Jan and Feb Calendar

Date       Passage         Life Group                 Preaching

Jan 3      Acts 1.8           Vision Discussion        Missional Vision
8-9                                 RETREAT  
10          6..8-29              Disciples/Herod           TBA
17          6.30-56             5000                            TBA
24          7.1-23               Clean/Un                     TBA
31          7.24-37             Gentile belief               Nepal Report
Feb 7      8.1-26               4000                           6.8-8.26
14          8.27-9.1            The Christ                    Call of Christ
21          9.2-13               Listen to Him               This is my Son
26-27                             RETREAT                      9.14-11.11

Retreat 3 Learning Outcomes

Thank you for investing your time in in-depth scripture study and team development this weekend! I know these retreats are costly, and you have many demands on your time, and many other ministry commitments. So my prayer is that the Lord meets us afresh from the pages of Mark, knit us together as a community committed to serious scripture study and application, and equip us to better serve our fellowship in these sermon-based life groups.

We’ve intentionally crafted this weekend retreat to meet specific learning outcomes.

For Friday evening our desired learning outcomes include:

• Tell our group stories from last fall and rejoice in the Lord’s activity among us
• Renew and develop our vision by discussing Lou’s Jan 3 sermon, and reading one article
• Recap Mark pages 1.1-12.21
• Overview Mark 12.21-20.20

At the end of this evening’s session, please jot down a couple of comments about your own learning in these past hours in light of the learning outcomes listed above.









For Saturday morning our intended learning outcomes are:

• Understand the main themes of Mark 12.21-20.20
• Note a main point for each individual story in this section
• Brainstorm and practice an externally focused ministry
• Review our Winter and Spring schedule
• Pray

At the end of Saturday’s session please write your thoughts on your personal experience with these learning outcomes. Please share these thoughts with us by email, of by phone.

The Trivialization of Jesus

Evangelical Free Church of Chico
December 13, 2009:
Mark 6:1-13

The Trivialization of Jesus
Pastor Lou Diaz
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Discussion Prompt Mark 6.1-6

The Text: Mark 6.1-6, Page 12.9-21

• Read the text aloud to each other.
• What impacted us from the sermon on this section?

Discussion Questions:

• Spend a few minutes gathering observations: who, where, what, connections to previous passages, repeated words…
• Talk about the questions people are asking and boil these questions down to just one question – what do you think the people are really saying? And why are they offended by Jesus?
• How do you understand Jesus’ comments about a prophet without honor? Why is Jesus amazed?
• What prevented Jesus from doing any miracles (other than heal a few sick?) What miracle do you think Jesus was hoping to do?

Application reflections

• Have you ever been offended by something the Lord said to you, or allowed to happen to you, or led you into? How did you respond?
• Does our faith really impact what Jesus is able to do for us?
• What makes is so hard to share our faith with those who know us best? Have you found anything that helps in these situations?
• If you have time go back and skim the four miracles that come before this story – the storm, demoniac, sick woman, and Jairus and his daughter – and note everything you can learn about faith. Is there anything that strikes you as new, a different way to express your faith in Jesus? 

Community Building

• Brainstorm a way to share your faith with friends and family that is inoffensive.

Pray

 

The Restoring Power of Jesus

Evangelical Free Church of Chico
December 6, 2009:
Mark 5:21-43

The Restoring Power of Jesus
Ken Anderson
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