Week 5 - Part 6 of 6

Share with the group in what way will you be "radically" obedient this week to the command: "Pray then like this . . ."

(Some Suggestions are listed below) 1. List people you know that, for them, the prayer for "daily bread" is very real. Pray for them.

2. Make a personal list of "debts" for which you need(ed) forgiveness. How does knowing Jesus’ has forgiven you impact how you view others who may have wronged you?

3. What "evils" are present in your world where you might bring "heaven to earth"?

4. Who do you know that needs to feel heaven’s impact in their life? Pray for them and see how God might use you to answer that prayer.

Week 5 - Part 5 of 6

How does the word "our" and "us" throughout the prayer change how you view this prayer and/or what you are praying for?

Week 5 - Part 4 of 6

In Luke’s version (Luke 11:1-4) the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. What does this indicate about prayer to you?

Week 5 - Part 3 of 6

How does Jesus’ teaching on prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 help us find our way in prayer?

Week 5 - Part 2 of 6

Jesus said, "Pray . . ." It is a simple command. What are our excuses for not praying?

Week 5 - Living an Epic Life (April 22-28) Part 1 of 6

Do you feel like you’re living a "Volvo" life? Yes, no and explain why . . .

Week 4 - Part 6 of 6

0. Radical Obedience:
   
   
   
   Share with the group in what way will you be “radically” obedient this week to the command: “Do not worry about your life . . .” 
   
   Some Suggestions are listed below: 
   
   1. Jesus said to “look at the birds.” Why not do that? And write down how reflecting on their work ethic but lack of worry can help you. 
   
   2. Jesus said to “see the flowers.” Why not do that? How can their lack of worry about their appearance help you reduce the “wants” in your life and any worries you have about having enough? 
   
   3. Make a list of the things in life that worry you the most. How many of them are things that are “whattifs” that may never happen? Then commit to living one day at a time, the best you can. Write out a prayer of commitment to this kind of living.
   

Week 4 - Part 5 of 6

• How would remembering how God has provided/taken care of a worry in the
  
  past help you with your current worries?

Week 4 - Part 4 of 6

• Describe a time when God met your needs concerning something you were
  worried about.
  

Week 4 - Part 3 of 6

• Jesus contrasts those who are his disciples with those that are not (the pagans).
  Why should a disciple react differently to worry than a non-disciple?
  

Week 4 - Part 2 of 6

0. Hear Jesus’ Words:   
   
   As a group brainstorm answers to these questions: 
   
   
• Read Matthew 6:25-34 
  
  
• 
  
  What reasons does Jesus give for not worrying?
  

Week 4 - (Part 1 of 6) April 15-21

THE RADICAL OBEDIENCE EXPERIMENT
Week 4 --“Stop Thinking and Start Trusting” 

What “whattifs” cause you the most concern? 

How do you typically deal with these “whattifs”?

Week 3 - Part 5 of 5

Radical Obedience: 



Share with the group in what way will you be “radically” obedient this week to the command: Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:9-10 ESV) 

Some suggestions are listed below:
1. Make a list of things you are afraid of. Then, ask Jesus to take away your fear.
2. Go to another “follower of Jesus” and encourage them to not be afraid.
3. Go with other disciples to your “Galilee” so you can see Jesus. “Galilee” was a geographic location outside of Jerusalem, or the place people thought worship happened. It is also a metaphor for going to the places Jesus already is. Discuss where those places are and how you can take a step to go there and see him. (Read Matthew 25:31-46 for ideas of where Jesus can be found.)

Week 3 - Part 4 of 5

Once his disciples and other followers knew what the angel knew, what changes do you find in their lives? 

(Brainstorm from what you know about their lives or take some time to look it up.)

Week 3 - Part 3 of 5

Why was the angel able to sit while others were hyperactive? 

What did he know that they did not?

Week 3 - Part 2 of 5

Hear Jesus’ Words:  

As a group brainstorm answers to these next three posts:

Everyone around the crucifixion of Jesus was running or hiding or scared. But the angel “sat.” Matthew 28:2-6

Week 3 - (Part 1 of 5) April 8-14

THE RADICAL OBEDIENCE EXPERIMENT
Week 3 --“He Rose so You Can Rest” 




Go around the group and share: What causes you your most: anxiety, sadness, fear?

Week 2 - Part 4 of 4

Radical Obedience: choose individual goals for the week

Share with the group in what way will you be “radically” obedient this week to the command to love neighbor as self.

Some Suggestions are listed below:

1. Read Luke 10:25-37. Write out your thoughts on what Jesus is teaching. Then, write out what you can do this week to “be a neighbor.” 

