Faith Forward: Groups

Written By Mark Avery

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 Group life…

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:

  • Compare what it feels like to win at something alone (e.g. chess, table tennis, etc) VS. what it feels like to win with a team. What is the same, what’s different, what’s better… and why?

  • Reflective Discussion (Remember to look at the context of the verses as you are reading!):

    • Read the following passages and discuss how might you respond to someone who says, “Well, I’m not really a “groups person”, I’m a spiritual introvert… and God hasn’t really led me to join a group yet; so I think I’m good just me and God.” (Gen 2:18, Acts 2:42-47, Heb 10:24-25, Rom 12:4-5, 1 Cor 12:21-26, John 13:34-37, John 17:20-23)

    • There are some aspects of our life of faith that only grow stronger when we get to exercise them in relationships! Discuss how isolation might limit aspects of our walk of faith in light of the following passages (Heb 3:12-13, 1 Pet 5:8,0, Gal 6:1-2, Gal 5:13-18, Prov 27:5,6,17; Col 2:19, James 5:19-20, 2 Cor 1:3-7, 1 Thes 5:14-22))

    • Relational life in groups, families, churches, ministries… can be messy! Discuss how God can use even our messes to forge us to be more like Jesus in light of the following passages (Acts 6:1-7, Matt 18:15-17, Eph 4:1-3, 25-32; Col 3:12-15, Rom 14:19).

    • Group life takes time, effort… and sometimes a willingness to forgive and move on again together, allowing trust to rebuild. Why is it worth that?

Application: 

Who is someone you know who already comes to ZCC who could be invited to join a Life Group? Has God been prompting you to start the process of becoming a Life Group Leader or to host a group that needs a place at your home?

Prayer:

Spend some time in prayer offering ourself to the Lord for His purposes through you, knowing that God’s purposes for you extend far, far beyond what you experience or what you can see!

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Get more resources to go deeper through Commentaries and Bible Study helps HERE

Mark Avery
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Faith Forward: Growth