Visible - Study 8 - Engage: Being Visible
Specific Questions
1. Take a moment to share the Engage activity you participated in last Sunday. What was your role?
2. Was there a moment during Engage that stood out to you?
3. How did you feel seeing the impact of your work on the person/people you were helping?
4. Did you find any part of the day challenging? How did you respond?
5. How did it feel to serve alongside others in our church community?
6. How did this experience help you live out your faith practically?
7. How can we continue to stay connected to the people we reached out to on Sunday?
8. How can we foster a spirit of generosity throughout the week, beyond Engage?
1. Take a moment to share the Engage activity you participated in last Sunday. What was your role?
2. Was there a moment during Engage that stood out to you?
3. How did you feel seeing the impact of your work on the person/people you were helping?
4. Did you find any part of the day challenging? How did you respond?
5. How did it feel to serve alongside others in our church community?
6. How did this experience help you live out your faith practically?
7. How can we continue to stay connected to the people we reached out to on Sunday?
8. How can we foster a spirit of generosity throughout the week, beyond Engage?
Visible - Study 7
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud: Matthew 7:13-29 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud: Matthew 7:13-29 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. What does the narrow path look like? What 'fruit' comes from people who walk the narrow path?
In contrast, what does the wide path look like and what 'fruit' comes from this way of living?
2. Think about a time in your life where you had to choose between the wide and narrow path. What was this experience like?
3. In today's world, it is normal to feel drawn towards a convenient and comfortable life. Sometimes we may not even notice when we have drifted onto the wide path. What are some of the challenges that make it difficult to stay on the narrow path?
4. Jesus teaches that the narrow path is difficult but leads to life, while the wide road is easy but leads to destruction (Read Matthew 7:13-14). Take a moment to reflect - Where do you see yourself today? Are there areas in your life that you find challenging to stay on the narrow path?
5. Read again Matthew 7:15-20
What stands out to you about Jesus' warning regarding false prophets/teachers?
6. Sometimes without realising it we can prioritise our own interests over God's instruction (found in Matthew 22:37-39). Are there any areas we might be tempted to prioritise self-interest over God's? How can we remind ourselves of God's truth?
7. How can we encourage one another to grow in biblical wisdom? What practical steps can we take to follow the narrow path this week?
Yvonne spoke about a Bible Project resource to help enable us to go deeper - here is the link to this resource
https://bibleproject.com/podcast/narrow-and-wide-gates/
N.B. Don't forget about the Engage coming up - what is your group going to be involved with?
1. What does the narrow path look like? What 'fruit' comes from people who walk the narrow path?
In contrast, what does the wide path look like and what 'fruit' comes from this way of living?
2. Think about a time in your life where you had to choose between the wide and narrow path. What was this experience like?
3. In today's world, it is normal to feel drawn towards a convenient and comfortable life. Sometimes we may not even notice when we have drifted onto the wide path. What are some of the challenges that make it difficult to stay on the narrow path?
4. Jesus teaches that the narrow path is difficult but leads to life, while the wide road is easy but leads to destruction (Read Matthew 7:13-14). Take a moment to reflect - Where do you see yourself today? Are there areas in your life that you find challenging to stay on the narrow path?
5. Read again Matthew 7:15-20
What stands out to you about Jesus' warning regarding false prophets/teachers?
6. Sometimes without realising it we can prioritise our own interests over God's instruction (found in Matthew 22:37-39). Are there any areas we might be tempted to prioritise self-interest over God's? How can we remind ourselves of God's truth?
7. How can we encourage one another to grow in biblical wisdom? What practical steps can we take to follow the narrow path this week?
Yvonne spoke about a Bible Project resource to help enable us to go deeper - here is the link to this resource
https://bibleproject.com/podcast/narrow-and-wide-gates/
N.B. Don't forget about the Engage coming up - what is your group going to be involved with?
Visible - Study 6
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud: Matthew 7:1-12 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud: Matthew 7:1-12 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. Jesus says don't judge - when was there a time when you felt like you judged someone?
2. Share a time when you had an experience of feeling like you were looked up and down, was under the microscope and being evaluated, judged or condemned?
3. How did that feel - what went on inside you?
4. Does giving advice, your opinions, your solutions to peoples problems come easy to you? After hearing what God is saying in this passage - what does that mean to you?
5. There is a section of the passage V6 (6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces). What does this mean in relation to the passage?
6. Why is it important for you to pray for rather than judge people? Perhaps take some time to allow people to share how they feel about praying for people instead of judging people - is this a difficult thing to do?
7. V12 says So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you - what would you have people do for you? How would you like them to do this?
