Month: September 2013

Colossians 1:15-20 // Snow Snakes: Outsiders Wk 1

Introduction // 5 minutes

What’s Changed?

Select a few people to be observers and others to be the changers.  The observers are given 30 seconds to survey the room after which they are instructed to close their eyes for another 30 seconds. During that time the “changers” change things around the room.  Challenge the “observers” to identify all the changes.

Leader Note: The purpose of this game is to set up the idea that it is very easy to forget or loose sight of our surroundings.  We often need time to refocus and remind ourselves of the things and people around us.

 

Observation // 10 minutes

Read Colossians 1:15-20

What does this passage say about Jesus?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • He is the image of God. We see and know God through Jesus (v15)
  • He is supreme over all creation (v15)
  • All things were created through him and for him (v16)
  • He comes before all things and holds all things together (17)
  • He is the head of the church (v18)
  • He is the firstborn, the heir over creation (v18)
  • The fullness of God is representing in him (v19)
  • He reconciles all things to himself (v20)
  • His sacrifice brings peace to everything (v20)

Commentary: The most impactful truth to keep in the forefront from this passage is that in seeing Jesus we see and know God.  Jesus is the fullness of God on display.  He fully embodies and represents the character and nature of God.  Any discussion on what God is like must be rooted in who Jesus is.

 

Understanding // 15 minutes

Where have you, or someone you know, been told and believed a “made up” story?

Here are a few childhood examples to use if you need help with this question

  • “My mom told me there was a little man who lived in the fridge that would turn the light on for you.  I believed her and I was terrified of that little man!”
  • “My parents told me about Santa and how he’ll eat me for Christmas if I wasn’t a good kid.”
  • “When the ice cream truck plays music, it means they’re out of ice cream.”

What was the effect or outcome of believing that story?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • Embarrassment and being tricked into believing a lie
  • Broken trust
  • Loneliness, everyone else knew the truth
  • Stupid, other people knew what I didn’t
  • Betrayed and vulnerable, causes us to ask, “What else am I stupid about?”
  • Anger at the one who told me the lie

Leader Note: While the majority of stories your group will share are lighthearted there can be negative effects on the person who becomes the “butt of the joke.”  Those stories have a way of robbing our trust and can cause us to question reality and our own intelligence.

 

Application // 25 minutes

Where has your image of God become distorted?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • God is an overbearing and controlling father
  • God is a policeman, waiting for you to break the law
  • Powerless but loving grandfather
  • A genie in a bottle
  • Angry raging father
  • A distant uninvolved creator

What things led to that distorted view?

Commentary: The enemy works in all these things to cause us to challenge the fundamental question of God’s goodness. Past and present hurts, negative church experiences, a world in crisis and destruction.  All of these things lead us to question God’s goodness. 

As in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), Satan comes after our view of God and tempts us to believe that we know best and that God is holding back from us in some way making him less than good.

Leader Note: For many of us our distorted views on God are birthed out of tragedy and loss. Shepherd your group through this portion of question with care and sensitivity.  Lead with listening and avoid the temptation to offer correction or answers during this time.

What could it look like for you to reclaim a right view of God?

Commentary: Colossians tells us that in seeing Jesus we come to see and know God.  Jesus is the full representation of God on display.  Jesus must be our starting point and ultimate authority and understanding God.  Starting at any other place, whether it be our experiences or some philosophical concept of divinity will never lead us to an accurate depiction of God.  We start with Jesus and we are lead to see exactly what God is like.

What’s one image of God you need to hold on to today from the passage?

 

Live It Out // 10 minutes

How might an accurate picture of God through Jesus change your relationships?

Prayer: Lord we are grateful that you have made yourself fully known through Jesus.  We thank you for choosing to reveal yourself and inviting us into relationship.  Help us to maintain a right view of you as we look to your Son, Jesus.  We pray that our lives would be forever impacted through what we see in Jesus and that the impact of that view would be expressed in every area of our life.  Help us to be a people who live with certainty and boldness and point to your glory and kingdom with all that we are. Amen

Matthew 25:14-26 // Together: Welcome Home Wk 3

Introduction // 10 minutes

You’ve been given a free ticket to 3 destinations anywhere in the world. Where do you go and why?

 

Observation // 20 minutes

Read Matthew 25:14-26

What do you learn about the servants who invested what they had been given?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • They saw the master as generous and trusting
  • They believed that they would have to answer for what was given
  • They lived out of thankfulness
  • They understood that what was given didn’t belong to them
  • The master counted them as faithful and rewarded them with more responsibilities
  • They were invited to celebrate with the master

What do you learn about the servant who buried what he had been given?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • He saw the master as harsh and unfair
  • He was motivated by fear and selfishness
  • He wanted to protect himself
  • He had a lack of trust in the master
  • The master calls him called lazy
  • He loses everything and is left in isolation and darkness

According to this passage, what is the one way to miss out on what God has given you?

