Category: Groups Ministry

Getting Started

Main Idea:
God is Calling us to BE the River of Provision to our world THROUGH the Holy Spirit in us.

Discussion Starter:
Share a time when you were able to provide something that a person needed and how that made both you and him/her feel.

Introduction:
This weekend, Pastor Zac shared how Faith Promise Church is equipping our fpStudents to help real people with real problems find the real love of God. He explained these students are not the Next generation but the Now generation. When we as a church, both young and old alike, live out our values we will be a massive Movement-all 8000 of us! Recall our Biblically-based values from the previous weeks: We put God first; We tell them of Him; We grow together; We give generously; We serve others; We elevate those around us. Sometimes as Christ-followers, we think we need to wait on God to do the supernatural, but God has elevated us to be the River of Provision to this hurting and dying world. He has given us His Spirit to empower us to do His work! The only way to be a Movement is to start moving; you can’t sit still and see revival. The Kingdom will come when we GO!

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Encounter God

Primary Scripture: Primary Scripture John 7:37-39

Discussion Questions:
1. Jesus boldly declares that whoever is thirsty only needs to come to Him to drink. What makes people thirsty today? How do people try to quench their thirst?

2. To place Jesus’ invitation to thirsty sinners in context, He shouted this on the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles, which commemorated the end of wandering in the desert as the Israelites entered the Promised Land. On the first seven days, the priest poured out water from a golden pitcher, and the people said, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3), and according to rabbinic tradition, these words pointed to the Messiah. In contrast, on the 8th day of the festival, no water was drawn symbolizing that the Israelites were no longer in a desert but drank from the rivers of Canaan. The Israelites were reenacting a tradition that could never satisfy the heart, but Jesus offered them living water and eternal satisfaction! Can you describe how your life was like a spiritual desert before you came to the Lord? In what way has your life changed since you drank from the “wells of salvation”?

3. Jesus offers Himself as the living water. Temple symbolism pointed to this, and He compared His body to the temple itself (John 2:19-22). He also spoke of himself as the rock, that when struck (Exodus 17:1-7) gives not merely water but the living water of eternal life (John 4:13-14). This drinking water is symbolic of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Just as water satisfies thirst and produces fruitfulness, the Holy Spirit satisfies us and enables us to bear spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22). In what ways are you bearing fruit for God? What is holding you back from fully realizing God’s purpose for your life? How will you pray to fully trust the power of the Spirit that lives in you?

4. These verses describe the streams of living water as “flowing”. The promise is not only that we will be satisfied, but that we will be satisfying. When we drink the living water of Jesus, we not only fill our cup, but we become a river that overflows. How does the use of the word “flow” affect the way you see the power of the Holy Spirit? How will you allow God the Spirit to work through you as a River of Provision for this hurting and dying world?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read John 7:37-39 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

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Embrace Others

This week, our focus was on drinking in Christ by faith, pouring Christ out in praise and love, and never thirsting again. In small groups of 2 or 3, discuss and encourage one another on how God is calling you to pour forth His living water as a River of Provision for others.

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Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: Pray as a group to explore ways you can pour out Christ as you serve our church family.

Engaging in Community and the World: It is God the Spirit that flows in through faith (Galatians 3:2, 5) and flows out through love (Galatians 5:22). Our local and international communities have several opportunities to serve and allow God to flow as a River of Provision from each of us. We heard a beautiful story of rescue and redemption of Bellansira Horusenga through the assistance of the International Organization for Migration. Once in Knoxville, Bellansira was assisted by our local Emerald Youth Foundation so that she was able to attend college. Her hope one day is to return to her native land and heal others. Consider how you as a group could help local or international organizations embrace the privilege of reaching out and showing the love of Christ to others.

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Expand God’s Kingdom

John Piper has said that “The greatest cause in the world is joyfully rescuing people from hell, meeting their earthly needs, making them glad in God, and doing it with a kind, serious pleasure that makes Christ look like the Treasure he is. No war on earth was ever fought for a greater cause or a greater king.” How will you enlist as a soldier in the war to win souls for Jesus and be that River of Provision for others?

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Leader’s Notes

1. Answers will vary but may include suffering, meaningless existence, chronic restlessness, discontent, despair, hopelessness, etc. People are eluded into thinking that the false offerings of the world will satisfy them, but they are only being distracted from the truth and will never experience the authentic satisfaction found only in Jesus. This is the difference between the sweet poison the world offers and the living water of Christ!

