Faith Forward: Growth
Selected Scriptures
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Review:
This message series looks at six essential moves found in Scripture — moves that lead to a flourishing life. There’s a reason why some people experience joy, purpose, and spiritual momentum…while others feel stuck, confused, and disconnected. At ZCC, we call these our “6Gs” which are Grace, Growth, Group, Gifts, Generosity, Go. This week, we looked at Growth…
The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…
o What did you learn about God?
o What did you learn about people?
o What did you learn about yourself?
o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?
Reflection:
Personal Experience:
What have been the greatest catalysts to spiritual growth in your life— things that have made you not only more hungry for God’s presence, but have increased your faith/ discipline/ humility…? Ask whomever is willing to share a story about how that happened in their life.
Reflective Discussion (Remember to look at the context of the verses as you are reading!):
Jesus had a rhythm of prayer and fasting which He made a part of the Disciples’ experience. Read Mark 6:30-34 and discuss the decision to “come away and rest” which then became a decision to “teach them many things”.
Talk about “training in godliness”. Use the following passages as background as you discuss the following questions (Ez 33:31-32, Hebrews 5:12-14, Phil 3:12-14, Col 1:9-10, John 15:1-8, Eph 4:11-16, James 1:22-25, Matt 7:24-27, Luke 6:46-49, Titus 2:11-12)
What are the dangers of a ‘stalled’ faith?
How does knowing AND obeying what Scripture says strengthen our faith?
Read Hebrews 12:4-13 and talk about the character qualities that will help us learn from rather than run from the Lord’s discipline. How does God develop those character traits in us?
In Rev 3:14-22 Jesus talks to the church in Laodicea, and this stands as a warning for us today! We are all becoming something: hot, cold or lukewarm. Habits are about consistency, not just intensity, so discuss the following passages that talk about this:
2 Tim 2: 1-7: What can we learn from the soldier, the athlete and the farmer about what it takes to gain the disciplines that lead to growth?
Phil 2:12,13, Luke 9:23, Acts 2:42, Heb 5:14: What are some things that help us stay humble while growing in our commitment to deny our flesh and devote ourselves to what is of the Spirit?
Application:
What we feed, grows— whether it is our spirit or our flesh. Which of the “holy habits” is God leading you to spend more time developing this year? Commit to doing that.
Prayer:
Spend some time in prayer committing yourself to developing holy habits which will nurture your growth in Christ. It’s ok to start by praying, “God, I want to want more of You”!
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