8.. Thinking about how we closed the gathering on Sunday - what practical ideas does your group have for how they could make God visible this year?
N.B. Don't forget about the Engage coming up - what is your group going to be involved with?
1. Jesus says don't judge - when was there a time when you felt like you judged someone?
2. Share a time when you had an experience of feeling like you were looked up and down, was under the microscope and being evaluated, judged or condemned?
3. How did that feel - what went on inside you?
4. Does giving advice, your opinions, your solutions to peoples problems come easy to you? After hearing what God is saying in this passage - what does that mean to you?
5. There is a section of the passage V6 (6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces). What does this mean in relation to the passage?
6. Why is it important for you to pray for rather than judge people? Perhaps take some time to allow people to share how they feel about praying for people instead of judging people - is this a difficult thing to do?
7. V12 says So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you - what would you have people do for you? How would you like them to do this?
8.. Thinking about how we closed the gathering on Sunday - what practical ideas does your group have for how they could make God visible this year?
N.B. Don't forget about the Engage coming up - what is your group going to be involved with?
Visible - Study 5
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud: Matthew 6:19-34 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud: Matthew 6:19-34 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. The level of worry you have in your life can be viewed as being on a continuum - at one end of the continuum is concern and the other end worry. Thinking about your life at the moment is there any thing you are seriously worried about?
2. What does worry do to you - does it stall you, distract you or maybe cripple you? Have you become a slave to worry? How have you regulated worry in your life?
3. Money is often a big worry for people. How have you personally worked through the issue of worry about finance?
4. What would you say was your treasure? What have you come to that conclusion? If people looked at your life from the outside where would they say your treasure was?
5. Yvonne said there were three ways God often shows his provision to us - 1. Re-orients our needs, 2. Reminds us there is enough, 3. Redirects our participation - Share a time when this has been part of your experience?
6. How do you seek first Gods kingdom in your daily life? What does that mean? Is this an easy thing to do, somewhat difficult or do you find it hard to do??
7. Yvonne said taking time to
1. Pause and reflect
2. Re-prioritise
3. Seek accountability
4. Pursue God
has helped her with worry. What strategy/ies do you utilise to help keep worry in order?
8. See the link below re Generosity at New Community -perhaps its time to revisit these videos as a group - if you feel this could be a good thing for your group feel free to engage with the videos as a group
N.B. Don't forget about the Church Picnic this week - who are people inviting??
Please talk to your group about upcoming ENGAGE PROJECTS
1. The level of worry you have in your life can be viewed as being on a continuum - at one end of the continuum is concern and the other end worry. Thinking about your life at the moment is there any thing you are seriously worried about?
2. What does worry do to you - does it stall you, distract you or maybe cripple you? Have you become a slave to worry? How have you regulated worry in your life?
3. Money is often a big worry for people. How have you personally worked through the issue of worry about finance?
4. What would you say was your treasure? What have you come to that conclusion? If people looked at your life from the outside where would they say your treasure was?
5. Yvonne said there were three ways God often shows his provision to us - 1. Re-orients our needs, 2. Reminds us there is enough, 3. Redirects our participation - Share a time when this has been part of your experience?
6. How do you seek first Gods kingdom in your daily life? What does that mean? Is this an easy thing to do, somewhat difficult or do you find it hard to do??
7. Yvonne said taking time to
1. Pause and reflect
2. Re-prioritise
3. Seek accountability
4. Pursue God
has helped her with worry. What strategy/ies do you utilise to help keep worry in order?
8. See the link below re Generosity at New Community -perhaps its time to revisit these videos as a group - if you feel this could be a good thing for your group feel free to engage with the videos as a group
N.B. Don't forget about the Church Picnic this week - who are people inviting??
Please talk to your group about upcoming ENGAGE PROJECTS
Visible - Study 4
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud Matthew 5:38-48 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud Matthew 5:38-48 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. What does it mean for you to bring heaven to earth each day?
2. How do you love your enemies? Think for a moment, who is your enemy? What would it look like for you to take a step toward loving them?
3. When thinking about the world in which we live what prevents an Israeli from loving a Palestinian? What prevents a Ukrainian from loving a Russian? What prevents you from loving the person who came to mind when Troy asked you to think of your enemy?
4. Troy noted that when evil and violence push one way that there is another way forward. What prevents us from seeing the other way in the moment?
5. What does it mean to be a peacemaker? How do you make peace?
6. Have you ever tried to pray for people who have persecuted you? How did it make you feel? What emotions and feelings did you experience as you prayed? Was there a change in you as you prayed?
