Circular Living: Close Circles (Week 2)

Group Study Questions

1.     Read Matthew 16:16-23.

 How is it that in just a few verses Peter can go from being called the “rock” on which Jesus will build his church to “Satan”? How does this make Peter relatable? What can we learn about ourselves from this turnaround? What can we learn about God?

2.     Read Matthew 16:24-26.

 What do you make of these words from Jesus: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”? What does this look like for you? What is God asking you to “lose” in order to find Him?

3.     In Sunday’s sermon, Pete said: “Jesus doesn’t just call us to include Him in the orbit of our life; instead, we are called to fundamentally shift how we perceive the world.”

 What are some ways in which Jesus has shifted your perceptions? What are some challenges you’ve faced in change how you fundamentally perceive the world?

4.     In the sermon, Pete focused on the “close” (not closed) circles in our lives. What relationships make up the “close circles” in your life? Have you seen Christ’s presence can fundamentally change these relationships? If so, how?

5.     If you’re with a group (especially if this group could be considered one of your “close circles”), discuss how you can help each other live out a Christ-centered mission?

You may want to unpack these three features, from the sermon, of a Christ-centered close circle: “rooted in submission, with a lens of trust, and maintained through active and practiced beliefs.”