February 24, 2023

February Focus of the Month:

Important Info:

• Final Friday in February: FOTM - If you haven’t yet, be sure to watch this month’s Focus of the Month video, a follow-up to Pastor Josiah’s Leadership Development talk from the Deacon Retreat. You can find it here if you haven’t watched his session yet. In this month’s video (above), we walk through three simple steps to implement the information Pastor Josiah outlined at the retreat.

Application Questions:

Evergreen Joy
God’s Plan for Dealing with Anxiety
Philippians 4:6-7

1. Read Philippians 4:6-7. What things in your life are you most tempted to be anxious about right now? What from this passage & message will help you think differently about these things?

2. Find a Psalm to meditate on and pray through when you are tempted to be anxious this week. Which Psalm did you choose and why?

3. Read Matthew 6:32-33. Jesus contrasts seeking worldly things to seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness. When you are anxious, what are some ways you may be desiring the wrong things and valuing earthly things more than heavenly ones? How can you reorder these desires?

4. Read 1 Peter 5:5-7. In this passage, anxiety is seen in the middle of a discussion of pride vs. humility. How can anxiety and pride be linked? How can humility help steer us away from anxiety?

5. Spend some extra time this week as a group applying Philippians 4 & 1 Peter 5 by taking prayer requests and casting these anxieties upon the Lord!

February 17, 2023

February Focus of the Month:

Important Info:

• Focus of the Month: February - This month, we are doing a follow-up to Pastor Josiah’s Leadership Development talk from the Deacon Retreat. You can find it here if you haven’t watched his session yet. In this month’s video (above), we walk through three simple steps to implement the information Pastor Josiah outlined at the retreat.

• Taking Ground UPDATE: Our offer has been accepted for the property off Ustick Road near Can-Ada that Pastor Ben mentioned at the Deacon’s Retreat! The Purchase and Sale Agreement is in hand and being reviewed. If we accept, we'll open escrow next week and officially start our due diligence period. Here are the prayer requests as we begin the next steps:

  • Pray for wisdom and expediency in our review of the PSA (the deadline is next Friday, 2/24)

  • Pray for wisdom as we have discussions with all the city/county agencies, as this could turn into a very costly effort to build a church if we don't ask the right questions

  • Pray for favor: That the city would see we are a church and not a developer, in hopes that their development fees and expectations are low

  • Pray for wisdom as we develop a site plan that meets our needs and fulfills our mission to reach, teach and train at a 24/7 ministry facility

Application Questions:

Evergreen Joy
How Constant Rejoicing & Grace Are Possible
Philippians 4:4-5

1. Read Philippians 4:4. What are some of the excuses you might occasionally believe exempt you from obeying this repeated command? What about the character and work of our Lord Jesus should overcome those excuses?

2. Practically, what can “rejoicing in the Lord” look like when you are discouraged, sad, grieving, or enduring a trial?

3. Read Titus 3:1-8. Why is it often difficult for us to remain gentle and gracious in a world that is hostile to Jesus? Why should remembering our own salvation help us in this?

4. Read 1 Peter 3:8-9. Spend time thinking about the attitudes/actions called for here in this passage. How have you been helped by others treating you like this? How would you like to grow in displaying these things in your relationships?

5. Find a couple verses that express the reality that the Lord is near to His people. How will these verses encourage you in difficult situations this week?

February 10, 2023

February Focus of the Month:

Important Info:

• Focus of the Month: February - This month, we are doing a follow-up to Pastor Josiah’s Leadership Development talk from the Deacon Retreat. You can find it here if you haven’t watched his session yet. In this month’s video (above), we walk through three simple steps to implement the information Pastor Josiah outlined at the retreat.

Application Questions:

Evergreen Joy
God’s Guide to Dealing with Conflict
Philippians 4:1-3

1. Review Timothy’s example in Philippians 2:19-24. What stands out to you about his perspective on other people? Why is it so easy to view other people as tools to use people for your own benefit, and what will help you have a genuine concern for the welfare of others like Timothy?

2. Read Matthew 7:1-5. What does it practically look like to “take the log out of your own eye”? What are the dangers if you fail to do this well?

3. Review the six aspects of Christ-like thinking that were discussed in point 2 of the sermon. Which one stood out to you the most and why? How can you grow in living out that aspect of Christ’s example?

4. Read Ephesians 4:1-3. Consider carefully each of the attributes discussed in verse 2. Why are each of these things essential to maintaining unity? How should the expectation that patience and “bearing with” others will be needed help you prepare for conflict?

5. Read Ephesians 4:31-32. Describe how Christ forgave you. How should that impact that way you thinking about forgiving others?

February 3, 2023

Important Info:

• Miss the Deacon Retreat? Fear Not! - Below you will find the messages from each of our 3 plenary sessions at the Deacon Retreat. Whether you want to dig deeper into what you heard last weekend or want to catch up on what you missed, you can find each of them below.

