ALL IN - WEEK 4
“New”
Group Leader Guide for use January 29- February 4, 2012
Directions: This guide provides a menu of teaching and discussion materials to help in leading your group. Please select and use the materials that best suit your group.
“New”
Group Leader Guide for use January 29- February 4, 2012
Directions: This guide provides a menu of teaching and discussion materials to help in leading your group. Please select and use the materials that best suit your group.
SERMON RECAP:
In this series, we are learning that a growing relationship with God is intentional, not accidental. This means that God is always ready and available to bless us and to help us grow, but it is our responsibility to dedicate ourselves to obeying Him. It is our responsibility to go all in.
When we are truly all-in for God, then we are willing to go all-out in our pursuit of seeing the world changed for Him. As believers, we have a responsibility to learn and grow individually, as well as a commission to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Regarding Mark 12:30, that is how we love the Lord with all our souls.
Obviously this requires significant action on our parts, and three things that will propel us to take action are belief, behavior, and boldness. All throughout the book of Acts, we see how the Word of God spreads and how the early Church experiences tremendous growth when people begin to devote themselves to evangelism. Today is no different; the Good News is powerful and timeless, and it is our charge to carry it to the world. Jesus promised that He would build His Church, and He is. He’s using us to do it.
ICEBREAKER:
If you could enjoy a free meal at any restaurant in the United States, which place would you choose? What would you order?
The answers to this question will probably fall into two categories:
- Restaurants where you have personally eaten before.
- Restaurants that you have never visited, but have only heard about.
Clearly, we have all listed things that we enjoy, or at least things that we think we would enjoy. We are passionate about things that bring us joy, and we don’t think twice about sharing or receiving advice about restaurants that we believe in. Let’s face it: a restaurant with a good product gains a lot of believers really quickly, but that doesn’t seem to always be the case with spreading the word about Jesus.
Why do you think that it sometimes feels awkward to share your faith in God’s work, but it never feels awkward to share your faith in a chef’s work?
We all agree that it’s not always easy, so let’s buckle down and talk about what it takes to be obedient in this area, even though it is difficult.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Leaders’ note: Answers provide Bible verses for the group to look at together as you reinforce the Bible as the guide and source for victorious living.
Leaders’ note: Answers provide Bible verses for the group to look at together as you reinforce the Bible as the guide and source for victorious living.
Q: In all honesty, is it your responsibility or your pastor’s responsibility to tell people about Jesus?
A: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Ephesians 3:8-11; John 1:40-42
Both! Your personal relationship with someone gives you access to his life in a way that your pastor does not get. This means that you have equity with that person; not only is your personal relationship with him a great platform to share your own story, but it is also a great platform for inviting him to join you in enjoying a church and a message that you are passionate about. You fill the House with hungry people, and your pastor is charged with sharing the Gospel and showing them how to be fed.
Both! Your personal relationship with someone gives you access to his life in a way that your pastor does not get. This means that you have equity with that person; not only is your personal relationship with him a great platform to share your own story, but it is also a great platform for inviting him to join you in enjoying a church and a message that you are passionate about. You fill the House with hungry people, and your pastor is charged with sharing the Gospel and showing them how to be fed.
Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of surrounding yourself exclusively with Christians?
A: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Hebrews 10:24-25; Matthew 9:9-13
If you surround yourself with only believers, you will do a good job of protecting yourself from people, but you will do a bad job of reaching them. Again, look at the examples of Jesus and Paul: they intentionally spent time with “sinners” for the purpose of seeing them come to God. Of course, it is very important to purposely engage in community and worship with other believers, but God didn’t just extend the offer of grace to you. That offer is for everyone, and we are instructed to “go and make disciples” as ministers of the Good News. If we are not actively seeking relationships with non-believers, then we cannot expect to be effective in ministry at all. Our company should be comprised of a good mix of Christians and non-Christians.
