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Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 83: Scarlet Hiltibidal

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Our guest today is Scarlet Hiltibidal. Scarlet is a very professional wife and mother to her family in Middle Tennessee. She loves sign language with her daughters, nachos by herself, writing for her friends, and dreaming of being a famous chef while spilling the cheese dust from the macaroni box on the kitchen counter and using it anyway. She treasures the freedom of resting in the work of Jesus and hopes to help others rest as well. She is the author of the just released, Afraid of All the Things: Tornadoes, Cancer, Adoption, and Other Stuff You Need the Gospel For.

Questions:

  • What was it like growing up, as you say, “in the green room” of SNL and other national TV shows? How has it shaped your adult life?
  • What prompted you to write your first book, Afraid of All the Things? Who did you write it for?
  • When do you first remember being crippled by fear and anxiety? What was it like and how did it shape your childhood?
  • When did you first learn to hold the gospel up to your fears, and how did that change things?
  • How do your fears and anxiety play out as a small group leader? What advice would you give small group leaders on overcoming their fears, and at the same time, helping their small group members work through their own?
  • Do you still struggle with fear and anxiety, and what do you do to combat it?
  • What are your hopes for readers after they finish the book?

Quotes:

You have to force yourself to live in the light.

I was afraid that people would not accept me if they knew about all of my flaws.

I grew up hearing the gospel, but I thought I needed Jesus to die to save me–but I better do a really good job of being a Christian.

“Am I good enough” caused an underlying panic all of the time.

The gospel is for every moment.

Resources mentioned:

www.afraidofallthethings.com

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Friday Features

Friday Feature: Lamplighters

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What would happen if you gave your entire life to Jesus Christ? What extraordinary things would God do in you and through you? Evangelist Dwight Moody (1837–1899) said, “The world has yet to see what God would do through a man who was completely surrendered to Him.” What if that person was you?

The book of Colossians teaches Christians why we should give our entire lives to Jesus Christ and what our lives would look like when we do. Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, teaches us in only four short chapters how we can give Christ His rightful place in our lives. Only four chapters, but four chapters that could change your life forever!

In the first lesson Paul affirms his love for the Colossian believers and expresses his desire for their spiritual growth. He emphasizes the fact that the gospel—the truth that changed their lives—continues to change lives throughout the world. His point? The gospel of Jesus Christ is enough for all believers, for all the world, for all time. Adding to God’s Word doesn’t strengthen it. It distorts the truth and leads believers into error. Now ask God to reveal Himself to you through His Word and conform you into the image of Jesus Christ.

1.Paul introduced himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God (Colossians 1:1). He included Timothy, missionary companion and spiritual brother, in his initial greeting to the church. What words are used to describe the Colossian Christians (Colossians 1:2)?

2. When the word saint is applied to the New Testament believer, it signifies our dual calling to salvation and sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:2). Alexander MacLean, a famous Scottish preacher, said, “Saints are not an eminent sort of Christian, but all Christians are saints, and he who is not a saint is not a Christian.” What are some other words the Bible uses to describe the believer’s relationship to God (John 1:12; Galatians 4:5, 7; 1 Peter 2:9)?

3. a. Paul often expressed thankfulness for other believers (Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians1:4; Philippians 1:3). What specific spiritual qualities was he particularly thankful for in the lives of the Colossian believers?

b. Name two things Paul did to express his gratitude for the Colossians.

c. In what ways have you recently expressed your appreciation and gratitude for another Christian?

4. a. The Colossian church had a love for all the saints (Colossians 1:4). The remarkable frequency of the word all (28 times in only 95 verses) is more than coincidence. It emphasizes an important truth. Please list the remaining phrases that include the word all and their corresponding verse references in Colossians 1.

b. What important spiritual truth do you think is being taught by the frequent use of the word all when it is linked together with the other terms?

5. The Christian traits of faith, love, and hope form a familiar triad (trio) in Scripture (Romans 5:2–5; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 5:8). In these passages, hope is coordinated with faith and love, but in Colossians 1:4–5 hope represents the source from which faith and love spring. What do you think is meant by the phrase the hope which is laid up for you in heaven (Colossians 1:5)?

6.  a. What was Paul referring to in Colossians 1:6 when he said, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit?

b. The phrase, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, has profound theological implications, especially in the area of world missions. What do you think this important phrase teaches about the spread of the gospel (the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone) throughout the world?

