Parable of the Sower

Mark 4:1-20

1. Who first planted the Word into your life?

2. What has been the greatest fruit from the Word in your life?

3. Share some times when you’ve experienced each of these four responses to the Word.

4. Which of these four responses do you think is most common today?

5. How do stories play a role in your growth?

Counting the Cost
Luke 14:25-33

1. What’s something in life that you began but didn’t finish?

2. In what ways do these parables illustrate an important aspect of following Jesus?

3. What are some difficulties you’ve experienced as a follower of Jesus?

4. How can comfort get in the way of following Jesus?

5. Does bearing your cross look the same for every Christian? What does it look like for you?

Parable of Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

1. What are some of the valuable assets God has entrusted to you?

2. What have you done to expand or enhance what God has entrusted to you?

3. What is the best thing you’ve ever done with your money?

4. What risks do you wish you had taken but didn’t?

Not Ashamed

Romans 1:16

1. What are your earliest recollections of shame?

2. How is society trying to make you feel shame?

3. How does shame impact how we represent our faith?

4. What are some ways you could work on more consistently representing the gospel?

5. How should we balance between over sharing and under sharing?

Our Amazing Bible

2 Timothy 3:16-17

1. How often do you read your Bible? What gets in the way of you reading it more?

2. What are you typically hoping to get from the Bible when you read it?

3. When was the last time you can think of where the Bible told you that you were wrong?

4. Why is being fair such a big deal for Christians?

5. Do most Christians seem stale or fresh to you? How could we work on that?

1. If you could go back and be an Olympic athlete in any sport, what would it be and what would you have to do to get there?

2. What areas of your life lack motivation?

3. In what ways have you served the Lord in your life and what difference has that made?

4. What would it look like to do what you do in life, with your whole heart?

5. How would things look different if you put Jesus first in all that you do?

1. Have you ever had something happen that seemed devastating at the time but it turned out to be not that big of a deal in the long run?

2. Have you ever had something that devastated you years ago and it still feels devastating?

3. What are you worried about now that won’t be a big deal a thousand years from now?

4. In what ways are you seeing a synergy between the good and bad things that happen in your life?

5. What led you to trust God with your life?

1. What is one word you would use to introduce yourself to others?

2. Why do you think John chose to describe Jesus as the Word?

3. How does understanding Jesus as God change your faith?

4. How has Jesus brought life and light to your life?

1. What comes to mind when you think of confession?

2. Why is forgiveness so empowering and healing?

3. What does a process of confession look like, as a way of life?

4. What keeps us back from admitting our failures?

1. When is the weakest you have felt in your walk with God?

2. What types of things do you try to control or do in your own strength?

3. How have you tried to avoid difficult things instead of coming to God for the strength to stand?

4. In what ways do you draw on God’s strength in your life?