Life Groups
LIFE GROUPS Life Groups group meet weekly for fellowship, to study the scripture from Sunday’s sermon and for prayer. From the following list, choose a time that works for you. The winter series begins the week of January 6th and will meet for six weeks. If you are a previous participant, please sign up again. Sunday signups start January 16. on the Patio. To sign up during the week, call Esther/Don Bennett (569-2728). *2007-08 SCHEDULE* Cycle 1: Week of October 7 - Week of Nov 11, 2007 Cycle 2: Week of Jan 6 - Week of Feb 10, 2008 Cycle 3: Week of March 23 - Week of April 27, 2008 (Easter '08 is March 23!). LIFE GROUP COORDINATORS The Life Group Coordinators are Don and Esther Bennett. You can contact them via e-mail at don.bennett@cox.net or by phone at 805-569-2728. Monday Open to all: 7-8:30 pm -- starts January 7 Group leaders: Esther and Don Bennett, 569-2728 Location: Bennett home Tuesday Morning men’s group, 7:30-8:30 am -- starts January 8 Shared Leadership Location: Church, Anderson Lounge Wednesday Open to all: 7-8:30 pm -- starts January 9 Group leaders: Anne and Jim Shelton, 967-2711 Location: Home, TBD* Open to all, 7-8:30 pm – starts January 9 Group Leader: Peter Buehler, 687-0754 Location: Kirkpatrick Home Thursday Women’s Group, 4-5:30 pm -- starts January 10 Group Leader: Esther Bennett, 569-2728 Location: Church, Garden Room Groups may be added at other times if there is interest. A sheet will be available to indicate your preferred time. to be decided Questions? Call Esther or Don Bennett, 569-2728*	Questions for Sermons: Life Group Questions for Week of April 27, 2008 Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-22 Sermon: "Suffering and Blessing" 1. Read the 1 Peter passage through together, then a second time, this time pausing after each verse, with group members saying which word(s) or phrase(s) in that verse either spoke to them or caused them to wonder/have a question. (Don't get into a discussion -- just share aloud the words or phrases, then go to the next verse.) 2. What was the experience (of reading the passage in this way) like for you? What surprised you? What did you hear in the scripture that you hadn't heard previously? Did this simplify Peter's message for you or complicate it? 3. The passage begins with a rhetorical question (3:13). How do you suppose the Christians in the Asia Minor congregations reacted when they heard it? How might they have reacted after hearing the statement that follows (But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed.)? 4. Tell of a time when you suffered (or faced some form of difficulty or discomfort) for doing what is right. Were you blessed? How? 5. Peter says (verse 15): Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you. Why "always"? What does "keep(ing) your conscience clear" (verse 16) have to do with being ready to "make your defense"? 6. How would you respond if someone demanded from you "an accounting for the hope that is in you"? What does "gentleness and reverence (or humility)" have to do with it? Life Group Questions for Week of April 20, 2008 Scripture: I Peter 2: 2-17 Sermon: "Pictures at an Exhibition” by the Rev. Harold Englund Opening: What kind of stone would you like to symbolize your life? First picture: nursing baby How have we been nurtured? How do we continue to be nurtured and to nurture others? Does conversion or baptism cure of the problems mentioned in vs. 1? How does that happen--individually and in the church? Second picture: living stones What kinds of stones cause stumbling for you and others? What kinds of stones are useful for building? Is it possible for the same stone to produce opposite results from one person to another? Can you think of an example? Put another way— Do some efforts meant to be helpful, turn out to be a hindrance? Have you ever found that true in your life? How? How can we be ‘stones’, that do not cause others or ourselves to stumble? Third picture: the whole world How do you think you fit into ‘the chosen’? Fourth picture: aliens and exiles If we are “aliens and exiles’, what does Peter advise us to be aware of on our journey? Dr. Englund asked these questions regarding ‘honorable deeds’: When I arrive in Christ’s presence, will I have my assigned homework completed? Was there some purpose for me on earth that I have not completed? Have I left a footprint on the trail for those who follow me? i.e. Letters to grandchildren?, funding summer camp scholarships? Etc. What other questions should we be asking ourselves as aliens and exiles in the midst of our life’s journey? Get full text of sermons.

