Greater Compassion

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SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In this week's sermon, Mark Batcheck taught from the Parable of the Good Samaritan that all of us draw lines on how far we are willing to let our compassion go; but God wants to expand past our self-imposed boundaries, especially in the face of urgent global challenges. In order for us to demonstrate the same sort of boundless love exemplified by the Good Samaritan, we must have eyes to see, hearts to feel, feet to step closer, and hands to help.


GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. How would you define "compassion"?

2. Would you consider yourself to be a compassionate person?

3. Did you grow up in a family where generosity was modeled? How has your upbringing influenced your attitude about giving?

4. Have you ever watched the infomercials on TV where these organizations are asking you to give money to feed starving children in Africa? How do these infomercials make you feel? Why?

5. Have you ever experienced "compassion fatigue"? Explain. How do you think one overcomes "compassion fatigue"?

6. In last week's small group gathering, we talked about committing to living out just one idea this week to broaden our "horizon" (e.g. introducing yourself to someone new, inviting someone different than you over for a meal, etc.). Were you able to stick to your commitment? Briefly share your experience.


INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. Briefly give a synopsis of this week's sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend's message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

2. Read Luke 1 John 3:16-18:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

• According to this passage, how do we know what love is?


• What does it mean that "Jesus Christ laid down his life for us"?


• What does it mean for us to "lay down our lives for one another"? (see also John 15:13)


• What do you think it means to have "pity" towards a brother or sister?


• According to verse 17, what is one specific way that we demonstrate that the love of God is in us? (see also James 2:15-17)


• Why is "action" such an important part of love?

3. In the sermon, Mark Batcheck said that in order for us to demonstrate the same sort of boundless love as exemplified by the Good Samaritan, we must have eyes to see, hearts to feel, feet to step closer, and hands to help. Take a few minutes and meditate on each of these items, then share your thoughts with the group as openly and honestly as you can.

• Eyes to See
  How has God been opening your eyes recently to see the world as he sees it?


• Hearts to Feel
  What are some ways that we often numb ourselves so that we do not feel what God feels? Why do we do that? When was the last time your heart broke for the things that break the heart of God?


• Feet to Step Closer
  As you examine your life, are you walking closer to those in need (the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the marginalized, etc.) today than you did a year ago? Or have you been walking farther away?


• Hands to Help
  We read in 1 John 3:17 that one specific way that we can demonstrate that the love of God is in us is to share our "material possessions." Can you commit to sharing your material possessions with just one person who is in need this week?

Greater Horizon

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Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD


SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In this week’s sermon, Andy Saperstein taught from the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well from John 4:1-42. He shared that God’s “horizon” is always greater than ours, and that it is this horizon that defines his plan for all people. In the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, we see a beautiful example of how to look at the world from God’s horizon. Today, we have the marvelous opportunity to love the modern-day Samaritans (people who look and sound different than us), but we are faced with fears and obstacles: We surrender to social and cultural expectations; we are bogged down by our own habits and routines; we fail to be watchful and attentive to the people and circumstances around us; we fear tainting our image and our doctrinal purity; and we fear growth and change. Opportunities may appear randomly or unexpectedly, but acting upon them is rarely “natural,” and it involves intentionality, inconvenience and vulnerability. Let us lift up our eyes and see who God sees beyond our default community and see the world from God’s horizon.



GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
2. Do you enjoy meeting new people?
3. Do you speak any foreign languages?
4. Briefly share about an experience where you got to experience another culture.
5. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were an “outsider”? Explain.
6. What are some reasons that it is often easier for us to be around people who are similar to us?



INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.


2. Read Luke 10:25-37:

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

• What is the first question that the expert in the law asks Jesus? What do you think his motive was in asking this question?


• How does Jesus answer this first question? How does his answer compare with your personal understanding of how one inherits eternal life?


• Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan in response to what question?


• Who are the main characters in the parable? What do we know about them?


• Compare and contrast the Samaritan in this parable with the Samaritan woman in John 4:1-42.


• What can we learn from the words and actions of this good Samaritan?


• How does Jesus define “neighbor” in this passage?


• In light of this passage, have you been a good “neighbor”?

3. At the end of the sermon, Andy challenged the church to take the following steps to help us lift up our eyes and extend our horizon. Take a few minutes during group to read over each of these ideas. Which of these can you see yourself doing? Do you have any other ideas to add to this list? Can you commit to living out just one of these ideas this week?

• Introduce yourself to someone you do not know when you come to church.


• Invite someone outside your natural social circles and/or significantly different than you (in nationality, ethnicity, religion, education, income, values, background) over for a meal.


• Go to places where people different from you shop, eat and congregate (ethnic restaurants, Salvation Army, etc.) and ask God to open your heart to the people you encounter.


• Talk to someone who has served long-term overseas, support someone who serves overseas, or become someone who serves overseas.


• Visit the tables in the lobby and look for specific ways to get involved with work that others have already begun. These tables will be available on the following weekends: 10/24-25 and 10/31-11/1.

