Know Grow Show

Journey Songs: A song to lead you to worship

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
To listen on your favourite podcast provider (Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google) visit knowgrowshow.ca and click on the podcast tab.
 
The Passage: Psalm 122
The One Thing: A song to lead you to worship
 
Discussion Questions
How did God speak to you through today’s message? 
What are the challenges to experiencing Christian community together at the moment? How can we have fellowship within the current restrictions? 
Place yourself in Psalm 122. Which of the following best describes your current location? 
At the city gates, unsure how to proceed, waiting for someone to bring you along with them? (v1-2) 
Worshipping God for His character and faithfulness along with other Christians (v3-5) 
Actively praying for God's Kingdom (His peace, security and goodness) to come in its fullness in your life and throughout earth (v6-9) 
Think of someone you know who needs YOU to say to them "Let us go to the house of the Lord"? How can you bring them along with you and experience God together? 

A song to lead you through vulnerability (Journey Songs)

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
To listen on your favourite podcast provider (Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google) visit knowgrowshow.ca and click on the podcast tab.
 
Church 414 Conversation Starters 
The Passage 
Psalm 121 
The One Thing 
A song to guide through vulnerability 
414 Cluster Discussion Starters 
Dan said "When we feel vulnerable: were conflicted: we want to protect ourselves, but at the same time we want to know that we’re not alone”. How have you seen this tension play out in your own life? 
How do you need to know God in this moment? As the one who will not let your foot slip (121:3), as the one who is your shade at your right hand (121:5) or as the one who will keep you from all harm? (121:7)? Why is this important to you right now? 
The idea of “God watching over” occurs 5 times in this Psalm. As God watches over you, what expression does He have? 

A song to lead you through battle (Journey Songs)

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
To listen on your favourite podcast provider (Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google) visit knowgrowshow.ca and click on the podcast tab.
 
The Passage: Psalm 120
The One Thing: A song to lead you through battle
Have you experienced “Surge capacity depletion” during Covid? (surge capacity refers to internal physical and emotional systems that humans draw on for survival in emergencies). If so, how has it impacted you?
Erwin McManus says “The peace that your soul longs for is the very peace the world needs”. What do you think he means? Do you agree with him?
Dan said “Community is the refusal to struggle alone” What sort of things are you tempted to struggle alone with?

Remembering Leads to Worship (Journey Songs)

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
To listen on your favourite podcast provider (Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google) visit knowgrowshow.ca and click on the podcast tab.
 
The Passage: 2 Corinthians 33:4,7, Psalm 126:3
The One Thing: Remembering leads to worship.
Discussion Questions
Think of a “mountain top memory” from this past year.
Think of a “valley bottom memory” from this past year.
Dan talked of 2 Corinthians 3:4, 7 as God’s verse for him for now. “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way… in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left.”. What do you think these weapons of righteousness are and why are they important?

3P Spiritual Priorities

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
To listen on your favourite podcast provider (Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google) visit knowgrowshow.ca and click on the podcast tab.
 
This message is the message that God has given our National Superintendent, Dr Stephen Elliott for this moment for the Wesleyan Church. 
 

Esther - Know whose you are. Know why you are.

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
To listen on your favourite podcast provider (Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google) visit knowgrowshow.ca and click on the podcast tab.
The Passage
Esther 4:12-17; Psalm 86:11
The One Thing
Know whose you are. Know why you are.
Growgroup questions
Know
K1 As we’ve journeyed through Esther together, what is one thing that you feel God has been saying to you?
Grow
G1 The “one thing” for today is “Know whose you are. Know why you are”. Why is so vital to discover whose you are before knowing why you are?
G2 Compare Esther’s words in 4:11 with Esther’s words in 4:16. Look at what she says and how she says it. What has changed? What was it that Mordecai said that brought about such a transformation?
G3 Why is it so much easier to accept the status quo than it is to be an agent of change? What are the ways that Christians can get activated for God’s work?
G4 In verse 14 Mordecai could have said “I know that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this”. Why is it key that instead he said “who knows”?
G5 What do you think of our decision as a church to keep the building closed to large gatherings until Dec 1st at the earliest (unless something major changes)? What do you think about the vision of Church 414? How can Esther 4:14 speak to us a church in this time?
Show
S1 Go back over your life and notice the circumstances or coincidences that have led you to where you are now. And ask God “could it be that I have come to this position (this place, this time) for such a time as this?” Listen to what He says to you.
S2 Pray for wisdom for the leadership of Cornerstone, and for the people of Cornerstone as we take the step of faith of Church 414. Ask God how He wants you to be involved.

