April’s readings from the gospel of Mark bring us to the final week of Jesus’ life. We have just recently recounted some of these events with Easter in the last few days, but I encourage you to spend time reading through these texts as a group together in the coming weeks. Reflect anew on their meaning for us as you read of these final moments. In these texts there is difficult teaching. There is great anticipation. There is heartbreak and there is betrayal. Go with Jesus into Jerusalem and be blessed!
Author: jimblack99
March
Happy Springtime… almost! With March will come the arrival of some warmer weather and a great opportunity for our small groups to get creative about finding great outdoor meeting spots. You might meet outside under your patio, a park or back at the church building. We continue our reading through Mark’s gospel, this month in chapters 7 thru 10 and we’ll find Jesus making his way steadily towards Jerusalem for the final time.
February 2021
Happy February! Guys, don’t forget that Valentines day is in two weeks right in the middle of the month, in case you needed a reminder.
This month our groups move into the heart of Mark’s gospel. Jesus is teaching in parables which are rich with meaning. He is performing miracles and demonstrating the power of God at every turn. He also experiences some difficult moments, being run out his home town and sending his disciples off on mission. Every parent of older children know what it is like sending them out for the first time. Wonder if Jesus felt anything similar? And we also learn of what happened to John the Baptist in this section.
I encourage our groups to look for creative ways to be meeting, especially if you’re not meeting in person. I hope this study guide will give you just enough structure for you to have a productive conversation in your groups without stifling the various insights from members of your group too much!
God bless,
Jim
January 2021
We are kicking off the new year and a new season of Service Groups with a deep dive into the gospel of Mark! Jim will be preaching through Mark later in the year, but we are encouraging our groups to journey through this short but exciting gospel together over the next several weeks. We will be using the “Discovery Bible Study” as a method for our discussions and posting study guides (like the one below) monthly.
Check back for monthly discussion guides & resources!
What is “the Discovery Bible Study?”
Introductions from The Bible Project
December- the virtue of EXCELLENCE
In many ways discussing the virtue of excellence encapsulates all that we have been studying this year in our endeavor to grow into the character of Jesus. Virtue, itself, can be defined as “moral excellence.” As a virtue of Jesus, excellence is the quality of being outstanding or extremely good. In his benevolence to us, God gave us his very best, his one and only Son… a lamb without blemish or defect. Indeed, Jesus is that sinless lamb of God given for the sin of the world. As God gave us his very best, we owe him no less than our very best.
Yet, it is all-too-easy to fall into the trap of “just getting by” or, when it comes to church, “going thru the motions.” We want to avoid the trap of mediocrity by always endeavoring to put our faith into practice with the very best of our efforts… to excel in all things (2 Cor 8:7). This month we want to “up our game” and talk about ways we can give to the Lord our very best and put our faith into action with an even greater degree of excellence!
Discussion Guides:
November- Gratitude
Gratitude is the virtue of being thankful and ready to show appreciation for (and to return) kindness. There are two essential components: (1) that feeling of warmth and appreciation for a person or thing and (2) the expression of that appreciation to that person (or to God).
This month our groups are discussing the virtue of gratitude, a virtue demonstrated not only in the life of Jesus, but also throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments.
What are you most thankful for? Have you expressed your appreciation to the appropriate person… or to God?
Children’s Activities:
Service Group discussion guides:
October- Generosity
Generosity we defined as the virtue of giving good things to others freely, and abundantly. The two key components of that are, one, the giving of GOOD things. It doesn’t have to be money. It can be time, energy, support or any number of good things. Two, it is given “freely and abundantly,” no strings attached and without expectation of anything in return.
Children’s Devotions:
Group Discussion Guides:
September- Creativity
For the month of September we are focusing on the character virtue of creativity… often demonstrated in Jesus’ unique way of teaching, the parable. Join us this month as we endeavor to be more like Jesus in creatively teaching God’s truth and sharing his good news message with our community.
Children’s Devotionals:
Service Group Devotional:
August- Steadfastness
Steadfastness is the virtue of being fixed in direction, firm in purpose, unwavering, resolute in faith.; steady; solid; unshakeable; unflappable! I love Aesop’s story of the tortoise and the hare! Who would have thought, at the beginning of their race, that it would be the slow and steady tortoise crossing that finish line first? The hare was so much more talented, so much faster and so… distracted by the things of the world (not to mention his own hubris!)
This month, we are challenging ourselves with the pursuit of the virtue of steadfastness. Join us!
Children’s Activities:
Service Group Discussion Guides:
July- Courage
As we continue our exploration into the character traits of Jesus in order that we might increase our impact on our own community, this month we turn to the virtue of COURAGE.
Service Group Discussions:
Children’s Lessons:
Growing in Word & Prayer 