discovery Group Resources

*Formerly called Engage Groups

Sunday mornings...we have both a large group context, and small group contexts in which anyone can  dive in and discuss His Word, allowing opportunity for the Holy Spirit to teach, confront, challenge and change us! 

  • What are Discovery Groups?

    In our Discovery Groups, together we discover:  

    • HOW to study & learn about God's Word
    • WHO God is & WHAT His character is
    • What He desires for us
    • How we can respond to Him

  • Pray!

    Ask the God for these things before you begin reading and studying His Word:

    • God, grant me Your wisdom, knowledge and understanding. 
    • God, let any knowledge I gain serve only to help me love You more and to love others more, not to puff me up. 
    • God, show me things about Yourself that I have never seen.
    • God, correct any lies that I have believed about You  or anything I have misunderstood about You. 
    • God, direct my steps according to Your Word.

    *Courtesy of The Bible Recap.


  • The Bible Project

    Bible Project is a crowd-funded ministry dedicated to helping people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.  Check out their overview video on the Book of Daniel, as well as other resources:

    The Book of Daniel

    Other helpful videos:

    Daniel Overview Poster

    Faithfulness in Exile Podcast Series

  • Youversion Reading Plans

  • Spoken Gospel

    The Spoken Gospel has a mission to speak the Gospel out of every corner of the Bible into every corner of the world.  

    Introduction to Daniel video

    Daily Devotionals from Daniel

  • Through the Word

    Through the Word is a nonprofit ministry dedicated to equipping people around the world to read the Bible, understand it, apply it, and make it a habit.

    Daniel Explained: Part One (Ch 1-6)

    Daniel Explained: Part Two (Ch 7-12)

  • Blue Letter Bible

  • Babylonian History

    What is some of the history of King Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon and the historical context of the Book of Daniel? Learn more HERE. Thank you to Angie Pulver for compiling this info.  

  • Four Ways to Wreck Your Understanding of Scripture

    We want to be good stewards of God's Word!  Let's learn to read it, meditate on it, learn it, and be transformed by it well! 

    This article is very helpful toward that goal.  Read it here.

LIFEcell resources

For the discussion questions from our series on Romans, click here. 


For discussion questions on portions of our summer 2021 series, FYI, click here.


Here are the discussion questions for our current series, The Book of Daniel. 

  • Chapter One

    We looked at the fact that the world is trying to define us to look like them, and the Lord is working for us to see where He desires us to look more like Him.  The places where we are unlike Jesus is usually where there is confrontation, not so that He can punish us or defeat us…but so that He can love us and lead us.  We are to be consecrated before the Lord, giving Him what He desires.  Through that obedience He will transform us to look like Him!
     
    Discussion Questions:
    -Do we have testimony of a confrontation with God that led to change that tells about God’s desire to transform us into His image?
     
    -Daniel resolved to not go against God when given Babylonian food; in what way(s) do we wrestle with cultural challenges  that do not align with the truth of God’s Word?
     
    -What are some areas of life that need to be consecrated to God in order that we would find a greater relationship with Him?

  • Chapter Two

    -When we face crisis in our lives, how do we respond?  Do we get busy trying to figure it out ourselves…rushing into it, or do we respond with wisdom and tact…taking time and allowing the Lord to give direction?

    -Where do we go looking forward answers?  Do we look for answers from the world like Nebuchadnezzar, or do we look for answers from the Lord like Daniel and his friends?

  • Chapter Three

    As we look at the culture around us, we see that it is a culture that is rooted in ‘SELF’ benefit.  Hananiah , Mishael and Azariah did not give into that culture and modeled for us a culture of SELF-SACRIFICE.  Let’s dive into together to see how we can either allow ourselves to be influenced by the culture, or discover how to influencers in the midst of a worldly culture.

    Discussion Questions:
    -Are there areas of our lives where we have chosen to live like the culture around us that pushes us toward self-promotion and serving one’s self above others as pathways to a good life? 

    -When the self-serving culture around us meets the opportunity for a self-sacrificing culture to be chosen instead, a confrontation occurs within us. How can we choose to consecrate those times with the Lord’s help and be transformed by them? (Romans 12-1-2)

  • Chapter Four

    God revealed himself to King Nebuchadnezzar on several different occasions, and at each moment Nebuchadnezzar had time to reflect.  He made a choice each time to continue following his own desires, and being prideful in his authority instead of submitting to the authority of the Most High God.  Ultimately, he turned to God through his difficulties and received blessing through his submission.
     

    Discussion Questions:
    -When we see God at work in our lives, there is always a moment to reflect and choose whether it will deepen our trust/faith/relationship with Him, or whether we will continue on the path of self-reliance.  When is a time God revealed Himself in my life and I chose to allow a deeper relationship to develop?  When is a time God revealed Himself and I chose to pass by the opportunity to know Him better?
     
    -As I reflect on what I am seeking God for in this season of my life, what is He revealing to me about Himself? Have I let my pride determine how I respond to God’s invitation in this area of my life?  If so, how can I respond differently to Him?  

  • Chapter Five

    The Lord had a very specific message for King Belshazzar:  Mene Mene Tekel Parsin (Peres/Upharsin)
    Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
    Hebrews 9:27-28
    Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
    Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
    Romans 3:23
    For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
    Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
    Romans 6:23
    “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
    With the corresponding verses in the New Testament, what can we see in God's master plan through what He told the king?

