Greenleaf Church

Because God wired us for relationships, each of us carries a desire to be loved, to be valued, and to be appreciated. We long to feel accepted and approved by others. This longing for belonging, the desire to "fit in" and feel connected to others, is the driving force behind many of the choices we make. People pleasing says, "I must be liked BY you to be happy." It is a trap that prevents us from living a life that brings glory to God. This month, we'll learn how to break free from the people pleasing prison. ““The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.”” — Proverbs 29:25 (AMP) DISCUSSION QUESTIONSWeek 1 - True ConfidenceWeek 2 - Pleasing Everybody Won't Make Me HappyWeek 3 - I Must Value What is EternalWeek 4 - God Made Me to be MeWeek 5 - Pleasing God is Enough

Most of us spend 140,000 hours at work. That’s about 40% of our life.  Statistically, most Americans don’t like their job or flat-out hate their job. How do Christians see work? Does God have anything to do with our work?  This month, we’ll take a look at four ways God works in and through us at our work. Discussion QuestionsWeek 1 - MaturityWeek 2 - CredibilityWeek 3 - GenerosityWeek 4 - Eternity

More vital to our survival than the air we breathe, the Holy Spirit of God sustains us. His presence is essential for our existence. As Christians, it is our desire to inspire people to move towards God.  We do this by being a light that leads them to Jesus.  This month, we’ll take a look at what it takes to illuminate God’s light in our dark world. DISCUSSION QUESTIONWeek 1 - WindWeek 2 - OilWeek 3 - FireWeek 4 - Light

More than any human beings in your life, God the Holy Spirit has had the biggest influence in your spiritual growth. He is called the “Holy” Spirit because His primary role is our sanctification (set us apart, make us holy). This month we’ll do a brief study of some of the ways He impacts us everyday. Discussion QuestionsWeek 1- He Lives In UsWeek 2- He Leads Us Into All TruthWeek 3- He Lifts Us Up to GodWeek 4- He Liberates Us

When you think of patience, what comes to mind?  For many, it is a passive picture of someone “not” doing something like not getting angry, not responding to accusations or stoically walking away from a heated situation. One of the characteristics of biblical love is patience.  Patience is not passive, but it is an active and intentional act of love. This month, we’ll explore what it means to love with patience and why we seem to have so little of it these days. Discussion QuestionsWeek 1- MarginsWeek 2- FinancesWeek 3- TimeWeek 4- Relationships

When it comes to giving gifts,it’s the thought that counts”.  When we take this idea into other areas of giving such as time, words, and attitudes, it sheds some new lights on what it means to really love by giving. This month we’ll study what it means to be a cheerful giver. We’ll discover that when we give in love, it’s not just the thought, but the heart that counts. Discussion QuestionsWeek 1- Give DecisivelyWeek 2- Give GenerouslyWeek 3- Give FreelyWeek 4- Seeds: Plant Them or Eat Them?

We all have our version of our stories.  Who we are/aren’t.  What we’ve done and what that means for our future.  Stories of our worth, value, and significance.  Some things we believe about ourselves we cling to us despite the pain and agony they’re causing us.  This month, we’ll take a look at a powerful story that Jesus told to describe His love for us. Discussion QuestionsWeek 1- BelongingWeek 2- WorthWeek 3- ResurrectionWeek 4- Your Story

Imagine filling a water balloon with a garden hose. In a matter of seconds, the balloon is filled and is about to burst. Imagine every Christian is like this water balloon and Christ’s love the garden hose. What do we do with this much love flowing into us?"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2 Take the 5 Love Languages AssessmentDiscussion QuestionsWeek 1- Compelled by LoveWeek 2- Making DepositsWeek 3- Avoiding WithdrawalsWeek 4- Practicing Love 

One of the powerful methods of communicating our faith is with our words.  This month, we’ll learn how to love the people we love with our words."If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1 DISCUSSION QUESTIONSWeek 1- Dishonest WordsWeek 2- Selfish DemandsWeek 3- Disrespectful AttitudesWeek 4- Defamatory Statements

We often associate stewardship with our money and possession, but its is so much more than that.  This month we’ll focus on the stewardship of you and practice loving ourselves.Matthew 22:37–39 (LB) Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Week 1- You Are a Steward of YouWeek 2- Cultivating Calm and StillnessWeek 3- Cultivating Rest and PlayWeek 4- Cultivating CreativityWeek 5- Cultivating the Courage to Be Imperfect

