REMINDER: Group leaders, challenge your group members to bring someone with them to Easter. Lead the way and set the bar by making sure you bring someone with you as you come. This holiday is one of the top Sunday's that people attend church. That means your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers and trying to figure out this week where they are going to attend! The least we can do is give them the invitation, and pray that God does something incredible!
Summary: Paul gives a good illustration of some of the characteristics that should be prevalent in the Church today. The Church is a family, meets needs, and matches word with deed. We do these things in order to help others see how Jesus has changed our lives.
Text: 1 Timothy 5 and Titus 2:7-10
READ vs 1-2
1. Paul says that the Church (the people of Christ) are to treat each other like family. What are the positive characteristics that come to mind when you think of "family"? How can those positive attributes be played out in your life as part of the Church?
2. Paul specifically mentions the importance of treating people close in age to you as brothers and sisters. What are the things that good brothers and sisters do for each other that we need to be doing for one another in the church?
READ vs 3-4
3. What are some of the greatest needs in the church and outside of the church? What is your group doing to reach those people and meet those needs?
4. How does God respond when we care, show compassion, meet needs, and look out for others? "Pleasing God" is a great goal that we should have and strive towards.
READ vs 7-8
5. What is one of the main words used to "blame" Christians in the world today? (hypocrite). Why? (actions don't always line up with their beliefs). What are some of the most obvious ways that you've seen the Church earn this bad reputation?
6. What are the specific areas that you/your group need to improve on when it comes to putting action to your beliefs? What areas do you feel you are doing well in?
READ vs 24-25 and Titus 2:7-10
7. Why is it good that people see the Church serving, giving, sacrificing, and loving? What does it accomplish? What does it illustrate? Why do we do it?
Friday, March 27, 2015
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Adult Content: Gifts are Better
Summary: Paul gives us the recipe to take our lives to a whole 'notha level! However, there are 3 things that we must do in order to realize the mission and purpose of our lives and effectively utilize the gifts that God has given us: Get Prepared, Eliminate Excuses, and Take Action.
Text: 1 Timothy 4:6-16
1. What kind of training and disciplines do you have in your life? Diet, exercise, routines, schedules, hobbies. What about spiritually? How are you training and preparing in your life now to reach the next level in your spiritual life?
2. Do a quick self-evaluation. What kind of man or woman would you LIKE to be spiritually? What would your goals be? Reading the Bible, time in prayer, closeness to God, growing in knowledge, etc. So what's keeping you from being the man or woman of God that you would like to be? What kind of disciplines do you need to start? What do your first small steps need to be?
3. Scripture says that every follower of Jesus is given a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit. Do you know what your spiritual gift is? There are some great free online tests that you can take to find out what your gifts are (www.SpiritualGiftsTest.com).
What are some of the excuses that we give for not using our gifts? (tired, want the personal time, lazy, don't know the gift, think it's a lame gift). How can we move past those?
4. What do you need to "try" this week in order to take an action step? What areas should you "immerse yourself" and dive right in? What areas do you think you would really thrive in and bring a lot to the table? (Group leaders can help their members get plugged in and connected to the right people and help you move forward!)
5. Closing challenge from vs 16: Does your life line up with your beliefs? If you know you have a purpose and a mission, if you know you were created for God's fame and glory, if you know you were given gifts to help others follow Jesus, then does your life reflect those realizations?
Text: 1 Timothy 4:6-16
1. What kind of training and disciplines do you have in your life? Diet, exercise, routines, schedules, hobbies. What about spiritually? How are you training and preparing in your life now to reach the next level in your spiritual life?
2. Do a quick self-evaluation. What kind of man or woman would you LIKE to be spiritually? What would your goals be? Reading the Bible, time in prayer, closeness to God, growing in knowledge, etc. So what's keeping you from being the man or woman of God that you would like to be? What kind of disciplines do you need to start? What do your first small steps need to be?
3. Scripture says that every follower of Jesus is given a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit. Do you know what your spiritual gift is? There are some great free online tests that you can take to find out what your gifts are (www.SpiritualGiftsTest.com).
What are some of the excuses that we give for not using our gifts? (tired, want the personal time, lazy, don't know the gift, think it's a lame gift). How can we move past those?
4. What do you need to "try" this week in order to take an action step? What areas should you "immerse yourself" and dive right in? What areas do you think you would really thrive in and bring a lot to the table? (Group leaders can help their members get plugged in and connected to the right people and help you move forward!)
5. Closing challenge from vs 16: Does your life line up with your beliefs? If you know you have a purpose and a mission, if you know you were created for God's fame and glory, if you know you were given gifts to help others follow Jesus, then does your life reflect those realizations?
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Adult Content: Leading Is Better
ANNOUNCEMENT: Talk to your group about baptism. We are having our next baptism service at the north campus on March 22. This is a great time as a leader for you to step up and help others see the importance of baptism and help them take their next step!
Summary: Paul lays out for Timothy what God is looking for in church leadership. The characteristics of godly leadership are sometimes in stark contrast with what culture views. Three areas in particular are highlighted: Personal, Family, and Public.
Text: 1 Timothy 3:1-13
1. How does culture define leadership? What are some of the most popular leadership traits in your line of work? How does those compare to some of the ones that Paul articulates?
2. Personal: God Focuses On Character
Reread the list of character traits in 1 Timothy 3:1-3, 6 and 8.
a.What are the traits you are doing well with? What are the harder traits?
b. How can your rGroup work harder at being hospitable for the sake of the Gospel and lead in that way?
c. Read Matthew 6:24. Why do we struggle with money so much? Why does money tend to be the thing that Jesus chose to address so often? How can money get in the way of strong godly leadership?
