​This week's blog is based on Rev. Kim's April 27 sermon "Brothers and Sisters in Christ".

1. What or who makes us 'brothers and sisters' in the church? How?

2. Read I John 4:7-16. How do you understand 'God is love'? How can 'God is love' be misunderstood?

3. There are two main words for love in Greek. One is eros (air-oss), the other is agape (ah-gah-pay). Eros is romantic or sexual love. Agape is love that gives with no expectation of return. Agape occurs 115 times in the New Testament. Eros is not used even once, even though the writers would know the word. Why do think they didn't they use 'eros'?

4. How are 'brothers and sisters' in Christ different from:
A. brothers and sisters in a natural family?
B. friends?
C. romantic lovers?

5. Read John 15:9-12. What does Jesus mean when he said in v. 12, 'Love one another as I have loved you'?

6. Read I Peter 4:7-11. What does Peter mean in v. 8, 'Agape love covers over a multitude of sins'? Name one way this happens in a church. Name one way this could be misunderstood in a church.

This blog is based on Rev. Susan Salo's sermon "Faithful to the End", preached on Sunday, April 6th.

1. Women were not seen as "trustworthy witnesses" during Bible times. Like wearing 'The Cloak of Invisibility', they were seen but unseen.  How was this a hindrance or a help for the women at the crucifixion?  How about at the resurrection? Who always saw them?

2. Read Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41, Luke 23:49, 55 and John 20:25.  Why are the names of the women different in all 4 gospels?

3. There were women who were followers of Jesus. Could we call them disciples? Why or why not?

4. Were the women braver than the disciples who ran away? Discuss.

5. PRAYER EXERCISE:
Read John 20:11-17.  One way of praying for inner healing is to let Jesus carry your pain, and other difficult emotional baggage to the cross. At the resurrection, be with Mary and hear Jesus speak your name with love and compassion.
Share if you feel able.

There questions are a follow-up from the March 30th Real Lives Service.

Read: Mark 15:16-22
1)   Simon of Cyrene provides us a visual of what it means to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. In what ways are you taking the posture of Simon in your walk with the Lord? In what ways have you not yet denied yourself and picked up your cross to follow Jesus?
2)   How did Jesus deal with being afflicted and humiliated? How do you feel knowing that following Jesus often means facing affliction and humiliation? How will you model Jesus in dealing with this in the future?
3)   Are you allowing the Simon of Cyrene’s in your life (Brothers and Sisters), to help you carry and bear your burdens. If not, why?
4)   How did the Real Lives testimonies encourage you in your walk with the Lord? What did you learn about God from these talks?