We know that God loves us in countless ways.  This holiday season, we’ll focus on four areas of His love that is displayed in the nativity scene. God loves us like a shepherd loves his sheep, a husband loves his wife, a father loves his son, and a mother loves her child. Discussion QuestionsWeek 1- A Shepherd Loves His SheepWeek 2- A Husband Loves His WifeWeek 3- A Father Loves His SonWeek 4- A Mother Loves Her Child

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are commanded to love.  Jesus reduced all the commands of the Bible into three categories- love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself.  This month, we’ll briefly look at these and learn to apply them in our lives. Discussion QuestionsWeek 1- Seeking the Highest GoodWeek 2- Your GodWeek 3- Your NeighborWeek 4- YourselfDownload the "What Does Love Require of Me?" Wallpaper(Click to open and save as a wallpaper for your phone)Most Androids/iPhone 6iPhone 5

We make our choices, those choices turn around make us.  We’re faced with many decisions on a daily basis.  Some are seemingly small and others have the potential to change the course of our lives and impact our relationship with God and people we love.  This month, we’ll learn how to make wise decisions every time. Discussion QuestionsWeek 1- TrustWeek 2- WisdomWeek 3- Take Matters Into Your Own HandsWeek 4- Twisting God's ArmWeek 5- Taking the Shortcut

One of Satan’s greatest arsenal against us is to instill fear in us. Fear stops us from loving deeply.  Fear creates shallow relationships with fake conversations, and people having a facade. Fear prevents us from confronting wrongs and confessing our sins to one another. Satan puts fear in us to hinder us from living lives to the fullest.  This month, we’ll unveil some common fears that stop us from loving deeply. Branch QuestionsWeek 1 - Fear of the Other SideWeek 2 - Fear of the Coming StormWeek 3 - Fear of DisapprovalWeek 4 - Choosing Faith Over Fear

Last month, we learned about angels of God sent to protect us.  This month, let’s pull back the curtain and see the real reason why we struggle in this world.  We’ll take a peek into the kingdom of evil spirits and learn some truths about Satan and his fallen angels. Discussion QuestionsWeek 1- Spiritual StrugglesWeek 2- SatanWeek 3- DevilWeek 4- MurdererWeek 5- Liar

Many people go through life without realizing that there are spiritual beings all around us. These spiritual beings impact our spiritual journey towards God.  This month, we will learn about the spiritual beings that are sent by God to minister to us. Discussion QuestionsWeek 1- Spiritual StrugglesWeek 2- Praising GodWeek 3- Protecting BelieversWeek 4- Created to Serve

 Our vertical love is measured by our horizontal love.  “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.  For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4:20. When we don't bear with each other, divorces happen, friendships break up, and families are torn apart.  One of the greatest marks of love is to bear with one another. BRANCH DISCUSSION QUESTIONSWhy We Need to Bear:Bearing Is LovingWe Are DifferentChristians Still SinWe'll Be Together Forever

We live in a word that wants to have everything immediately.  We hate to wait, we despise delays and we enjoy immediate gratifications. God wants us to be patient because in our patience we experience growth.  This month we will study what it means to be patient.  We’ll discover that while we’re waiting, God is working. “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” — Ephesians 4:1–2 Discussion QuestionsWeek 1- Uncontrollable CircumstancesWeek 2- Unchangeable PeopleWeek 3- Unexplainable ProblemsWeek 4- God Is In ControlWeek 5- God Rewards Patience

Last month we studies what it means to be completely humble.  This month, we will study the second characteristic of becoming a person who is called by God.  It is the call to be completely gentle.“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:1–2 Branch Discussion QuestionsPower Under ControlControlling Your WordsControlling Your EmotionsControlling Your Thoughts

Our aim in life is to be like Jesus “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6–8).  This month we will study what it means to be humble. Discussion QuestionsMarch Week 1- Be Completely HumbleMarch Week 2- Renewing yourself to be like ChristMarch Week 3- Recognizing Your Needs for God And PeopleMarch Week 4- Resolving to Confess Before You’re CaughtPermalink