    Discussion Questions: 

    -What does this reveal to you about Jesus and His work on the cross for us?  

    -How does His work on the cross apply specifically to you? And to the world as a whole?

    -What keeps us from sharing this with others?

  • Chapter Six

    As we look at Daniel’s character in chapter 6…we see that he clearly is not conforming to the norm of Babylonian society.  

    Discussion Questions:
    -How do we live different than the world today and live with character that is pleasing to the Lord?

    -Are there times that we have experienced the victory that comes from consecration before the Lord?  What does that do for our faith?  Have we seen change in the people around us as a result of what God is doing?

  • Chapter Seven

    In Daniel 7 we discovered that God revealed Himself to Daniel as the Ancient of Days: all authority belongs to Him and nothing escapes His notice. And Jesus is revealed as the Son of Man: He is given all authority and is establishing an eternal, universal Kingdom. 

    Discussion Questions:
    -Has the Ancient of Days shown you any kingdom you have constructed in your heart & life that in your eyes looks recognizable and shiny, but from His perspective is beastly and deadly?  Ask Him to help you surrender that kingdom to His eternal and everlasting Kingdom. 

    -The Son of Man is establishing an eternal, universal kingdom…all other kingdoms will be brought down before His. How is this thought a comfort or a discomfort to you? How is it comforting or discomforting to consider that all authority is His? Why? How can you respond to these understandings? 

  • Chapter Eight

    As we see in Daniel 8…Daniel gets a vision of things that are to come. He is bothered by what he is shown, but also is given the understanding that the madness will come to an end.


    Discussion Questions:

    -We live in troubling times, and even have understanding that the future may not look any better. How does our understanding that the madness will end, and Jesus is coming back shape our attitude in the current season?


    -What is the work that the King is about, and how do we partner with Him in that work?

Spiritual Disciplines to GROW

Once you come to know Jesus as the One Who has pursued a continuing LOVE relationship with you that is real and personal, growing spiritually is the next step.  Helping to facilitate spiritual formation (ongoing spiritual growth and maturity) is our privilege here at C4L.  


We call it discipleship. So did Jesus!  Jesus made a way for us to have LIFE and FREEDOM and it is our honor to help you FIND it and LIVE it through discipleship!  Below you will find some opportunities for you to do just that...GROW into FREE & CHANGED DISCIPLES of JESUS! 

  • Get Baptized

    Your decision to follow Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is the most important decision you have ever made in your life! After salvation, the Bible commands us to be baptized in water – like Jesus was. 

    Having been buried with Him in baptism,

    you also have been raised with Him through

    your faith in the power of God Who raised

    Him from the dead.  Colossians 2:12 NET


    More reasons to be baptized: 

    • Jesus told us to be baptized (Matthew 28:19)
    • Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:13-17)
    • It represents what happened when you chose to make Jesus Lord of your life (Romans 6:1-11)

    We will schedule a baptism service anytime someone is interested in being baptized!  Contact us at info.connect4lifechurch.com.  

  • Read your Bible everyday to get to know Jesus better

    The Bible is God's very own words to us...He gave it to show us how we can have a continuing real and personal relationship with Him.  Reading it & meditating on it helps us to know God and how He works in our lives.  Making Bible reading a part of our daily life will help us grow in our faith and in godliness.  


    All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

    2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT


    Need help getting started?  Here are a few suggestions! 

    • Download the BIBLE APP to have the Bible at your fingertips and to have access to 100's of reading plans to help you stay consistent.  Find it here
    • New Believers Reading Plan: Find it here
    • Verse of the Day Bible Reading Plan: View it here
    • The Gospel of John Reading Plan: Find it here
    • The Bible Project: New Testament in One Year: Find it here
    • The Bible Project: The Bible (read the Bible chronologically in one year): Find it here
    • Get more out of your Bible reading! Find out more here

  • Talk, & Listen, to God in Prayer

    Prayer is simply a conversation with God.  Talking to Him, and listening to Him, just as you and I have conversations everyday. Prayer is one of the primary ways in which we interact with God. We share our thoughts, concerns, and allow space for Him to work in our lives. It’s a set-aside & ongoing time to talk to Him about anything that’s on our mind and receive his direction and encouragement.

    "...your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this:

    Our Father in heaven,
        may your name be kept holy.
    May your Kingdom come soon.
    May your will be done on earth,
        as it is in heaven.
    Give us today the food we need,
    and forgive us our sins,
        as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
    And don’t let us yield to temptation,
        but rescue us from the evil one."

    Matthew 6:9-13 NLT

    Here are some ways to get you started! 

    • Presence-Filled prayer: Experiencing God in Prayer reading plan: Find it here
    • Prayer for Beginners: Find more here
    • How do I talk to God? Find it here

  • Learn HOW to follow Jesus

    Learning how to follow Jesus is called discipleship.  It is important to be connected to people in your life who can help lead the way for you, just as you can for others...this is called being disciple-makers!  


    “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

    Ephesians 4:16

    “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

    Matthew 28:19-20

    “‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’”

    John 15:16


    How can you be discipled and disciple others?