This week Russell discussed the role of community is the context of biblical counseling. Eph 4:11-16 will serve as the primary text.

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passages?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these/this passage(s) of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Compare the listed passage with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
4. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out (if any)? What? Why? Share.
5. Read through at least 2 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)
6. Have you recently been viewing your Christian faith through the lens of community? Or do you tend to see your faith as individualistic? Why or why not?
7. Why do you think community is such a foreign concept for westerners? If it is so good for us (both science and scripture confirm this) then why do we go to such great lengths to avoid it?
8. Have you been living out the truthing in love commandment? Why or why not. Share.

This week Joe explained how we can know that Christ was the messiah; by His words and by His works. See Emmauscf.org/sermons for a complete list of scriptures used.

1. What did Jesus mean in Matt 5:17 when he stated “I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law?
2. What was Jesus’ relationship to the law?
3. What did Jesus mean when he said “The Kingdom of God has come upon you” in Matthew 12:28-29? What is the kingdom of God? (don’t just say ‘the church’)
4. What acts in Jesus’ life were direct fulfillments of scripture (e.g. His birth, baptism, death) What scriptures were fulfilled?
5. How can the information from this sermon help in evangelizing to a non-believer? Explain. Share?
6. Have you recently reflected on the fact that Jesus was the savior of the world and God incarnate?
7. Do you live each day in light of the fact that Jesus is physically reigning from heaven with all power and authority. Why or why not. Share.

This week Joe discussed Christ’s view of John the Baptist. Matt 11:7-15 will serve as the main text for this weeks questions.

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passages?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these/this passage(s) of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Compare the listed passage with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
4. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out (if any)? What? Why? Share.
5. Read through at least 2 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)
6. What was John’s Relationship to Jesus? Physically and spiritually.
7. Why was John seen as “The Greatest Prophet”?
8. How was John also Elijah? Why is this important?

This week Joe discussed the significance of Jesus’ meeting with Moses and Elijah. Luke 9:28-36 will serve as the main text for this weeks questions.

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passages?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these/this passage(s) of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Compare the listed passage with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
4. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out (if any)? What? Why? Share.
5. Read through at least 2 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)
6. Discuss the significance of Jesus’ meeting with Elijah. Why was it important? Support with scripture.
7. How and why are the Law and Prophets the pre-runners and pre-requisites for Christ? Explain.
8. How is knowledge of the Law and Prophets helpful in sharing the Gospel with a non-believer? Explain. Share.

As you all know, the service last week was quite a bit different than normal. I hope that you were as blessed as I was to go through Emmaus’first corporate rite of passage ceremony. The following are some questions for your groups to discuss pertaining to the service.

1. What was the most powerful part of the Rite of Passage Service?
2. Why are Rite of Passage ceremonies so important for today’s youth?
3. What are some things that you want to/did include in a Rite of Passage ceremony for your child? (hypothetical if you have no children)Why? Explain.
4. How can you as an individual support the youth of Emmaus as they prepare and go through their Rite of Passage?
5. How can the chruch support the youth of Emmaus to ensure they devolop properly toward maturity and their Rite of Passage?
6. Spend some time in prayer for the youth of Emmaus and the Christian youth of America.

Hello GCG’s! Due to the continaul nature of the sermons, I found it best to change the title of the questions from OIA questions to GCG questions. This way, I am not bound to fitting the questions to a particular weekly structure. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know. Blessings to you all.

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the book of Judges?
2. If you had to sum up the content of Joe’s sermon in one sentence, what would it be?
3. Read through 2-3 commentaries that give introductions to the book of Judges and share what you learn with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)
4. Joe stated in his sermon that “human beings are deeply depraved”. What does this mean? Share with your group and support with scripture.
5. How has this sermon helped in your understanding of human behavior/nature? Share.
6. Why is it so dangerous/damaging to NOT view humans as being depraved? In other words, why does the belief that one has the ability within themselves to follow Jesus lead to theological discrepancies and difficulties living the Christian life? Share.