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

• Reminder: Remind the Women to Register (and Go!) - February 25th will be the first of our Women’s Events this year, 9am-11am at Meridian First Baptist Church. Remind the ladies in your Life Group to register here! And don’t forget to remind them and encourage them to register for the Women’s Retreat, Hope in God, April 27-29 at Quaker Hill Camp and Conference Center, which they can register for here. Your personal invite may be the most impactful in encouraging the women in your Life Group to attend these important events!

• March 25 Men’s Event Heads Up - Our next Men’s Event in the What is a Man? series will be March 25th in the evening, 5pm-7pm, at Heritage Middle School. We will have dinner before worship, a message, and small group discussions. Mark your calendars and let the men in your Life Groups know so that they can prepare their schedules for this adjusted meeting time.

Application Questions:

Forgiven and Freed
Mark 5:24-34

1. Read Leviticus 15:25-27. What do the purity laws outlined in the Old Testament teach us about God's standard for holiness?

2. Read Mark 5:24-26. How does this woman's physical condition mirror the spiritual condition of those outside of Christ? How would you articulate the practical effects of sin using this passage?

3. Read Mark 5:27-29. This woman simply “heard the reports about Jesus” and decided to pursue after him. What is it that you have “heard” about Jesus that makes you want to pursue him? How can we model this woman's example of faith and pursuit of Jesus in our own lives?

4. Read Mark 5:30-34. There are three distinct "audiences" in this passage: a) the disciples b) the crowd and c) the woman. What lesson(s) can we learn from the way each "audience" responds to Jesus? What do Jesus' words/actions in this passage teach us about his character/nature?

5. How would you articulate the Gospel using this story as a framework?

January 27, 2023

Important Info:

• You Free Tonight? Cool, Want To Hit Up a Deacon Retreat Together? - See you tonight for our 2023 Deacon Retreat! For those interested, the Pastors will be at The Warehouse Food Hall in Downtown Boise at 5:30pm, and then we will see all of you at the Riverside Hotel, with everything officially kicking off at 7pm. Be praying for our time together to refresh us and prepare us for the year of ministry ahead!

• Will You Attend Boiler Room Once a Month? - With more space and a new consistent time, we want to ask if you’d consider attending one Boiler Room meeting a month. If we can have every Deacon attending Boiler Room at least once a month it will encourage the church, set a great example, and grow our faith! In case you didn’t know, we have moved our Boiler Room prayer meetings to the Library at Heritage Middle School, Sunday mornings, 7:40am-8:40am.

• Pastor Ben Goes to Uganda - Pastor Ben leaves next week for Uganda to spend some time with Shannon Hurley and Sufficiency of Scripture Ministry, our missions partner there. He will be gone from 2/1 through 2/9. Pray for safety and health as he encourages the Hurleys and teaches some of the men who are part of S.O.S.’s Shepherds Training Center.

• Please Pray for Our Facility Needs - Please pray for our facility needs. We have large men’s & women’s ministries now (our last men’s event had 70+ more men than any previous men’s event!), so finding a facility to accommodate us for each event is becoming increasingly difficult. Continue to pray that God would provide us with spaces for these important ministries! And while you’re at it, pray for Taking Ground! Another reason to join us for the Boiler Room each week is to pray for Taking Ground together as leaders in the church.

Application Questions:

No Treasure Like Jesus
Tracing the Right Pattern
Philippians 3:17-19

1. Read Hebrews 11:13-16. How would you like to see your life reflect the reality that you are a stranger and exile on earth? What does it practically look like to “desire a better country?”

2. Think through some of the more difficult situations you are facing and may face this week. What would it look like to deal with those situations with earthly values? What
   should it look like to deal with those situations with heavenly values?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. As you reflect on this passage, what excites you the most about your lowly body someday being transformed to be like the glorious body of Jesus?

4. Read Titus 2:11-14. Could you honestly say your life is filled with a “blessed hope” and that you are eagerly awaiting the return of Christ? If not, what needs to change in your thinking? What practical differences should this hope and expectation make in your life this week?

5. Review Philippians 3:1-4:1. What has stood out to you most in this study? How can that strengthen your resolve to “stand firm” with right doctrine & right living?

January 13, 2023

Important Info:

• Focus of the Month Video Series - We will post videos once a month (like we did last week) regarding a specific focus for that month. We will keep the video up all month long. This month, Life Group Leaders, watch the above video to get a refresher on what we want to do throughout the year as a Life Group. This video doesn’t contain an exhaustive approach to what you do, but it should help spark ideas or prompt you to recommit to old habits that may have lost steam. Two other resources may be good to reread or rewatch: The Life Group Leader Manual and The Basics of Spiritual Leadership class.

