1. What Have I Received?

10/05/25

Opening Discussion:  Share about a time when you received an unexpected or generous gift. How did it make you feel?

Key Scripture:  Colossians 2:6-7  As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Key Takeaways:

• God has lavished numerous blessings on us when we receive Christ.
• Our salvation is secure in Christ – we can't lose it.
• Our identity is rooted in being children of God, not in worldly status.
• We have freedom in Christ, led by the Spirit rather than religious rules.
• We're called to a purpose and equipped with spiritual gifts to serve.
• Gratitude should be our response to God's generosity.

Discussion Questions:

1.  Read Ephesians 1:3-14.  You have received ‘every spiritual blessing in Christ’ (v3).  The sermon mentioned several blessings we receive when we put our faith in Jesus.  Which of these stood out to you the most and why? 

     a)  What are the specific ways you've experienced God's lavish grace in your life? 

     b)  How does understanding the extent of God's generosity change your perspective on your daily challenges? 

2.  Read Colossians 3:1-17.  Your primary identity is now as a child of God.  How does this change how you see yourself? 

     a)  How might understanding this impact your interactions with others? 

3.  Read John 10:28-29 and Romans 8:31-39.  What difference does it make knowing that you can never lose your salvation? 

     a)  How does understanding our eternal security in Christ impact how we live our daily lives? 

     b)  Are there areas where you're striving to earn God's favor instead of resting in His grace?

4.  Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-31.  What spiritual gifts has God given you? 

     a)  How are you using them for ‘the common good’ (v7).  If you’re not sure, sign up for the Network Course today at eastpark.org/events

5.  Read Galatians 5:1-25.  Are there areas in your life where you're still operating under a sense of religious obligation rather than freedom? 

     a)  How might your approach to spiritual growth change if you focused more on walking in step with the Spirit—living with God—rather than following a set of rules?

Practical Applications:

• This week, make a list of at least 10 things you've received in Christ.  Reflect on how these impact your daily life.

• Practice seeing yourself through the lens of your identity in Christ.  When negative thoughts come, counter them with truths about who God says you are.
• If you haven't discovered your spiritual gifts, consider signing up for the Network Course at eastpark.org/events 
• Each day this week, spend time thanking God for specific blessings He's given you in Christ.
• Look for an opportunity to encourage another believer by reminding them of what they've received in Christ.

Closing Prayer:  End the session by thanking God for His lavish gifts and asking for His help to live in light of all we've received in Christ.

2. Who Have I Received?  

10/12/25

Opening Discussion:  What stood out to you most from the sermon?  Why?

Key Takeaways:

• When we receive Jesus, we receive God Himself through the Holy Spirit.
• God is one being in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• To receive the fullness of Jesus we need to daily receive God’s pledge, power and plan.

Discussion Questions:

1.  Read Colossians 2:6-7 and John 14:15-23.  When we put our faith in Jesus we don't just accept a set of beliefs, we welcome the living God into our lives.  How does understanding that God Himself lives in you through the Holy Spirit impact your daily life? 

     a)  The sermon suggested saying ‘God’ instead of ‘Holy Spirit’ for a week.  How might this change your perspective on God's presence in your life?

2.  Read Matthew 3:16-17 and 2 Corinthians 13:14.  How does understanding God as one being in three persons deepen your appreciation of His nature?

3.  Read Ephesians 1:13-14 and 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.  The language of sealing and guaranteeing speaks to the permanence and certainty of our salvation.  How does knowing that God's Spirit is a permanent presence in your life affect your sense of security in your faith? 

     a)   Are there times you struggle to trust God's guarantee?  Why? 

     b)  What does it mean to you personally that God has 'anointed' and 'set His seal of ownership' on believers?  How might this shape your identity and purpose?

4.  Read Acts 1:8 and Ephesians 1:19-20.  The same power that raised Christ from the dead is living in us.  In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on God's power?  

     a)  How might your life look different if you were aware and confident of the God’s presence and power?