Commentary: There are only two types of people in the passage… those that try and those who do not.  The only way to fail and miss out on what God has for you is to not try. There is no failing in trying.

 

Understanding // 15 minutes

Where have you seen a person not live up to their full potential?

Leader Note: This question can be a tricky one to answer as measuring ability and potential can be a both subjective and sensitive discussion.  It may be helpful to think in terms of athletic ability or some other kind of skill, like musical ability, that is often associated as a “God given” talent.  Also, ensure that this question is answered by looking out in our world and not within the group.

What contributed to that person’s inability to maximize their gifts?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • Lack of risk taking
  • Lack of discipline to develop/work hard at that skill
  • Inability to dream big
  • To hard on themselves, couldn’t live up to their own expectations
  • Fear of failure, fear of success

 

Application // 20 minutes

What treasures have you been given?

How are you using what God has given you?

Where are you “burying” what has been entrusted to you?

Leader Note: Many of us tend to hide the shame or brokenness in our life as something that God heals, but cannot use.  The reality is that people learn just as much if not more from our stories of failure and brokenness than from our stories of triumph.  Lead your group to see that every aspect of their story is significant and has the ability to impact others for His Kingdom.

Others of us may hold on to what we have been given because we have a false view on stewardship versus ownership.  We have been called to steward what we have for God’s glory not our own.  All we have and are belong to Him.  We are entrusted with what we have, good and bad, not for our sake but for the sake of others.

When we burry our treasures (for whatever reason we do so) we burry the value of our lives.  God is not concerned with how much we have and what we keep but with what we do with what we have been given.  The value of a life is always measured by how much is given away.

What causes you to hold back on using all that you have given?

 

Live It Out // 10 minutes

How might God be calling you to use all of who you are to impact those around you?

Prayer: We thank you Lord that you are generous, kind and entrust us with so much.  Help us we pray to understand more fully what it means to steward all we have for the purpose of your Kingdom. Free us from fear where it is present.  By the power of your Spirit build trust and risk in us where it is lacking.  Further develop our passion to share your gospel through the whole of lives as a response of worship for all that you are and all that you have done.  We pray these things to you our Father, through the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Luke 18:1-8 // Serious: Welcome Home Wk 2

Introduction // 5 minutes

What habits does your significant other have that drive you crazy?

Leader Note: Use roommates, co-worker, family member or friends those not currently in a relationship.

 

Observation // 10 minutes

Read Luke 18:1-8

What do you learn about the Judge?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • He doesn’t know God (v2)
  • He is compassionless  (v2)
  • He is motivated to action by his own selfish desires (v4)

What do you learn about the widow?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • She’s in a desperate situation where someone is opposing her (v3)
  • She has nowhere else to turn for help (v3)
  • He has power (v3)
  • People come to him for help (v3)
  • She is extremely persistent (v3)

Commentary:  Widows are identified throughout scripture as hopeless, vulnerable, and poor.  They stand in isolation without rights, with no advocate or anyone to provide for them. (Exodus 22:2-24, Isaiah 1:17, 1 Timothy 5:3, James 1:27)

 

Understanding // 20 minutes

What is the difference between this judge and our God?

Leader Note: The judge has no honor; he is unrighteous and lacks compassion.  He appears to be annoyed with her request, has no time for her.  He finally acts but only to appease himself.  While he has power to “fix” certain things he does so in a disengaged and self-seeking manner.  God on the other hand is involved with us.  He is compassionate, righteous, kind and full of love.  God is more than a “problem fixer.”  He is someone that we can trust in.  He is quick to act, gracious and just.

Why is it important to understand the difference?

Leader Note: If we view God as a (this) judge we may conclude that He doesn’t have time for us and that He only answers our request when He has something to gain by it.  We may also come to believe that God can be persuaded by our hopeless begging versus our prayers that our full of faith.  This judge is distant and is viewed as someone that we get something out of while our God is near and is someone we come to know.  God is not a means to an end for us.  He is our creator and sustainer and He desires to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:7-11).

What do we have in common with the widow? What’s different?

Leader Note: We are both helpless and incapable of rescuing ourselves.  We need the saving power of someone to intervene and make us whole.  Lead your group to see that the most crucial difference is in whom we cry out to for help!  We do not have a bad judge and we are not alone.  We have a loving Father who is not annoyed by our cries but draws near to us with His loving kindness.  God, although moved by our faith and persistence, does not ask us to beg or make deals.  He asks us to prayer to Him, to let go of worry and trust in His peace, which will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6-8).

