Connect Groups

The backbone of our life together.

There are about 25 Connect Groups of up to a dozen people meeting in different locations, and at different times, in the parish and beyond for bible study, prayer and mutual care and support. We encourage every church member to be “connected” to a group (even if they are not always able to attend). Janet McLean and Janet Goodenough together co-ordinate our groups, and they are the people to contact if you want to find a suitable group.
 

Spring 2023

During Spring 2023, we will be looking together, in our morning services at the early life of Jesus, and then the kind of Church which God builds from the book of Nehemiah.

I will build My Church - 26th March

Sermon: "A Life of Repentence" (11.15am)
Passage: Nehemiah 9

1. When you think of "repentence" does it make you feel joyful or gloomy? How does our passage to help joy, even while talking about Sin?
2. Follow through Chapter 9:
   • What events did you recognise in the histroy of God's people?
   • In what ways did the people fail?
   • In what ways did God show his faithfulness
3. Have you ever had a "But God" moment, where God steps in with mercy? When else has God stepped into meet Sin with Mercy? (cf. Rom.5:8, Eph 2:4)
4. What are some of the key commitments that the people make in chapter 10? How might we apply these principles today? (Intermarriage, Sabbath, Help for the Poor, Giving / Sacrifice at Temple)
5. Skim through Nehemiah 13 - find the instances where the people broke the commitments which they had made. Why do these events make us long for a New Covenant?

• Explore together the nature of this New Covenant - Jeremiah 31, Luke 22, 2 Corinthians 3, Hebrews 8-9
• Think back over our series in Nehemiah - what have been your key "take aways" that we can apply as we follow Jesus today?

I will build My Church - 19th March

Sermon: "Obeying God's Word" (11.15am)
Passage: Nehemiah 8

• What encouragements have you had from God’s Word in the last week?
• What answers to prayer have you seen?
• What opportunities to share something about Christ with someone?

1. What can we learn from the attitude of the Jews to God’s Word in this chapter?
2. What effect does God’s Word have in the lives of the Jews in ch. 8?
3. What do we learn about understanding God’s Word from the following verses?
   • Ps. 119:100
   • Acts 17:10-11
   • 2 Pet. 3:16
   • Luke 24:26-27
4. Can you think of an example of how God’s Word has been at work in your life recently? In what ways has its authority and power been demonstrated?
5. Are you in the habit of reading the Bible regularly? If so, what do you find most helpful in doing that... or is there a reason why you don’t?

I will build My Church - 12th March

Sermon: "Courage Needed" (11.15am)
Passage: Nehemiah 6

1. What are some of the 'good' and 'bad' distractions that take your focus off following Jesus? (cf. Acts 6 for an example of a 'good' distraction)
2. Consider Nehemiah's defence of himself against accusation. What marks do we see in Nehemiah that should be an example for Christian leaders today? (cf. 2 Corinthians 11-12 for an example of Paul defending himself against accusations)
3. How might we as individuals, or collectively as the church, be tempted to 'run and hide' or to 'compromise'? What would it look like for us to be "courageously faithful"?
4. In what ways do Nehemiah's example point us to Jesus? How do these truths about Jesus encourage us today?
5. Consider Nehemiah's two prayers (v.9 and v.14) - where do you particularly need prayers for strength or for God's deliverance? Pray for those things, especially situations which feel 'too big'!

I will build My Church - 5th March

Sermon: "Living out the gospel" (9.30am)
Passage: Nehemiah 5

• Have you had any opportunities to talk about your Christian faith with unbelievers this week?
• Have you had any answers to prayer in the last week? Any encouragement from God’s word?

1. Those building the walls of Jerusalem had faced opposition from outside... but in chapter 5 there are problems ‘inside’ – among God’s people. What was happening (verses 1-5) and with what consequences?
   • Optional: digging deeper. If you have time, read Leviticus 25:35-38 and 39-40 and compare this with the behaviour of the Jewish officials in Nehemiah’s day. What reason did the LORD give in Leviticus 25 for the way His people ought to behave? How does this translate to our own situation today?
2. Nehemiah called the Jewish officials to repent of their sin (verses 6-13). What are some of the key features of repentance that we see in these verses?
3. In verses 14-19 Nehemiah looks back at his own time as Governor. What aspects stand out as lessons for our church? You might like to read this alongside Mark 10:42-45; Acts 2:42-47; Phil. 2:1-11.

