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Shadow of a Doubt Week 4 – Discussion Guide

Getting Started

Main Idea: When we give like God gives, we become united in purpose, experience gladness, sincerity of heart, and find true community.

Discussion Starter: What is the most special gift you have ever been given?

Introduction: In the last week of Shadow of a Doubt, we discuss generosity.  As followers of Jesus, we are called to give generously because of God’s generosity.  However, many of us have doubts about giving our time, talents, and treasure.

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:37, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:41-47, Jeremiah 29:11

Discussion Questions:

  1. How has God been generous to you?
  2. What is the hardest area for you to be generous?  Time, talent, or treasure?
  3. What area do you think the enemy uses the most to keep you from being generous?
  4. How would it look to people outside the church if your group, your campus, and Faith Promise (as a whole) actually lived and acted like our brothers and sisters did in Acts 2?
  5. What is one area where you and your group can be generous this week?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Acts 2:44 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Embrace Others

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

What is one way God can use the shared interest of your small group to be generous to other believers and those outside the church?

Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: Read Acts 2:44 How can you and your group work to have “everything in common”?

Engaging in Community: Read Acts 2:45 Does God really mean for us to give to “anyone who has need”?  Find people in your community who have needs and meet them.  If you don’t know of anyone, pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you and provide an opportunity.

Engaging the World: This week’s ministry partner is The Timothy Initiative.  Visit https://www.ttionline.org/give/ where just $300 can plant a church.  Make a plan to see if your group can combine resources to give to TTI and plant a church.

Expand God’s Kingdom

Being generous with your time and talents are two of the biggest components for expanding God’s kingdom.  God has gifted you with ability and availability to raise up other believers.  If you are not currently using your time and talents for this purpose, who can you be generous with to expand God’s kingdom?

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.

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Follow the Filling Week 3 – Discussion Guide

Getting Started

Main Idea:  Following the filling calls us to move past information to desperation – an active, deep, and urgent need for the Holy Spirit.

Discussion Starter: What’s something you know a lot about, but have not actually done yourself?  Examples: you know players, stats, and plays in football but have never played at a high level; or you have watched hours of baking or home remodeling shows but have never really done those things.

Introduction: Information alone does not produce transformation.  Simply knowing about Jesus is not the same as being transformed by Him.  The Pharisees of Jesus’ day had the first 5 books of the Bible memorized, but it did nothing to bring them closer to a relationship with the Messiah.  Only someone who has a desperation for God is able to take what they know about Him and act on it.

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: Luke 4:18-19, Luke 4:20-22, 2 Timothy 3:5, Matthew 11:2-5

Discussion Questions:

  1. Read 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. How is God currently transforming you through His Spirit?  Remember, this is not a competition and there should be no shame in your progress.
  2. Describe a time when you know the Holy Spirit led you to do something, but you did not do it?  How can you react differently next time?
  3. Read Psalm 63:1. Have you ever felt desperate for God?  How did He respond?
  4. How can you partner with the Holy Spirit to elevate God in your life?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read James 4:17 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Embrace Others

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

Getting to know you: What are you most desperate for God to do in your life?

Getting to know them: Romans 8:11 talks about the Spirit that we share.  How can knowing the Spirit is the same within each believer move you to work with others to love God and people?

Getting to know Him: Think about and discuss how desperation allows you to elevate God while making less of yourself.

Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: How can you partner with Faith Promise to move from simply knowing about the work at FP to getting involved?

Engaging in Community: What does a life of desperation look like for those seeking God’s help love people?

Engaging the World: Pastor Zac said “desperate times call for desperate people.”  Where is God calling you that is desperate?

Expand God’s Kingdom

Is there someone you can think of that is struggling with moving from information to transformation?  How can you walk alongside them to realize their desperation for God?

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.

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Heart for the Harvest Week 4 – Discussion Guide

Getting Started

Main Idea: How long do we pray for a miracle?  This week, we see in God’s Word where Jesus encourages us to be persistent in asking God for miracles.

Discussion Starter: When you were a kid, did you ask your parents for something over and over?  Did you ever get it?

