^{To automatically fill in the blanks, click the blue check next to the fill-in field.}

A sign for the times:

^{Matthew 12:14-37, 1 Kings 10:1-13, 2 Chronicles 9:1-12
Jesus’ Family: Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3, John 7:3-5, Galatians 1:19, Acts 1:14}

Pharisees:

Jonah:

Solomon:

Evil Spirits:

Jesus’ Family:

Trying to get it right:

^{Matthew 12:46-50, 12:33-35, 1 John 4:7-17, John 3:16-17, Romans 3:21-24}

This truly is all about a , not a religion that can help you get your .

Our first step into this relationship is .

WARM UP

^{Your first meeting is designed for getting acquainted, connecting, enjoying a meal together, and discussing how to make your Life Group meetings great! The questions have been shortened this week to allow ample time for this.}

Each week, “Warm Up” questions help us break the ice, get to know each other, get the conversation started, and/or share our initial impressions from the weekend’s message.

1.What is a highlight from your holiday season?

2.Do you do anything to reflect or reset at the start of a new year?

3.What are some reasons you joined a Life Group or came back to your Life Group? What are you looking forward to this quarter?

KNOW IT

^{Each week, “Know It” questions help us understand or further unpack the Scripture from the message.}

1.This weekend, we saw the Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. In a similar moment, Jesus’ disciples ask Him for a sign as well, yet Jesus gives a completely different answer. Read that story in John 6:30-38 and notice what is similar and different about the two stories, their motives, and Jesus’ response.

2.Both passages end with what Jesus believes truly matters: doing the will of God. Since that’s what Life Groups are all about, how would you explain what doing the will of God means? What encouragement do you need to live that out daily in your life?

SHARE IT

^{Each week, “Share It” questions help us reflect and share our personal life experiences about the topic at hand, considering how it works or has worked out in our lives.}

1.Israel experienced a miracle every day for forty years and still rebelled, showing us that seeing God at work isn’t the same as surrendering to Him. Have you ever wanted a sign from God or felt like seeing would help you believe? What do you think you were hoping that “sign” would give you in that moment?

2.Chris reminded us that the Pharisees had all the Bible knowledge and understanding of God’s character, but Jesus said it all comes down to the condition of our hearts. If we know how good it is to surrender, what keeps people from truly surrendering their hearts to God?

LIVE IT

^{Each week, “Live It” questions help us think through how we can apply the topic or put it into action in our lives.}

1.The Pharisees genuinely believed they were pleasing God, but Jesus showed that knowledge and religion are not the same as surrender. If someone new to Christianity asked you what it means to surrender, how would you explain in your own words what living a surrendered life looks like?

THE PURPOSE OF LIFE GROUPS

Life Groups exist to promote spiritual maturity and personal growth through meaningful Christian relationships and the study of God’s Word (Romans 8:29 & Hebrews 10:24-25). Here’s how it will happen:

SHARE
Each week, we’ll take time to share what is happening in our lives. At first, this sharing will include planned “sharing questions.” After the first few weeks, it will become more informal and personal as we feel more comfortable.

STUDY
Each week, we’ll study a section from God’s Word that relates to the previous weekend’s sermon or an appropriate personal growth topic. Our goal is to learn how to live out our Christianity in everyday life.

SUPPORT
Each week, we’ll learn how to take care of one another as Christ commanded (John 15:9-13). This care can take many forms, such as prayer, encouragement, listening, challenging one another, and meeting real needs.

SERVE
Spiritual growth is fostered not only by what we gain through the support and input of others, but also through service to others. The role each of us fills is important to the health of the church and for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the community in which we live (Ephesians 4:11-16). Throughout the quarter, we hope that you can find and/or be affirmed in the ways God has designed you to serve and make a difference in God’s Kingdom.