6. What would it mean to make peace with the people around you? Is there a person you need to make peace with?
7. What would you ask for them if you were to pray for that person?
8. Share how does being a peacemaker enable God to be visible in your life this year?
1. What does it mean for you to bring heaven to earth each day?
2. How do you love your enemies? Think for a moment, who is your enemy? What would it look like for you to take a step toward loving them?
3. When thinking about the world in which we live what prevents an Israeli from loving a Palestinian? What prevents a Ukrainian from loving a Russian? What prevents you from loving the person who came to mind when Troy asked you to think of your enemy?
4. Troy noted that when evil and violence push one way that there is another way forward. What prevents us from seeing the other way in the moment?
5. What does it mean to be a peacemaker? How do you make peace?
6. Have you ever tried to pray for people who have persecuted you? How did it make you feel? What emotions and feelings did you experience as you prayed? Was there a change in you as you prayed?
6. What would it mean to make peace with the people around you? Is there a person you need to make peace with?
7. What would you ask for them if you were to pray for that person?
8. Share how does being a peacemaker enable God to be visible in your life this year?
Visible - Study 3
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud Matthew 5:21-26 & 38-42 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud Matthew 5:21-26 & 38-42 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. When you think about the three things from the first passage (Matt 5:22) Anger, Contempt (thinking people are worthless) and Verbal Abuse: which do you struggle with most?
2. What are the things that cause you to get angry, cause you to treat people with contempt and verbally abuse people?
3. What things throughout your life have caused you to close the door on people?
4. Andrew quoted fromDallas Willard saying When anger, contempt and verbal abuse get in the way we fail to see the preciousness of human beings? Why do you think this is true? What could you put in place to remind you of the preciousness of people in the midst of your anger or treatment of people?
5. If Love opens the door to people how do you demonstrate love towards people?
6. In the second passage (Matt 5: 38-42) Andrew noted that the four things mentioned equate to 1. Remaining Vulnerable 2. Try to Help? 3. Do more than required 4. Turn towards the person. How could you do each of these things practically?
6. What are some things that might prevent you from doing these?
7. Thinking about opening and closing the door through anger, contempt and verbal abuse - have you ever closed the door to Jesus?
8.Share how do you need to open the door of your life to people in order that God might be visible this year?
1. When you think about the three things from the first passage (Matt 5:22) Anger, Contempt (thinking people are worthless) and Verbal Abuse: which do you struggle with most?
2. What are the things that cause you to get angry, cause you to treat people with contempt and verbally abuse people?
3. What things throughout your life have caused you to close the door on people?
4. Andrew quoted fromDallas Willard saying When anger, contempt and verbal abuse get in the way we fail to see the preciousness of human beings? Why do you think this is true? What could you put in place to remind you of the preciousness of people in the midst of your anger or treatment of people?
5. If Love opens the door to people how do you demonstrate love towards people?
6. In the second passage (Matt 5: 38-42) Andrew noted that the four things mentioned equate to 1. Remaining Vulnerable 2. Try to Help? 3. Do more than required 4. Turn towards the person. How could you do each of these things practically?
6. What are some things that might prevent you from doing these?
7. Thinking about opening and closing the door through anger, contempt and verbal abuse - have you ever closed the door to Jesus?
8.Share how do you need to open the door of your life to people in order that God might be visible this year?
Visible - Study 2
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud Matthew 6:9-13 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud Matthew 6:9-13 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. Ghandi said 'Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ.' What bearing does a quote like that have on seeing God be visible in and through you?
2. If you were to be really honest would you say that your life at present focuses on saying to God 'Your Kingdom come and your will be done or does it focus on my kingdom come and my will be done? What do you need to focus on in order to change that?
3. Troy talked about our life reflecting God like an angled mirror. To what extent do you think this is true of you and your life? What do you need to change in order that you may reflect God in your life each day?
4. When you look in the mirror what aspects of Jesus life do you see staring back at you? If you think about the life of Jesus and what you know from reading about him, encountering him or through learning from other people what aspects of his life do you think you should see in and through your own life? How could you see this become a reality?
5. in what ways do you feel tempted during your week? If you were to pray that part of the Lords prayer that says Lead me not into temptation - what specifically would you be praying to resist? (Maybe for this question asking people to share the answer with one person rather than the group may be helpful)
6. Troy gave us a prayer to put on our mirror and pray each day - as you pray it is there something that comes to mind where you can see God be more visible in your life?
7. Read this prayer aloud - Oh God, who inhabits the heavens, I praise and honour you today. May your kingdom life come, may your will be done, through me, just as it is where you dwell. Please give me what I need to live for you today. Please forgive me of my sins as I choose to forgive those who have wronged me. Please protect me from the schemes of the evil one. Above all, may you be visible through me today.