5.  Read 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 5:17-20 and Galatians 5:22-25.  We’re ‘baptized’ by the Spirit into the body of Jesus (the church), then we’re called to continually ‘be-being filled’ or ‘influenced’ by the Spirit.  How does the idea of being 'filled with the Spirit' (as opposed to a one-time baptism) shape our understanding of spiritual growth? 

     a)   What practices help cultivate this ongoing filling?

6.  Read Romans 8:28-39 and Job 13:15.  How have you seen God work through difficult times in your life? 

     a)  Are there current struggles where you need to trust God's plan more fully?  

     b)  What are some ways we can actively ‘receive the fullness of Jesus’ in our daily lives?

Practical Applications:

• This week, try replacing ‘Holy Spirit’ with ‘God’ in your prayers and conversations. Observe how it impacts your awareness of God's presence.
• Identify one area of your life where you need to trust God's plan, even if it's challenging. Share with the group and pray for each other in these areas.
• Set aside time each day this week to intentionally ‘receive’ God's pledge, power, and plan for your life through prayer and meditation on Scripture.

Closing Prayer: Thank God for His presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit. Ask for His help in living out the truths discussed and for a greater awareness of His constant presence.

3. What do I do about it?

10/12/25

Read Colossians 2:6-7

1. Where are you still fighting battles that Jesus already won?

2. What does it mean to receive Jesus as Lord and not just as Savior?

3. Where are you tempted to treat Jesus as an advisor instead of Lord?What area of your life needs to come under His authority this week?

4. What does it practically mean to live in Him instead of in your own strength?

5. Of these three—talking to Him before you spiral, obeying when it costs, rehearsing truth—what’s hardest for you right now?

6. How have you experienced the difference between striving in your own power and being strengthened by Him?

7. What are practical ways to position yourself to receive strength instead of generating it?

8. Which rhythm—confession, community, or Sabbath—most resists your current lifestyle?

9.  Where do you hear the “noise” of anxiety in your life right now?

10. How does thankfulness change the way you face suffering or uncertainty?

4. Peter's Calling and Spiritual Formation  

11/02/25

Opening Discussion: Share your name and what it means (or what you wish it meant).  How does our identity shape how we see ourselves?

Key Takeaways:

• Following Jesus is a Response to Recognizing Jesus is Lord – Faith isn't just intellectual belief; it's personal surrender to Jesus' rightful claim on our lives.
• Following Jesus Requires Surrender—Being All In – True discipleship means letting go of control, stepping out of our comfort zones, and trusting Jesus completely.
• Following Jesus Changes Us – When we genuinely surrender to Jesus as Lord, the Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out.

Discussion Questions:

Part 1: Recognizing Jesus as Lord

1.  What's the difference between believing Jesus is God and accepting Jesus as Lord?  

     a)  Why does this distinction matter?

2.  Peter's immediate response to recognizing Jesus was confession of his sinfulness and a decision to follow.  What was your response when you first truly recognized who Jesus is, and why?

3.  The sermon mentioned that 'even demons believe in God.' (James 2:19)  What makes Christian faith different from mere intellectual belief?

4.  Read Luke 5:8-11.  Peter left everything to follow Jesus.  What does "leaving everything" look like in our modern context?  

     a). What might Jesus be asking you to leave behind?

Part 2: Surrendering to Jesus

5.  Read Matthew 14:25-32 (Peter walking on water).  What "boat" represents safety and security in your life right now?  

     a)  What would stepping out of that boat look like?

6.  Peter had "little faith" according to Jesus, yet he still got out of the boat.  How does this encourage you when you feel your faith is weak?

7.  There are several ‘boats’ we might need to step out of: financial security, comfort zones, career plans, life goals etc.  Which of these resonates most with you?  

     a)  Why is it hard to step out?

8.  Share a time when you stepped out in faith and you experienced the power of God.  How did that experience strengthen your faith?

9.  What's the difference between surrendering to Jesus and negotiating with Jesus?  

     a)  Have you caught yourself trying to negotiate with God?

Part 3: Being Changed by Jesus

10.  Read Matthew 16:13-18.  Peter went from an insecure fisherman to a confident ‘rock.’  How have you seen yourself change since following Jesus?

11.  How are you different today from the person you were before you became a follower of Jesus?  Take a moment to honestly answer this question.  Share your thoughts with the group.