Esther - Know what hill you're willing to die on

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
To listen on your favourite podcast provider (Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google) visit knowgrowshow.ca and click on the podcast tab.
The One Thing
Know the hill you’re willing to die on.
Scriptures
Esther 3:2; Psalm 115:3,16; Daniel 10:10-14; Ephesians 6:12-13; Ephesians 5:15-19; 1 Thess. 4:3-4; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; 1 Tim. 2:3-4; Micah 6:8; 2 Tim 3:10-12; Luke 14:26-33.
Know
K1 Think of an example of someone either in your life, in the news, in the Bible or in history who has believed strongly enough in something to die for that belief. Share what you know about that person.
Grow
G1 Esther 3:1-4. Why do you think that not bowing down to Haman was the hill that Mordecai was willing to die on? Do you agree with his decision?
G2 Daniel 10:10-14. What do we learn about (a) the spiritual realm and (b) the physical realm from this interaction between the Demon Prince of the Kingdom of Persia and the angels? How should this passage change how we live?
G3 What do you think is harder: to die for Jesus or to live a long and faithful life for Jesus?
G4 Martin Luther King said “No one really knows why they are alive until they know what they'd die for”. Would you be willing to die for your faith? Can someone be a Christian without being willing to die for Jesus? Explain your answer, using scripture if possible.
G5 Don’t be afraid and don’t forget that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37-39).
Show
S1 Start praying this next week for God to give you the eyes of discernment to see what is really going on in the world around you – whether it’s in your home, in the grocery store, in politics. And start praying in faith for God to breakthrough in power and for His will to be done.

Esther - Get serious with sin

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
To listen on your favourite podcast provider (Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google) visit knowgrowshow.ca and click on the podcast tab.
The Passages: Exodus 17:8; Deut. 25:17-19; 1 Sam. 15:1-3,9; Gal. 6:7; Esther 3:5-11; 1 John 2:1; Rom. 6:13-14; 2 Cor. 5:21;  
The One Thing: Get serious with sin
Know
K1 Have you ever been part of, or witnessed, a generational feud? What started it?
Grow
G1 Haman, "the enemy of the Jews” (3:10) is referred to as “that Jew” (5:13). In what ways is this similar or different to the kind of language being used today in the media and society?
G2 How important do you think it is to know the back story of the Exodus, the Amalekites and Saul to appreciate the message of Esther? Could God speak to us through this book even if we didn’t know all this?
G3 Esther 3:5-6 shows that Haman’s decision to wipe out the Jews was the result of Mordecai not honouring him. Why didn’t Mordecai just bow down? What would you have done in his place?
G4 Let’s back up to Saul. Read 1 Sam 15:7-11. Why do you think Saul spared Agag? What would you have done in Saul’s place? What if someone had told you what the consequences of your actions would be in Susa 500 years later?
G5 In what ways are we tempted to be soft on sin in our own lives? Do you believe that there can be generational consequences to someone’s sin? What would be an example of this?
G6 Mordecai’s six incredible u-turns included
Honour (6:11)
Justice (7:10)
Influence (10:3)
Authority (8:2)
Inheritance (8:2)
Prestige (1:6, 8:15)
How do we see these U-turns apply to us at the cross?
Show
S1 Read 1 John 2:1. This verse contains both a “Warning” against sinning and a “Way Back” from sin. Which applies to you right now? Is God warning you? Is He reminding you of the way back? Listen to Him.

