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The Broken Clock Discussion Questions Week 1

The Broken Clock: Week 1 (4/15/12)

Discussion Questions & Leader Notes

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Primary Passage: Mark 1:29-39

Speaker: John McGowan

Leaders: The primary purpose of Week 1 is triage – drawing everyone out to see that there is a problem and then identifying the core areas that need to be addressed. Week 2 will begin the process of realigning our priorities and our calendars. We’ve designed these questions to take about 60-75 minutes. Given your group dynamic, you may spend more, or less. As the group leader, feel free to use the questions you like, don’t use the questions you don’t, expand discussion on certain areas, limit discussion on other area, and go on Spirit-led tangents.

Leader Prep Time: Watch message (35 minutes), Review questions (30 minutes)

Leader Questions/Comments:

Women contact rachel.mccullough@mcleanbible.org
Men contact enoch.haven@mcleanbible.org

In this message (4/15/12), John McGowan outlines:

How our priorities dictate our calendars
Jesus’ example in setting and living by God’s priorities

What in the message stood out to you?
Leaders: Use this question to engage your group in discussion. If your group hasn’t listened to the message, you may want to spend some time in Mark 1:29-39 before moving on.
Where do you wish you could spend more time? Where do you often give the “I want to, but I just don’t have time” excuse? Be specific.
Leaders: This question is intended to warm-up your group to discuss the topic but also give you a sense of where people are. Ask everyone in the group to contribute something to this question and keep basic notes on each person’s response.
In Mark 1:37, the entire crowd of Capernaum was looking for Jesus. The crowd represents those people that place demands on our time (whether good or bad). John McGowan asked us the following question in his message, “Who is the crowd in your life?” So let’s answer that. Who is the crowd in your life?
Leaders: Expect answers such as “my boss,” “girl/boyfriend,” “spouse,” “friends,” “teachers,” “pastor,” “parents,” etc. The discussion might be quick on this question, but again ask everyone to participate to the discussion.
We often follow the crowd, because we don’t have clear priorities for our life. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:12. What does this passage tell us about our priorities?
Leaders: The goal of this question is simply to align everyone in the group around the concept that the Christian’s #1 priority is to live for God (5:15). Feel free to ask the question and get general feedback before turning to Scripture. Also feel free given your group and your comfort level to turn to other Scriptures to answer this question. From the 2 Corinthians passage, expect answers such as: not to live for myself (5:15), reconciliation (5:19), ambassadors (5:20), servants of God (6:4), etc. Given where your group is at, you may want to focus on the first section: that God’s priority for Christians is to live for Him, as His ambassador. Or, you may want to focus on the second section: that God’s priority for Christians is servanthood/ministry (6:4) with character through suffering (6:4-10) . In either case, make sure to highlight to the group that the entire passage is written in the second person, which tells us that community is an essential priority our lives.
(optional) John McGowan shared with us the 5 priorities he has for his life: faith, health, people, ministry, recharging. Would your list be the same? Differ? How or how not?
Leaders: If you have time, this question moves the group beyond talking about the #1 priority into #2-5. But because we will discuss this topic next week, you may want to skip it if you are running short on time.
Time for homework! To prepare for next week, we need to figure out where we actually spend our time. We’re not going to change anything this week – just observe. So for at least 4 of the next 7 days (and be sure to include the whole weekend!) write out an activity log. You want to be as specific as possible, so aim for 30 minute increments. For each time period, simply write down what you were doing (getting ready for work, eating breakfast, sitting in traffic, Bible study, small group, XBox360, staring blankly at the wall, etc.). You may want to use your phone to keep track, or you may want to keep a notecard handy to keep notes. At any rate, bring your activity log with you to group next week.
Leaders: You’ll need to impress that completing this exercise will help them get the most out of next week. You may get pushback that you’re adding to an already packed scheduled. Respond that this is the first step in freeing space in their schedule and that the reason their schedule is so packed just might be because they’re not intentional with their time. You may also get pushback that they’ve done this before. Respond that they’ve probably not done it in the context of Biblical community, or that it never hurts to revisit whether their time spent is lining up with their priorities.

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Baptisms from April 4th

Here is a video of the baptisms that we had on April 4th.

Arlington Baptisms – April 4, 2011 from Frontline Arlington on Vimeo.

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The Best 8 Minutes of Your Day…

I shared a few weeks ago that one of the greatest challenges believers face is a lack of remembrance. Believers fail to remember their first love which is Jesus Christ. God’s all surpassing grace was on display in the person and work of Jesus Christ. “For by His grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of work, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9) So please watch the clip below and I pray that it compels you to remember the awesome grace of our Lord and Savior. Remember and enjoy….