7. a. Bible scholars believe God used Epaphras to start the church at Colossae (Colossians 1:7; note: Epaphras is a shortened form of Epaphroditus, but this man should not be identified with the man by the same name in Philippians 2:25 and 4:18). Paul was obviously impressed with Epaphras’s spiritual character. How did Paul describe this man (Colossians 1:7)?

b. Sometimes we view the biblical characters as otherworldly—people we read about, but whose lives could never be replicated. The truth is, however, that they were ordinary people who simply surrendered their lives to Christ and allowed Him to work through them for God’s glory. What aspects of your life would you need to surrender more fully to Christ to become a dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ?

8. Paul thanked God for the Colossian Christians (Colossians 1:3) and then offered a specific request on their behalf. What was it (Colossians 1:9)?

9. Some Christians are uncertain what God wants from their lives (God’s will). They appear to wander aimlessly in their Christian lives, unsure how they can serve God. List four specific things God desires every Christian to do to fulfill His will (Colossians 1:10–12).

This article is an excerpt from the Lamplighters series on Colossians. Be inspired to pursue a passionate relationship with Christ, and learn why you must avoid secular psychology, legalism, mysticism, and asceticism in your quest for spiritual maturity. Head to your local LifeWay store to get a Lamplighters study! Click here to find the closest store near you! 
Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 82: Launching Your Group Well

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On this episode of Group Answers, Chris, Brian, and Brandon discuss how to launch your small group well in the new year.

The 6 “Don’t’s”:

  1. Don’t assume everyone you ask will show up.
  2. Don’t take the Bible study portion of the experience lightly.
  3. Don’t be unintentional about when to launch and how much lead time to build in.
  4. Don’t conclude that your winsome personality will be enough.
  5. Don’t be flippant about the schedule.
  6. Don’t create false expectations early in the group life.

Blog Post:

Don’t Do These 6 Things When Starting a New Small Group

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Thursday Giveaway

Thursday Giveaway – Pathways

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Each week on Thursdays we highlight a trustworthy discipleship resource that can help you in your mission to make disciples. This week’s post is adapted from Pathways. Fill out the form at the end of this post by Friday, January 4th at 11:59pm to enter for a chance to win this free resource!

The Security of Sovereignty: Worried You’re Not on the Right Path?

Have you ever felt that you were on the wrong path? Have you ever surveyed the circumstances of your life and been unable to find God in them? This may seem like an odd way to begin a Bible study, but taking a moment to consider these questions will help you begin your study of Pathways.

As we consider the Book of Esther in depth during the coming weeks, you’ll undoubtedly notice that God seems conspicuously absent. While the king of Persia is mentioned 190 times, the name of God never appears. The further we venture in the book, the more the circumstances will seem to be stacked against Esther. Yet when it seems as though Esther is on the wrong path, the invisible hand of God is always at work. The story of Esther urges us to trust God even when we’re worried that we’re not on the right path. Here at the beginning of our time together, let’s take a moment to address that concern.

How do you respond when you feel that your life isn’t going the way you hoped or planned? 

Even though this is a common struggle, why is it such a difficult struggle? 

If we were honest, we’d admit that we’ve all struggled with questions and doubts, wondering why God has taken us where He has or allowed us to face what we were facing. It’s human to feel these emotions. It’s human to lose hope. You don’t need to pretend that you’re superspiritual. God has seen discouragement and doubt before. He knows our frame. He knows we’re modified dust (Ps. 103:14).

In those times we just want God to show up to let us know He’s still there. We reach for Him, but like the wind, He escapes our grasp. His invisible hand eludes us, while His words urge us to keep walking the path He has called us to take.

But do we take the next step? Do we walk in faith? Are we able to believe the words spoken through the prophet Isaiah? 

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, you Savior (Isaiah 43: 1-3, NIV).

A prophet may not show up at our door with a message from the Lord, but God has left us a witness in His Word. So how does God’s Word address our emotions and questions when we face loss and doubt? God is able to secure the promises delivered to Isaiah and to us because of who He is. To better understand what God does, we first need to consider who God is. At this point we need to introduce a theological idea that will be considered over and over again throughout this study—providence.

