Tag: groups ministry

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):

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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: 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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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: 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Continue reading “Who am I when I feel insecure? – Discussion Guide”

Getting Started

Main Idea:
Faith Promise Value: We grow together.  Because when we grow together, we invite God into our midst

Discussion Starter:

What are some things that a group working together can accomplish that one person working alone cannot?

Introduction:
As we see in Genesis 2, from the beginning God did not design us to live or do life alone.  This does not only apply to the complementary design of men and women, but in God’s broader design for His Kingdom.  The Genesis story lays the foundation for how God architects human flourishing, Kingdom expansion, and expression of His glory.

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Encounter God

Primary Scripture: 2 Samuel 11

Discussion Questions:
1. David’s struggle began when he “sent” when he usually “went.” Discuss a time when (either because of fear, laziness, pride, or something else) you let someone else do what you should have done.

2. This world, the enemy, and our selfishness all work to separate and isolate us. What is one thing in your life that you can remove or reduce to become less isolated?

3. What is one area where you need your group to help you grow? Commit to each other to grow intentionally and humbly.

4. Read Hebrews 10:24-25  How can you work together to love others and perform good deeds?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 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.

Read Proverbs 27:17 How can you sharpen someone in your group? How can you be sharpened by someone else?

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Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: Find an area at Faith Promise where others can stretch you to grow in your faith.

Engaging in Community: Find an area in your community where your group can do more together than one individual could.

Engaging the World: Read Zechariah 7:8-10  How can your group live out this Scripture?

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Expand God’s Kingdom

The Faith Promise value that we are looking at this week is essential to expanding God’s Kingdom.  Matt Chandler points out that human development and growth is not an individual pursuit.  He says,  “[…] God’s picture of human flourishing in the Scripture flies in the face of radical individualism.”  He goes on to say, “God’s picture of human flourishing starts when your preference and my preference become secondary to God’s will and how God has revealed himself in his Word.”  How are you pouring into someone to see and achieve God’s will?

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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.