Esther: Do what's right. Not what's easy.

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
To listen on your favourite podcast provider (Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google) visit knowgrowshow.ca and click on the podcast tab.
The Passage
Esther 1:9-22, Matthew 10:22, Ephesians 5:21-26, Galatians 5:19, Malachi 2:16, John 10:10, Hebrews 12:1-3, Galatians 6:8-9.                    
The One Thing
Lessons from Vashti: Do what is right. Not what is easy.
grapple and grow questions
Know
K1 Think of a time when you did the easy thing rather than the right thing? Then think about a time you did the right thing instead of the easy thing?
Grow
G1 What clues can we glean about Vashti’s character from Esther 1? What kind of a person was she?
G2 Consider what Vashti went through. Why might Vashti question the idea that God is in control.
G3 How can the idea of “God is in control” be a comfort to people going through hard times? Are there ways that the idea “God is in control” has the opposite effect? Is there another phrase we could use that would be communicate more accurately the way God interacts with this world He created?
G4 Read Matthew 10:22 – Why is standing firm so important in following Jesus? And why is standing firm so difficult?
G5 Dan talked about 2 chess players: the first always won because he played both sides of the chess board. I.e. he couldn’t lose. The other used his wisdom and skill and defeat a never-ending line of opponents. Which would you be more impressed with? How might this illustration be helpful in understand what God’s “sovereignty” looks like? How does the cross show us a God who is wins the ultimate victory, but not simply by “playing both sides of the chess board”?
G6 Our series is called “Carving a legacy from chaos”. What would you say is Vashti’s legacy?
Show
If you identify with Vashti, read Hebrews 12:1-3 and Galatians 6:8-9 and listen to what God says to you.

Esther - Admit your brokenness. God can make you beautiful.

Weekly Podcast from Cornerstone Church, North Gower, Ontario. 
www.knowgrowshow.ca
 
To listen on your favourite podcast provider (Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google) visit knowgrowshow.ca and click on the podcast tab.
Grapple and Grow: Family Discussion
The One Thing: Admit your brokenness. God can make you beautiful (Lessons from Xerxes)
The Passage: Isaiah 61:1-3, Esther 3:7-10, Psalm 1, 1 Cor 15:33-34, James 1:19-21, Romans 3:23-24
Know
K1 Have you ever had a song that you’ve sung, perhaps for years, and then one day you say “Wait a minute…!” and you realize you’ve been singing something that you don’t agree with?
Grow
G1 Read these edited words from Erna Kim Hackett: “Christianity suffers from a bad case of Disney Princess theology. As each individual reads scripture, they see themselves as the Princess in every story. They are Esther, never Xerxes or Haman. They are Peter, never Judas. They are the woman anointing Jesus, never the Pharisee. They are the Jews escaping slavery, never Egypt.” (ly/3dquoNK) Why do you think this is? How would it change your reading of David and Goliath if you read yourself as Goliath instead of David?
G2 As you locate yourself in Esther, do you resemble Xerxes at all? In what way? Ask God what He wants you to do about it?
G3 Read the lyrics from “I’m broken and it’s beautiful” (bit.ly/31eOCYw). What positive message is Kelly Clarkson trying to communicate? Are there any lyrics in the song that are at odds with the hope of the gospel?
G4 Read Isaiah 61:1-3. Think of a specific area of weakness or sin or brokenness in your life? What does Jesus want to replace it with? Prayer these verse and give your brokenness to Jesus and receive His beauty.
G5 How do you think identifying yourself as the villain of the story instead of the hero (or as the broken instead of the beautiful) could actually lead to hope instead of despair? What place is there in the Christian life for positive self-talk?
G6 Society and Satan want you to FIND yourself. God wants you to LOCATE yourself. What is the difference, and why is it so important we understand the difference?
Show
S1 Throughout this week keep reminding yourself “I know I’m broken but through Jesus I’m made beautiful”