2. Answers will vary.

3. Answers will vary.

4. It is powerful! It is not a trickle and cannot be and should not be restrained! Believers drink in Christ by faith, pour Christ out in praise and love, and never thirst again.

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:
At Faith Promise we elevate others around us by being part of a community that helps real people with real problems find real love.

Discussion Starter:
The definition of elevate is to raise or lift up to a higher position. Have you ever met an individual who does this in the lives of others, or who has done this in your own life? A teacher, a relative, a church member, another student in your school, your friend, or even a stranger can help you to reach new heights!

Introduction:
Each of us has the ability to lift up others around us. God also puts people in our path to help elevate us when we need support. There are worldly obstacles that sometimes get in our way, or blind us, in seeing our personal attributes that can be utilized for HIS will in raising up our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The Bible gives us some very direct and helpful tips to sharpen our skills so that we can improve in elevating others and better recognize when God has provided someone to help us. What biblical characters can you think of who are excellent examples being God’s hands and feet when it comes to elevating others?

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Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: Philippians 1:3-6, Philippians 2:1-8, Romans 15:1-13, Proverbs 27:17, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Philippians 1:3-6. Paul is writing to the church in Philippi and the theme throughout the book is joy–the joy in serving God. We know that Paul wrote this book while in prison.

What does this passage say about each of us?

What does this mean to you and for all of us?

2. Read Philippians 2:1-8.From this passage what can we learn about God/Jesus’s character?

What can we learn from this scripture about obstacles which can get in the way of seeing God’s will in our lives and/or elevating others?

How are we to behave?

3. Read Romans 15:1-13, Proverbs 27:17 and Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

What can we gather about God from these scriptures?

How has He designed us to interact?

In what ways can you alter how you think, behave, or act in order to elevate those around you?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Philippians 2:1-8 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

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Embrace Others

Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into dyads or triads for this section.

Getting to know you:   What lies do you currently believe or have you believed in the past that the enemy has used to hinder the good work God has started in you?

Getting to know them:  What scriptures can you find or utilize which remind you who you are in Christ? Are there people in your life that you might share some of these verses with in order to elevate them?

Getting to know Him:  Commit to studying God’s word this week spending time on the verses which remind us how God sees us. If you encounter a time this week where you are questioning God’s truth or just simply don’t see how they apply to you, commit to calling a partner to talk and pray together. Also spend time this week in prayer seeking God’s direction in order to see who God may be calling you to elevate.

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Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise:  Are you volunteering in a ministry at Faith Promise? How can you elevate those who serve with you?

Engaging in Community:   In what ways can you interact with your neighbors to elevate them?

Engaging the World:  How can you leverage social media to elevate your friends who are near and far?

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Expand God’s Kingdom

Who do you know who needs to hear what you have learned this week? Remember that our Summer At the Movies series is coming up in August!

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Leader’s Notes

There are several biblical characters who are great examples of elevating others. All of these characters have dark past or blemishes on their walks. This is helpful to understand that we regardless of what we have done, we can still elevate others and allow others to elevate us.

There is a book written by Neil Anderson titled “Victory Over the Darkness: Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ.” This book has a  list of scriptures and truths on who we are. These may be helpful to discuss.

In following God and elevating others, we know that we may come under spiritual attacks ourselves. Read through Ephesians and find verses and prayers that your group can use to shore themselves up as they go out and make disciples.

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:
When we tell them of Him, we create ripples of hope.

Discussion Starter:
Have you ever realized after hanging out with friends that you missed an opportunity to talk about how Jesus did something in your life? Did that realization make a difference for you?

Introduction:
Jesus and His disciples and Paul set examples of how to be witnesses in everyday life. Talking to people about Jesus and inviting them to accept Him isn’t just a church thing. As forgiven believers we are instructed to tell people what a difference Jesus makes as we go about our daily lives. We should also live in such a way that our family, friends and neighbors can see a difference between us and nonbelievers. We can create opportunities to tell them of Him by our lifestyle.

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Encounter God

Primary Scripture: Acts 1:4-8

Discussion Questions:
1. Jesus told His disciples they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit, yet scripture does not record them asking any questions about that process. How would you have reacted to news of the Holy Spirit? What was the focus of the disciples?

