: Read Ephesians 2:10 & Philippians 1:6 1. Ephesians 2:10 tells you that you are God’s workmanship, His poem to the world, created in Christ Jesus for what purpose? In His 2002 book The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren lists five areas in which God shapes you to fulfill His purposes for your life. These are: Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. 2. Read 1 Peter 4:10. What according to the apostle Peter is the purpose of any spiritual gifts which God has given you? 3. Read Romans 12:3-8. List the gifts mentioned in this scripture. What is the Lord’s purpose for these gifts? 4. Read Ephesians 4:7-16. According to this section of scripture why did Jesus give apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to the church? 5. If you had absolutely no limitations and could serve the Lord in any one area or in any capacity what would it be? 6. Read Colossians 3:23. Warren and Erik Rees author of the 2006 book S.H.A.P.E. both contend that we are most effective serving the Lord in areas we have a passion or heart for? Do you agree or disagree and why? 7. List at least three of what you would consider your natural abilities. 8. How can you use these abilities to serve the Lord? 9. Read Acts 15:36-41. From this passage and whatever else you recall reading in scripture about these two men, describe the differences in their personality traits. 10. When you are converted to Christ does He change your basic personality? Defend your answer. 11. Read II Corinthians 1:4. Why does this passage say God comforts us when we experience suffering? Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:11:31 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=108 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=108&article_id=104 LIFE Group Discussion Guide 8-26-2007 Breaking the Ice: Tell your group about a person whose faith you admire and how they inspire/d you. Foundations: Read Hebrews 11:1-2 & 8-12 1. Why can you be sure of what you hope for and certain of what you don’t see in terms of God’s work in your life? 2. The Lord told Abram to go to a place he had never been. Describe a time in your life when you stepped out on faith not knowing the final outcome, but trusting God would take care of you. 3. Why do you think the Lord doesn’t speak directly to all believers as He did to Abram? 4. Read John 20:24-29. How are those of us who believe though we have not seen blessed? 5. Read Genesis 15:1- 6. Abram believed the impossible – his wife who was past menopause could become pregnant and have a child. What is happening in your life today that seems impossible for God to deal with? 6. Read Romans 8:28. How do you think that God “works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose?” (NIV) 7. How do you comfort a person in the midst of a tragedy when they can’t see anything but grief and despair? 8. Read Revelation 2:8-11. What is the central message of Jesus to the Christians at Smyrna and what does this say to you? 9. Read Genesis 22:1-18. Why do you think God tests our faith? 10. Read John 20:30-31. What does this passage say to you about your faith in Jesus? Thu, 23 Aug 2007 11:43:44 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=107 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=107&article_id=103 LIFE Group Discussion GuideBreaking the Ice: What would you say the average non-Christian thinks the church in America’s role in society should be? What do they think the church should not be doing? Foundations: Read Matthew 22:37-40 & Matthew 28:18-20. These are referred to as the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. 1. In his 1995 book The Purpose Drive Church Rick Warren said that “a great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission builds a great church!” From these verses Warren highlights five purposes of the church. What are these five purposes? 2. Read Romans 12:1-2. In what ways is worship more that just what Christians do together on Sunday mornings? 3. Why do you think instructions about how to worship God together are so much less specific in the New Testament compared to the Old Testament? 4. Why is or is it not important to follow the New Testament in deciding how to worship God together? 5. Read Ephesians 2:10. Where does most ministry occur and give some examples. 6. Evangelism means sharing good news. Why do you think telling other people about Jesus is so hard for many Christians? 7. Read Psalms 133. Fellowship is another one of those overused religious words which carries little meaning to those who don’t attend church. What are some other words for this and why is it an important purpose of the church? 8. Read Colossians 1:28. What do you think are the most effective ways of turning immature Christians into mature followers of Jesus? 9. What happens if a church does not balance its various purposes? 10. Which of the five purposes of the church do you think your congregation is best at and needs the most improvement in Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:40:34 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=106 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=106&article_id=102 LIFE Group Discussion GuideBreaking the Ice: On a scale of one to ten – one being the least confident and ten being the most – how confident are you that you could tell someone from the scriptures why they need to be a Christian and how they become one? Have everyone respond. 1. List the things that the average America thinks of when they hear the word “church.” Would you say the word is considered to be positive or negative and why? 2. The word in the New Testament translated as “church” in English is ekklesia – which simply means a gathering, an assembly, a congregation of people. What does the word itself say about us as Christians? 3. Ekklesia is used in two ways in the NT. One way is used to describe all those people who belong to Jesus anywhere. Read Ephesians 4:4-6. What does Paul mean that there is just one body - one church? 4. Ekklesia is also used to describe Christians meeting together in a local area. List some names the bible uses to describe the local churches. Does the name a congregation calls itself matter and why or why not? 5. Read Acts 2:22-37. When these people heard what they did to Jesus what did they want to know? 6. Read Acts 2:38-48. How were the people told to respond? What happened to those who accepted the message? 7. Read Mark 16:15 - 16. What response does Jesus command? 8. Read Joshua 6:1-20 and Hebrews 11:30. How did the people’s faith relate to their actions? Would the walls have fallen if they hadn’t obeyed? Support your answer. 9. Read Acts 8:26-40. What are some reasons the Ethiopian official might ask to be baptized? 10. What are the dominant views of water baptism in America today? Which of these makes most sense to you according to scripture and why? Fri, 10 Aug 2007 08:56:55 MST http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=105 http://www.newburghchurch.org/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=105&article_id=101 LIFE Group Discussion Guide Proverbs Series Lesson 10 7-29 & 8-1-2007 Breaking the Ice. Why do you think there are so many religions in the world? 1. What are the biggest influences on a person’s weltanschauung – worldview? 2. Describe what you know about Humanism and discuss what influence you think it has on our culture. 3. According to a 2005 Harris poll 82% of Americans believe in a God and 70% believe that Jesus is the son of God. What does this say about American society to you? 4. Read Job 28:20-28. How does Job make sense of the tragic events in his life? 5. Read Ecclesiastes 3:11. What do you think Solomon meant when he said that God “set eternity in the hearts of men” (NIV)? 6. Read Proverbs 3:5; 16:25; and Jeremiah 17:5-10. What do these verses tell you about your own abilities to discern spiritual things? 7. The following scriptures teach that there is only one God: Joshua 24:14-24; Isaiah 43:10-13; and Jeremiah 9:23-24. As followers YHWH or the LORD in most translations, just how tolerant should we be of other religions? 8. Proverbs 17:3 and Hebrews 11:6 tell us that the LORD knows when we are seeking Him in our hearts. So why don’t more people find Him? 9. Read John 12:44-50. By what standard will we be judged? 10. Why are so many Christians today apathetic about seriously studying the Bible? 11. Read Proverbs 15:22. Discuss whom you go to for spiritual guidance. 12. Why do you think there is so much confusion about how the Holy Spirit works in our lives? 13. Read Colossians 1:9-14 and I Corinthians 2:11-12. What do these verses say about the Holy Spirit in your life? 14. According to Acts 15:28-29; 16:6-10; 22:22-23, how did the Spirit work in the life of the early church? 15. Read Acts 14:27; I Corinthians 16:8-8; II Corinthians 2:12-13; and Colossians 4:2-3. Discuss the concept of “open doors.” Thu, 2 Aug 2007 10:30:14 MST