Grow Group Questions - June 5, 2022

A Church of Compassion

Announcement:  Has your group created a plan for how you will meet this Summer? Ask everyone in your group to make sure they complete a short survey that was sent out last week. It will help us prepare for Grow Groups this fall.

Ice Breaker(If needed):

• As we are being called to be a church that gives “wheels” to our compassion, can you share a time you experienced true compassion in your life?

Sermon Discussion:

Key Statement: What we do will be the true measure of our faith and testimony of who Christ is more than what we say we believe.   

• Pastor David opened the message by talking about how the recent Supreme Court document leak sparked many new conversations around the topic of abortion.
  • Have you found yourself thinking about or talking with others more about abortion since the possibility of an overturn of Roe vs Wade is in the air? Can you see these conversations as a good thing? Why or why not?
• Pastor David read a “Statement On The Sanctity of Human Life” (See below). 
  • What about the statement resonate with you, surprises you, or is different than you might have expected? 
  • Take some time to look up the verses attached to the various statements and discuss how you feel they apply to what you believe.

At Bethany Church, we believe that human beings are created by God in His image (Genesis 1:16-28).  We affirm that every person from the womb to the end of their earthly life has been given by God inherent dignity, value, and immeasurable worth (Matthew 6:26, 10:30-31). Therefore, we believe that we are called to honor and help protect all human life (John 15:13, Micah 6:8, Proverbs 24:11-12), including but not limited to, preborn babies, children of all ages, adults in all stages of life, those with special needs, and others marginalized by society (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:14-15). We want to be a church that lovingly advocates for Biblical mercy and justice for all, especially for those who cannot speak for themselves (Mark 12:31, Proverbs 31:8–9; Matthew 25:45, Isaiah 1:7). 

Going Deeper/Application:  

• Read these verses: Matthew 9:36, Matthew 14:13-14, Matthew 20:29-34, Philippians 2:1-3, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Colossians 3:12.
  • Start with the verses about Jesus. What do they tell us about Jesus?
  • Add the verses from the rest of the New Testament. How are they calling us to live with compassion like Jesus did?
• Pastor David said Compassion means “to suffer together”. How is that a part of showing compassion to the lost or those struggling with hurt and brokenness in sin?
  • How did Jesus model that? How can we model that to others?

Final Challenge: 

Key Statement: What we do will be the true measure of our faith and testimony of who Christ is more than what we say we believe.   

• What is one way you believe you can better practice compassion around the topic of abortion?
• Consider how your group can join with our Mercy Justice Ministry for what we are doing this summer (See the “save the dates” postcards passed out on Sunday or website) 

Prayer Time:  

This week let’s pray for the family of our next Lead Pastor  (These are just suggestions please feel free to pray as the Spirit leads)

• That God would help the family to agree with and cooperate with the call to this ministry.
• That they would be willing and prepared to move to our community.
• That the family would experience a warm welcome from us when they come to meet us, and that friendships and connections are made quickly.