• Women’s Events Coming Up - Our first Women’s Event of 2023 will be February 25th at Meridian First Baptist church - You can register here! Secondly, our second ever Women’s Retreat will be April 27th-29th, a Thursday - Saturday, at Quaker Hill Camp and Conference Center in McCall, ID. Save those dates - registrations will be coming out shortly. Please encourage the ladies in your Life Groups to register for February and save these retreat dates, they won’t want to miss them!

• Deacon Retreat RSVP - To help us get a head count for everything at the Deacon Retreat, will you go to this registration and let us know that you are coming? Whether you are getting a room or not, this will help us plan the final details. We look forward to spending January 27th & 28th together!

Application Questions:

No Treasure Like Jesus
The Relentless Goal of the Christian Life
Philippians 3:12-16

1. Read Romans 8:29-30 & Colossians 1:28. These verses remind us that the goal of our salvation and of ministry is conformity to Christ. How should this reality affect your own views of the Christian life and ministry?

2. What are some currently difficult circumstances in your life? Instead of viewing these as a setback, how can you view these as an opportunity to “know Christ”? How can/should that change your attitude about these situations?

3. Read Philippians 3:14. What are some of the things that may distract you from this goal? What will help keep you locked in on the goal?

4. Read Philippians 3:15. Why is it so tempting to become content with our current spiritual growth? How can we guard ourselves against this temptation?

5. Read 1 Corinthians 10:12. This verse lays out one potential pitfall of spiritual complacency. What are some other potential negative effects of “spiritual cruise control”?

January 6, 2023

Important Info:

• Focus of the Month Video Series - We will post videos once a month regarding a specific focus for that month. This month, Life Group Leaders, watch the above video to get a refresher on what we want to do throughout the year as a Life Group. This video doesn’t contain an exhaustive approach to what you do, but it should help spark ideas or prompt you to recommit to old habits that may have lost steam. Two other resources may be good to reread or rewatch: The Life Group Leader Manual and The Basics of Spiritual Leadership class.

• A Reminder To Invite Men to the Upcoming Event - Our first Men’s Event of 2023 is next Saturday, January 14th, at the Pursuit as we begin the series What is a Man? Everyone can register for the event here.

• Deacons Retreat Details - Our annual deacon retreat will be at the Riverside Hotel on January 27th and 28th. Here is the big-picture schedule for the weekend:

  • Friday Night (7-9pm) *Dinner is not included, but we will send out some recommended places to grab dinner with other deacons beforehand!

  • Saturday Morning (9am-Noon) *Breakfast included for those staying at the hotel.

• Baptisms February 26th - Our first baptism service at Heritage Middle School will be on February 26th. Please announce these in your Life Groups and encourage anyone who is a believer, newly saved, or seasoned saint who has not been baptized to consider doing so. A personal invitation from you as Life Group leaders is far more effective than the bulletin and announcements ever could be. We look forward to celebrating the saving work of Jesus in the lives of believers here at Compass! The sign-up for baptism is here.

Application Questions:

No Treasure Like Jesus
Seeing How Our Savior is Better Than Everything
Philippians 3:7-11

1. Read Matthew 5:3. Why do you think it’s so hard for people to realize that they are spiritually destitute? How do you need to guard yourself from forgetting that you are bankrupt without Jesus?

2. Read Philippians 3:8. What are the things you may be tempted to value on the same level as Christ? Why are these things rightly considered “rubbish” compared to knowing Him?

3. Read Matthew 13:44. What difference should truly treasuring Christ and His kingdom have on your motivations and actions in your regular spiritual activities? How should devotions, service, and evangelism look different if you are truly treasuring Christ in your heart?

4. Read Romans 5:1-2. How do our joy and assurance increase when we know that our salvation is not dependent on our works but on the righteousness of Christ?

5. Read Romans 5:3-5. How does your attitude on suffering need to be adjusted? How can you learn to see suffering as an opportunity to experience the sufficiency of Christ in a greater way and to increase your hope in the future glory that is coming?

December 30, 2022

Important Info:

• Servants for Tuesday Night Aventure Club - Brenda Burandt will get up on stage this weekend with Pastor Josiah during announcements to help outline some of the remaining needs to launch our second Adventure Club night on Tuesday, January 10th. Life Group Leaders (who don’t meet on Tuesday nights), will you please encourage specific people in your group to consider serving on Tuesday nights? Perhaps Brenda’s details this weekend will help identify who you could personally ask. Thank you!

