Extra Credit: Even MORE questions for your group time!

Happy Thanksgiving! As you meet this week, consider the idea of sharing things you are all thankful for.

This week's 'Extra Credit' questions are:

1. Have you ever had an investment go badly, or had someone else abuse a gift you gave them? What happened? How did you feel?

2. Remaining connected to the Body and to Christ is a key part of using your Gifts well; what are some ways you can be sure you are doing so?

Remember, these questions are optional, bonus content for your group meeting; you are always free to come up with others yourself if you like!

Friendship, friendship!

'I am a friend of God...' Those are the words in the chorus of a popular song sung by our worship choir, and truer words were never, er, sung!

I came across this little cartoon on the web today; the headline read, 'The real reason Dinosaurs went extinct'! I have a feeling that Noah wasn't even on facebook (or the internet, for that matter), but I'm grateful when I think that our 'friendship' with God is not contingent on something so trivial!

Romans 5:8 is one of my all-time favorite Bible verses and a real life-verse for me. 'God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' Just after that, in verse 10, Paul writes 'For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!'

It's a powerful reminder to us that we were God's enemies, and have now been declared friends, even children, of God. As a result, we are to share, out of gratitude, the love of Christ which caused this transformation in us.

This is one of the many things that Life Groups are all about; that sharing of friendship and the transformational love of Christ. We share it when we gather around a table and talk about the week, consuming treats as we do; we share it when we open his Word and discuss the verses for the evening; we share it when we pray for each other; we share it when we reach out to each other in love, meeting needs and sharing burdens.

My question to you today is, what are you doing in your Life Group, moreover in your life, to share your Friend?

EXTRA CREDIT: Even More Questions for your Group Guide!

This week's EXTRA CREDIT offers up a few questions about the idea of prayer, PLUS a BONUS: an alternate idea for your ENTIRE evening!

Here are the questions:
1. If you could ask for ANYTHING in prayer, what would it be? Have you ever asked for that? Why or why not?

2. Do you think of yourself as an effective communicator? Do you think that matters in prayer? Explain.

And here is the alternative meeting idea: Instead of your regular Life Group meeting routine (sharing, discussion, prayer, etc.), have an evening of prayer! Spend time in each of the four varieties of prayer together:
1. Adoration (prayers of praise & worship for who God is)
2. Confession (confess sin and ask God for forgiveness)
3. Thanksgiving (thank God for what He's given you and done in your lives)
4. Seeking (Ask God to help you grow as believers in various areas of your lives)

OR find other ways to make prayer the center of the evening; mix it up!

Give Us Barrabas!

John chapter 18 describes Jesus' arrest and trial, such as it was, before Pontius Pilate. In verse 39, Pilate offers to release Jesus as part of a Passover tradition, to which the crowd famously replies, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!"

I was reading this passage today and noticed something I had never thought about before.

Sometimes I choose Barabbas.

In the depths of my heart, in the flesh that is cursed to live out this tentative existence, in my old self, I shake my fist defiantly not at a Roman governor, but at God Himself and scream with all the wrath I can muster, "GIVE ME BARABBAS!"

This truth slapped me across the face as I read; every time I choose my way instead of His, every moment I spend in disobedience, each minute devoted to prideful, self-absorbed rebellion, I cry out "Give me BARABBAS!"

It's no coincidence that Barabbas was imprisoned for leading a rebellion; in my mind, he will forever more be it's poster boy.

So this morning, I pray, "Father, give me a heart to obey You; a heart that seeks to know and do Your will above all else, as Christ did. May You be glorified by my words, deeds, actions; by my life itself.

Think about it: are you calling for Barabbas' release in your heart right now, at this moment? How do you need to turn away from sin today? I pray that God will reveal it to you and give you resolve to obey Him, by faith.