Saint Matthias Anglican Church - Oakdale CA Churches St Matthias St. Matthias Anglican Church St Matthias Anglican Church
St. Matthias Saint Matthias St Matthias St. Matthias Anglican Saint Matthias Anglican St Matthias Anglican St. Matthias Episcopal Saint Matthias Episcopal St Matthias Episcopal
Worshiping Jesus Christ, Living in His Truth, & Blessing others in His Name.
Life Groups at Saint Matthias are a sermon-based small group ministry that take place during three sessions spaced out over the calendar year - Winter, Spring, & Fall.
Spring Life Groups:
Wednesday Mornings (In-Person or Zoom)
Dates: 4/10-5/22 except 5/1
Time: 10:00-11:30am
Where: Parish Hall or Zoom attendance
Leader: Fr Jim Stout
Thursday Mornings (In-Person Only)
Dates: 4/11-5/23 except 5/2
Time: 10:00-11:30am
Where: The Beall Home in Oakdale
Leader: Larry Johnson
Wednesday Evenings (NO Childcare, NO Zoom)
Dates: 4/10-5/22 except 5/1
Time: 5:45-7:15pm
Where: Parish Hall (In-Person Only)
Leader: Fr John Roberts
Thursday Evenings (Childcare Available, Zoom added)
Dates: 4/11-5/23 except 5/2
Time: 5:30-7:00pm
Where: Parish Hall or Zoom
Leader: Dcn Dolores Vargas
Childcare: Paige H. & Riley C.
ANSWERS to all the most important questions about this session's Life Groups …
What exactly will happen at these group meetings, anyway?
A typical meeting will be structured as follows…
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Sharing ≈ 15 minutes
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Study & Discussion ≈ 30 minutes
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Prayer ≈ 10 minutes (One Sentence Prayers only! See below.)
Whoa! Prayer? What if I’m not very comfortable praying out loud?
No worries! Each Life Group meeting will conclude with a time of prayer for concerns shared by group members. However, the style of prayer that will be used is called “One Sentence Prayers” where participants are invited (though not required) to pray just one sentence out loud for a particular request.
Will I have to do anything to prepare for the weekly meeting?
Listening to the sermon on Sunday will cover 75% of your preparation. However, each week we are in session you will be given a Questions Sheet as you leave Church, to reflect on and complete before your Life Group meeting that week. These questions should take approximately 25 minutes to complete and are intended to guide & enhance the group discussion. A sample Question Sheet is on this page.
What if I miss a Sunday?
If you miss a Sunday, we’ve got you covered! The audio and manuscript of the sermon, as well as the question sheet, will be posted by Sunday afternoon each week at saintmatthiasoakdale.com/lifegroupthisweek
What if we have an infant?
Any parent with an infant is welcome to have their child in the meeting with them, if they prefer.
How can I sign up for a Life Group?
We invite you to fill out the form on this webpage, contact Fr John, or leave a voicemail at the church (209-847-2012)
What if I decide I don’t want to stay in my Life Group?
If you have some doubts about whether a Life Group is a fit for you, we encourage you to sign up and try one for just three weeks. If during that time you decide you don’t want to continue with the group, you can drop-out with no questions asked & no drive-by-guiltings. And when the time comes for the next session, you will be free to sign up again for any group with openings.
What if I want to change groups after the first session?
No Problem! At the conclusion of each Life Group Session you will be given a card asking you whether for the next session you intend to remain in your Life, try a new Life Group, or take a break from Life Groups.
SAMPLE WEEKLY QUESTION SHEET
This week’s sermon was on the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).
Getting Started
1. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.
2. If you had to identify with just one of the three individuals in this parable (the father, the young prodigal, or the older brother), who would it be and why?
3. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel was infamous for rebelling against God’s leadership. This week, we’ll look at two psalms that show how God responded when they acted like a prodigal. As you read, notice the points where God’s response parallels the following four principles we learned from Luke 15.
•If a rebel insists on leaving—let them leave.
•When things get tough—let them hit bottom.
•When they come back—run to greet them.
•After they’re back—don’t punish the obedient.
a. Read Psalm 78:54–64 & Psalm 106:32–48 and jot down any insights, questions, or key observations.
4. Have you ever learned a valuable lesson because of a failure (big or small) that God or someone else stepped back and allowed you to experience? (You will not be required to share this answer with the group.)
5. Do you agree with the following statement? “The older brother in this parable responded appropriately in light of what he knew at the time.” Explain your answer.
Digging Deeper
7. When faced with a prodigal in your life (assuming that the prodigal son can represent a family member, a friend, a coworker, or a social outcast), which of the four principles for loving and responding to a rebel do you come by most naturally? Which comes hardest?
8. Is there anything you need to do as a result of what you’ve learned this week? (You will not be required to share this answer with the group.)
