Group Discussion & Life Challenge
Use these notes as discussion prompts for your group, or in your personal time with God.
Connect:
Get to know each other. Connect, warm up to each other, fellowship.
Care:
Carry each other’s burdens. Share life’s challenges and practice Soul Care. Pray together.
Challenge:
1. When was the last time you did something hard for someone who could give you nothing in return? What motivated you to offer that service to that person/situation? Take a moment to read Philemon as a group–
2. Think about a time you had an argument, did your desire to be right overcome your desire to maintain relationship? What does Paul say in Philemon about maintaining relationship in difficult situations?
3. Can you think of someone you have given up on changing? Who maybe has heard the Gospel but just is not interested, or someone who has hurt you? What does Paul say in his letter to Philemon that you can use to help you in that relationship?
4. How comfortable are you right now with describing yourself as a bit of a mess? How comfortable would you be, asking for help?
5. Read John 15:8-11 together, notice God says, when you bear fruit. Where is the fruit in your life? Where is the mess that is producing new life? Pray and ask God to show you individually and as a group, how to embrace some messiness to foster new fruit.
Clarify:
Does anyone need clarity on something? Are there any big God questions you are wrestling with?
Celebrate:
Celebrate life’s successes and God’s provision. Worship God’s presence. Time to brag about God.
BibleApp
Through the Bible in one Year
Join us in reading through the entire Bible in one year. Each day of this plan guides you through passages from both the Old and New Testaments, allowing you to see connections between the history of our faith, and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Readings average four chapters in length, so it is posible to do. When you use the YouVersion Bible App, you can even have the app read the Bible text to you – very useful when you are in the car or otherwise occupied with your hand.
All you need to do is click the link to the Bible Plan, which should lead you straight to the Bible app. Your two options are now (1) to read the plan on your own, one day at the time. Or (2) you can make it more fun and rewarding, by sharing the plan with one or more friends, and then even “Talk about it”.