Influence: Getting Out of the Christian Bubble

The following questions are based on Luke 14:1-11. Your group may not be able to get through all the questions listed, but try to use these ones to tailor your meeting time to the needs of your group.

How do you decide whether or not to obey a rule? What makes a rule "unbreakable"?
What is the most recent time you have chosen to break a rule? Was it a good or bad decision?
What is the difference between "rules" and "traditions"? How do you decide whether or not to obey a tradition?
Read Luke 14:1-6.
Give an example of a rule or tradition you've observed that doesn't value people.
How might a person's value of tradition or rules keep them from leaving the "bubble" of the church?
What situations will you find yourself in this week which will give you the opportunity to value people over rules or traditions?
Read Luke 14:7-11. What do you think is Jesus point in this passage?
We don't typically have "seats of honor" at parties these days. What are other ways someone might show more honor to one person than another?
How is James 2:1-5 similar to this passage?
Why might someone think that showing favoritism to others is a way to "get ahead" in life?
Why might someone's value of self keep them from getting out of the "bubble" of the church?
Talk about a time when you felt that someone was valuing you more than they valued their own status. How can you show others that you value them more than you value yourself?
What can you do this week to show people outside your "bubble" that you value them?

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Discussion Questions for Easter

Have several people ask the question, “What’s the most important thing you’ve ever done?” Ask other people, “What do you hope to accomplish in the next several years of your life?” Tell your class that today you’ll be talking about “life mission” or the one most important thing you do that drives everything else. Tell them that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the defining moment in history, so it should be the defining moment in our lives. Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. How does the resurrection impact some of the crucial beliefs of Christianity? How would Christianity be different if there was no resurrection? How would you be different without the resurrection? Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. What are some specific ways that the resurrection gives us hope? If you had been a friend of Jesus when he was on earth, how would the resurrection have impacted your life? How do you think his followers then were effected by the resurrection? Read 1 Corinthians 15:58.

FIGHT CLUB! (iron sharpening iron)

Our youth pastor, Keith Sandison, has implemented "Fight Clubs" with the young men of our church. While these teenagers and young adults aren't actually pummeling each other physically, they are using the opportunity to aggressively challenge one another to be more attentive to their spiritual formation. Right now my son is participating in a fight club focusing on Proverbs. I love it. Keith has created a handout he uses for the fight clubs which lists seven different methods of "generic Bible study". I think the idea started with this post a few years ago, but as he often does; Keith took my thoughts and made them immensely more substantive and beneficial. Check out his system below:

SOAPY Bible Study

In the past, I've written about and talked about the SOAP method of Bible study. This is a simple Bible study method which can be utilized by an individual or a small group. All you need is a passage of Scripture and 15-30 minutes (a journal is helpful). Many churches use this method of Bible study for their groups. Some have modified the SOAP method by adding a Y. Read more about it below: This Bible study is an intentional focused effort of growing in the understanding of the scriptures. This form of study will assist in the transformation of our inner lives as we mature in understanding and in faith. Set aside 15 minutes every day for the study. You might want to take more time after you have gotten started. Don’t overload yourself in the beginning. Keep a “soapy” journal because there will be the need to write everyday. As you develop your routine, share what you are learning with your Discipleship Group, Sunday school class, Circle, other groups in which y

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