Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
9:00am & 10:45am,
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Week 5 Sermon Questions For Groups

Miraculous movements: Celebration of 23 years

Introduction:

23 years ago, Northstar Church was launched in a funeral home. In the last 23 years, we’ve seen God do more than we could ask, think, or imagine through you—the people of Northstar church. We want to celebrate all the lives that have been touched as we continue our mission of leading people into authentic, life-changing relationships with Jesus Christ. Today, we celebrate all God is doing, has done, and is preparing to do in the next 25 years.  

Something To Talk About: 

  1. Elevate the priority of connecting with the lost:  Luke 19:10 says,“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” You don’t have to read the Gospels too closely to get a glimpse of Jesus’s intense affection for the lost. God loves us enough to have sent His Son to die in our place. He is more passionate about being reconciled with people than we could ever imagine. We too need to have a passion for the lost. We need to share His heart for the lost. Sometimes life gets in the way, and that’s understandable. But we can’t stay there. We need to rekindle, or elevate our priority of connecting with the lost.  
  2. Elevate the priority of sharing the gospel: Sharing the Gospel is what all of us are called to do, but it is one of the hardest parts of being a Christian. But when you think about it, that viewpoint seems a little odd when you consider the fact that meeting Jesus was the best moment of our lives. With that in mind, it would be simple to tell other people about that experience, right? Well, if you are a believer who has tried to witness to an unbeliever before, then you already know it is not as easy as it sounds. We ask God to give us someone to witness to, but then when He does, we’re like, “Wait, like, can it be someone else? They don’t seem the type to be open to Christianity, they will probably be irritated.” In those times you should remember how grateful you are that Jesus didn’t feel that way towards you. You are glad He pursued you relentlessly, and He will do the same for anyone else. We need to elevate the priority of sharing the good news with people.  
  3. Elevate the priority of making disciples:  Why is discipleship important? Discipleship is important because we want people to become fully committed followers of Christ. Discipleship helps believers to grow in their faith, to grow in maturity and wisdom, and build their faith on a strong foundation so that they can then disciple and lead others towards Christ. Discipleship is first, helping people draw closer to Christ. But another element is raising up leaders. Discipleship is meant to pass on the wisdom and leadership of Christ to every person who seeks to follow Him. Christians are not meant to stay stagnant in the body, looking to a few people for guidance and direction, it is instead the whole body that should be active and working together, operating in sound doctrine and using individual gifts. We need to elevate the priority of making disciples. 
  4. Elevate the priority of gathering: With Covid-19 causing churches to put public gatherings on hold, it seems like a good time to consider why Christians prioritize gathering in the first place. After all, many believers have turned to various forms of technology to encourage one another during this unusual season. Gathering isn’t merely a nice thing to do; it’s part of what a church is. The Bible makes it clear gathering, assembling, and meeting together are vital aspects not only of our identity, but also of our holy functioning as God’s people. (Hebrews 10:24-25) Each week on the Lord’s Day, we need to gather as a church in worship and to have the opportunity to praise God alongside others, and to watch how the Lord is using our fellowship for His glory. As Christians, we should all desire to gather together with one another as often as possible.   

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do we elevate the priority of connecting with the lost? 
  2. Take a few minutes and think of a time when you were lost or when you lost something or someone. Describe the feelings of lost. Describe the feelings of being found. 
  3. How do we elevate the priority of sharing the gospel? 
  4. Besides initially sharing the gospel, what else is involved in sharing the gospel?
  5. How do we elevate the priority of making disciples? 
  6. Why do you think many Christians think of disciple-making as something that church leaders do? 
  7. How would you encourage a Christian who does not feel as if he or she can make disciples? What biblical truths would you remind them of?
  8. What should motivate our disciple-making efforts? What are some signs that we are motivated by the wrong things?
  9. What does the command to “make disciples” look like for you practically? What new opportunities can you take advantage of? Be specific with your answers.
  10. How do we elevate the gathering of the church? 
  11. Why do you think so many Christians in our culture see the church as unnecessary? What is the church’s role in the Great Commission?
  12. What will you do? How will you or your group put into practice what you’ve learned this week?

Take one thing home with you:

Your marching order as a follower of Christ is spelled out in Galatians 2:20: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This life is not your own. So if you’ve died to self, there’s no more of you – only Him living through you. With each choice that comes your way, you exercise more of Him and less of you when you ask “God, how would you decide this? What would You want? I’m Yours, so the choice is Yours, too.”