40: Looking Back, Leaning Forward

Message Listening Guide

Which of these lessons might God be inviting you to lean into?

1) Orthodoxy > Novelty
Colossians 1:28-30 “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

2) People > Tasks
1 Peter 5:2-3 “Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

3) Love > Control
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way…”

Reflection Questions:
What part of Luke’s story resonates most with your own?
How have you seen God’s grace shaping your story?
If you were going to articulate one of the major lessons God has instilled in you, what would it be?

Connection Group Conversation Guide

Pray: We’re going to begin our time by sharing prayer requests. What’s something on your heart or mind you’d like prayer for (ask your care leader—or a volunteer if you don’t have a care leader yet—to take notes so that they can follow up next week).

Get-to Know You Question: Share your name with the group and the answer to the question: What’s one silly or surprising way you've noticed you're "getting older”?

Opening Question: What’s a favorite memory of your childhood?

Review: Last Sunday's message focused on personal lessons and spiritual milestones from Pastor Luke’s first 40 years of life and walking with Jesus. The sermon highlighted how God patiently forms us over time. Three key lessons emerged: love over control, orthodoxy over novelty, and people over tasks.

Discuss: Of those three life lessons Luke mentioned, which resonated with you most and why?

Discuss: In the message, Luke shared about asking God to prove He was real and then seeing two deer. Have you ever had a moment where God demonstrated His love or existence to you? What happened?

Discuss: As you consider your own story, if you were going to articulate one of the major lessons God has taught you over the years, what would it be?

Discuss: Let’s shift the discussion to talking about this group. Quick poll: is being a part of a small group a new thing for you, or are you experienced in this? If you have been part of a group before Creekside, share what that experience was like (the good and the bad).

Share: The goal of our groups is to 1) Grow Closer– using Sunday’s message as a launchpad for honest, vulnerable conversations about real life 2) Grow Stronger– acting as the front line for both spiritual support (by praying together) and practical support (by providing meals and help when someone is in need. And 3) Grow Together– building friendships that go beyond Sunday mornings through hangouts, shared meals, and opening our lives to one another. 

Discuss: Based on your experiences, what are some possible barriers to these goals being accomplished in our group? And, how could we work to overcome those?

Pray: Close with a short prayer asking God to bless this group.