Application Questions:

The Resolve of God

1. Out of the seven confident resolutions outlined, which of them are you most excited to focus on more this year? Why? 

2. Spend some time looking up some of the promises below. Which of them should you commit to memory so you can be encouraged and emboldened in the future? 
   A Sample of God’s Promises: 1 Sam 2:30; Psalm 16:10, 23:6, 50:15, 84:11, 146:7; Prov 3:33; Isa 41:10, 64:4; Jer 33:3; Matt 5:8, 5:11-12, 11:28, 8:20; Luke 14:14; John 6:37, 10:28-29, 15:7; Rom 8:32; 1 Cor 10:13; 2 Cor 9:6, 9:8, 12:9; Phil 1:6, 4:19; 2 Thes 3:3; Heb 13:5-6; Jas 1:5, 4:7

3. Read Psalm 37:4. Why is it so important that delighting in the Lord is a foundational resolution? How can you grow in your delight for the Lord? 

4. Read 2 Corinthians 1:20. How is Christ the “yes” of every promise of God? Why is it essential that we believe this? Does this truth change the way you view Christ?

December 23, 2022

Important Info:

• Merry Christmas! - Thank you, Deacons, for all the work you’ve done for CBCTV and, more importantly, for the Glory of the King! We look forward to worshiping our Lord this weekend with two important services.

• Men’s Ministry Merch Selection - We have new merch for the Men’s Ministry featuring the new logo for Compass Men (you may have noticed it in the center of the Men’s Event graphic). At our next Men’s Event, we will have hoodies, T-shirts, and hats that the men can purchase at cost. For our Deacons (that’s you men), we would like to give you your choice of one of the three of the items. Please email Cody at cody@compassbible.tv with your selection, and we will have it for your leading up to the Men’s Event on January 14th (and don’t forget to encourage the men in your Life Groups to register here!) Here are some photos and renderings of the merch:

• Compass Classroom Spring Classes - On January 8th at the 11am service, our first Compass Classroom of 2023 starts: The Power of Prayer. Due to space constraints in the Library at Heritage, we can only have 100 people attend the classes, so if you are interested in attending the class, please register here. The Power of Prayer runs through the end of February. In March, What in the World Is Going On? begins, which you can register for here.

Application Questions:

Breaking News!
The Joyful Message of Christmas
Luke 2:1-20

1. Read Psalm 46. As you consider this Psalm and our text in Luke, how do these passages increase your trust in a God who controls the nations? How should this affect your outlook as you look towards a new year?

2. Read Romans 5:1-5. Meditate on the peace with God that Christ brings. What are some of the benefits of that peace that you want to celebrate this Christmas?

3. Read Luke 2:19. As you prepare for a new year, what are some of the things that you need to treasure and ponder in your heart that will increase your gratitude to and confidence in God?

December 16, 2022

Important Info:

• Last Call for Hotel Rooms for Deacon Retreat - This is the last call for hotel rooms for the Deacon Retreat. We are providing (paying for) hotel rooms, at no additional cost to the church, for those who would be interested in them. If you are interested in taking one of those rooms, email Cody Davidson (cody@compassbible.tv) by Tuesday, December 20th.

Application Questions:

No Treasure Like Jesus
A Serious Warning, pt. 2
Philippians 3:2-6

1. What are some of the ways people in our culture are tempted to trust their spiritual resumé? While some of these things may be good things, why are these things insufficient for a confidence of eternal salvation (see Romans 3:19-20)?

2. Read Colossians 4:3-4. As you think through your own evangelism, how can you grow in making the gospel clear – avoiding both the errors of “easy believism” on the one hand or inadvertently teaching some form of works righteousness on the other?

3. Read Romans 8:33-34. While good works are a crucial demonstration of our faith (see James 2:18-20), what problems can arise when we look to our works as our first source of assurance as opposed to looking to the God who justifies us and the Savior who intercedes for us?

4. How should the uniqueness of biblical Christianity as a religion based on God’s
   unmerited grace impact your evangelism? How should this reality impact your worship?

December 2, 2022

Important Info:

• Deacon’s Retreat Hotel Rooms - The Deacon’s Retreat will be Friday, January 27 in the evening and Saturday, January 28th, through lunch. We are providing (paying for) hotel rooms for those who would be interested in them. If you are interested in taking one of those rooms, email Cody Davidson (cody@compassbible.tv) by Tuesday, December 20th. We look forward to spending time together at the start of 2023!

• Need Servants for Kids Min Christmas & Christmas Eve - While our Kids Ministry will be modified for Christmas & Christmas Eve, we need more volunteers to help with Kids Ministry from Infants up to 4 years old. Please consider serving during the service you are not attending so we can provide Kids Ministry for the families coming to Compass to celebrate Christmas with us. Life Group leaders, will you please announce this need during your next gathering or through your communication platforms? Thanks!

Application Questions:

No Treasure Like Jesus
Joyfully into the Battle
Philippians 3:1

1. Review Philippians 2:17-18 & 3:1. Remember that the context for Paul’s calls to rejoice are in the context of gospel ministry. What are some aspects of service, evangelism, and defending the faith that are difficult, and why is it important to resolve to rejoice in the midst of these hardships? 

