SERIES NOTES

Welcome to the Peace & Contentment series. Peace is said to be one the defining characteristics of a Christ-follower, yet so many of us lack true, tangible peace in our lives. Over the course of these 6-sessions, we'll be diving into ways all of us can begin to find God's peace in our daily lives.

Below are Scriptures, thoughts, questions and videos all incorporated to help you facilitate a discussion with your group about finding peace and contentment in our lives. Everything here is a tool for your use; but don't feel like you have to stick to the script! The goal is for meaningful conversation and growth to happen organically as you and your group fellowship.

Also, don't sacrifice relationship building for the sake of "diving deep" into your faith - true relationship building will greatly increase the quality of your gatherings and your group's ability to grow in their faith!

Send me your feedback as the series develops; it's my goal to help us all find and follow Christ through all that we do.

- Tim Beehler

Getting Started:

Q: Have you ever daydreamed about winning the lottery? What's the first thing you would do if you won the big lottery?

watch a clip from sunday's service - See the full message HERE

RE-READ: Philippians 4:11-13 NCV

I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.

• Think about the dichotomies of your life - want/plenty, poor/enough, uncertainty/smooth sailing
  • How did your attitude and perspective reflect your situation?

• Have you ever felt God's peaceful presence in the middle of life turmoil?
  • Share the experience

• How is it hard to trust God when things seem bleak?

• How is it easy to forget God when things are good?

READ: Ephesians

I ask—ask

• What

THE CHURCH IS WHERE THE ACTION IS

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Commit as a group to being part of the action! Here are 2 great ways you and your group can get involved!

Getting Started

Q: What is your least favorite chore?

watch a clip from sunday's service: See the full message HERE

re-READ: Exodus 3:1-5

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

• Can you honestly say that you take pleasure or find joy in the mundane tasks of life?

• What might it mean to recognize your current location (job, house, city, life-stage, kids, partner, etc...) as holy?

re-READ: John 15:5-8

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

• What are some of the things you've felt you had to do in order to be "right with God"?

• What does it mean to "remain" in God?

• Have you ever looked back at some event in your life and realized God was there, but you didn't recognize it at the time?

• How can we begin to see all moments of our lives as holy encounters with God?

in your laundry room; on a tuesday; while it's raining

- surely god is there

BEFORE NEXT WEEK

Pick a partner in your group and commit to praying for them throughout the week whenever they come to your mind.

Make those regular moments a little more holy!

See full Sunday message HERE

Getting Started

Q: In your life, what are you a control freak about?

re-READ: John 17:15 NLT

[Jesus praying for his disciples] "I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.”

• What if our prayer was, "God help me through this storm," instead of, "God take me out of it"?

• What's the difference between "tolerance" and "love"?

• Have you ever had an experience where you intentionally got to know someone different than you?
  • What was the result?

• What does it mean, in our life, to let go and accept?

I'm going to let go, I'm going to accept

BEFORE NEXT WEEK

Pray together that God would help us through the storms of our lives, and that we would recognize God's presence through them.

See full Sunday message HERE

Getting Started

Q: What is something you've said that you wish you could take back?

re-READ: Proverbs 18:21 NLT

"The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

READ: James 3:2-6 NCV

"We all make many mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can control their whole bodies. Also a ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship, making it go wherever the pilot wants. It is the same with the tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it brags about great things. A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame. And the tongue is like a fire. It is a whole world of evil among the parts of our bodies. The tongue spreads its evil through the whole body. The tongue is set on fire by hell, and it starts a fire that influences all of life."

• Where can you see the power of people's words today?

• What would happen if we chose to speak life and encouragement and true and positive things into the world around us?

re-READ: Philippians 4:6-8 NCV

"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected."

• What happens when you only focus on the negative things going on?

• What would happen if you started the day by bring thankful for the blessings in your life?

re-READ: Hebrews 11:1 NIV

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

• Do you believe that life can really be different than it is?

• How do we get there?

change the way you think, talk, and interact with the world

BEFORE NEXT WEEK

Rewrite Psalm 23 and then bring it to share with the group

See full Sunday message HERE

Getting Started

Q: Be honest: how much cleaning do you do before people come over?

• What is something you just need to accept?

• Why can it be difficult for us to accept and enjoy the life we have?

re-READ: Luke 1:35, 38

The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God. Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!” Then the angel went away.

• Why are chaos and disorder necessary steps on the way to wisdom?

• What happens when we say, "let it be as God has said"?

you're not martha stewart, your life is a little messy and a little chaotic: and that's okay

BEFORE NEXT WEEK

Think of one thing that is always on your mind, and let it go. Just for one day, for one week.