 

Application // 25 minutes

What in your life are you currently concerned about?

Where are you turning to with that concern?

How might you be more persistent or serious in seeking God’s help?

Leader Note: Lead your group to see that God has called us all to a persistent, faith filled relationship of prayer (Luke 11:8-13).

What happens when we pray?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • Shifts our perspective
  • Teaches us more abut surrender
  • Aligns our hearts with God’s heart
  • Gain more insight into what I am praying about
  • Teaches us to hear God’s voice
  • Gives us hope
  • Builds relationship
  • Calls to remembrance the ways we’ve seen God work
  • Prayer gives peace
  • Keeps us from temptation
  • Extends God’s power to us
  • Right sizes God and right sizes our problems

 

Live It Out // 10 minutes

How might your increased relationship with God in prayer affect those around you?

Prayer: Father we thank you that we are no longer widows or orphans but have become your sons and daughters.   We thank you that you are not far off but are near and intimately involved in each of our lives.  Help us by your spirit to prayer to you wither greater faith, power and consistency.  Teach us to be concerned about the things hat you are concerned about and help us to grow in our dependence on you when we face the difficulties of this life.  Be with us, guide us and have your way in us we pray… Amen. 

2 Timothy 2:1-8,13-14 // Get In The Game: Welcome Home Wk 1

Introduction // 5 minutes

What most excites you about fall?

Leader Note: This question is designed to get everyone talking and engaged early in the discussion.  Make sure that you leave time for everyone to play here as it will be that much easier to keep them involved in the rest of the discussion.

 

Observation // 15 minutes

Read 2 Timothy 2:1-8,13-14

Commentary: Written by Paul while in prison during the final years of his life and ministry, this letter or his “final words” serves as an encouragement to young Timothy to stand firm in the faith and walk into God’s calling with confidence, courage and boldness.

What are the things Paul encourages Timothy to walk in?

  • His genuine faith (v5)
  • His heritage of faith (v5)
  • Remember his calling and gifts (v6)
  • Live out his calling with boldness (v8)
  • Hold on to the teachings of the faith (v13)
  • Live through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (v14)
  • To guard truth (v14)

What warnings does he give?

  • To actively steward and grow in his gifts (v6)
  • To combat fear with power, love and self-discipline (v7)
  • To be prepared for suffering (v8)

 

Understanding // 15 minutes

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a mentor relationship? Describe that relationship.

Commentary: Be it a coach, teacher or parent many of us have had people in our lives that have helped shape us.  A great mentor speaks encouragement with love and offers wisdom that comes from experience.

 

Application // 25 minutes

Commentary:  Paul’s overarching statement to Timothy is this… Do Not Be Afraid! Don’t be afraid because you have been called.  You are equipped and empowered to live out your God designed purpose.  Don’t be afraid because God will strengthen you, even in the face of suffering.  Paul reminds Timothy that with God’s spirit he already has all that he needs.  He calls him to remember. Remember what God has done.  Remember who He is and who He has called you to be.

Does fear hold you back in living out you purpose? If so, how?

Leader Note: Fear works it way into our lives in many ways.  For some of us it is masked in our need to control, or in our resistance to forgive others.  Fear could look like holding on to the pass and avoiding jumping into new things.  If given way, fear has the potential to rob us from community and stifle our effectiveness for God’s kingdom.

What things do you need to be reminded of in living out your purpose?

Leader Note: Like Timothy we often need to be reminded first that God has a calling or a purpose for our lives.  We may also need to be reminded that we are to live out that calling in the power of God’s spirit and not our own.  We experience more of that power as we root ourselves in discipline to a greater connection with God’s spirit.

Where is God calling you to live with greater boldness?

How might you experience suffering as result of living more boldly?

Leader Note: With greater boldness comes increased power and freedom.  It also has the potential to bring moments of suffering.  Timothy could look at Paul and see this.  He could also see that through suffering Paul came to know Christ in a richer way.

Suffering may look very different for each of us.  Very often it is connected with our fear.  God calls us to meet that fear head on with His power.  That process may bring suffering but ultimately reveals more of God’s kingdom to us and through us.

 

Live It Out // 10 minutes

How can your group collectively embrace this “bold” living?

Prayer: Pray that your group will be reminded of the ways that God has already worked in their lives.  Pray that they will be able to recall how He has, and continues to equip them for what he Has called them in to.  Ask God’s spirit to fill them with a fresh power and love to combat whatever fears they may be facing; and prayer for greater discipline to stay connected in their walk with God’s spirit.