Shepherd of the Valley Messages
Weekly messages from Shepherd of the Valley Church in Afton, Minnesota
10 episodes
latest
weekly cadence
English language
https://sov.church/messages/feed/messages/
Episodes
Reading the feed…
Weekly messages from Shepherd of the Valley Church in Afton, Minnesota
Reading the feed…
Icebreaker What’s the one of the most memorable meals you’ve ever shared with someone? When was the last time you made a conscious change in your life? Observation: If you need a refresher watch this one minute video: https://bibleproject.com/videos/character-insight-john-baptizer/ Read Matthew 3:1-3. If you were hearing John’s words, what would your response or assumption be to John’s message? Read Matthew 3:7-10. Why do you think John has such a strong reaction to the Pharisees and Sadducees? How is he communicating a message of God’s judgement here? Read Matthew 3:11-12. In what ways is Joh
Icebreaker: If you worked in a kitchen, what kind of food would you make? Did you ever get yelled at in school? If so, for what? Observation: Read 2 John 1:3 How do you see Jesus embody truth and love? Read 2 John 1:4-6 John describes that we walk in truth, obedience, and love? Do you think these things are one in the same or different? If so, how? Read 2 John 1:7-11 What do you think was going on that would cause John to issue such a strong warning? How do we see truth and love at play in this part of the letter? Application: Gabby described truth as being both objective and personal. What do
Icebreaker What’s the one of the most memorable meals you’ve ever shared with someone? Who has made you feel especially welcomed or “at home”? What did they do? Observation: Read John 21:15-19 Put yourself in Peter’s shoes, what might be going through his mind? Why do you think Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” before telling him, “Feed my sheep”? What can we learn from this? Read 3 John 1:1-8 What stands out to you about Gaius? Why does John celebrate his hospitality so highly? Why does hospitality come up so much in the Scriptures? Read 3 John 1:9-10 What attitudes and actions characterize
Icebreaker: What’s something you’re irrationally afraid of – or used to be? (ex. spiders, heights, public speaking…) Observation Read 1 John 4:7–21 together. What is John trying to tell us about God’s love in this passage? What reasons does John give for why believers should love one another? What reasons do we tend to use in determining how we treat one another? Read verse 18 again. What do you notice about the relationship between fear and love? How do you see the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) at work in this passage? Does this give you any insight into the Trinity? Application “Fear is
Opener With so much information available today (podcasts, social media, news), how do you personally decide which commentators or public figures you can trust? Have you ever believed something in the past that you later realized was completely untrue or misleading? What helped you realize the truth? Scripture The Voice of the Good Shepherd Read John 10:1–5, 11–15 How do the sheep learn to recognize the Shepherd’s voice so well that they flee from strangers? What is the difference between how the Good Shepherd treats the flock versus how a “hired hand” treats the flock (vv. 12–13)? What are so
Icebreaker Options: 1. What’s something simple that someone did for you that made a big impact? 2. Think of someone who has demonstrated Christ-like love to you. What did they do that made you feel loved? Observation Read: John 13:1–17, 34–35 and 1 John 2:7–11 (optionally add 1 John 3:16–18). 1. Why do you think John keeps returning to the theme of love throughout his letter instead of mentioning it once and moving on? 2. According to John, how are love and obedience connected? 3. Imagine you were in the room that night. Which part of Jesus’ actions would have been most difficult to understand
Opener 1. have you experienced a strong sense of belonging—to a family, team, church, or community? What made it feel that way? 2. Our culture offers countless ways to “connect,” yet many people still feel lonely. Why do you think genuine community is so difficult to find today? Sermon Questions Jesus’ Prayer for Unity Read John 17:20–23 1. What stands out to you about Jesus’ prayer? 2. Jesus prays that His followers “may be one.” What do you think that kind of unity looks like? 3. How is Christian unity different from simply agreeing on everything? Invited into Fellowship Read 1 John 1:1–4 1.
Icebreakers 1. Be honest, do you speed? 2. What is an activity that is particularly restorative or restful for you? Scripture Questions Read Genesis 2:2-3. 1. Why do you think Scripture includes God resting on the seventh day? 2. What is the significance of God making the seventh day holy? Read Mark 2:23-28, specifically verse 28. 3. What does Jesus mean by Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath? 4. Is it necessary for us to practice Sabbath today, why or why not? Application Questions 1. Where in your life do you have a tendency to push the limits? How might you take a step back fro
Opener 1. What’s something you’ve tried to grow—plants, a project, a hobby—that didn’t go quite the way you hoped? 2. Looking back, what’s one challenge in your life that God used to grow something good in you? Discussion Questions 1. In Genesis 2, what do the two trees represent? How do we see those two choices show up in the Biblical story or in our own lives? 2. Paul contrasts two ways of living in Galatians 5:13-26. What are they, and in what ways are these two ways of living at odds with one another? 3. Why do you think Paul calls these qualities the “fruit of the Spirit”? 4. Which fruit
Opener When you were growing up, what is one spiritual habit or practice you remember from your home (positive or negative)? If someone walked into your home for a week, what would they say you “talk about most”? Discussion 1. God Our Creator We often live as if we are “self-made.” Where do you feel that pressure most in your life right now? Psalm 139 says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Why is it difficult for adults to actually live like that is true? 2. God Knows Everything The sermon said we often manage perceptions of ourselves. Where do you feel the temptation to “curate” your l