   2. Find a few verses to meditate on this week in order to intentionally rejoice at all times. What verses did you choose? What about these verses gives you a reason to rejoice? 

   3. Read James 1:2-4. What are some trials you are facing or may face this week? What will rejoicing in these trials (even if they are small) look like? 

   4. What are some of the basic beliefs or practices of the Christian faith that you may be tempted to overlook? What “safety” can be found in regularly reminding yourself and others of these things?

   5. Read Psalm 19:7-11. Does your life currently reflect this reality that the Scriptures are a treasure? How can you direct your thinking to avoid the error of thinking of reading the Bible as “boring” or as “the same old thing”?

December 9, 2022

Important Info:

• First Men’s Event of 2023! - On January 14th, we will gather for Compass Men’s first event of 2023! We will kick off a new series, “What Is a Man?” Since God has designed us and called us to live as men, we need to seek out what God has to say about living a faithful life as a man. What attributes should we embrace or reject? How should we serve in the church and our home in light of what the Bible teaches about manhood? What does culture get right or wrong regarding the stereotypes of men? You can register and encourage the men in your Life Group to register here.

• Christmas Eve & Christmas Invites - We will have invites for the Christmas services at the services this weekend. Be sure to grab some and encourage your Life Group to invite others to the services this year!

• Christmas Eve 5pm Service Request - If you can, please consider attending (and encourage your Life Group to attend) the 5pm service. We think the 3:30 will be heavily attended and would like to offset the crowd to disperse between the two services evenly. Thank you!

Application Questions:

No Treasure Like Jesus
A Serious Warning
Philippians 3:2-6

1. Read Philippians 3:2. Why do you think Paul’s warning here is so urgent and repetitive?
   While the gospel may seem “basic”, why is it important for Christians to come back to
   these truths and watch out closely for teachings that contradict the gospel? (Hint:
   remember Philippians 3:1!)

2. Read Colossians 2:16-17. As you think through some of the ceremonies and practices
   of the Old Testament that are not required of believers, what are some of the ways
   these things point to Christ? How should this motivate us to continue to read/study the
   Old Testament?

3. What are some of the ways people in our culture are tempted to trust their spiritual
   resumé? While some of these things may be good things, why are these things
   insufficient for a confidence of eternal salvation (see Romans 3:19-20)?

4. Read Colossians 4:3-4. As you think through your own evangelism, how can you grow
   in making the gospel clear – avoiding both the errors of “easy believism” on the one
   hand or inadvertently teaching some form of works righteousness on the other?

5. Read Romans 8:33-34. While good works are a crucial demonstration of our faith (see
   James 2:18-20), what problems can arise when we look to our works as our first source
   of assurance as opposed to looking to the God who justifies us and the Savior who
   intercedes for us?

November 25, 2022

Important Info:

• Second Adventure Club Is Launching in January! - I know you have been praying for a solution to our capacity issues. God has answered those prayers! Thanks to the generosity of Compass Charter school, we are officially able to launch a second Adventure Club meeting - Tuesday nights, 6:30-8:30pm, starting January 10th. We will have Life Groups meeting at Compass Charter in conjunction with this Adventure Club. As with our Thursday night Adventure Club, we will need a large team of volunteers to make this excellent. If your Life Group does not meet on Tuesdays, please encourage your members to consider serving at the Tuesday night Adventure Club. They can fill out this form to serve with Adventure Club.

• Life Groups Are Open For New Families - Since we have a solution for our capacity needs, Life Groups are now open for business! If you are a Life Group with families of young children, expect to have new faces joining you soon! Since there are only three Thursday night meetings left, these meetings might provide the perfect opportunity for these new families to meet your group before the Christmas break. Even though the 2nd Adventure Club doesn’t launch until January, we will be placing people starting this coming week. Have them register for Adventure Club here.

• Encourage Your Group To Answer Questions Before Life Group - Life Group Leaders, this week’s application questions present an opportunity to encourage your group to come prepared for the discussion by studying the questions beforehand. Of course, we always want to promote this, but this week’s questions might be harder to discuss if there’s no work put into them before showing up (see below).

Application Questions:

God’s Patience Has a Purpose
2 Peter 3:9

1. Read Psalm 13. Do you ever find yourself complaining about God's timing? Why is that offensive to God? What might cause you to trust God more with His perfect timing? 

2. Read Psalm 139:7–10 and Psalm 11:5. Why is it so important that we understand that God sees all sin and hates all sin? How can this truth grow your view of God's patience (long-suffering) and mercy? 

3. Read 1 Peter 4:10. On your own, look up 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Ephesians 4:12–16, 1 Peter 2:9, and Hebrews 10:25. Do an audit of your “gospel-busyness” and write down some ways that you would like to grow in this way. Share your findings with the group. What will you need to sacrifice to be more “gospel-busy?” 

