Kettlebrook West Bend

Questions for Reflection/Discussion: 1. Growing up, how was success defined for you? Has this definition changed over the years? If so, how? 2. Do you believe that you are successful? Why or why not? 3. If people who know you well were asked, “Who or what does (insert your name here) love with all of their heart, soul and strength?”… what do you think they would say and why? How does this line up with Deuteronomy 6:4-5? 4. Read Deuteronomy 7:7-8; 8:17-18; and 9:5-6. These texts list three causes people might forget God and not love God. Which of these three are you most prone to fall prey to? Why? How might Jesus be good news to you in this? 5. Moses called the people of Israel stiff-necked. Stiff necked people struggle to look back (remember) and look down (be humble and worship God). In what ways might you struggle with being stiff-necked? How might Jesus be good news to you in this? 6. Read Matthew 5:17-20. Jesus says he has come to fulfill the law. How is this good news to you personally

Questions for discussion: 1. When you hear the word ‘priest’ what is your first thought or impression? Why is that? What does a priest typically do? 2. If you are a follower of Jesus, have you ever thought of yourself as a priest? Why or why not? 3. Read 1 Peter 2:9-10. What did you notice in this passage? Who are regarded as the priesthood? Why is this important? Why would it cripple the Church to only think of a special class of people as priests? 4. Read 1 Peter 2:11-12. Can you list some things that we as a royal priesthood are to do and not do? What might be some examples of ‘good deeds’ mentioned in verse 12? 5. Read Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25:31-46. How does Jesus think about some of the most vulnerable people in our world? As his followers, how are we to reflect this concern? 6. Brainstorm: what would be some specific things you can do to be a priest in Washington County? How would you live that out? How might your group live that out?

Questions for discussion: 1. When you hear the word 'missionary' what is your first thought or impression? Why is that? 2. If you are a follower of Jesus, have you ever thought of yourself as a missionary? Why or why not? 3. Read Isaiah 6:1-8. What did you notice in this narrative? How does Isaiah respond when he "sees the LORD." How do you think we should respond? Is this your response when you go before God? 4. In verse 7, Isaiah is purified from his sin, so he can approach God. How is it possible for us to approach God? (read: 1 John 1:7, Hebrews 10:17-22). 5. Isaiah looked around and recognized the brokenness of his world (v.6:5). In what way do you seen the brokenness of the world? 6. Do you think God still asks the question "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" (v. 8). What is your response to that question?

Discussion Questions: 1. If someone asked you what you were doing on Sunday morning (and you are going to the gathering), how do you typically respond? 2. Growing up, was church something you “went to”, something you are, both, or neither? 3. What are some reasons that people in your life might not “go to church?” How might you be able to empathize with any of these reasons? 4. Have you ever said, “The church needs to __________” ? If we are the church, what might be the implications? 5. What, in your opinion, are some differences between going to church and being the church? 6. Which of the above terms in the chart do you most identify with and why? Which do you struggle to identify with and why? 7. If we are to be the church, some applications include gathering as a whole family and then grouping into smaller families for life on life, life in community, and life on mission. How would you personally assess your engagement in both gathering and grouping? How, as the church, might you personall