Introduction: A consistent theme throughout God’s Word is the long suffering and persistent pleading from God’s people (Exodus, Psalms, Job, Habakkuk, and many more) for God to meet them and do something only He can do.  In every case God shows His people that he IS just, kind, merciful, loving, and generous.

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

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: Luke 18:1-8

Discussion Questions:

1. Consistent and persistent prayer can be hard, especially when we have been praying for something over months, days, and years.  What are the biggest obstacles for you to be consistent and persistent in prayer?

2. How can you lean on each other in your group to encourage one another in your prayer life?

3. Read James 5:16 Confession is aligning who we are with who God has designed and called us to be.  How can your confession be more than just a laundry list of what you did wrong?

4. What is something in your life that you need to “wear God out” with?

5. Read Isaiah 40:31 In our culture, we are not used to having to wait on much of anything.  However, this “waiting” is not passive.  Consider a farmer who waits for God to bring a good harvest.  The farmer still has to plow, sow, and tend.  What would God have you DO while you wait for him to answer your prayers?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Philippians 4:6 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Embrace Others

What is a common prayer that your group can relentlessly ask God for?

How can you encourage each other along the way to keep praying for God to do what only He can do?

Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: Read Galatians 6:9-10 One way to avoid being discouraged is remaining steadfast in prayer.  How can you pray for the work you and others do at Faith Promise?

Engaging in Community and the World: The prophet Habakkuk is a great example of someone interceding for his community and the world.  Read the book of Habakkuk (don’t worry it’s only three chapters) and consider how you can cry out to God on behalf of your community and this world.  Discuss how God has met your hopes in the past and what you hope from Him in the future.

Expand God’s Kingdom

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 Expanding God’s Kingdom is hard.  Who are you working with to expand God’s Kingdom?  And how are you praying together?

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.

 

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Revival Week 4 – Discussion Guide

Getting Started

Main Idea: Thanks to God’s will and initiation, revival is available to everyone.

Discussion Starter: Discuss a time when you learned from a mistake.

Introduction: This week Pastor Zac showed us the progression of revival and how revival is available to everyone through God’s will.

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

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: John 3:16, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Proverbs 14:22, Hebrews 12:4-11, Luke 15:20-23, Romans 6:23, Psalm 51:12

Discussion Questions:

1. Pastor Zac quoted Henry Blackaby, who said, “Revival is a divinely initiated work in which God’s people pray, repent of their sin, and return to a holy, Spirit-filled, obedient love relationship with God.”  Restate this definition in your own words.

2.  Why is it important that God is the One who initiates revival?

3. There is a difference between discipline and punishment.  Discipline is used to train, whereas punishment is a penalty for an offense.  Read Hebrews 12:4-11.  How has God disciplined you in the past or currently?  Did you respond with appreciation?

4.  In Progression 4, Pastor Zac points out that we cry out to God.  Read Psalm 61:1-4.  Why is being humble an essential element of crying out to God?  Can you genuinely cry out to God while being prideful?

5. What is your biggest obstacle to moving from a “what if” revival is available mindset and life, to an “as if” one?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Proverbs 14:22 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Embrace Others

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

Getting to know you:  How can those in your group help you identify where you are on the revival progression?

Getting to know them: How can your group help each other take their next step in the revival progression?

Getting to know Him:  Read Philippians 1:6.  Take some time and reflect on how God started His work in you.

Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise:  Since it is Pastor Appreciation Month, reach out and encourage a pastor at your campus this week.

Engaging in Community:  Undoubtedly, God wants to bring revival to all of our communities.  Where is your place in being a part of revival in your community?

Engaging the World: God’s Kingdom is expanding all over the world.  How are you partnering with Christians around the world to see global revival?

Expand God’s Kingdom

This week, read James 5:7-11 with someone you are helping disciple and discuss how each of you can grow in your walk with Christ.

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.

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Revival Week 2 – Discussion Guide

Getting Started

Main Idea: Putting revival and eternity back in the forefront of our hearts and minds

Discussion Starter: Have you or anyone you know ever gone to a white tent revival?  What do you think of when someone starts speaking about revival?