4. How often do you give praise to God for saving you? What is your plan to increase this habit? Why is it so important to regularly praise God for your salvation? 

5. Does the level of your gratefulness match God's graciousness in saving you? How can you continue to grow a grateful attitude toward God while not growing bitter toward an offensive world?

November 18, 2022

Important Info:

• First Off, We Are Thankful for YOU! - With Thanksgiving next week, we just wanted to say how thankful we are for all of you! You work tirelessly to serve the Lord at CBCTV, and we are blessed greatly on a daily basis by your faithful service. Keep up the great kingdom work! We pray God blesses you with rest and joy in Him over these next few months before we turn the corner into 2023. - The Pastors

• Christmas Eve & Christmas Services - We will have two Christmas Eve services in the afternoon on Christmas Eve (we are still finalizing the times for those). We will ALSO be having normal Sunday Services, 9am & 11am, on Christmas Day (which falls on a Sunday this year), which will be different from our Christmas Eve services. We will have Kids Ministry through 4 years old for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Kids 5 years and older will join us for the main service.

Application Questions:

Shoulder to Shoulder for the Gospel
Models of Service, Pt. 2
Philippians 2:25-30

1. How does the example of Epaphroditus encourage you to faithfully serve the body of Christ? Who is somebody that you see faithfully serving your church that you would like to encourage?

2. Read Philippians 2:29-30. Who are some people who have taken risks for Christ that have inspired you (they could be someone you personally know or who you have heard/read about? If appropriate, how could you honor those people? What about their example would you like to emulate?

3. Think through the seven ways mentioned in the sermon that we can practice risk right now. Which of these do you currently see being practiced in your life? Which of these would you like to grow in?

4. Read Romans 8:35-39. What are some of the fears that may keep you from taking more “sanctified risks”? How do the powerful truths presented in these verses help to put these fears to rest?
   

November 11, 2022

Important Info:

• Deacon Retreat Overnight Option - Like we said last week, we’re excited to announce the upcoming annual Deacon Retreat! We will meet on January 27th for dinner through January 28th around lunchtime. We will be meeting in the Boise area. Although it will be local, we will be providing an option to spend the night for those who want to take advantage of this convenience. We would like to have all of the Deacons present at this retreat so please be sure to reach out if you have a conflict with those dates already.

• Make Prayer a Big Part of Life Groups - In light of Pastor Ben’s encouragement last weekend to have a persistent pattern of prayer, let us make sure that prayer is a core component of our life group meetings. One way we can do this is by starting our meetings with prayer, ensuring we have enough time by making it the first thing we do when we gather.

• Men’s Q&A Tomorrow at Meridian First Baptist - Make sure you remind the men in your group to attend the Men’s Breakfast & Q&A with the Pastors tomorrow morning. We are meeting at Meridian First Baptist Church, not Legacy Life, 8am-10am. We will see you there! We will not be breaking into Life Groups at the end like we usually do because we will spend the entire morning engaged in the Q&A time.

Application Questions:

Shoulder to Shoulder for the Gospel
Models of Service, Pt. 1
Philippians 2:19-24

1. What are some of the factors that make it popular in our culture for us to merely focus on our “personal relationship” with Jesus and to disconnect that relationship from caring about others? What are some of the negative effects from this way of thinking?

2. Read Philippians 2:21. What are some of the ways “your own interests” may compete with those of Jesus Christ? How could these keep you not only from pursuing Christ, but also from caring for others?

3. How can you actively fill more of your mind and life with the interests of Jesus Christ? In order to give more attention to these things, what will you have to give less attention to?

4. Read Galatians 6:7-10. How does the imagery of sowing and reaping go against our culture’s desire for things that are quick and easy? What are some ways you may be tempted to grow weary in doing good?

5. Read 2 Timothy 2:2. How can you integrate this mindset of passing on what you have learned to others into your week-to-week life?
   

November 4, 2022

Important Info:

• Deacon Retreat 2023! - We’re excited to announce the upcoming annual Deacon Retreat! We’ll have more details soon, but please block out your calendars for January 27th, Friday Evening, and January 28th, Saturday Morning-Midday. We will be meeting in the Boise area. Please plan to join us as we spend time in fellowship, and we look forward to our ministry together in 2023.

• Men’s Retreat Videos Are Up - Be sure to send the men in your Life group the link to the Men’s Retreat videos (including the testimonials). This might provide a good opportunity to get together with the guys who couldn’t make it to discuss the group questions. You can find the questions we discussed at the retreat here.

• Invite Your Men to Q&A - Invite your men to attend our upcoming Men’s Breakfast, featuring a Q&A with our pastors. It will be at Meridian First Baptist, 428 W Pine Ave, Meridian, ID 83642, and you can register here.

