Category: Groups Ministry

Main Idea:
God revives the humble in heart, so those who seek revival must seek to humble themselves to God.

Discussion Starter:
What has God taught you this week during your Bible reading and prayer time?

Introduction:
This week, Pastor Micah reminded us that pride and humility are polar opposites. They can’t exist in the same place, ever. He demonstrated that when we have pride enough to hold on to our burdens (especially the burden of sin), it will weary us.  And when we have the humility to admit our weakness and need, God will give us rest.

Watch this brief intro together with your group (click picture below):

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: 1 Peter 5:5-7, Proverbs 3:34, Psalm 55:22, Isaiah 57:15, Matthew 11:28-30, Ephesians 2:8-9

Discussion Questions:

1. Why would God dislike pride at all?
2. In several of the passages, God talks about giving things to people (as opposed to them earning or deserving something).  How could pride (or humility) affect someone’s ability to receive a gift?
3. How is it that the most loving thing that God can do to a proud person is… resist them?  
4. Re-read Isaiah 57:15.  What does revival have to do with someone’s grief over their own sin (that is, “contrition”)?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read 1 Peter 5:1-7 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Getting to know you:  Can you think of a time that God gave you grace? Can you think of a time that God resisted you? Additionally, who is into being both raw and real tonight? (Seriously. This is hard to share, but…remember that bit in 1 Peter 5:5? This is part of being clothed with humility.)

Getting to know them:  Humility has a lot to do with approachability. What’s something you could say to your mini-group that would make you more approachable?

Getting to know Him:  In Isaiah, God says that He doesn’t just inhabit eternity, but that He hangs out with those who are “contrite”, i.e., appropriately grieved by their sin.  Every time you pray this week, just make a mental note about how you feel about your sin and how revived you feel. See if you can spot a relationship.

Engaging at Faith Promise:  Submit yourself to fellow Christ-trusters. That is, take care of each other, and be gentle about it.

Engaging in Community:  Be approachable by being humble. That’s going to matter during the Halloween season.  However you celebrate (or don’t), the most important thing for your neighborhood is that they know you care about everyone’s well-being.

Engaging the World:  Pray for Christ’s missionaries to not be discouraged. Scripture is clear that our prayers matter for those in dangerous places.  

Main Idea: We will seek Revival at Faith Promise by following God’s instructions to King Solomon: We will humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways.

Discussion Starter:
Have you ever seen something dead take on new life? Perhaps you had a plant that was almost dead, but fertilizer brought it back to life. Maybe you had a project at work that seemed doomed to fail, but one fresh idea gave it hope. Share about a similar transformation you have experienced.

Introduction:

Watch this brief intro together with your group (click picture below):

Encounter God

Primary Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:11-16

Discussion Questions:
1. Read 2 Chronicles 7:11-16 paying close attention to verse 14. Pastor Chris shared a quote that pride is “an unhealthy saturation with self.” What are some ways we can humble ourselves this week?

2. The next action in verse 14 is “pray.” What circumstances have caused you to pray passionately? It is natural to cry out to God when we are in desperate need. How do we keep the passion in our prayers and maintain intimacy with God when life is going well?

3. Why do we most often seek God’s hand of provision instead of God’s face through fellowship and intimacy in prayer?

4. The final action God requires of His people in verse 14 is to “turn from their wicked ways.” We will discuss this during our Embrace time in our dyads and triads.

5. Which of the four actions in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is the hardest for you to respond to? Why?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Main Idea:
God wants to fill our empty spaces of fear and insecurity with purpose and potential.

Discussion Starter:
There are targets or goals in all areas of life from sports and health to school and work. Share about a time you tried to hit a target. Were you successful?

Introduction:

Watch this brief intro together with your group (click picture below):

This is our final week of Empty Spaces. We know that God has designed each of us for a purpose, but we also know that as Paul cautions in Romans 12:2, we are tempted to conform to this world rather than God’s purpose for us. This week Pastor shared about aiming and shooting for the mark of our full God-given potential.

Encounter God

Primary Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Discussion Questions:
1. Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-5. Have you experienced this feeling of weariness in your earthly body? What hope do you find in these verses?

2. Read verses 6-10. What is our target, and why are we aiming at it?

3. Once we know what to aim for and why we are shooting, we need to work on how to get closer to the bullseye. If you are currently following a Bible reading plan, share with your group how this regular reading has given you better “sight” of the target.

4. Do you have a spiritual growth plan, or have you used one in the past? Share with your group how this plan has helped you to shoot closer to the mark. If you don’t have a plan, share with your group one thing you think a growth plan would change in your life.

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Main Idea:
Walking with God in your weaknesses will lead to walking in His strength.

Discussion Starter:
We face the challenge of filling spaces in different settings almost daily. Think back to a time you needed to fill empty space in a gift box. What was the most creative way you filled that empty space?

Introduction:
Watch this brief intro together with your group (click picture below):

Even after we begin a relationship with Christ we still have weaknesses, make mistakes, and struggle with things we struggled with before we met God. Why does it feel like there is empty space between us and God? It might not be a bad thing. God can fill this empty space with His strength.

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Romans 8:26-27

Discussion Questions:
1. Read 2 Corinthians 12:9. God says His power is perfected in our weakness. Have you found this to be true in your life? Discuss why God can work better when we are weak.

2. Too often we try to fill the empty space with activities, self-help, or false strength. Discuss why this makes it difficult for God to work in our lives.

3. Read Romans 8:26-27. What do you feel is meant here by the Spirit interceding for us in prayer with unspoken groanings?

4. Do you feel that God can still hear and understand your prayers even when you don’t use words, just groans and expressions of feeling from the heart? Have you ever prayed like that? Can you share an example?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Romans 8:26-30 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.