Corner Conversations

Take it Deeper Questions Read John 7:35-43 How is a follower of Christ identified? How would someone know if you were a follower of Jesus? How does a person recognize Jesus? Do you know God? How do you know you do or don't? How do you get to know God better? Bible Reading Plan Exodus 21 Exodus 22 Exodus 23 John 4 John 5 John 6

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 6:1-24 What do you feel and how do you tend to respond when you are misunderstood? How do fascinations or infatuations tend to evolve over time? If John was focused on the miraculous provision of manna (Exodus 16) and the provision of water (Exodus 17) as he told these stories, how is your understanding of Jesus deepened and/or focused? How are you challenged, focused, confused or frustrated by this text? Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 12 Exodus 13 Exodus 14 Exodus 15 Exodus 16 Exodus 17

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 5:1-15 When you are sick, what are you like: Oscar the Grouch? Superman? Eeyore? Buddy Elf? Why does Jesus help this man in the story? How does God help people? How much does a person need to know in order to be helped by God? What does a person need to do in order to be helped by God? How are you challenged, focused, encouraged and/or confused by this text? Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 9 Exodus 10 Exodus 11 John 19 John 20 John 21

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 4:43-54 How has your definition of “illness” changed over the past year? What does “bringing your need to Jesus” mean to you? How does seeing impact faith? How does desperacy impact faith? How are you challenged, focused, encouraged and/or confused by this narrative in John? Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 5 Exodus 6 Exodus 7 Exodus 8 John 17 John 18

Take it Deeper Read James 4:13-17 How do you become more fully present? How do you live life in such a way that you don't feel like time is always flying? How do you create a life that’s actually worth living? What are healthy things to dwell upon? What are moments in the bible in which Jesus was interrupted? Write out the things you will choose to dwell on.

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 3:16-21 What was scripture to you when you were young? Why is John 3:16 such a popular Bible verse? What is the simplest explanation of John’s words? What are the complexities (elements that call for faith) that still are present in that simplest explanation? If John’s words were meant to be contemplated, meditated on, processed… What do you need to think more about? How are you challenged, focused, confused and/or encouraged by John’s words? Bible Reading Plan Genesis 42 Genesis 43 Genesis 44 Genesis 45 John 11 John 12

Take It Deeper Questions Read John 2:12-25 When have you felt rage that led to action? What set Jesus off? What did the religious authorities demand from Jesus? What does that demand say about their understanding of what just happened? What is the Old Covenant? What is the New Covenant? How is Jesus a reforming of the Old Covenant system? How is that reforming impacting you today? Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 38 Genesis 39 Genesis 40 Genesis 41 John 9 John 10

In the month in Feb. we are intentionally having conversations about Black history. 

Take It Deeper Questions Read 1 John 4:16-18 How do you respond when you think something is your fault? How do you respond when you think something is not your fault? What is the impact of viewing relationships as merit-based? What are the signs of actually knowing someone in relationship? What does a sustainable relationship over time with people look like? With God? How do commitment and trust play a part in relationships? How have you seen God to be trustworthy?

We are having conversations every week about Black history and the church. 

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 2:1-11 What memorable things have you seen or experienced at a wedding? Where is the wine level (zest for life) in your life right now? Full? Half full? Empty? Why? What is filing you? What is draining you? What area seems like stale water in an old jug? How could Jesus bring more celebration into your life? Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 28 Genesis 29 Genesis 30 Genesis 31 John 7 John 8

Take It Deeper Questions: Ready John 1:35-51 As a child, what would it take for you to believe something your brother or sister told you? What is a disciple of Jesus? Historically and currently? What insights do you get into following Jesus as you see Jesus calling His first disciples? What are some different reasons or motives for following Jesus? John’s last words of chapter one refer to Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28:1-15. Why was reminding the disciples of the ancient covenant important? How is hearing the covenant important for you? Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 24 Genesis 25 Genesis 26 Genesis 27 John 5 John 6

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 1:6-34 What has set you up for success in your life? How did they do it? Why did they do it? The titles given to Jesus so far: The Word, The Christ, The Lamb of God, The Son of God) What is the significance of each of these? Which means the most to you now and why? How would you explain Jesus’ coming to forgive sins to a 10 year old? How do you personally understand Jesus’ coming to forgive sins now? What questions do you have? What do you need to process more? What is clear(er) now? Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 20 Genesis 21 Genesis 22 Genesis 23 John 3 John 4

Take It Deeper Questions: Read John 1:1-18 Have you ever had a nickname? How did it start? Does anyone still use that nickname for you? Put verses 1-5 and 14 into your own words. Words that someone who doesn’t have a Christian background could understand. Are there prerequisites to believing in and/or have faith in Jesus? If yes, what are they? Why does John start here? How does this help in getting to his final objective found in John 20:31? Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 15 Genesis 16 Genesis 17 Genesis 18 Genesis 19 John 1 John 2

Take It Deeper Questions: Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 What is something you always enjoy? When did you last enjoy it? What is something you never enjoy? When did you last not enjoy it? What are the differences between a person that never rejoices, sometimes rejoices and always rejoices? What are the differences between a person that never prays, sometimes prays and prays continually? What are the differences between a person that is never thankful no matter circumstances, is thankful in some circumstances and is thankful in all circumstances? As you process this, how are you challenged, encouraged and focused? Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 8 Genesis 9 Genesis 10 Genesis 11 Genesis 12 Genesis 13 Genesis 14

Take It Deeper Questions Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 What do you love most about the Christmas season? Least? How does loving others traditionally fit into your Christmas traditions? How do religious traditions traditionally fit into your Christmas traditions? What are the essential ingredients to the love that Paul is talking about in these verses? How are you challenged, encouraged, focused and/or confused by this text? Bible Reading Plan Luke 1 Luke 2 Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 61:1 Micah 5:2 Hosea 11:1

Take It Deeper Questions Read Luke 2:8-14 What has brought you great joy in the past? What would bring you great joy in 2021? How would you have responded if you were the shepherds in this narrative? What is the message of vs. 10? What does it look like to live in response to the “good news?” What is it to live in that joy? Bible Reading Plan Revelation 21 Revelation 22 Matthew 1 Matthew 2 Matthew 3

Take It Deeper Questions Read Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38 Share a pregnancy story. (personal, spouse, sibling, relative) How would you respond if you were Mary or Joseph and received the news? How did Mary and Joseph seem to respond? Why do you think they responded this way? How is peace in the midst of the unknown possible? Why is peace in the midst of the unknown valuable? How are you challenged, focused, encouraged and/or frustrated by Mary and Joseph's peace in this moment of so many unknowns? Bible Reading Plan Revelation 16 Revelation 17 Revelation 18 Revelation 19 Revelation 20

Take It Deeper Questions: Read Jeremiah 29:11 What are your plans for this Christmas season? How has COVID impacted your plans? How can hope and challenging circumstances be a reality? What is God given hope? How do the words in Jeremiah challenge you, frustrate you, focus you and/or encourage you? Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 11 Revelation 12 Revelation 13 Revelation 14 Revelation 15

Take it Deeper Questions Read Matthew 25:14-30 If someone said they had a story for you and then shared this parable, how would you respond? Why? Who are you in the parable? Master, Servant 1, Servant 2 or Servant 3? Why? With the parable in mind: What things have you been entrusted with in this season? What does not being passive about those things look like? What is success with those things in this season? Bible Reading Plan Revelation 5 Revelation 6 Revelation 7 Revelation 8 Revelation 9 Revelation 10