Application Questions:

New House, Same Family
Three Commitments of a Growing Church
Acts 2:42

1. How could you approach the Word with a greater sense of expectancy (whether in your personal study or as a church family)? What difference do you think that will make in those times?

2. Read Hebrews 10:23-25. How has fellowship with and encouragement from other believers helped you hold fast in your faith? How can you be more thoughtful and intentional in encouraging others on a regular basis?

3. Review Philippians 2:3-5. Why is this “others first” mentality so crucial in the Christian life? How do you need to guard against an unhelpful self-focus as you interact with others?

4. Read Acts 1:14. What are the biggest reasons prayer is neglected (whether personally or corporately)? What needs to change in your thinking to make prayer a more persistent practice in your own life?
   Spend some extra time praying with your life group and recommit yourself to making prayer a substantial part of your weekly meeting. Use the prayer list below as a guide.
   

October 21, 2022

Important Info:

• Final List of Men Registered For Retreat - Men, you can see an updated list of men from your Life Group who have registered for the retreat at this link. Life Groups are split up by tabs, which you may find easier to navigate on a desktop. Thank you for reaching out these past weeks; please make one last push, as we are less than a week away from the retreat! HERE you will find information about the retreat we sent out to registrants today. Hopefully, this info will help you answer any questions that come up from within your LG.

• Men’s Deacon Meeting Tomorrow - With the retreat rapidly approaching, we are getting together tomorrow, Saturday, 10/22, from 6pm-7:30pm to discuss the retreat at the church offices: 12592 W Explorer Dr Suite 100 Boise, ID 83713. Dinner will be provided. Please join us for this important meeting as we prepare for the retreat, ensuring we are all on the same page, praying together for God to provide rich fruit through the ministry of this retreat.

• Pathways Middle School Gift Reminder - Be sure to remind those in your Life Group or ministries that we are collecting and offering to provide gifts for Pathways Middle School and their families! Here is a link to give online (select the dropdown Pathways Thank You).

Application Questions:

Foundations of a Fortified Faith
The Book of Ruth

1. Read Ruth 1:1-5. How do you tend to respond in the midst of difficult circumstances? What do your response(s) reveal about your faith?

2. How can you practically "rest" in the character of God in the midst of painful and difficult circumstances?

3. Read 2 Timothy 2:20-21. What do Boaz and Ruth teach us about the type of people God uses to accomplish his purposes?

4. Read Ruth 3:1-6. How does faith embolden obedience? Why is it often difficult to obey when we can't immediately see the outcome/result?

5. Read Ephesians 1:3-14. Boaz (his generosity, kindness, intentionality, and redemption of Ruth) is a picture of what God provides for us in Christ. How have you seen God's generosity, kindness, intentionality, and redemption in your own life?

6. What can often keep us from seeing the "bigger picture" of what God is doing in our lives? How can we reframe those distractions to better rest in God even in the midst of circumstances that may be difficult?

October 14, 2022

Important Info:

• Updated List of Men Registered For Retreat - Men, you can see at this link which of the men in your Life Group are registered for the retreat - Life Groups are split up by tabs, which you may find easier to navigate on a desktop. Thank you for reaching out this past week; please continue doing so, as we are only 2 weeks away from the retreat! HERE you will find information about the retreat that we sent out to registrants today. Hopefully, this info will help you answer any questions that come up from within your LG.

• Plants & Pillars Moving to Sunday - This weekend, we will be announcing that our Students Ministries, Plants & Pillars, will be moving to Sundays from 5:30pm-7:30pm, meeting at Compass Charter School. There are several advantages gained from this move, the first being that it allows P&P to split into MS and HS. We’re excited to announce that Johnny Broadworth will lead the Middle School ministry! Also important to note: The Life Groups that meet on Tuesdays will continue to meet at their regular place and time. Please continue to pray for more space at Doral Academy (or a larger facility elsewhere) to expand what we can offer regarding Adventure Club and Life Group capacity.

• Operation Christmas Child - Jon and Linda Senn, members of the Odell Life Group, help collect shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. If you and/or your Life Group would like to participate in OCC, the Senns will be collecting shoeboxes between services on 11/13 & 11/20, or you can drop off the filled shoebox at Living Hope Church, 14301 W McMillan Road, Meridian, ID at these times:
  Mon, 11/14: 10AM - 3PM
  Tue, 11/15: 1PM - 3PM
  Wed 11/16: 1PM - 3PM
  Thu 11/17: 3PM - 5PM
  Frid 11/18: 12PM - 4PM
  Sat 11/19: 9AM - 1PM
  Sun 11/20: 1PM - 5PM
  Mon 11/21: 10AM - 4PM
  For more information on Operation Christmas Child, you can watch this video. You can find information on How to Pack a Shoebox and on The Journey of a Shoebox.

