Gcf Austin

Life Group Questions Key Verse: Matthew 22:35-40 – One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 1. Pastor Rob opened up about his past talking about not having a loving heart, being angry and alone, and not wanting to want to deal with others around him. Have you felt like this recently and what are you currently doing to change that? 2. "Send people into my path or allow me to cross paths with someone who needs to hear about Jesus." Give an example recently or not of a situation where you shared your heart and talked about Jesus to someone else. 3. The two greatest commandments are to love God and love others, in that order. Share some examples from your li

Life Group Questions Key Verse 1 Peter 5:5-6 – “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1. Pastor Lee explained that there is a difference between “humbling yourself” and “being humbled.” Explain what “humbling yourself” means to you. 2. Share about a time when you were able to perform a “hidden service” and how it made you feel. 3. How does humility help you support the mission and leaders of this church? 4. Tell about a time when you or someone you know was ruined by not handling success well or how you or someone you know was blessed by handling success in humility.

Life Group Questions 1. Why is the local church the hope of the world? 2. What does “irresistible” mean to you? 3. Pastor Ryan told a story about the Welsh Revival. What would it take to see a revival happen in Buda? What does GCF Hays need to do to play its part? 4. What are some of the great things that come from living in God’s presence? 5. There are three pieces to becoming a church that hungers for God’s presence. - Desiring a greater realization of His presence. - Longing to be filled to the full measure with His Spirit. - Crying out for a special anointing. Which of these do you need to focus on this week in order to hunger for God’s presence and why?

Life Group Questions 1. What does “sing a new song to the Lord” mean to you? 2. When was the last time that you sang or your life reflected a new song to the Lord? 3. Pastor Ryan walked through a few chapters in Exodus highlighting the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt, their new song to the Lord, and their tendency to forget and doubt God. What all did you learn from this story? 4. What is your heart condition? Are your words near to God but your heart is far from Him? 5. What do you need to say “Yes, Lord” to today?

Life Group Questions 1. We are four weeks into the "Joy Ride" series. Have these biblical truths caused your joy to increase and how? 2. What does Philippians 1:21 (“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”) mean to you personally after hearing Sunday’s message? 3. Have you ever found yourself believing in or repeating any of the below philosophies on death? • Universalism • Annihilationism • Second Chance (reincarnation or purgatory) • Soul Sleep How has this message changed your understanding, or reaffirmed your thinking? 4. Paul says, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”. Do you fear death? If not, why not? And if yes, why so?

Life Group Questions Key Thought: There is a way to suffer for a Christian so that our suffering is purposeful and not purposeless. 1. What is the main thing you got out of Sunday’s message? 2. Share an example from your life where you suffered in a way that was purposeless. In other words, you didn’t allow God to do something good in you or through you when you went through that period. 3. Share an example from your life where you suffered in a way that was purposeful. In other words, through that suffering, you ended up loving Jesus more, or you became more humble, patient, kind, and compassionate (more Christ-like). 4. Share an example from your life where you personally witnessed a Christian going through suffering, and they went through it in such a way that it powerfully impacted your life. 5. How will you handle suffering differently in your life after Sunday’s message?

Life Group Questions Key Verse: Philippians 1:3-6 – “I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 1. What’s your single biggest takeaway for you personally from this teaching? 2. What are some practical ways that you combat loneliness when you’ve experienced this in your life? 3. Pastor Matt made this statement on Sunday: “Joy is not so much an emotion, as it is a lifestyle.” Do you agree? What’s the practical interpretation of this in your life? 4. Another statement that was made on Sunday was, “Nothing in your life – not even the darkest, most difficult, or painful situation – is without purpose.” What does this mean to you personally? (Hint: everything becomes an opportunity for the Gospel!)