This article is an excerpt from Pathways: Lessons from Esther. This resource will help you discover the power of God’s providence in the midst of your personal pain, fear, gain, loss, and love. You’ll see that God has a purpose for your life, and He uses every action and event that occurs in it to make that purpose a reality. Fill out the form below for an opportunity to win a free resource.

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Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 81: Jeremiah Johnston

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In this episode, Brian and Chris speak to Jeremiah Johnston. Jeremiah J. Johnston, Ph.D., is president of Christian Thinkers Society, a Resident Institute at Houston Baptist University where he also serves at Associate Professor of Early Christianity. His latest book is “Unimaginable: What Our World would be Like Without Christianity.”  He also wrote the Bible study Unanswered, published by LifeWay. You can listen to him regularly on his nationally syndicated radio program, The Jeremiah Johnston Show.

Questions:

1. I heard it said one time, We cannot abandon the intellectual struggle. How would you define intellectual struggle?

2. How do you think the difficult questions contribute to discipleship?

3. How would counsel a group leader about how to navigate a group members unanswered questions?

4. How would you advise a group leader to lead a discussion that includes spiritual warfare references?

5. What’s the hardest question for you to answer?

Quotes:
The greatest thing about our faith is that it is holistic, we are always growing.

There is always a Pharisee in the crowd.

Where the intellectual struggle has been forfeited, that’s where faith becomes irrelevant to life.

We no longer, as a society, think in Biblical terms.

Jesus was all about addressing the difficult questions in his discipleship.

We have to give permission for our group to question our faith. Questioning your faith is not a sin.

Everybody has unanswered questions.

Questions create conversations, assertions don’t.

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 80: Group Trends in 2018

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On this final Group Answers episode of the year, Chris, Brian, and Brandon talk about group and discipleship trends from 2018. They also take a look at what might be coming for 2019.

Trends in 2018:

  • Discipleship intensive smaller groups
  • Intentional discipleship plans
  • More strategic training for leaders
  • Hybrid models of group systems

This Episode’s Sponsor:
What happens when the Bible and humanity collide? Not what you’d expect. Living & Effective, a podcast collaboration between Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible, journeys through history, current events, theology, and the human condition to uncover surprising ways the Bible accomplishes God’s plan in the world.”

 

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 79: Dean Inserra

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Our guest today is Pastor Dean Inserra. Dean is the Lead Pastor of City Church, a church he started in his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida in 2007. Dean has a passion to reach his hometown for Christ through the local church and to see healthy churches planted across the South and the nation. He is a graduate of Midwestern Seminary and is pursing a doctoral degree from Southern Seminary and serves on the Leadership Council for the Southern Baptist Convention’s ERLC. Dean is married to his wife Krissie and they have three children, Tommy, Ty, and Sally Ashlyn. He loves baseball, Starbucks, the New England Patriots, and the indoors.

Questions:

1. What do you think it is about the Bible belt that is different when it comes to group life?

2. What have you learned about cracking cultural Christianity that might help a group leader?

3. What approaches have you found to be successful in making groups more missional and engaged in their cities and towns?

4. On the show we’ve had several people address the political division we’re currently seeing, particularly in group life. I’d be interested in your thoughts about managing differing political and social positions and perspectives within a community or small group.

Quotes:

Church is not something that is treated with hostility in the south.

A group is another thing that would inconvenience people.

There are no next steps taken to live out the Christian life.

We have a lot of unsaved Christians who carry the label, but there’s no context to it.

We need to equip group leaders on how to unpack years of this theistic – where Jesus isn’t necessary – kind of Bible Belt Christianity.

You’ve got to get them lost before you can get them saved.

Resources mentioned:

The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel

This Episode’s Sponsor:
What happens when the Bible and humanity collide? Not what you’d expect. Living & Effective, a podcast collaboration between Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible, journeys through history, current events, theology, and the human condition to uncover surprising ways the Bible accomplishes God’s plan in the world.”

 

 

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Church Leadership

How to See Your Group in Light of the Gospel

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by Deborah Spooner

Gospel. We speak it in our churches. We hope it saturates our homes. We pray it impacts our groups.

But sometimes we become so familiar with the word that we lose sight of its power. The gospel is the profound, life-changing truth of Jesus.

“Jesus is God’s word to us, breaking through our dark, silent prison and saying ‘let there be light!’” (Gospel Foundations, volume 1).