3. Family: Leadership Starts At Home
Read 1 Timothy 3:4-5, 11-12
a. Paul said that there is no way he would trust someone with other leadership positions if they weren't leading well in their home. What connection do they have? Why would God be interested in how you lead at home?
b. What are some of the "ministries" that God has entrusted you with in your home? Wife, husband, parents, kids, roommates, neighbors, friends, etc.
4. Outside: Leaders Always Live It Out
Read 1 Timothy 3:7, 9-10.
a. What is the connection with how outsiders see you and how they view Jesus? How they view the Church? How they view Christianity as a whole? Why can't you just live your life the way you want to and let the Bible speak for itself?
b. Read James 1:22. What are areas where your beliefs are high and well informed, but your life and actions are lagging behind? How do you need to step up and be a doer and lead?
Summary: Paul lays out for Timothy what God is looking for in church leadership. The characteristics of godly leadership are sometimes in stark contrast with what culture views. Three areas in particular are highlighted: Personal, Family, and Public.
Text: 1 Timothy 3:1-13
1. How does culture define leadership? What are some of the most popular leadership traits in your line of work? How does those compare to some of the ones that Paul articulates?
2. Personal: God Focuses On Character
Reread the list of character traits in 1 Timothy 3:1-3, 6 and 8.
a.What are the traits you are doing well with? What are the harder traits?
b. How can your rGroup work harder at being hospitable for the sake of the Gospel and lead in that way?
c. Read Matthew 6:24. Why do we struggle with money so much? Why does money tend to be the thing that Jesus chose to address so often? How can money get in the way of strong godly leadership?
3. Family: Leadership Starts At Home
Read 1 Timothy 3:4-5, 11-12
a. Paul said that there is no way he would trust someone with other leadership positions if they weren't leading well in their home. What connection do they have? Why would God be interested in how you lead at home?
b. What are some of the "ministries" that God has entrusted you with in your home? Wife, husband, parents, kids, roommates, neighbors, friends, etc.
4. Outside: Leaders Always Live It Out
Read 1 Timothy 3:7, 9-10.
a. What is the connection with how outsiders see you and how they view Jesus? How they view the Church? How they view Christianity as a whole? Why can't you just live your life the way you want to and let the Bible speak for itself?
b. Read James 1:22. What are areas where your beliefs are high and well informed, but your life and actions are lagging behind? How do you need to step up and be a doer and lead?
Monday, March 2, 2015
Adult Content: His Identity is Better
Summary: Paul addresses how culture views women and various roles and expectations that are placed on them. As the Church, Paul stresses that our identity is not in gender roles or wordly rules and expectations. We then learn what our true identity is in and how we can identify ourselves the way God sees us.
Text: 1 Timothy 2:9-12, 1 Peter 2:9-10.
1. In 1 Tim 2:9-10, Paul lists some expectations that culture has of women that defines their self-worth, role, and identity. What are some spoken and unspoken expectations that our culture has of men and women? What are ways that culture is trying to define and set the identity and worth of people today?
2. In 1 Tim. 2:11-12, Paul mentions that any outside "voices" that may creep into the church may push people away from God instead of twoards Him. The elders of the church have been charged to lead, guide, protect, instruct, and shepherd the church well. What outside voices are trying to have to impact on people today? What outside voices are trying to sway Christians? How can we combat anything that would be contrary to sound biblical doctrine?
3. In 1 Peter 2, Peter gives us a great list of things that make up our true identity in Jesus.
a. Accepted ("Chosen people"). How does it feel to know that God chose YOU?!
b. Valuable ("holy and "belonging to God") How does it shape our self-worth and identity knowing that we belong to God and are valuable to Him?
c. Loved ("People of God") Why does it matter that God's love for you is unconditional, first, no strings attached, and without merit?
d. Forgiven ("you have been shown mercy") How can our identity and future be changed with the realization that you aren't defined by your past or your mistakes?
-Unpack how each of those are important in our lives today. Which one means the most to you?
-What are the opposite of these things, and why would that identity be enslaving for people? Have you ever struggled with some of these as you strive to acheive acceptance and obtain an identity in your life?
Text: 1 Timothy 2:9-12, 1 Peter 2:9-10.
1. In 1 Tim 2:9-10, Paul lists some expectations that culture has of women that defines their self-worth, role, and identity. What are some spoken and unspoken expectations that our culture has of men and women? What are ways that culture is trying to define and set the identity and worth of people today?
2. In 1 Tim. 2:11-12, Paul mentions that any outside "voices" that may creep into the church may push people away from God instead of twoards Him. The elders of the church have been charged to lead, guide, protect, instruct, and shepherd the church well. What outside voices are trying to have to impact on people today? What outside voices are trying to sway Christians? How can we combat anything that would be contrary to sound biblical doctrine?
3. In 1 Peter 2, Peter gives us a great list of things that make up our true identity in Jesus.
a. Accepted ("Chosen people"). How does it feel to know that God chose YOU?!
b. Valuable ("holy and "belonging to God") How does it shape our self-worth and identity knowing that we belong to God and are valuable to Him?
c. Loved ("People of God") Why does it matter that God's love for you is unconditional, first, no strings attached, and without merit?
d. Forgiven ("you have been shown mercy") How can our identity and future be changed with the realization that you aren't defined by your past or your mistakes?
-Unpack how each of those are important in our lives today. Which one means the most to you?
-What are the opposite of these things, and why would that identity be enslaving for people? Have you ever struggled with some of these as you strive to acheive acceptance and obtain an identity in your life?
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