I will build My Church - 26th February

Sermon: "Facing Opposition" (9.30am)
Passage: Nehemiah 4

1. What are some of the ways opposition to God’s work shows itself in Nehemiah 4? Do we experience these kinds of opposition today? How?
2. How can we be alert to Satan’s schemes without at the same time being paranoid about him?
   • Before moving on to the next question, take a moment of quiet to consider the vulnerable points in your own life – the areas of potential weakness or temptation.
3. What opposition do you face as a Christian in your daily life: in your workplace, at home, among family or friends, etc.
4. Nehemiah responded prayerfully and practically. Do any of his responses strike you as particularly relevant to your own situation?
5. How can we stay encouraged as Christians in the face of opposition?

I will build My Church - 19th February

Sermon: "Everyone Involved" (11.15am)
Passage: Nehemiah 3

1. Share some of the ways in which you've been involved in "building God's church". How have these opportunities strengthened your faith or encouraged others?
2. Everyone got involved in this building project - why is 'every member ministry' vital for the church? Which New Testament pictures help us to understand this?
3. Some found it hard to serve because of their pride (v.5) - what are some of the obstacles for us in serving God's church? How can we support one another to avoid or overcome these challenges to serving?
4. Find the promises in Revelation 3 for faithful churches - about being named and built into God's temple - how do these promises encourage us to continue building God's Kingdom today?
5. Explore together, with time to pray, how as individuals and a group you might give your time, talents and treasure to serve God's building project in Lindfield, and beyond.

Extra: explore some of the biblical imagery about walls and gates, including; 2 Chronicles 14:7, Psalm 24, Jeremiah 31: 38-40, John 10, Revelation 21. In what ways can we see the spiritual, prophetic and eschatological significance of Nehemiah's building project?

I will build My Church - 12th February

Sermon: "Viewing the Task" (11.15am)
Passage: Nehemiah 2

• Spend a few minutes sharing and praying together about personal needs and requests.
• Read Nehemiah 2

1. The events of chapter 2 take place about four months after chapter 1. Waiting and praying can be very hard. Have there been times in your life when, looking back, you can see how God’s timing was just right, even though at the time you found the waiting or the situation difficult?
2. What lessons can we learn in these verses about serving the Lord,
   • from Nehemiah?
   • from the people?
   • from Tobiah, Sanballat and Geshem?
3. How can our vision for God’s kingdom – our godly expectation – be strengthened? How can we be sure it is more than wishful thinking?

Spend some time thanking God that our lives, our families, our church and our world are all truly in His hands. Ask that He would be at work among us, building His Church at All Saints and in other churches nearby.

I will build My Church - 5th February

Sermon: "It starts with prayer " (9.30am)
Passage: Nehemiah 1

Before you look at Nehemiah 1 spend a few minutes praying for one another’s personal requests.

The events of Nehemiah 1 took place in about 445 BC. Nehemiah (a Jewish believer) was a senior civil servant to King Artaxerxes I of Persia, whose palace was in Susa. Nehemiah’s ancestors had remained in Persia when many of the Jewish exiles had returned to Judah and Jerusalem ca. 538 BC. He had an important position in the King’s court.

1. Where do you spend most of your time? Do you view this as a place of influence and opportunity for Christ? What might that mean in practice? How can you view it more in this way?
2. What was special about Jerusalem (e.g. Deut. 12:5; 1 Kgs. 5:5; Dan. 9:18)? How does this help to explain Nehemiah’s strong reaction to the news he heard?
3. How does Nehemiah show us what our response should be when God’s name is dishonoured in the church or in our culture?
4. What are the main features of Nehemiah’s prayer (verses 5-11)?

Spend some time as a group in confession and asking for the Lord’s mercy for our church and nation for His name’s sake.

