Gcf Austin

Life Group Questions 1. “When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” ~ G.K. Chesterton. a. What is your reaction to this quote? b. How can you live your life differently in light of this quote? 2. Please describe the best circumstances in which you should practice gratefulness. 3. We all fail to practice gratefulness. What is the typical reason that you fail to practice gratefulness? 4. Should you evaluate a church and its people based on your preferences? If so, why? If not, why and what standard should be used? Explain. 5. Who, in your life, are you taking for granted? How will you express your gratitude? Bonus: Here is a list of church-related services that are often taken for granted. Pick one or two. Find out who does it. Express your gratitude. a. Work crew – landscaping; repair b. Cleaning crew – cleans the buildings weekly c. Ministry heads – leading mens’ and womens’ ministry and events d. Pastors & Elders e. Communion

Discussion Notes:1. Describe a time in your life when you “showed well” but behind the scenes, your heart was far from God. What did you learn from this season in your life?2. Pastor Ryan described living heart first as “living with a genuine, deep-rooted desire to joyfully walk down the paths that God calls us to.” Are you joyfully walking in God’s calling for your life? Explain.3. Lamentations 3:40 says, “Let us examine and probe our ways and let us return to the Lord.” It is important for all Christians to assess their lives and have a heart to “return to the Lord.” How does this apply to your life right now?4. Do you serve out of willingness or drudgery? No matter the answer, explain why.5. Do you live like your life depends on it? What do you think would change if you did?

Life Group Questions Key Verse: Matthew 22:35-40 – One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 1. Pastor Rob opened up about his past talking about not having a loving heart, being angry and alone, and not wanting to want to deal with others around him. Have you felt like this recently and what are you currently doing to change that? 2. "Send people into my path or allow me to cross paths with someone who needs to hear about Jesus." Give an example recently or not of a situation where you shared your heart and talked about Jesus to someone else. 3. The two greatest commandments are to love God and love others, in that order. Share some examples from your li

Life Group Questions Key Verse 1 Peter 5:5-6 – “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1. Pastor Lee explained that there is a difference between “humbling yourself” and “being humbled.” Explain what “humbling yourself” means to you. 2. Share about a time when you were able to perform a “hidden service” and how it made you feel. 3. How does humility help you support the mission and leaders of this church? 4. Tell about a time when you or someone you know was ruined by not handling success well or how you or someone you know was blessed by handling success in humility.

Life Group Questions 1. Why is the local church the hope of the world? 2. What does “irresistible” mean to you? 3. Pastor Ryan told a story about the Welsh Revival. What would it take to see a revival happen in Buda? What does GCF Hays need to do to play its part? 4. What are some of the great things that come from living in God’s presence? 5. There are three pieces to becoming a church that hungers for God’s presence. - Desiring a greater realization of His presence. - Longing to be filled to the full measure with His Spirit. - Crying out for a special anointing. Which of these do you need to focus on this week in order to hunger for God’s presence and why?

Life Group Questions 1. What does “sing a new song to the Lord” mean to you? 2. When was the last time that you sang or your life reflected a new song to the Lord? 3. Pastor Ryan walked through a few chapters in Exodus highlighting the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt, their new song to the Lord, and their tendency to forget and doubt God. What all did you learn from this story? 4. What is your heart condition? Are your words near to God but your heart is far from Him? 5. What do you need to say “Yes, Lord” to today?