College and Singles Weekly Update – April 1-April 8th

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No BFG this week due to Easter

Register for Good Friday & Easter Service.

Please sign up for the Easter service you normally attend.

 

Gently and Lowly Study

D-groups for Gentle and Lowly are starting next week! Groups will be meeting throughout April and May. This will be a great time of getting to know others in our church outside of the college and singles groups. Sign up as soon as possible! You don’t want to miss this opportunity! Click here to sign up.

Are you a student heading home at the end of May?

We still have a way for you to join our church-wide study of Gentle and Lowly!

For those unable to join for the months of April and May, we will have a condensed study of the book meeting Sunday nights at 7 pm throughout the month of April. No need to sign up for this option, just show up!

 

Singles Retreat

Singles, get ready for a great retreat this Saturday!! A general itinerary of our time:

~Meet at 10 am at Activate Games (corner of  Hurstbourne Ln and Taylorsville Ln.)

~12 am Lunch back at church

~1-3 pm Bible study and outdoor games

We look forward to this opportunity for fun and fellowship! You won’t want to miss it. Make sure you are registered for this event by clicking here.

 

Important Location Change!

CDC guidelines are changing and loosening up for children and socially distancing in classrooms…this means we have a spot for one class to come into the building. Starting the week after Easter, the singles will begin meeting in room 235. The college group gets to take over the whole tent! Yay for no more talking over each other!!!

 

Weekly Word:

Passion Week is here! For most of us, we say Passion Week without even thinking about the disconnect that the world has with the word passion. The word passion seems almost sinful in certain contexts yet the Latin root of this word is ‘pati’ which means to suffer. I don’t see the world wanting to suffer for anyone these days. So, we as Christians should think about the suffering that Christ did on the Cross to cover our sin, take our place and defeat death. Here is a word from Paul’s letter to the Philippians to remind us of what he did for us. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:8) As we see that example of sacrifice and suffering for us, may we choose to do the same for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Because of Him,

Pastor Philip

 

Who is Jesus?

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Mark tells us what’s happening with Jesus at his sham trial. People are giving all kinds of false testimony about him. Mark then pans to Peter in a courtyard outside and the exchanges he has with others about the identity of Jesus. Sandwiched in between Peter and the false accusers of Jesus, Jesus is asked who he is. He responds with clear and powerful declarations about his true identity. Ninth & O member, Derek Riley, helps us to put all of this together in today’s Devotionable as we consider life’s most important question, “Who is Jesus?”

Day 36: Peter’s Denial (14:66-72)

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Discussion Questions

(1) Why did Peter weep? Was he remorseful for his denial or just upset he was proven wrong? (147)

(2) Compare Peter to Judas’ demise. Why is it important that we contrast the sins and responses of Peter and Judas? How were they alike? How were they different? (147)

(3) Do you resonate with Peter? Having the truth and knowledge all around you but your pride sends you into defeat? In what areas of your life are you operating with overconfidence? Where do you need to strengthen your prayers in this area? (146)

(4) Would you stand for Jesus in the midst of opposition or deny him? If this is a weak area in your life, how should you change your prayers in response to this need?

Day 35: Jesus before the Sanhedrin (14:53-65)

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Discussion Questions

(1) How can you respond like Jesus in situations where you are treated unfairly or unjustly?

(2) How do these stories of Jesus’ betrayal, mock trial, and giving himself up to die for us encourage your heart today?

(3) How does Isaiah 53:7 help you understand the willingness and obedience of Christ’s sacrificial death? How does this change your perspective of Jesus’ saying, “Pick up your cross and follow me”? (142)

(4) Jesus’ silence perpetuated the situation. Are there times to speak up and times to be silent? How can you know the difference?

(5) How can we fail to love and serve with our whole lives for our entire lives?

(6) Do you resonate with Pastor Cook’s expression of feeling “Give me Jesus!”? Why not? If we felt like this more, wouldn’t we desire to sin less? (143)

Naked and Afraid

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Pastor Drew takes us to an odd passage in Mark. A young man, gripped with fear, flees naked from a garden. In the process, he teaches us an unexpected lesson regarding the depths of Jesus’ love.

Day 34: Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest (14:43-52)

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Discussion Questions

(1) Do we have a tendency to remain silent when opportunities arise for us to speak a word for the gospel?

(2) Is our Christianity one that goes with the flow, or does our lifestyle run counter to the prevailing winds of our decaying culture?

(3) Is Jesus your greatest treasure?

(4) When you betray Jesus, do you receive shame or forgiveness?

Day 33: The Darkest Night of All (14:32-42)

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Discussion Questions

(1) Are you exercising trust in God’s omnipotence with faith in action?

(2) Jesus is unbelievably honest in prayer. How can we model Jesus’ honesty and trust in our prayers?

(3) How can we take the mindset of Jesus’ prayer, “Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will,” into our daily fight for holiness?

(4) Have you thought Jesus was afraid to die? How does Pastor Cook’s enlightenment of this event change your thoughts/opinions? (134)

(5) How does the imagery of Jesus approaching God as Father in the darkness of death rather than on a mountain top resonate with you? (134)

(6) How often do you find yourself flesh-dominated, knowing the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak? Do you turn to God in prayer for help? (135)

(7) In your dark night do you go to God in prayer?

(8) In what areas of your life are you trusting in God’s power?

(9) Jesus the Comforter is with us in hours of darkness. Do you overcome sin with prayer and accountability?

Day 32: Jesus’ Body and Blood (14:22-31)

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Discussion Questions

(1) How does participation in the Lord’s Supper encourage you?

(2) The gifts of God’s grace are many–forgiveness of sins, hopeful anticipation of Christ’s return, and a loving church family. How does a loving, local church body become a gift of God’s grace in your life?

(3) We are family under the lordship of Christ. Maybe you can call and encourage a church member with what you are learning from this study.

(4) Do you find yourself longing for the eschatological banquet Jesus mentions while taking the Lord’s Supper? Has the Lord’s Supper become routine and mundane for you? (130)

(5) Pastor Cook discusses three perspectives while taking the Lord’s Supper. Do you find yourself using these truths and promises as reflections and corrections for your heart? (131)

Nothing but the Blood

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Many of us have heard the Passover story and the sacrificial atonement. But many in this world still rely on their works to save them. Pastoral Intern, Michael Knight, reminds us that Jesus must pay it all, or we are still hopeless. Allow this Passover reminder help you prepare your heart and soul for Holy Week. What can wash away our sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Day 31: Preparations for Passover (14:12-21)

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Discussion Questions

(1) Readers of Mark have known and anticipated the betrayal of Jesus since Mark 3:15. How do you think the disciples took the news? What went through their minds?

(2) How does this passage help you maintain trust in God’s plan even when you can’t see his hand at work?

(3) What is the importance of the Lord’s Supper resembling the Passover Feast? Why was the Messiah seen as the Passover Lamb? (126)

(4) Judas walked daily with Jesus and still betrayed him. How can we remain watchful that sin doesn’t capture our hearts and lead us astray?

(5) Do you truly live as one following God or would you just be considered “religious”?

(6) How easy is it to go through the motions of following Jesus?

(7) When we are struggling, do we fail to see God as our victor and still doing work in us? Or do we feel like Satan is winning? (128)