Category: Life Group Resources

Peacemakers

Flourishing are the peacemakers because they will be called the children of God. Flourishing are the ones persecuted on account of righteousness because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Flourishing are you whenever people revile and slander and speak all kinds of evil things against you on account of me. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven. In this same way people slandered the prophets who came before you. Peacemaking : What do you think it is to be a peacemaker ?  Heres a list of things that peace making is not Being nice, tolerance, softpeddling, bullying,  What would you add to this list ? Peace is linked tightly to justice and rightness. It’s personal, internal,…

Interwoven

Flourishing are the ones hungering and thirsting for righteousness  because they will be satisfied. Flourishing are the merciful  because they will be given mercy. Flourishing are the pure in heart  because they will see God. Matthew 5: 5-8 Jesus doesn’t say “Flourishing are the righteous”, but those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness/Justice.  What’s the difference ? What is your reaction ot Viktor Frankel’s Saints, Zombies, and the rest picture ? Where are you ? Read Proverbs 4:18. Is this the language of road/path ? What areas are you hungry to see made right ? List some. How do you feel when you can’t see it happening ? How will it feel to be satisfied ?  (Will it have…

Plow : The first 3 beattitudes

There are three triplets that start the sermon on the mount.  Instead of speaking to the rich and powerful, at the temple or governor’s palace. Jesus speaks the crowd of people who have followed him. Flourishing are the poor in spirit because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Flourishing are the mourners because they will be comforted. Flourishing are the humble because they will inherit the world, Pennington Is this upside down ? What would it be like to be poor, and hear this ? Does Jesus live this out ? (read Philippians 2:5-10) If Jesus’ talk is revolutionary – what is the difference in this kind of revolution ?  As an experiment : Try writing the opposite of the…

The Good Life

Did you/do you ever look at other people and think they are   living the good life? If so, what was it, what is it ? There are four themes highlighted in this message Changes (Change is coming) Matthew links Jesus with the life of Moses. Can you remember any of the links ?  (Hint answers on our webpage notes) Matthew also quotes Isaiah promising a change coming ? What were changes ? (Matt 4:14-16). Jesus then asks people to change because the kingdom of heaven has come near. How does he ask them to change ? Are you open to the possibility that you might change during this series ? Foundations (build your life well) Got any foundation stories…

Are you Sure ?

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT ? Can you remember times when you found yourself thinking “Are you sure about that”. Times you are glad you did ? Times you wish it hadn’t stopped you? (i.e.have you bungy jumped, fallen for a scam etc) Buechner says “Whether your faith is that there is a God or that there is not a God, if you don’t have any doubts, you are either kidding yourself or asleep. Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving. Doubt is the ants in the pants of faith.” What is he trying to say ? Do you agree ? The story of Thomas and the resurrected Jesus starts in John…

It is finished

24th march “It is finished”  “Kua oti.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.     John 19:29–30 (NIV) Pete’s Ponderings: The bland back and white checks on one side of the door show that the games are finally coming to an end. Colin’s chewings : So much happens in this moment. In Māori there are two words for finishing, “Mutu” which means finished (this bit) and might ahve to come back to it and…

Thirst

17th March, ‘I am thirsty.’ ” “He matewai tōku.”  28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. John 19:28–29 (NIV) Pete’s ponderings : Pete’s ponderings : This door is parched and dry, coming off at the hinges and and not square in it’s frame. “I thirst” is written in coffee- the second largest commodity traded in the world. It’s written faintly, as if spoken in a parched voice. Even though the tap is open, there’s not a drop…

Forsaken

10 March (Colin)“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” E tōku Atua, e tōku Atua, he aha koe i whakarere ai i ahau?  At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).   When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”  Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.  With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.  The curtain…

Whānau

“Woman, here is your son… Here is your mother”  “E tai, nanā, tāu tama!”…Nā, tōu whaea! 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25–27 (NIV) Pete’s ponderings : Who are we responsible for ? The Intertwined branches and roots say something of the interconnectedness of us all. On the other side of the door is a much bigger picture. Being pushed by God on a…

With Me

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Luke 23:39-43 Pete’s Ponderings: Everyone’s ideas of paradise are different. I see it in my grandkids,- God is present in a little child. The cross is the key . Kevin’s chewings: When the Hebrew bible was…