What aspects of this prayer will you struggle praying each day?
1. Ghandi said 'Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ.' What bearing does a quote like that have on seeing God be visible in and through you?
2. If you were to be really honest would you say that your life at present focuses on saying to God 'Your Kingdom come and your will be done or does it focus on my kingdom come and my will be done? What do you need to focus on in order to change that?
3. Troy talked about our life reflecting God like an angled mirror. To what extent do you think this is true of you and your life? What do you need to change in order that you may reflect God in your life each day?
4. When you look in the mirror what aspects of Jesus life do you see staring back at you? If you think about the life of Jesus and what you know from reading about him, encountering him or through learning from other people what aspects of his life do you think you should see in and through your own life? How could you see this become a reality?
5. in what ways do you feel tempted during your week? If you were to pray that part of the Lords prayer that says Lead me not into temptation - what specifically would you be praying to resist? (Maybe for this question asking people to share the answer with one person rather than the group may be helpful)
6. Troy gave us a prayer to put on our mirror and pray each day - as you pray it is there something that comes to mind where you can see God be more visible in your life?
7. Read this prayer aloud - Oh God, who inhabits the heavens, I praise and honour you today. May your kingdom life come, may your will be done, through me, just as it is where you dwell. Please give me what I need to live for you today. Please forgive me of my sins as I choose to forgive those who have wronged me. Please protect me from the schemes of the evil one. Above all, may you be visible through me today.
What aspects of this prayer will you struggle praying each day?
Visible - Study 1
Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud Matthew 5:1-16 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Read Passage Aloud Matthew 5:1-16 (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)
Re-tell the passage in your own words.
General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?
Specific Questions
1. Troy talked about his conversation with his Bedouin guide and the question he asked which was firstly; Why would God kill his Son? But then secondly he said I mean so what you believe in Jesus and you have faith and forgiveness - is there anything more? How would you respond to that question if someone asked you?
2. What do you make of Jesus manifesto? Perhaps another question to ask is what does blessing mean to you? Does it have a favourable idea about it? What are the contrast you see in the ways of Jesus and the ways of the world?
3. Which of these "blessed" statements stands out or impacts you the most and why?
4. How might you interpret these statements and apply them in your own life?
5. Who or what kingdoms of the world appear to be blessed? What Jesus is trying to portray is that His Kingdom is available to each of us in a whole new way of being where that kingdom flows through them?
6. Tory said that across the world there has been a disconnect between the death of Jesus and the life of Jesus. If you just look at the life of Jesus you could conclude that he has just given us a new series of positive things or new ethics to apply to our lives and if we do them we will be fine and live good lives. But if on the other hand we just focus on the death of Jesus he comes our insurance policy - there for since I am forgiven I can get on with the rest of my life. Over the years of your life have either of those statements been true of you?
7. But when we come to Jesus there is. transformation that takes place and Jesus uses the image of salt and light to demonstrate this transformation. Jesus says we are to be visible like the light from a city on a hill? How visible is Jesus in every aspect of your life? What area of your life is Jesus not so visible? Take some time to pray for people that God would become more visible in them in every area and in every day of 2025.
1. Troy talked about his conversation with his Bedouin guide and the question he asked which was firstly; Why would God kill his Son? But then secondly he said I mean so what you believe in Jesus and you have faith and forgiveness - is there anything more? How would you respond to that question if someone asked you?
2. What do you make of Jesus manifesto? Perhaps another question to ask is what does blessing mean to you? Does it have a favourable idea about it? What are the contrast you see in the ways of Jesus and the ways of the world?
3. Which of these "blessed" statements stands out or impacts you the most and why?
4. How might you interpret these statements and apply them in your own life?
5. Who or what kingdoms of the world appear to be blessed? What Jesus is trying to portray is that His Kingdom is available to each of us in a whole new way of being where that kingdom flows through them?
6. Tory said that across the world there has been a disconnect between the death of Jesus and the life of Jesus. If you just look at the life of Jesus you could conclude that he has just given us a new series of positive things or new ethics to apply to our lives and if we do them we will be fine and live good lives. But if on the other hand we just focus on the death of Jesus he comes our insurance policy - there for since I am forgiven I can get on with the rest of my life. Over the years of your life have either of those statements been true of you?
7. But when we come to Jesus there is. transformation that takes place and Jesus uses the image of salt and light to demonstrate this transformation. Jesus says we are to be visible like the light from a city on a hill? How visible is Jesus in every aspect of your life? What area of your life is Jesus not so visible? Take some time to pray for people that God would become more visible in them in every area and in every day of 2025.