In Hebrews 4:12-13, we see that, the Bible is like other books, in that we can read it, but it is unlike other books because it is God’s living word. Therefore, the Bible has the power to read us. When we open our hearts to God’s word, God uses it to do spiritual surgery and change us for the better.

Call to Worship: Psalm 19:7-9

The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.

Community Group Discussion Guide
Week of November 5 - November 11
Sermon Series: Topical
Title: The Living Word and Open Hearts
Passage: Hebrews 4:12-13
Guest Speaker: Pastor Justin Thomas

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Town Hall Meeting - 12:30 PM, November 12th. Project Greatest Gift outreach to foster and kinship families - Sign up to help at the Welcome CenterDecorating the sanctuary and foyer for Advent - arrive November 26th after the second service. Decorations will be taken down Tuesday, December 26th at 1pm - just show up to volunteer. E-mail with any questions: susanlawson55@gmail.com

GETTING TO KNOW YOU
What is something important a grandparent or older mentor taught you?

QUICK REVIEW
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time, caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

DIGGING DEEPER
1. Read Hebrews 4:12-13 and John 1:1.
For the word of God is living and active
What does the writer of Hebrews mean with this statement? What does his word being living and active do for us? Does the knowledge of this change the way you read it? How so?
John 1:1 says the Word was God. When we read His word, we experience Him directly. How does reading God’s word allow you to grow your relationship with Him? How do you grow relationships with other Christians?
Sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon says of these lines, “While it has an edge like a sword, it has also a point like a rapier, ‘Piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.’ The difficulty with some men’s hearts is to get at them. In fact, there is no spiritually penetrating the heart of any natural man except by this piercing instrument, the Word of God. But the rapier of revelation will go through anything.”
What are the results of God’s word being sharper than any two-edged sword in your life?
How does Scripture reveal your thoughts and intentions by the power of the Spirit?
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
God is not afraid of us. In fact, He knows how we will act and what our attitude will be towards Him throughout our lives. Even with this knowledge, because of His mercy and grace, His Son died for us to reconcile us to the Father. How does knowing this free you to come back to Him? Have you tried to hide from Him? If so, does this passage make you lovingly chuckle about your hiding?
Read Hebrews 4:15.
We cannot escape Him, yet this passage says He can sympathize with us. As we become molded by the Spirit to become more like Jesus, what are some ways this transformation allows us to speak truth in love? How can we be sympathetic towards all people - believers and non-believers, given that Jesus, being perfect, is sympathetic towards us?


TAKING IT HOME
Looking back at this week’s study, what is important for you to remember and why?

PRAISE & PRAYER REQUESTS