Resources

Suffering Glory Hebrews 5 & 6 Joel Miles April 21, 2024 With a friend, your family or in your small group, discuss the following questions: Read Hebrews 5:11. What is this verse referring to? In other words, what does the context tell us the author to the Hebrews desires to expand on? Why is the author hesitant to expand on what he has just said? Read Hebrews 5:11-14. What do these verses show us the author believes should be happening for those who are followers of Jesus? How does 6:1-3 continue the point the author has been making? What are these “foundational” teachings referring to? In light of what you discussed concerning 5:11, what does it mean to “move beyond” or “be taken forward to maturity”? Why is it important to see that the author is calling the readers toward a deeper encounter with God? Read 6:4-8. The word we translate as “fall away” literally means “to fail to follow through on a commitment.” In context, it seems to make the most sense that the “failed commitment” is through the readers unwillingness to “mature” toward a deeper encounter with Jesus. How does this help us understand these verses? How does it show us the importance of continually seeking to mature and be more deeply formed? Read Hebrews 6:9-12. What is the authors hope for the readers? Is this something you are willing to commit to? How can you as a group encourage one another to be more deeply formed to encounter Jesus? Read Hebrews 6:13-20. How does this give us hope? How does this show us it is worth seeking to mature and grow? Spend time in prayer together to be able to mature and grow in our love and experience of God.

Suffering Glory Luke 24 Joel Kelsey April 14, 2024 With a friend, your family or in your small group, discuss the following questions: The disciples were doubting Jesus, yet still gathered together. What do you do when you face times of doubt? What do we gain by sharing our doubts with others, how does it impact ourselves and others? Read John 20:29. In Luke 24:39, Jesus offers up his pierced hands and feet to the disciples to reassure their doubts. How does God reassure your faith and doubts when you aren’t able to physically see his pierced hands or feet? Jesus mentions how He is hungry in front of His disciples. Why do you think Luke included this detail? What does it mean for Jesus to have a resurrected physical body? How do we balance the vertical aspect of our faith, praising and worshipping God, with the horizontal aspect of our faith, loving our neighbours? Is there a perfect balance? Are there seasons you focus more on than the other? Where do you feel like you’re scattered at the moment? Where is a place you feel God is called you to be a life-giving and transformative presence?