Faith Promise Blog

Discussion Guides will return January 4, 2020. Pick up your copy of the Faith Promise 2020 devotional ALL iN at your campus!

Getting Started

Main Idea:
Our mission is to share the real love of Christ with people in Knoxville, East Tennessee, the United States, and around the world.

Discussion Starter: 
Have you ever been on a mission trip? If so, share your experience. If not, what intrigues, excites, or scares you about participating in a mission trip?

Introduction:
This week we heard from some of Faith Promise’s global mission teams and partners around the world. How can you support them in fulfilling Jesus’ charge in Mark 16:15 to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation?”

Watch this short video with your group.

---

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: Mark 16:15, Ephesians 4:11-15

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Mark 16:15. How did you go and make disciples in 2019? How will you go and make disciples in 2020?
2. Read Ephesians 4:11-15. Do you see yourself in the list of people in these verses? How have pastors, teachers, and evangelists equipped you for God’s service?
3. What tools can we use to become “mature” as it says in verses 13 and 15?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Ephesians 4:11-15 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

---

Embrace Others

Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into twos or threes for this section.

Getting to know each other:  How are you doing as Christmas approaches? Are you excited? Stressed? Sick? Grieving? How can we pray for each other?

Getting to know Him:  Work on memorizing Ephesians 4:11-13 as a group. Pray that we may reach unity in the faith and attain the whole measure of fullness in Christ.

---

Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise:  We discussed how God blessed us and used pastors, teachers, and evangelists to equip us. Send a note of thanks to someone at your campus who has equipped you for God’s work.

Engaging in Community:  Going into “all the world” starts with going into our communities. This time of year there are many opportunities to serve and love people in Jesus name. Sign up to volunteer for All is Bright and view our other local ministry partners here.

Engaging the World:  Commit to pray regularly for your campus missionary. Some groups commit to support their missionary financially through regular group offerings.

---

Expand God’s Kingdom

Christmas is a time of year when many people are looking for hope. This season can be difficult for those grieving the loss of a loved one or the loss of a relationship. Give the gift of your time this holiday season. Ask how people are, and really listen to their answer. Share how Christ has been a light in your life.

Getting Started

Main Idea:
God’s promises to bless us, but God’s blessing always involves us changing.

Discussion Starter:
Charles Blondin was an amazing tightrope walker. In the 1860s, he crossed Niagara Falls multiple times in front of crowds…but he wouldn’t only walk across. Sometimes he would cross on a bicycle, or on stilts, or even blindfolded, or with a wheelbarrow full of potatoes. Crowds would cheer and praise him for his ability. One time, he famously asked the crowd if they thought he could push a person across in the wheelbarrow. The crowd roared with agreement, “Yes, you can! We know you can!” Then Charles asked for someone to get in his wheelbarrow. Nobody did.

Did those people in the crowd really believe he could do it? And how good would Charles have to be for you to get in his wheelbarrow? (Some people wouldn’t go, no matter what, and that’s fine!)

Introduction:
This week guest speaker Hallerin Hilton Hill preached about giant sized faith using the story of the call of Abram. What size is our faith, and how can we make it grow even bigger?

Watch this short video with your group.

---

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: Genesis 12:2-3, Hebrews 11:8-19, James 1:22-25

Discussion Questions:

1. According to Genesis 12:2-3, who did God intend to bless?
2. When God says who He intends to bless in Genesis 12:3, is the focus on the past, the present, or the future? Why would God’s focus be there?
3. He also says that all families of the earth will be blessed through Abraham. We are to go not just to receive a blessing but to BE a blessing. How are you a blessing to others?
4. In James 1:22-25, James talks about not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of what God has said. Plenty of people say they ‘believe God.’ But God knows what is in our hearts. When He asked Abram to leave Haran, Abram went. But when Jesus asked the rich young ruler to follow Him, that guy went away sad (Mark 10:22). What you do shows what you believe. Not many people got in Charles Blondin’s wheelbarrow, because those people didn’t trust him enough. And they were probably right to be cautious; Charles was a mortal man who was just one badly-timed sneeze away from the end of his career. So…what do your actions reveal about what you think of God?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, read Hebrews 11:8-13 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

---

Embrace Others

Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into twos or threes for this section.

Getting to know each other:  What is one promise that God has made that you are particularly excited about? Don’t be shy about sharing! The things you care most about define who you are.

Getting to know Him:   What do you see God doing in Knoxville right now? How have you noticed Him actively keeping the promise He made in John 12:32 (“I will draw all people to me”)?

---

Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise:  How can you be a blessing to others at Faith Promise? Have you become friends with someone who needs your help, and the love of God?

Engaging in Community:  Christmas is a very difficult time of year for a great many people. A huge number of homeless people live under the bridge downtown. Those people can always use more warm clothes (especially socks), and maybe a Bible! But maybe your group can think of a way to help that nobody else has thought of yet?

Engaging the World:  There are literal riots and police beatings happening in many countries around the world, right now (e.g. Hong Kong). Many people are being beaten and killed for present-day political freedom. Please join us in prayer that many people will repent, and that God will use these tragedies to cause people to look for that city that is to come, like Abraham.