It’s that moment when you realize your heart cannot begin to hold all the love Jesus has for you. It’s when you realize that moralism is empty and all of life is really about His life, death, and resurrection. When the light of the gospel transforms just one individual, it also has the power to illuminate your group, your church, and even your entire community.

How can you see your group in the light of this gospel?

1. First, see Jesus.

We’ve all been there. Tired. Close to burnout. Knowing it’s because of Christ we lead our group but feeling like we need a little more grace and a lot more of Jesus to open up our space, our time, and our hearts yet again.

“How else could you describe the creation of everything unless you’re first introduced to the Someone who preceded everything? That’s the whole point of Genesis 1:1. The God who simply is, who preceded everything and is not dependent on anything, created all that we know and all that we don’t know as well.” (Gospel Foundations, vol. 1).

For us to see our groups in light of the gospel, we must begin by looking at the gospel’s beginning, The Creator. The One who is not dependent on anything but who we depend on for everything. Before we take more gospel-centered steps, we must turn to Him, seeing Jesus and holding fast to the reality that He is the way, truth, and life who supplies all we need (John 14:6; Philippians 4:19).

2. Look through the lens.

What is the foundational, gospel lens? We can look at our groups through the lens of the truth of Scripture.

“The Bible is a God-centered book. We have been given Scripture so that we might know God. That means when we read Scripture, we should focus primarily on what we can learn, love, and embrace about God and His Son, Jesus” (Gospel Foundations, volume 1).

We don’t let our judgments, our complaints, or even our pride about our groups taint how we see our members and interact with them. Every thought that is not in obedience to the truth of Scripture, we take captive (2 Corinthians 2:5). This is our lens.

What does Jesus show us about seeing people? Instead of responding from our frustration, our desire to please others, or even our selfish ambition, we have compassion (Luke 7:12-15). We speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25).

We see people through the fact that Christ died for them just as He did for us. That we show the fruit of the Spirit in our actions: being loing, kind, faithful, and self-controlled (Galatians 5:22-23). That we love because He first loved us, regardless of if we feel like it or not (1 John 4:19).

3. End with wonder, not wondering.

Even when depending on Jesus and seeing others through the gospel lens of Christ’s sacrifice, we can still wonder. “I wonder if they’ll even make it through that difficulty.” “I wonder if they’ll ever stop talking so much.” “I wonder if I’ll ever be as good of a leader as I want to be.”

“When there was nothing but nothing, God was, and that ought to create in us a sense of wonder about Him that trumps all our other wonderings” (Gospel Foundations, volume 1).

At the end of the day, the gospel leaves us in wonder. Who are we that Christ died for us? Who are we that we experience reconciliation with a Holy God? This worshipful wonder can quiet our wonderings, frantic thoughts, and worries. We don’t have to question the power of the gospel. We can rest in the fueling wonder, knowing that it is by Him, for Him, and to Him that we live (Acts 17:28).

The gospel? It’s our foundation. And, we’re only beginning to explore this. Check back on the blog all this week for more gospel insights to guide you in finishing out this year as we head towards 2019.

And you don’t even have to wait till then. We have an entire Bible-study line that walks you through the storyline of Scripture to point you to the gospel. It reveals how Jesus is the hero from beginning to end. Sound too good to be true? Try it. Find a free download of the Bible study PDF and video content here.

Deborah Spooner is a Minnesota-born analytical creative serving as a Marketing Strategist for LifeWay’s Groups Ministry. As a pastor’s daughter with a background in Digital Communications and Media and Biblical & Theological Studies, you can find her at her local church, in deep conversation, or with a book or pen in hand as she seeks to know Christ more and make Him known.

 

Thursday Giveaway

Thursday Giveaway: Holiday Bundle

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by Deborah Spooner

Each week on Thursdays we highlight a trustworthy discipleship resource that can help you in your mission to make disciples. This week we are doing a special Holiday Bundle Giveaway! Read below for what’s included in the bundle and be sure to fill out the form at the end of this post by Friday, December 14th at 11:59pm to enter for a chance to win these resources!

Remember the reason for the season.

Christmas. Many of us love seeing houses decorated with lights, spending time with friends and family, and finding just the right gifts to put under the tree.

Amid the hustle and bustle, it can be too easy to lose sight of the reason for the season, even when we know that the reason for this season is the reason for every season. We know the daily work of keeping Christ central that spans way beyond Christmas for the group leader.

Jesus.