2. Read Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus told his disciples to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. Which of these commands would be the most challenging for you?

3. Read the 6 scriptures that were listed on screen (Romans 3:23, Rom. 6:23, Rom. 5:8, Ephesians 2:8-9, Rom. 10:9-10, Revelation 3:20). Divide the 6 passages among 6 people. (These are called the Plan of Salvation) Have each person tell what the verse says to them.

4. Read I Peter 3:15. Each of us should always be ready to tell about how Jesus works in our lives. Can you do that? Remember that no one can dispute your experience.

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read through the Plan of Salvation verses (Romans 3:23, Rom. 6:23, Rom. 5:8, Ephesians 2:8-9, Rom. 10:9-10, Revelation 3:20) and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the verses.

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Embrace Others

Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into dyads or triads for this section.

Read I Peter 3:15. How can you “sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart?” How can you help your group members do this?

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Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: Do you have opportunities in your ministry to tell people of Jesus and of the most recent experience you’ve had with Him?

Engaging in Community: What can your group do to tell your neighborhood about Jesus?

Engaging the World: Prayerfully consider going on one of Faith Promise’s mission trips. If you’ve already been, how did the trip change you?

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Expand God’s Kingdom

The Faith Promise core value we are looking at this week is “We Tell Them of Him.” When was the first time you ever told someone what Jesus means to you or what He has done in your life? If you never have talked about Jesus, why not?

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Leader’s Notes

In Embrace Others, the word “sanctify” from I Peter 3:15 means “to declare that something (anything) belongs to God.”

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.

SaveSave

Getting Started

Main Idea:
When we give generously, we respond to God’s real love.

Discussion Starter:
At some point we have all received a gift we didn’t really want or like. What is the most unique or unwanted gift you have ever received?

Introduction:
We have become confused with the meaning of giving in a generous manner. Most people falsely assume generous giving consists of a large amount of money. God’s sees what the heart gives, not just what the hand gives. God is more interested in our motives for giving than in the amount we give.

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Encounter God

Primary Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Discussion Questions:
1. We have all heard “God loves a cheerful giver”, what exactly do you think of when you hear “cheerful giver”?

2. Paul uses a farming illustration to make his point about giving. When sowing seed if it is sown bountifully, then the harvest is bountiful. What does Paul mean by this statement?

3. Discuss how our motives for giving are more important to God than the amount we give.

4. How does being a cheerful and generous giver show the real love of God to others, especially those that are not yet Christ-followers?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

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Embrace Others

Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into dyads or triads for this section.

How can God’s excessive love creating generosity in His followers have an impact on your group? Do you know anyone in need who could benefit from your group’s generosity?

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Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: Find an area of service at Faith Promise where you can give of your time and talent.

Engaging in Community: Find an area in your community where your group can demonstrate God’s generous love through service.

Engaging the World: How can you as a group demonstrate being cheerful givers in all that you do?

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Expand God’s Kingdom

Too many people feel churches only talk about money. Pastor mentioned a quote from John MacArthur, “God sees the ‘heart gift’ and not the ‘hand gift.’” Brainstorm about ways your group can be “heart givers” and show others what it truly means to be a joyous and cheerful giver: one who gives out of abundant love.

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Leader’s Notes

1. Although this is an opinion question, let’s focus on what Pastor pointed out to us. Cheerful is translated from the Greek hilaros, from which we also get the English word hilarious. Generous people are therefore happy, joyous givers that count it a privilege to give.

2. He is NOT talking giving to get more in return. We give in response to God’s generosity, especially His giving of His son for us. God made His love known through giving His son and not through giving of money.

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.

 

SaveSave

Getting Started

Main Idea:
When we serve others, we lift others up.

Discussion Starter:
Share a time when someone stepped in and served you when you least expected help.

Introduction:
This weekend, we continued to look at who we are as a church at Faith Promise. We believe our starting place is to put God first. When we do this, everything else falls into place, and we begin to change from the inside out. We love God, and we develop a new capacity to love others. What does it look like to “love others”, and how do we go about using our God-given gifts? Many people struggle to understand their purpose in life, but when we turn to God, He will help us understand how to fulfill the calling He uniquely places on each of His children. When we serve others, we lift others up. Like a pulley, we were made for pulling and lifting; our purpose is to point others to Christ: to lift them up in God’s grace and forgiveness. In order to be truly effective for the Kingdom of God, all Promisors need to take part. A pulley is worthless if there is slack in the line, and the best way to strengthen Faith Promise is for each of us to stay connected and close to God. We are called to serve God with the gifts He has given us and not in our own strength. A gift from God is a calling that a Christ-follower will find honor and joy in using. Will you seek God’s call and purpose for your life and serve Him by serving others?