Life Groups

LIFE GROUPS

Life Groups group meet weekly for fellowship, to study the scripture from Sunday’s sermon and for prayer. From the following list, choose a time that works for you. The winter series begins the week of January 6th and will meet for six weeks. If you are a previous participant, please sign up again. Sunday signups start January 16. on the Patio. To sign up during the week, call Esther/Don Bennett (569-2728).

2007-08 SCHEDULE

Cycle 1: Week of October 7 - Week of Nov 11, 2007
Cycle 2: Week of Jan 6 - Week of Feb 10, 2008
Cycle 3: Week of March 23 - Week of April 27, 2008
(Easter '08 is March 23!).

LIFE GROUP COORDINATORS

The Life Group Coordinators are Don and Esther Bennett. You can contact them via e-mail at don.bennett@cox.net or by phone at 805-569-2728.

                           Monday
Open to all: 7-8:30 pm -- starts January 7
Group leaders: Esther and Don Bennett, 569-2728
Location: Bennett home
                           Tuesday
Morning men’s group, 7:30-8:30 am -- starts January 8
Shared Leadership
Location: Church, Anderson Lounge
                           Wednesday
Open to all: 7-8:30 pm -- starts January 9
Group leaders: Anne and Jim Shelton, 967-2711
Location: Home, TBD*

Open to all, 7-8:30 pm – starts January 9
Group Leader: Peter Buehler, 687-0754
Location: Kirkpatrick Home
Thursday
Women’s Group, 4-5:30 pm -- starts January 10
Group Leader: Esther Bennett, 569-2728
Location: Church, Garden Room

Groups may be added at other times if there is
interest. A sheet will be available to indicate your preferred time.

*to be decided

Questions? Call Esther or Don Bennett, 569-2728

Questions for Sermons:

Life Group Questions for Week of April 27, 2008
Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-22
Sermon: "Suffering and Blessing"
1. Read the 1 Peter passage through together, then a second time, this time pausing after each verse, with group members saying which word(s) or phrase(s) in that verse either spoke to them or caused them to wonder/have a question. (Don't get into a discussion -- just share aloud the words or phrases, then go to the next verse.)
2. What was the experience (of reading the passage in this way) like for you? What surprised you? What did you hear in the scripture that you hadn't heard previously? Did this simplify Peter's message for you or complicate it?
3. The passage begins with a rhetorical question (3:13). How do you suppose the Christians in the Asia Minor congregations reacted when they heard it? How might they have reacted after hearing the statement that follows (But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed.)?
4. Tell of a time when you suffered (or faced some form of difficulty or discomfort) for doing what is right. Were you blessed? How?
5. Peter says (verse 15): Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you. Why "always"? What does "keep(ing) your conscience clear" (verse 16) have to do with being ready to "make your defense"?
6. How would you respond if someone demanded from you "an accounting for the hope that is in you"? What does "gentleness and reverence (or humility)" have to do with it?

Life Group Questions for Week of April 20, 2008
Scripture: I Peter 2: 2-17
Sermon: "Pictures at an Exhibition” by the Rev. Harold Englund
Opening: What kind of stone would you like to symbolize your life?
First picture: nursing baby
How have we been nurtured?
How do we continue to be nurtured and to nurture others?
Does conversion or baptism cure of the problems mentioned in vs. 1?
How does that happen--individually and in the church?
Second picture: living stones
What kinds of stones cause stumbling for you and others?
What kinds of stones are useful for building?
Is it possible for the same stone to produce opposite results from one person to another?
Can you think of an example?
Put another way—
Do some efforts meant to be helpful, turn out to be a hindrance?
Have you ever found that true in your life? How?
How can we be ‘stones’, that do not cause others or ourselves to stumble?
Third picture: the whole world
How do you think you fit into ‘the chosen’?
Fourth picture: aliens and exiles
If we are “aliens and exiles’, what does Peter advise us to be aware of on our journey?
Dr. Englund asked these questions regarding ‘honorable deeds’:
When I arrive in Christ’s presence, will I have my assigned homework completed?
Was there some purpose for me on earth that I have not completed?
Have I left a footprint on the trail for those who follow me?
i.e. Letters to grandchildren?, funding summer camp scholarships? Etc.
What other questions should we be asking ourselves as aliens and exiles in the midst of our life’s journey?

Get full text of sermons.

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Get full text of sermons.