Application Questions:

Shoulder to Shoulder for the Gospel
Living Out Your Salvation
Philippians 2:12-13

1. Read Philippians 2:9-11. How would you like to see the reality that Jesus Christ is Lord and highly exalted reflected in your life most this week?

2. Read Ephesians 4:17-24. Why should we think of our “work” in sanctification not as a burden but as something good & positive? Why should “working out our salvation” be a joy?

3. Think through the tools (Word, prayer, and suffering) that were mentioned in the sermon. How have you seen God use these tools to help you “work out your salvation”? In what ways would you like to grow more effective in learning from these things?

4. Read James 4:6-8. As you think through areas of needed growth in your life, how will those situations require you to submit or yield your desires and impulses to His will? Why is God’s will better than yours in those areas?

5. Read Philippians 2:13. How does it encourage you to know that God is working in you and that His purposes are good? Find at least one other verse that emphasizes these same themes and meditate on it when you are discouraged this week.

October 7, 2022

Important Info:

• Men Registered For Retreat By Life Group - Men, you can see at this link which of the men in your Life Group are registered for the retreat - Life Groups are split up by tabs, which you may find easier to navigate on a desktop. Please reach out to the men in your Life Group who are not yet registered for the retreat to see if they can go.

• Men’s Deacon Meeting 10/22 - Saturday evening, 10/22, we will have a Men’s Deacon meeting to discuss the Men’s Retreat. The meeting will be 6pm-7:30pm at the Church Offices, 12592 W Explorer Dr Suite 100 Boise, and we will have dinner provided. Please attend if you can so we can prepare for the Retreat together.

• No Saturday Services 10/22 & 10/29 - We will NOT have Saturday night services 10/22 & 10/29. We will instead have overflow setup for both the 9am & 11am services those two weekends as we get ready for the transition to Heritage. Continue to pray for our teams as we get ready for this move!

Application Questions:

Shoulder to Shoulder for the Gospel
The King of Servants
Philippians 2:5-11

1. What are some of the things you might be tempted to grasp onto or hold too tightly that could prevent you from serving others? How can the example of Christ cause you to think differently about these things?

2. Read Mark 10:42-45. As you consider that passage and our text in Philippians, what about the example of Christ most amazes you? As you consider how to follow Christ’s example, don’t forget to thank him for how he has served you!

3. Read Mark 14:36. What are some ways that serving others will require you to submit your will to God’s will? What are some of the ways your submission could demonstrate the gospel to others?

4. Read Colossians 3:17. As you think through the activities of your week this week, what will it look like to “do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus”?

5. Read Hebrews 11:24-26. What are some of the ways the treasure or honors of this world may tempt you? How can you follow Moses’ example of looking to the reward?

September 30, 2022

Important Info:

• Women’s Ministry Updates - Here are a few updates for the Women’s Ministry this Fall through December. Please feel free to share them with the ladies in your Life Groups!
  - The last session of our Spot the Lie series is Saturday, 10/22, from 9-11:30 at Meridian First Baptist Church. It will be a Q&A with our Pastors. Plan on joining us for this capstone of our series. Register here.
  - On Monday, 10/24, we will start a six-week Fall Book Club. The books will be available for purchase at the Q&A event and will also be available at the church services that weekend. Register here.
  - Friday, 12/9, 7-9pm we will be having our “Come Let Us Adore Him” women’s event. Held at The Pursuit Church (6151 N Discovery Pl, Boise, ID 83713), this event will feature worship, devotional teaching, and dessert fellowship.
  Mark your calendars for these events, and we look forward to seeing you there!

• Boise Rescue Mission Opportunity - Deke Schultz, a member of the Rush’s Life Group, works at the Boise Rescue Mission. The Rush’s Life Group is doing a food drive for the Mission, as they have struggled this year with donations due to the downturned economy. If you would be interested in also doing a food drive for the Boise Rescue Mission, and if you want more information on the Mission itself, you can find that here.

Application Questions:

Shoulder to Shoulder for the Gospel
The Joy of a Unified Team
Philippians 2:1-4

1. Read Philippians 2:1 & Ephesians 1:18. Reflect on the riches available to you in Christ. How should Christ’s riches free you to pursue unity and selflessness this week? What distracts you most from the reality of our riches in Christ?

2. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. How have you experienced the comfort of God in your life? How should the comfort of God help to shape our perspectives on suffering and service?

3. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10. What are some of the greatest challenges to loving people well over a long period of time and even seeing that love grow instead of decrease? How should our study of Philippians refresh your commitment to love others well?

4. Read Philippians 2:3. What are the ways you think you might be actively tempted to focus on your own selfish ambition or conceit? Why should these desires seem foolish in light of your riches in Christ?

5. Read Philippians 2:4. What are some ways you need to actively focus on the concerns of others this week? What kinds of specific actions should that lead you to?