Know Grow Show

JOY (Living Without Flip Flops) - Philippians 4.10-13

Know
On a scale of 1-10, what is your level of contentment right now (be honest!)
Grow
Read Philippians 4:10-11 – Paul thanks them for their help but then says that he is not in need. Is he being rude here? What is he trying to communicate?
If helping others gives us ‘helpers high’ does that make us selfish if we help others?
What are the temptations that someone who is poor faces?
What are the temptations that someone who is rich faces?
What lessons has God taught you through times of poverty or wealth?
Do you think that as Christians we are good at asking for material help (money etc)? Why or why not?
Read Acts 2:45. What does this tell us about the early Church’s view of possessions and money? Do you think we should still practice this today in our church / growgroups? Why or why not?
Is it appropriate to use the term blessed when referring to living in Canada, a relatively wealthy country? Explain your answer.
Do you believe that for some people, it is their ‘lot in life’ to be poor? Explain your thinking.
4:13 Paul says “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”. How should it be understood? How can this verse be misunderstood or misused?
Show
Finalize your plans for your Christmas Outreach project. Make sure everyone knows the details (where, when, what etc).

JOY (Living Without Flip Flops) - Philippians 4.8-9

Know
In general, I think it’s fair to say, that kids today are exposed to more things than we were as children (internet, smart phones etc). What impact could this have on them do you think?
Grow
What kind of rules should we have in our homes regarding social media / internet usage etc?
Why is it so much easier to think on things that are bad than things that are good?
org describes mindfulness as “the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us”[i]. How is this similar or different from Paul’s command to think upon these things?
Read Psalm 119:36. Why does the Psalmist ask God to ‘turn my eyes from looking at worthless things’ instead of ‘help me to turn my eyes from looking at worthless things’?
According to 2 Corinthians 11:3, how can our thoughts be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ? What tactics does the enemy use?
According to our scripture today, what is the connection between thinking on these things and putting them into practice?
Why is it so difficult for us to be honest with each other regarding our sin?
Why does Paul bookend verse 8 with ‘the peace of God’ (verse 7) and ‘the God of peace’ (verse 9). What is the difference between the two?
Show
Take some time to plan out in more detail your Show (outreach) project this Christmas? Who’s doing what?
 
[i] https://www.mindful.org/what-is-mindfulness/

JOY (Living Without Flip Flops) - Philippians 4.2-7

Know
Dan talked about declogging the bath drain hole of hair. Who has the honour of this job in your household? Why?
Grow
George Mueller said: “The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day is to have my soul happy in the Lord”. What do you think he meant by getting himself happy in the Lord?
What practical steps do you take to get yourself happy in the Lord? Share with each other what works for you.
4:2 Do you think that Paul was fair in mentioning Euodia and Syntyche’s falling out? Why do you think he did this?
What are your coping mechanisms for dealing with anxiety?
Dan said “We don’t rejoice because of warm and vague thoughts of God. We rejoice in solid truths”. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
Read Romans 12:17-20. Why could verse 19 be considered a cause for joy?
Discuss what it might mean to let your gentleness / graciousness (reasonableness) be known to everyone.
Just like your smartphone, the Lord is at hand. How can you use your smartphone to remind you of this truth that the Lord is at hand?
Dan talked about how our worries are like the ball of hair that clogs up the bath drain hole and how we grab one hair that leads to pulling the whole lot out. How does this picture help you understanding how prayer helps us deal with our worries?
Share your thoughts about the image of God’s peace standing guard around your heart and mind. Have you ever experienced this?
How does Paul’s description of God’s peace in verse 7 differ from the world’s understanding of peace?
Show
Start thinking about Christmas. What can your growgroup do as a service project / outreach project to share the gospel / God’s love with our community?

That Pesky Little Monk (Martin Luther's Story)

Growgroup questions
Most of today’s sermon was reworded from “Meet Martin Luther: A Sketch of the Reformer’s Life” by Anthony Selvaggio. You can pick up your own copy of this book here https://goo.gl/FFdJYP. 
Know
Before Sunday, what did you know about Martin Luther?
Grow
Luther would spend time confessing his sins for up to six hours. Is it possible to be too honest when confessing our sins to God or others? Why or why not?
At the top of the Santa Scala steps, Luther asked “Who knows whether this is really true?”. Have you ever wrestled with questions like this in your faith? How did you deal or are you dealing with times of doubt / questioning?
Luther began to hate God because he misunderstood the gospel and what righteousness meant. Have you ever struggled with God because of a misunderstanding you’ve had of who He appears to be in scripture?
Luther debated Eck at Leipzig about who has final authority – the Bible or the Pope? 2 Timothy 2:23 says this: Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. How do we know when it’s a foolish controversy or a matter worth standing our ground over?
Do you think that it would have been better for reform to happen in the Catholic Church instead of the big church split that led to the Protestant Church coming into being?
Imagine if Luther had never realized that the righteous shall live by faith. How would life today be different?
Show
How important are the 5 Solas today?
Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority.
Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.
Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.