New Year, New Start - 29th January

Sermon: "The Temptation of Jesus" (11.15am)
Passage: Luke 4: 1-13

1. What comes to mind when you hear the word "temptation"? What did you learn about the nature of temptation in Luke 4? [for further thought explore what James 1 teaches about 'trials and temptations']
2. What did you learn from the passage about the work of the Devil? Which of the errors that CS Lewis describes below are you more likely to make?
   • "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves (the devils) are equally pleased by both errors..." - CS Lewis, Screwtape Letters.
3. How does Jesus use God's word to resist temptation? How can we use God's word to fight temptation?
4. How does the Devil use God's word to tempt Jesus? In what ways might we need to be careful with how we read and apply God's word?
5. Why is Jesus' faithfulness good news for us? How does Hebrews 4: 14-16 help us to see this? How can we encourage one another in the battle?

• Who else had a test of faithfulness in the Wilderness for 40-something? How does Jesus' experience link?
• Why was Jesus in the wilderness? (v.1) What does that not mean? (James 1:13) Why might God lead us to a place of wilderness or testing?

New Year, New Start - 22nd January

Sermon: "The Baptism of Jesus" (11.15am)
Passage: Luke 3: 21-23

1. Have you ever felt like a 'Spare'? How has this passage shown you otherwise? How have our recent sermons on Jesus' humanity helped you to see that God cares for you?
2. Why was Jesus baptised? Why wasn't he baptised? What does his baptism tell us about who he is and why he's come?
3. Jesus is declared to be God's Son - what's the significance of this title? What else does it tell us about Jesus? (Have a read of Psalm 2 to see what parallels you can see...)
4. How do you get "in Christ" and what does it mean to be here? (cf. Colossians 3:1-4)
5. What changes for you, to know that the Father's words of affirmation for his Son are true for you too?

New Year, New Start - 15th January

Sermon: "The Childhood of Jesus" (9.30am)
Passage: Luke 2: 41-52

1. This passage talks a lot about the humanity of Jesus (parents, learning, identity etc).  What particular aspect struck a chord with you, and why?
2. Why is it so important that Jesus became fully human?  (See also John 1:14; Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:6-7; Hebrews 2:17)
3. Verses 46-49 record what happened in the temple, the place where 'earth meets heaven'.  In v.49 we get a glimpse of Jesus' divinity as he points to who - and whose - he is.   Why is Jesus uniquely able to save us from sin?  (See also John 2:18-22)  Why is this such good news?
4. How can we encourage each other to live God-honouring lives this week in response to the truths we have considered? 
   Read Hebrews 4:14-16 as an introduction to prayer, asking God to help "in times of need" (and joy!) facing group members this week.  If possible, feed back answers to prayer at the start of your next session

New Year, New Start - 8th January

Sermon: "The Magi Meet Jesus" (9.30am)
Passage: Matthew 2: 1-12

1. Skim read through chapters 1 and 2 to see where Matthew mentions prophets or prophecies. How do these show us that God kept his promises in New Testament times?  How have you seen God keep promises today? Pause & Pray: Give thanks that, in an uncertain world, God is in control and we can trust him even when things are difficult.
2. Compare and contrast King Herod and King Jesus.  What will it look like for you to "fall down and worship Jesus" (v.11) this week? Pause & Pray: Ask God to give wisdom to our leaders, and that we would be faithful in obeying Jesus above all.
3. The wise men were non-Jewish foreigners with little understanding of who Jesus was; yet they sought him for many months, were overjoyed when they saw him, and gave him costly gifts.  In contrast, most of those those who should have recognised him as the messiah rejected him (see John 1:11-12).  How can we guard against being complacent towards Jesus?  More positively, how can we encourage each other to find joy in seeking and serving Jesus? Pause & Pray: Matthew begins his gospel with 'the nations' coming to Jesus; he ends it with Jesus' command to GO to all nations (28:19).  Pray for the work of Christian missionaries - beginning with each of us in the place God has put us.

Autumn 2022 Questions

Summer 2022 Questions

Spring 2022 Questions

January 2022 Questions - Life Together