Introduction: This Sunday Pastor Chris discusses attitudes or mindsets that the church needs to embody in order to set us up for revival. With the directive of not grieving the Holy Spirit and carrying out the 3 “attitudes of revival,” comes a significant adjustment to some if not all our lives.

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

Encounter God

Primary Scripture: Ephesians 4:30-32, Matthew 6:14-15, Hebrews 12:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, 2 Corinthians 9:6-13, 1 john 1:9, Matthew 7:8-11

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the three attitudes of revival that can be found in these scriptures? Even if you have not seen this weekend’s sermon, what common themes should we be implementing in our lives from these verses?

2. What happens to us when we are not practicing these attitudes?

3. What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Ephesians 4:32 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Embrace Others

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

1. Getting to know you- Reflect back on the 3 “attitudes of revival.” You can discuss with your group or just think to yourselves, which of these is your strongest? Which of these attitudes should you work on this week?

2. Getting to know them- This week keep a gratitude list where you write at least 3 things you are grateful for every morning and bring it to our next week’s small group to share some of the gratitude’s and how the practice of focusing on them every morning helped to shape your week and your mindset.

3. Getting to know God- What are some accountability actions you and your small group can do this week to help each other remember to keep revival and eternity in the forefront of your mind?

Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: Pray for revival within your  group.

Engaging in Community: Pray for revival in your community. Remember that these were promises that God gave to His people, so in order to have revival we must share God’s real love and people must turn to Him.

Engaging the World: Pray that Faith Promise missionaries around the world would experience revival in their communities.

Expand God’s Kingdom

Who can you share this message with this week?

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.

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Empty Spaces Week 1 – Discussion Guide

Getting Started

Main Idea: This week we begin a new series “Empty Spaces,” where we will be encouraged and challenged to turn to God to fill the empty spaces of fear and insecurity with potential and purpose.

Discussion Starter: Would you want the power to read people’s thoughts?  Why or why not?

Introduction: 

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

If we are not deliberate in our thoughts, our mind will be filled, by default, with the world around us.  In order to harmonize our minds with God’s will and word, we have to pursue purposeful focus.

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: Romans 12:2 and Proverbs 4:20-27

Discussion Questions:
1. What thoughts do you dwell on that seem to crowd out God’s purpose for you?

2. This week, have you allowed yourself to quiet the world around you and spend time thinking about God and the people He has placed in your life?  If not, be intentional now, put it on your calendar, schedule some time this week to read God’s Word and meditate on what He wants to tell you.

3. How can you avoid letting Jesus become “just another thing” that fills your life?

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

Embrace Others

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

How can your Embrace group, which focuses on a shared interest, put that focus through the lens of exploring God?  Discuss how you can avoid allowing that shared interest to take focus away from God but rather enhance your relationship with Him.

Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: If you are not currently serving anywhere at FP, pray that God will draw your thoughts to an area to begin.  If you are currently serving, pray that God will focus your thoughts on how to best serve.

Engaging in Community:  When your thoughts focus on areas or groups in your community, how can you and your group carry the light and love of God to those places and people?

Engaging the World: As a group, be deliberate about how you will serve God’s world and how your thoughts will be deliberately focused on serving as well.

Expand God’s Kingdom

This week, spend time thinking about someone God would have you walk along side in their spiritual growth.  If you are already doing that, talk with them about something you can both be focusing your thoughts on to grow.

Leader’s Notes

1. Common thoughts will probably be things like finances, job security, kids’ activity schedules, etc.  Encourage your people focus on new roads of guidance  and new rivers of provision God will provide.

2. If you have people in your group who have managed to carve out at least one time this week to meditate on God, encourage them to make that a daily routine.  For those that have not done this at all, recommend getting their phones out and setting a reminder some time during the week.  You could also have people pair off and remind each other or follow up during the week to see if they have been able to do set time aside.

3.  In his book “Not a Fan”, Kyle Idleman says, “Fans mistake knowledge OF Jesus for intimacy WITH Jesus.”  Stress the difference between having a relationship with Jesus as opposed to simply knowing things about Jesus.

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.