12.  What's the difference between trying to be a "good person" and being a ‘transformed person’? 

       a)  How does this distinction affect how we approach our faith?

13.  Read 2 Timothy 3:5.  What does ‘having a form of godliness but denying its power’ mean—what does powerless Christianity look like? 

      a)  How can we avoid this trap?

Personal Reflection:

• Have I truly accepted Jesus as Lord, or have I just accepted Him as a teacher or good example?
• Am I surrendering my life to Him, or am I still trying to maintain control?
• What safe and comfortable ‘boat’ is God asking me to step out of right now?
• How has following Jesus actually changed me?

Practical Applications - Choose 1-2 applications to focus on this week:

Option 1: Evaluate Your Lordship — Spend time in prayer this week honestly examining whether Jesus is truly Lord of your life. Use these areas as a guide: Finances and possessions / Time and schedule / Relationships / Career and ambitions / Hidden sins or struggles

Action Step: Write down areas where you're still in control. Confess them to God and surrender them specifically.

Option 2: Step Out of the Boat — Identify one specific "boat" God is calling you to step out of.

Action Step: Take one concrete step of obedience this week, even if it feels scary. Share your intention with one person in the group for accountability.

Option 3: Testimony of Transformation — Reflect on how Jesus has changed you since you started following Him.

Action Step: Write out your testimony (even if it's just a paragraph). Share it with one person this week—either someone in the group or someone who doesn't know Jesus.

Option 4: Baptism or Re-commitment — If you've never been baptized, or if you realize you've been holding back from full surrender.

Action Step: Talk to a pastor or group leader about taking the step of baptism or making a fresh commitment to follow Jesus as Lord.

5. Peter's Crisis of Faith and Growth  

11/09/25

Opening Discussion:  Share a time when you failed at something you were confident you could do.  How did that failure change you?

Key Takeaways:

• Spiritual growth is not a straight line upward.  It involves ups and downs, failures and restoration, brokenness and healing.
• We were saved by faith to live by faith.  We're just as dependent on God for daily living as we were for salvation.
• God uses crises to reveal our need for Him.  When our boat gets rocked, God is often preparing us for something greater.
• Repentance and brokenness are essential for growth.  We can't grow while hiding or denying our sin and weakness.
• God restores us fully.  When we genuinely repent, God doesn't put us on probation—He commissions us for service.

Discussion Questions:

1.  Read Colossians 2:6-7; Mark 14:27-31.  Peter was absolutely convinced he would never deny Jesus, yet he did—three times.  Why do you think there's often such a gap between our convictions and our actions?

2.  Read Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75; Romans 7:14-25.  Which part of Paul's words in Romans 7 do you relate to most?  Why?

3.  Read Romans 5:3-5 and 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.  God uses crises to help us grow.  How does this awareness change the way you view current struggles or past failures?

4.  Read John 21:15-17.  Jesus deliberately recreated the miraculous catch of fish and asked Peter three times if he loved Him.  What does this tell us about how Jesus restores us after we fail? 

     a)  Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him with "agape" (sacrificial love), but Peter responded with "phileo" (friendship love).  What might this exchange reveal about Peter's honest self-awareness after his failure? 

     b)  Jesus didn't put Peter on parole/probation—He immediately gave him responsibility: "Feed my sheep."  Why is this significant?  

     c). How does this challenge our tendency to feel disqualified, or put ourselves on parole, after failure?

5.  God uses our failures, our brokenness, and external challenges to grow us.  Which of these resonates most with your current season?  Why? 

     a)  What do you think God might be trying to teach you or do in you through it?

Practical Application:

• Where is God currently "rocking my boat"?  What might He be preparing me for?
• Am I more focused on looking good or growing deep?  What evidence supports my answer?
• Is there a failure or sin I've been hiding that's preventing me from experiencing God's restoration?
• How have past failures actually prepared me for current responsibilities or opportunities?

Closing Prayer:  Acknowledge areas where we've tried to live in our own strength, and ask God to help us embrace the crises He's using to grow us.  Ask for faith to trust that God wants to restore us fully, and not put us on probation.  Pray for God's Holy Spirit to progressively sanctify each person.