JOY (Living Without Flip Flops) - Philippians 3.17-4.1

Growgroup questions
Know
Why do you think the death of the Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie affected Canada so strongly? Do you have a favourite Tragically Hip song or memory?
Grow
3:20 How should the promise of Jesus’ return affect the way you live your life?
3:20 In what ways is Cornerstone a little colony of the Kingdom of heaven?
3:14 talks about pressing on. 4:1 talks about standing firm. What is similar or different about these two phrases?
3:17 In 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul says he is the worst of sinners. But in Phil 3:17 he says join in imitating me, and in 1 Corinthians 1:11 he says be imitators of me as I am of Christ. Why should we imitate someone who considers himself the worst of sinners?
How do you respond to Rachel Gilson’s words: “I had to learn my first lesson of the Christian life: how to obey before I understood”?
Have you ever held yourself back from speaking truth / wisdom into someone’s life because you are aware of your own sin? What level of holiness do we need to speak into another person’s situation?
3:18 Why did Paul think of the enemies of the cross with tears? Why not with anger or hatred?
Show
3:19-20 During this week using the infographic Dan made for Philippians 3:19-20 (you can see it here - gl/LrU77R), honestly consider your direction, your desire and the decisions you’ve made. Consider your destiny. Are you one who is standing firm in God or are you an enemy of the cross? Is there anything in your life that needs to be adjusted or brought into alignment with God? Take time to speak honestly with God and share this with a trusted Christian friend or Dan.
To read Rachel Gilson’s story in full go here - goo.gl/Kmr7Si

JOY (Living Without Flip Flops) - Philippians 3.12-16

Know
What’s the highest level that you’ve competed at in a sport? What sport was it?
Grow
(3:12) Why does knowing that Christ has made us His own spur us on to make it (the resurrection life) our own?
(3:14) What does “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” mean?
Why was Paul’s one thing to press on for the prize of the upward call (verse 14)? Why was his one thing not something else (for example reaching people for Jesus)?
As an individual, is your tendency to look ahead, or to look back? Share a little why you think this is?
How does God want us to deal with regret in our own life?
Paul describes the Christian life as a race. What are the rules for this race? How do we discover them?
Do you think most Christians today put as much determination into their Christian race as they do into their jobs? Their leisure activities? Explain.
Show
Is there anything holding you back from being a person of one thing? Share with the group as honestly as you can, and pray for each other.

JOY (Living Without Flip Flops) - Philippians 3.1-11

Know
What’s your favourite thing about thanksgiving?
Grow
(3:5-6) What kind of things are you tempted to put on your ‘check list’ to show God you’re worthy?
(3:9) What is the basic difference between works righteousness and faith righteousness? [i]
(3:3) Paul described true Christians as ones who glory, or ‘boast’ in Jesus Christ. What does that mean and how do such people differ from merely religious people?
(3:3) Why does the true Christian not put confidence in the flesh?
Why is sincerity not enough for salvation? How is Paul a good example of this?
How was Paul using the wrong measuring stick before he met Jesus? How are people today still doing this?
“He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” What does that mean to you?
(3:9) What do these words mean to you: to be found in Him?
Show
(3:10) What emotional response to have to this phrase: that I may know Him?
 
[i] Wiersbe, Warren W.. Be Joyful (Philippians): Even When Things Go Wrong, You Can Have Joy (The BE Series Commentary) (pp. 106-108). David C Cook. Kindle Edition.

JOY (Living Without Flip Flops) - Philippians 2.12-30

Know
How was your summer? What was one highlight and one lowlight for you?
Grow
Have you ever had to draw back from someone because of their complaining spirit? Has anyone ever drawn back from you for the same reason?
What does it mean “to work out your own salvation”? What does this look like in your life?
Which is more important – me to be working or God to be working?
Do you think most Christians obey Philippians 2:14-15 as they should? Why or why not?
Why does Paul say that being complaint-free (and not being lust-free or anger-free) such a clear indicator that God is working powerfully in someone’s life, rather than being lust-free or anger-free or pride-free?
When is it legitimate to complain and when is it not?
“God must work in us before He can work through us”. What does that phrase mean to you?
Show
How can our growgroup be bright lights in a dark world over this next season of growgroups? What are some practical things that we can do and keep each other accountable to?

JOY (Living Without Flip Flops) - Philippians 2.1-11

Know
In the song “One of Us”, one of the lines is “What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us? Just a stranger on the bus trying to make His way home?” What about these lyrics is helpful to understanding Jesus living as a human? What is not helpful?
Grow
How are you encouraged in Christ, or comforted in His love?
What does Paul mean by ‘participation in the spirit’?
How can you have the same mind that was in Jesus Christ?
Lastly, have you bowed your knee to Jesus? Have you confessed that He is Lord (Adonai)? If not, what’s holding you back?

All In This Together (Challenge + Opportunity of Unity)

This is the sermon preached by the Peter Rigby, the Central Canada District Superintendent, at Dan's installation service at Cornerstone. It concludes the mini-series "All In This Together". 
John 17: 20-23 &
Ephesians 4: 1-3
What is the state of your relationships?
Are you staying connected with Jesus
Are there people you have wronged and need to seek forgiveness?
Are there people you need to forgive?
Humility: Are you able to back away from your judgments and opinions and lay them before your heavenly Father for His evaluation?
Gentleness: Have you allowed fear or anger or pride to impair your ability to interact with gentleness?
Patience: Are you allowing God’s patience towards you become a model as you interact with others?