---

Expand God’s Kingdom

Paul is very clear that the Kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17). Does your life spread those things? Are you actively cultivating those things in your life with Bible study, prayer, and fasting? Are you being discipled, or discipling someone else? If not, why not? At Faith Promise, there are certainly people eager to do both of those. Surely you can find someone!

---

Leader’s Notes

ALL groups at Faith Promise should follow Jesus Christ and lead others to do the same. Below are the marks of a growing follower and disciple of Jesus.

– A follower of Jesus desires to encounter God through the deeper study and application of God’s Word.

– A follower of Jesus embraces people and values relationships on a deeper level so everyone can grow together.

– A follower of Jesus engages and serves the world around them and in their community, through local partners or God-directed opportunities.

– A follower of Jesus expands God’s Kingdom through development and multiplication of disciple-makers, possibly to lead more groups at Faith Promise.

Getting Started

Main Idea:
Who are THEY? Show me your friends and I will show you your future. Surrounding yourself with the wrong “they” can pull you down. But there can be immeasurable growth and success when you surround yourself with the right they.

Discussion Starter:
Who are the 5 people in your life who you go to when you have a problem?

Introduction:
God wants us to get the most out of every relationship we have. But this does not happen without intentionality. We have to actively surround ourselves with the right THEY.

Watch this short video with your group.

---

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: Proverbs 13:20, Proverbs 14:7, 2 Corinthians 6:14, 2nd Timothy 2:22, Galatians 6:2, 1 Corinthians 5:11

Discussion Questions:

1. If you think back to your five friends that you would go to if you needed help, think now if there is anyone else who can be in your “circle of influence.” Who do you call at 2 AM when there is a problem? In other words, who is your “they”?
2. Pastor Young spoke about relationships we can “walk to” (become more engaged in) and those we may need to “walk from” (become less engaged in). Read Proverbs 14:7 and 2 Timothy 2:22 as you think about those currently in your life and those you can intentionally place in your life.
3. Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. What does this mean about your current friendships or work relationships with nonbelievers? How are we to live in the world and share the gospel and yet still be “separate”?
4. Read 1 Corinthians 5:11. Would this have any impact on your relationships with people who call themselves believers?
5. Read Proverbs 27:19 and Proverbs 9:9. How can both of these verses be played out in your life?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

---

Embrace Others

Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into twos or threes here.

Getting to know each other:  Read Proverbs 12:25 and Galatians 6:2. What anxieties can you share in order to lessen the weight on your heart?

Getting to know Him:  God’s heart is one that delights in opportunities for us to know Him better. How can your group prepare to know God in a deeper way? Consider putting together your Personal Spiritual Growth Plan that you can begin and share with your group January 1.

---

Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise:   What gift has God given you that you can use to serve at Faith Promise?

Engaging in Community:  Does your group have plans to serve somewhere in your community before the end of the year? If not, consider serving at All Is Bright or Christmas Spectacular.

Engaging the World:  Moving into the Christmas season, there are many opportunities to pray for our Missionary partners. Most of our missionary families are away from their families. Pray for a peace this holiday season as they commit to God’s work around the world.

---

Expand God’s Kingdom

Expanding God’s Kingdom by pouring into the discipleship journey of others requires commitment and preparation. How can you prepare to help someone grow in their discipleship?

---

Leader’s Notes

The discussion starter and questions may be fun for some people, but extremely unpleasant and painful for others. But this can be an excellent opportunity for the leader of the group to lead.

The Bible predicted that narcissism would rise, and that even natural family relations would, for some people, be impossible (2 Timothy 3:2-4). Many people do not even have one person to turn to, and these questions can make it painfully apparent to them. If your group is full of genuine Christ-followers, then be prepared to emphasize that you can be called on in time of need.

Many people have horrendous, emotionally abusive family relationships, and feel that “the Christian thing to do” is to accept the abuse and be a doormat. As a leader, the only thing you might see is someone being very quiet and a little disengaged. You must be prepared to reach out to these people and make serious effort that might even be resisted at first.

The people who are truly sad and hurting are not usually very vocal about it. And they may be ashamed that they don’t have people, which causes them to withdraw even more. These questions might expose very sensitive areas for people, but that can be a great way to show the love of Christ, and for you and your group to build real relationships.

Remember, when the Bible talks about us being “the household of God” and “brothers and sisters in Christ,” this might form a beautiful Norman Rockwell picture in most minds that hear it. But increasingly, hearing about how ‘believers are a big family’ may not give some people warm fuzzy feelings. Their family may be full of conflict, emotional or physical abuse, addiction, or other troubles. Why should they believe that God’s family is different? We have to show them! As believers, we should be redefining what a family is.

So as leaders, we should be ready to look for and actually reach out to people who are hurting; they will not always speak up about their needs. They often think nobody cares. But you, and others in your group, might be in the perfect place to prove to them that God does, and that others do, too. But you may have to notice, and reach out.