Glencairn MB Church

Going Deeper is designed for use with your small group, a friend or on you own. Its aim is to create time for you to spend with God and his word. Do as much or as little as you like. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact one of our pastoral staff.

1. Pray for the needs of your Life Group, for our church and our leaders, for personal and corporate renewal, and to allow God’s word to transform us. Share a recent entry from your Life Journal with the group.

2. This was Membership Sunday; the message focused Matthew 14:22-33 – Jesus (and Peter) walking on water. What reflection would like to share with regards to the testimonies you heard? What thoughts or questions did the message raise for you? Which thoughts or points encouraged you orposed a challenge to you?

3. Read Matthew 14:22-33 out loud. Discuss what stands out to you in this passage. With whom do you identify more – Peter or the disciples who stay in the boat?

4. Focus on verses 25-33 as we look for the ups and downs of faith on the part of the disciples. As you read these verses, with your hand indicate where their faith seems low and when it seems to be high. What influences these highs and lows in faith? How does this relate to your own life? How much does your faith fluctuate based on what is going on around you?

5. Let’s define faith – how would you explain faith to someone who does not understand the word/concept? Would you distinguish faith from fidelity? Look up the definition of faith in the dictionary – do you agree that the definitions you find fit the Christian concept of faith?

6. Use these references to further discuss the many facets of Christian faith: Matt 9:2, 9:29,15:28, Acts 3:16, Rom 1:5, 10:17, Rom 12, 3 & 6, 14:22, 1Cor 2:5, 15:13, Gal 2:20, Eph 2:8, 4:5, 1Thess 1:3, Heb 11:1-3; James 1:2-3, 2:17. What did Jesus mean when he asked “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

7. Take a moment of silence as you consider how God is speaking to you. Do you sense an invitation to something new? What concrete steps of response do you want to take? How can your group support you in these steps