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Encounter God

Primary Scripture: Primary Scripture 1 Peter 4:7-11

Discussion Questions:
1. According to theses verses, what should encourage a Christ-follower to persevere in living a life pleasing to God? Describe how does this looks in a practical sense.

2. Discuss ways believers can be of “sound mind and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer”.

3. Peter describes Christian love as fervent, forgiving, and practical. In what ways can you show your love to other believers this week? Whom is God calling you to serve in love?

4. Each Christ-follower is given at least one spiritual gift, and we are called to use that gift to the glory of God and to the building up of the church. How are you using what God has given you? If you are not serving, will you ask God to remove any fear or hesitation so that you can fulfill His calling in your life?

5. What one activity may God be laying on your heart to omit from your week so that you can prayerfully spend time with Him, seeking His direction in how you can serve others for His glory and the building up of the church?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read 1 Peter 4:7-11 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the Believer’s relationship to Jesus.

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Embrace Others

Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into dyads or triads for this section.

This week, our focus was on serving. In your dyads or triads, discuss and encourage one another about how God has given you gifts to serve and build up the church for His glory.

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Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: Pray as a group to explore ways you can volunteer your time and gifts to serve our church family.

Engaging in Community: Our community has several opportunities to serve and share the healing message of forgiveness found only in the Gospel of God. Discuss how you as a group can identify a need in the community and move into faithful and fruitful service. Visit https://faithpromise.org/love-local to review several opportunities to serve together.

Engaging the World: Consider as a group supporting the Scotts, who will be launching East Mountain in Scotland, a ministry which exists to help local churches train, develop, and empower leaders. You learn more about what they will be doing and/or connect with them at http://scottsinscotland.com. You can also email them at scottsinscotland@gmail.com. The Scott’s need $800 of monthly support to sustain their ongoing ministry.

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Expand God’s Kingdom

Mother Teresa said, “Prayer in action is love, and love in action is service. Try to give unconditionally whatever a person needs in the moment. The point is to do something, however small, and show you care through your actions by giving your time … We are all God’s children so it is important to share His gifts. Do not worry about why problems exist in the world – just respond to people’s needs … We feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but that ocean would be less without that drop.“

Mother Teresa was a woman of action for God’s purposes and glory. She saw needs all around her in the streets of Calcutta and served tirelessly. Although no one can see God, we are to serve Him in others, and Jesus encourages these actions in His words from Matthew 25:40: “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” How will you lift up others as you serve them this week?

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Leader’s Notes

1. We should live expectantly knowing Jesus is coming back!  We are here in this broken world, and it is a time for preparation. Like Jesus, we are to be about our Father’s business (Luke 2:49). We were designed to live with Him forever and to live life with an eternal perspective. We are not to satisfy our longing for eternity with the things of this world- our possessions, experiences, positions, or people. We live out our calling by serving others and lifting them up in real love by sharing the grace and forgiveness found only in Jesus Christ.
2. Answers may vary. May include a sound approach to the end-times (not an unbiblical emphasis or misinterpretation of prophecy), a purposeful life/ not impulsive, and having good judgment when it comes to Christian doctrine and practical matters in life. Staying in the Word, surrounding yourself with other believers, praying and allowing the Spirit’s guidance will guard our hearts and minds. Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” If our thinking and praying are right, our living should be right!
3. We are called to eagerly love other believers, forgive easily, offer hospitality, be generous and use our spiritual gifts in ministry to one another.
4. Answers may vary. If a member is concerned that they do not know what their gift is or if they even have one, reassure them and point them to helpful resources for discerning God’s gifts. (e.g. https://spiritualgiftstest.com).
5 Encourage members to be sensitive to the Spirit’s conviction of hearts- to identify an area of busy-ness and remove it knowing space, time and energy could be freed up and devoted to Kingdom business! B-U-S-Y= being under Satan’s yoke!

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.