Greater Justice

Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD


SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In this week’s sermon, Rich started by asking, “How do we figure out what is right and what is wrong?” When we talk about hot-button issues like torture, surrogate-motherhood, doctor-assisted suicide, abortion, or gambling, we tend to address them at a surface level. But we must go deeper and ask ourselves, “How do we come up with our view of just? What does a just society look like?” Rich then taught from Matthew 25:31-46 that justice has to do with the way that we as individuals, and as a society, relate to people on the fringes. According to Jesus, to be considered a just person, or a just society, we must do something to help the least and the last. A just person tilts towards the poor and toward assisting those in need. A just society tilts towards the immigrant and those who are sick.


GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. What do you think of when you hear the word “justice”?


2. Have you ever seen or personally experienced “injustice”? Explain.


3. Where do you personally fall on some of the hot-button issues like torture, gambling, or doctor-assisted suicide? How did you come to that conclusion?


4. Have you recently interacted with someone who would be considered “marginalized”? Briefly share about your experience.

INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON

1. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

2. Read James 2:14-26:

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that people are justified by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

• How would you define “faith”?


• How would you define “deeds”?


• What do you think faith without deeds might look like?


• What do you think deeds without faith might look like?


• Why do you think faith without deeds is “dead”?


• Is James contradicting what Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9? Is James preaching “salvation by works”? Explain.


• How does Abraham’s story illustrate faith and deeds?


• How does Rahab’s story illustrate faith and deeds?


• Read verses 15-16 above. Have you ever encountered a situation like this? Explain.

3. Read this quote from the great American author, Mark Twain:

Actions speak louder than words, but not nearly as often.

• What do you think Mark Twain is trying to say here?


• Would you consider yourself a person of words or action?


• How might one become a person who “tilts” in the direction of the poor and the needy?


• Where in your neighborhood do you see a need for justice?


• What are some practical ways that you (and your small group) can begin to live out “greater justice” this week?
  

Greater Hearing

Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD


SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In this week’s sermon, Rich started by asking the question, “Why is the truth not more obvious?” He answered the question by saying that the problems is not with the message but with our hearing. He also taught that, in order to have kingdom impact, we must not submit to formulas, but instead, we must have faith, we must be patient, and we must be generous. Using the parable in Matthew 13:1-23, Rich taught about the four kinds of hearers: Hardened hearer, superficial hearer, natural hearer, and the good hearer.


GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. Which of your five senses is the most important to you? Why?
2. Can you share your experience of talking to someone who was not listening to you?
3. Have you even been the person who was not listening? Why were you not listening?
4. How is talking to someone face-to-face different than talking over the phone?


INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.


2. Read John 8:31-47:

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” 39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham's children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

What is it that truly distinguishes those who belong to God and those who don’t?
How do we actually hear God’s voice?
Share an example of when you heard God speak to you.
What are we supposed to do when we hear God’s voice?
How is reading the Bible the same or different from hearing God’s voice?
What role does tradition and the church play in hearing God’s voice?
Reflect back on Rich’s sermon. What kind of a hearer are you?


3. Read this quote from Winnie the Pooh:

If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.

What are some examples of “fluff” that can get in the way of our hearing from God?What can we learn from Winnie the Pooh in regards to how we share our faith?Set aside 30 minutes this week to sit in silence and just listen to God.If you feel comfortable, you can try this (for 5 minutes) as part of your small group worship time and then talk about the experience.

A Note for Small Group Leaders

This weekend marks a special day for Vineyard Columbus as we launch the new sermon-based small groups! So this coming Friday, 10/9, I will be writing the first official sermon-based study guide. Here are a few questions that I've been asked a few times already, so I thought I would answer them here:

HOW DO I GET THE STUDY GUIDES?
About a month ago we did a pilot run of the sermon-based studies to get some initial feedbacks from the leaders. Based on these feedbacks here is how you will be getting the study guides.

1. The main way that you will be getting your study guides is through our new website that we created for the sermon-based small groups. New study guides will be posted on this website every Friday at 5pm. Please bookmark this page.

2. For the first three weeks, we will also be emailing the study guides to the small group leaders. Since not everyone will be familiar with the new site, we wanted to take some proactive steps to help get us off the ground. After these three weeks, you will no longer get the study guides via email, but you will get a reminder email asking you to come to this site to download the study guides. This automatic email list is still being created, so you should be getting detailed instructions on to sign up for this either from me or John McNeal in the next two weeks.

3. For those of you who are familiar with RSS (Really Simple Syndication), you can sign up to get RSS feeds on our new website (on the right side labeled "Subscribe") so that every time there is new content posted on the website, you will see the post on your RSS reader. For more information regarding RSS, check out this website: http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlereader/tour.html

CAN I CHANGE THE STUDY GUIDE FOR MY GROUP?
This study guide exists to help you teach and facilitate discussion in your group. It is not meant to constrict you. Since this study guide is a tool and not a rule, we hope that you will feel free to adapt it to fit your group. You may want to skip some questions and you may even want to add your own questions and illustrations. However, the main thrust of the study should always be the major topics that were covered in the sermon.

CAN I GIVE SOME FEEDBACK?
We really want to hear feedbacks from you, especially in the first few weeks so we can keep learning how to do this together. So as you begin your group, we would love to receive some constructive feedbacks regarding what worked and what didn’t. (Did you like the wording? Were there too many or too few questions? Did it go deep enough? What would you like to see changed? etc.) Please be brutally honest. We really want these new sermon-based small groups to thrive! So, we welcome your feedback and the feedback from those in your small groups. Use the "Feedback" section on the right side of the website to submit your feedback.