Friday Night Session

Title: “Gospel Grit”
Text: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Discussion Questions

1. Share how long you’ve been in the faith. Where do you find yourself right now—growing, remaining steady, or fading? What do you think, good or bad, has contributed to your current spiritual state?

2. In our call to endure, we are to always abound in the work of the Lord. In other words, even when we’re trying to get through hard times, we are to remain outward facing and others-centered. What are your initial feelings about that counsel? What has your response looked like in the past? Is your pattern and practice turning inward or outward? Share.

3. We are to endure and abound because of the wonderful reality of Jesus’ resurrection. Is the resurrection central to your gospel? Is it central to your endurance? If not, what is? And what aspects of resurrection stood out to you that will encourage you to endure? Share.

Saturday Morning Session

Title: “Learning to Die and Rise with Jesus”
Text: Philippians 3:10

Discussion Questions

1. When it comes to knowing Jesus, what has been the conservative approach? What has been the charismatic approach? What has been your approach?

2. The Apostle Paul says we come to know Jesus by reenacting the gospel—dying and rising with Jesus. Suffering like Jesus is an invitation to know Jesus. In what ways is Jesus drawing you into the fellowship of his sufferings in marriage/family, church/ministry, work, or relationships/friendships?

3. On the other side of suffering is resurrection power. We die to ourselves knowing there is life on the other side. Share with your group a time in which suffering and dying like Jesus led to resurrection life (e.g. personal transformation, strengthening relationships, redeeming a situation).

Saturday Night Session

Title: “Living in the Mustard Seed Kingdom”
Text: Mark 4:30-32

Discussion Questions

1. What in your life feels frustratingly slow, small, and hidden? And what kinds of struggles follow as a result? Share.

2. Jesus was a mustard seed King. As we meditated on Jesus’ life, was there anything about Jesus’ mustard seed life that stood out and made you reflect on your own? Share.

3. If we are followers of Jesus, our life has a mustard seed-shaped storyline. What kind of storyline have we been quietly hoping for? How does the mustard seed Kingdom we live in radically change how we look and respond to “the slow, small, and hidden” of our lives? And reflecting on your life or even the lives of others, have you already seen mustard seed moments of God working mysteriously and miraculously through the small and hidden? Share.