He’s really the best gift. And, we want to gift you with more resources to help you this Christmas season and beyond.

Enter to win our 2018 Holiday Bundle, packed with all of the resources below to help center and encourage both you and your group this holiday season!

The bundle includes:

James Bible Study Leader Kit

This 13-session study examines the core message of James: the relationship between faith and works. James Leader Kit includes a Bible Study Book and four DVDs with 30- to 35-minute video sessions. The videos include promotional material and teaching sessions featuring author Matt Chandler. The Kit also includes codes for access to digital video downloads and additional resources through Wordsearch Bible. The value of these additional resources is more than $300.

Jesus Among Secular Gods Bible Study Book

As belief in the secular gods of atheism, hedonism, relativism, and humanism continues to grow, it’s more important than ever for believers to be able to defend and share the claims of Christ. This six-session Bible study challenges the popular and trending philosophies of the day, skillfully pointing out the fallacies in their claims and presenting compelling evidence for absolute truth as found in Jesus and revealed in Scripture.

Gospel Foundations: Volume 1

Take a journey through the storyline of Scripture, seeing how Jesus is the hero from beginning to end. From the creators of The Gospel Project, this six-volume resource is comprehensive in scope yet concise enough to be completed in just one year. Each seven-session volume includes videos to help your group engage in discussion with a clear understanding of how each text fits into the storyline of Scripture. Volume 1 begins you on this journey.

Foundations: New Testament

In Foundations: New Testament, Robby and Kandi Gallaty lead individuals through the 27 divinely inspired books of the New Testament in one year, while still offering the flexibility of reading only five days each week. The HEAR journaling method will allow individuals to read and respond to God’s Word as they highlight, explain, apply, and respond to passages throughout the yearlong plan.

Mentor Bible Study Book 

Discipleship is non negotiable in Scripture. And the best way to learn how to walk with God is to walk in the dust of a master who himself walks with God. Mentoring takes place as two or more people walk together. Using Jesus and Paul as examples, this study describes the biblical model of mentorship, provides a practical strategy for starting a mentoring relationship and process, addresses common challenges in mentoring, and more.

10 Minute Audio Devotions: Finding Strength in Faith, Hope, and Love

In the hurry and stress of life today, strength often seems to be in short supply. Maybe you feel that you’re running on empty. But God has an endless supply of spiritual resources to give you strength, perseverance, and victory. These twelve short audio devotions by best-selling authors will set your mind on eternal truths from God’s Word, inviting you to drink deeply of the faith, hope, and love that are always available to you in Jesus Christ.

10 Minute Audio Devotions: Finding Victory over Fear, Stress, and Anxiety

Brief but powerful, these audio devotions will help you navigate through fear, stress, and anxiety. Each CD features some of today’s best Christian communicators. The devotions cover topics such as renewing your mind, overcoming various fears, the role of suffering, and battling temptation. The two-disc set contains 12 devotions, each about 10 minutes in length.

And

An exclusive Apostle’s Creed Tervis tumbler, a Jesus Among Secular Gods notebook, a Pray Like This prayer notepad, and an At A Glance Bible Study Guide

Enter today to win!

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Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 78: Family Discipleship

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On today’s episode, Chris, Brian, and Michael talk about what discipleship in the family can look like.

Questions and topics discussed:

  • Discipleship doesn’t begin and end with our small group. It has to include our families.
  • A lot of parents feel guilty because they don’t know where to start with discipleship in their family. What can they do right now?
  • What if discipleship was never modeled for the parents?
  • What practical tools are out there to help families develop a discipleship rhythm?

Quotes:

It is easy to congratulate yourself for some practices you may have instituted, but at the end of the day, time will tell if it’s effective or not.

Faith is being confident that the Lord is going to make up for what we lack in all circumstances.

It frees you to actually engage and do some things, rather than always wishing that your family had more spiritual conversations.

The most obvious and easiest place to start is to commit to having a single conversation after church once a week.

When you make this choice, you start normalize spiritual conversations.

Quantity time paves the way for quality time with your family.

It is important as a parent that you make your kids go to church.

Resources mentioned:

This Episode’s Sponsor:
What happens when the Bible and humanity collide? Not what you’d expect. Living & Effective, a podcast collaboration between Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible, journeys through history, current events, theology, and the human condition to uncover surprising ways the Bible accomplishes God’s plan in the world.”

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.