MESSAGE: Emotional Rollercoaster                 Date: 4/13/2025

SERIES: The Fundamentals 

COMMUNICATOR: Pastor Kevin Geer

CHECKING IN: What’s one moment or experience from your week that really stood out to you, and why do you think it made such an impact?

Share Wins: How have you experienced God’s (insert 1-2 fruit of the Spirit here) this week? Have you seen Him answer a prayer, remind you of His presence, or use you to bless someone? How do you see Jesus working in your life or in the world around you? 

THINK, DISCUSS, LIVE: These questions are ideal for personal devotion or group discussions, guiding you to grow spiritually, engage deeply in biblical community, and live out your faith in the world around you.

1. What’s your favorite worship or Christian song? How does it impact your faith or your connection to God?
2. Why do you think we’re called to worship God in the first place? Take a look at Psalm 95:1–7—does anything in that passage shift or deepen your perspective?
3. How do you typically feel or think during your time in worship? Are there any specific emotions or reflections that stand out to you in those moments? 
4. What do you believe is the purpose behind worshiping together as a church community? What are the signs that you’re genuinely participating in worship during a church gathering?
5. How might the insights or emotions you experience during worship shape the way you approach your interactions, or decisions throughout the week? What are some practical ways you could integrate those reflections into your mindset or actions?
6. When you hear the phrase ‘being in awe of God,’ what comes to mind? How would you describe what that really means? And how do you personally respond to being in awe of God? 
7. When you’re going through something hard, do you feel comfortable bringing that lament into your time of worship? What helps—or maybe makes it harder—for you to do that?
8. In what ways can we make our worship of God more personal and intimate? How can you deepen your own worship experience and engage more fully in connecting with God during the week?
9. How does the style of worship music affect the way long-time church members, newcomers, and non-believers (Lost friends) experience church? What’s the best way for a church to address and navigate these different preferences?
10. If you were leading worship at a church, how would you put together a worship gathering? What things would be absolutely essential for you, and what kind of atmosphere would you want to create?
11. Divide the reading of Psalm 145:1-21. As one reads verses 1-7, pause to discuss a verse or thought that reflects worship. Do the same for verses 8-13 and then for verses 14-21. Next, spend time in prayer and praise, lifting up the insights shared from Psalm 145.
12. TAKING NEW GROUND! This week, take intentional steps to create space in your schedule for worship. Whether it’s through listening to a worship song, thanking God for the people and blessings in your life, or simply sitting in quiet reflection on one truth about Him, let your heart be immersed in His presence. Consider sharing this time with someone else as an encouragement for them to also express their worship to God.
13. THE TRANSFORMATIONAL MODEL: Update your current position within the Canvas Circle, Jesus Friends Circle, and Lost Friends Circle. In what specific ways are you growing more like Jesus, reflecting His love and teachings to others, and drawing closer to the center of the diagram?

2025 LIFE CHANGE CHALLENGE: We’ve created a Bible reading plan to help us go through the entire New Testament in a year. Read or listen to just one chapter a day, five days a week. Simply go to the Canvas Church app. and click on ‘Bible Reading Plan.’ If you prefer to listen, that option is available too! Join us on this life-changing journey! 

INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PRAYER OPTIONS: “prayer is not merely asking for needs, but a conversation with God about what matters to both of you.” Dallas Willard

1. Praise Sentences: Take a moment to offer short sentence prayers of thanks to God for who He is and what He has done this week. Allow multiple people to pray, even more than once. Then, lift up the needs shared within your group. Finish by thanking Him for hearing your prayers.  
2. Invite Jesus into the challenges you or a loved one are facing right now, trusting in His presence and guidance. As you pray aloud, encourage one another with your words.
3. Pray for the person on your right, it can be out loud or in silence, if in silence nudge the person next to you letting them know you are done. 
4. Prayer Clusters: Groups of two or three (by gender) and share your week together. Pray together and for each other. Send them a text, or leave a message letting them know you have prayed for them this week. 

PRACTICE ON YOUR OWN: What if you made it a daily habit to ask God what He wants you to know? Whether in every situation or just the ones that come up, take a moment to ask. Then, ask what He would like you to do—whether it’s a specific action or a way to apply what He reveals. Try it and see what happens!

KEEPING TRACK OF HIS ANSWERS: Keep an ongoing list of prayer requests and the answers to those prayers. This will help everyone in the group stay up-to-date on each situation, celebrate wins when prayers are answered, and encourage us to keep praying when the answers haven’t come yet.