2. Walk across the street to a“neighbor who is near”and meet a neighbor you have never met. 

3. Walk across the world and discover the needs of a “neighbor who is far.” What can you do to be a neighbor to these? Some websites you might look at are:

www.worldvision.org 

www.compassion.com

www.water.cc 

4. Invite someone this week for Easter service. It could be someone you have just met, but maybe better if you already have a relationship. Don’t push. Just ask. See what happens.

5. Remember to B.L.E.S.S. someone this week.

B - Begin with prayer.

L - Listen. 

E-  Eat.

S - Serve.

S - Story.

Week 2 - Part 3 of 4

How do you love yourself? What implications does this have for also loving your neighbor?

Week 2 - Part 2 of 4

Jesus redefined “neighbor.” He said the more important question was “who is the neighbor to the one who is in need?” What “needs” do you see of the neighbors in your world?

Week 2 - (Part 1 of 4) April 1-7

Can you name your “near-by” neighbors? Name something you know about them:

Pics of the H.E.R.D.ers

This may be silly, but... one thing to know about Klint is that he prides himself on NOT utilizing a computer. Is my husband 74, you ask? Nope, just 34, but he likes to communicate in person, or as a last resort, over the phone. So I hope I am not insulting the rest of you when I give him an instruction on how to best navigate a blog ;)

Each week look on the right hand side (under "Blog Archive") and click on part one (at the bottom). Work your way up, the most recent post is always first. That way you will be reading in the order they were posted. For the rest of you computer savvy folks out there, we apologize for the public announcement.

Noah, Isabelle & Jim Bryson

Rebecca & Isabelle Bryson

Christa, Emma & Tony D'Anna

                                            Trisha, Brady, Brian and Baylee Downey

Robin, Hallie, Trey & Hudson Majors

Trey & Hudson Majors

Hallie, Robin & Hudson Majors

Eric, Jessica & Isaac Kiihne

Todd, TJ, Heather, Coy and Ashley Yaunches

Lilibeth, Laura, Jack, Klint & West Warner

Week 1 - Part 5 of 5

Radical Obedience:
Share with the group in what way will you be "radically" obedient this week to the command to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?
Some Suggestions are listed below...

1. Set aside five to ten minutes for prayer every day.

2. Practice stopping three times during the day and turning your attention to God: morning (think of the day ahead and ask God to be with you in those appointments/activities), noon (pause and reset your focus), and evening (review the day and look for God in it).

3. Read Mark 1:9-11. Meditate on the words, "You are my beloved son/daughter; with you I am well pleased." Hear them as words to you from God. (Hint: they are.)

4. Spend five to ten minutes in silence. Turn off cell phones, e-mail, etc. Two close friends can communicate without words—try this with God. Simply enjoy his presence.

5. Read something from the life of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Write out how Jesus loved God in that scene. How can you follow in his steps?

I know that follow up is hard... Looking around my house right now I see that I have neglected to follow up on several things... a call to the insurance agent, a spilled sippy cup (that is not supposed to happen!) and I am smelling the dirty diaper that I somehow missed throwing in the diaper pail as they went down for a nap.  Two out of three in the pail is not too bad, right?  But... I think it would be really beneficial if we not only let each other know which of these examples we had decided to try, but then came back and shared a little about that experience.

Have a great week, H.E.R.D.er friends!

Week 1 - Part 4 of 5

What do you think it would look like today to "love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength"?

Week 1 - Part 3 of 5

How did Jesus model for us what it looks like to "love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength"?

Week 1 - Part 2 of 5

If you're short on time, this one is easy :)  ....

In one sentence name a "place" where you felt close to God.

Week One - Part 1 of 5 (March 25-31)

THE RADICAL OBEDIENCE EXPERIMENT
Week 1 --"Love God"

Welcome to our mostly virtual group!  I know that you are all as busy or busier than we are..  so we are excited about connecting online!  Klint & I are so happy to be back in a small group after what seems like a very long time.  We have been a little out of the loop for at least 17 months.  Our triplets, Lilibeth, Jack and West were born in October of 2010, and since they were premature, we have not been able to have them at church during the winter months in order to stay well.  Having these three has been by far the greatest blessing and the most fun of our lives, but premature lungs have been less than fun.  We are officially out of quarantine and ready to be out!  Since we won't be meeting as a group for a few weeks, please start by introducing your family in the comments section.  (I hope it will allow you to include a picture so that we can connect names and faces... and recognize each other at CBF!).

I'm going to give it a try for our fam in the comments section....

I can't post a pic here!  Send me a picture of your family and I will post it in a separate post "Pics of the H.E.R.D.ers"  Send pics to: klintandlaura@gmail.com
I think that the easiest way for us to share will be to take each of Rick's discussion points as a separate post, then comment on each post.  Just start by commenting on this post with info (and possibly pics) of your family.  Then just click on the next post, read Rick's discussion point and we will "converse" in the comments section.  Ready, set... GO!