A: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Hebrews 10:24-25; Matthew 9:9-13
If you surround yourself with only believers, you will do a good job of protecting yourself from people, but you will do a bad job of reaching them. Again, look at the examples of Jesus and Paul: they intentionally spent time with “sinners” for the purpose of seeing them come to God. Of course, it is very important to purposely engage in community and worship with other believers, but God didn’t just extend the offer of grace to you. That offer is for everyone, and we are instructed to “go and make disciples” as ministers of the Good News. If we are not actively seeking relationships with non-believers, then we cannot expect to be effective in ministry at all. Our company should be comprised of a good mix of Christians and non-Christians.
Q: Do you think that your actions or your words will go further in reaching people? Why or why not? Can anyone share a personal example?
A: Colossians 4:5-6; James 2:14-26; John 13:34-35
The Bible is very clear that the way you love people reflects the way you love God. The way you treat people, in turn, reflects how you love them. Colossians 4 (and other passages) says to be wise in seizing opportunities to act in love toward unbelievers, and words are just one of the ways to act in love. If your lips preach love and grace but your life does not extend them, then people may be inclined to draw the conclusion that your faith is not real because it hasn’t changed you. We should all be careful, because it is much more effective to tell people about obeying Jesus when they can see that we are indeed doing what He taught.
A: Colossians 4:5-6; James 2:14-26; John 13:34-35
The Bible is very clear that the way you love people reflects the way you love God. The way you treat people, in turn, reflects how you love them. Colossians 4 (and other passages) says to be wise in seizing opportunities to act in love toward unbelievers, and words are just one of the ways to act in love. If your lips preach love and grace but your life does not extend them, then people may be inclined to draw the conclusion that your faith is not real because it hasn’t changed you. We should all be careful, because it is much more effective to tell people about obeying Jesus when they can see that we are indeed doing what He taught.
Q: How does your personal walk with Jesus influence your public outreach?
A: Colossians 3:5-14; Galatians 5:16-26
As Christians we see sanctification happen in our lives over time (Sanctification is the process by which we become more like God) as He works and produces fruit in us. As we see in Colossians 3 and Galatians 5, that fruit is largely intended for use in relating to other people, but those same passages list sinful tendencies that must be addressed in our private lives before that fruit will grow. If you are not willing to address obedience in your own heart, you are not likely to see God using you progressively more to reach other people.
A: Colossians 3:5-14; Galatians 5:16-26
As Christians we see sanctification happen in our lives over time (Sanctification is the process by which we become more like God) as He works and produces fruit in us. As we see in Colossians 3 and Galatians 5, that fruit is largely intended for use in relating to other people, but those same passages list sinful tendencies that must be addressed in our private lives before that fruit will grow. If you are not willing to address obedience in your own heart, you are not likely to see God using you progressively more to reach other people.
L.E.A.D.S. Application:
The heart of NewSpring home groups is summarized by the acronym LEADS:
L – learn the Bible together
E – embrace serving together
A – assist one another
D – devote ourselves to generosity
S – send people out to start new groups
E – embrace serving together
A – assist one another
D – devote ourselves to generosity
S – send people out to start new groups
Send people out to start new groups.
Whoa! The semester just started, right?
Don’t forget that our ultimate goal is not to create little clusters of super-smart Christians. Sure, we are excited about the community and individual growth we will see from joining together in groups, and we will never forget how important that is. We just can’t lose sight of how great it is when Christians (and home groups) grow and multiply.
The past few weeks has seen a lot of emphasis placed on the book of Acts, and by now we have all gotten a handle on how the Church was so effective back then: they reached out! The early believers were outwardly focused, and we have to be as well. Remind your group to start praying about who among them should branch out and be leaders next semester. The upcoming months will be a time of awesome growth for each member in your group, and some of them would likely make very impactful group leaders themselves.
(Leaders, it’s never too early to begin identifying that potential in your group and encouraging them to embrace it!)
(Leaders, it’s never too early to begin identifying that potential in your group and encouraging them to embrace it!)
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