The goal of this week's rGroup is to have everyone share their story of how they met Jesus, and to hear the story of other people in your group. I want you to follow the outline that is laid out by Peter in Acts 2. If someone in your group is not a follower of Jesus, obviously don't put them on the spot. Take this time to tell them 4-5 Gospel stories, and BE BOLD! Just like Peter, after they hear the stories give them an opportunity to respond to the message of Jesus! If someone does make a decision for Christ, be sure to let us know so that we can celebrate with you and help them Move Forward in their relationship with Jesus. Email Pastor Paul at paul@discoverREVO.com
As the group leader, you start the sharing time off. Give your testimony first. Then, walk through the process one question at a time with each group member and help them tell their story.
#1- Talk about what Jesus has done in your life. Peter mentions that Jesus did signs, miracles, and taught when he was on earth. He didn't have to go into too much detail because most of the people there had witnessed the life of Jesus life personally. Sharing Scripture with people is incredibly helpful, but many people that don't know Jesus today want a modern-day example or application of what it means to follow Jesus and how Jesus affects our lives today. It's important to use personal examples in your testimony to help bridge the gap between a 2,000 year old book and the saving power of Jesus today.
#2- Talk about what Jesus has done for mankind. Peter mentions that Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of man. For this particular audience, part of the sin in their lives was murdering the Son of God! Today, we understand that the sins of man are what Jesus paid for on the cross. It's the real reason why he died. But for these men, they literally killed Jesus. Peter calls them out on their sin, but also reiterates that Jesus died not only for the 12 disciples, but even for those people that literally put him on the cross. It's important to let people know that Jesus died for THEIR sins as well.
#3- Tell people why they need Jesus. A common thought in society today is to think that we are basically "good people." You'd be surprised how many people think they are going to heaven just because they are acting half-way decent here on earth. Part of the process in telling someone about Jesus is helping them realize their need for a savior. There has to be a payment for our sins, and the only one that was sufficient to be a sacrifice was Jesus. There is only one way to God/heaven, and that's through Jesus. That's why we need him so badly.
#4- Use the Bible. Peter quotes from the book of Joel and the book of Psalms in his Gospel presentation. Even if the person you are talking to doesn't believe in the Bible, it is an invaluable tool. Scripture has the ability to soften hearts and challenge the mind. Don't discount what the simple proclamation of this powerful book can accomplish as you talk to people about Jesus. It's a great idea to have a few verses memorized, that way you don't have to flip through your Bible too much, and can share your story even if you don't have a Bible with you.
#5-Give them an opportunity to respond. The person you are talking to could really be tracking with you and believe in what you say. They could be ready to make a decision to give their life to Christ! Chances are though, they aren't going to know what to do next. They don't know they need to confess their sins, repent, and make a commitment to follow Jesus. They don't know they need to get plugged into a local church and be baptized. They don't know the next steps of Moving Forward and growing in their relationship with Jesus. It's up to you to ask them. One of the easiest things to do at the end of the story is to simply ask them, "So what do you think about that? Does any of that make sense?" Their answer will give you a gauge as to where they are in the process. You may have to answer a question, clarify something, or elaborate more on one of the points. Whatever it is, be diligent to give them an opportunity to respond. You never know how the Holy Spirit is using you and working in their life.
Live Bold this week! I hope to hear some incredible stories coming out of your rGroups as a result of you helping your group get familiar with their Jesus story. Challenge them to share their story with at least one person this week. When you get back together next week, be accountable with one another and ask how God used them and their story over the past few days. I can't wait to hear about it!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Dangerous Word Night, Feb. 19th-25th
Acts 2:1-13
-Remind your crew to recite Acts 1:8 for memory this week and drive home the importance of Scripture and the Word of God.
-Verse to memorize this week: Acts 2:4a- "And they were filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 1:8 was the mission, and 2:4 is the power source.
-How would you describe the Holy Spirit to someone? 3-headed monster, Egg, 3 leaf clover, H2O, etc.
-Is it ok with you that there are things about God that you don't know? Do you have to know everything in order to worship and surrender your life to Jesus?
-Give me your top 5 most significant bible stories. Mine are (in chronological order in Scripture) 1. Creation, 2. Fall of Man, 3. Resurrection of Jesus, 4. Coming of the Holy Spirit, 5. Second Coming of Christ. In anyone's top 5, Acts 2 should be there. That goes to show that this is an important text!!
-The 12 disciples weren't known for being at the top of the social or economic ladder. That makes what they did in this passage even more significant. However, the point isn't power-filled rednecks or guys speaking in foreign languages. The point to remember is that when the Spirit came down and dwelt in the lives of the apostles, their lives radically changed. It is impossible to have a real encounter with God and not experience a life change. What are ways that your life has changed since meeting Jesus? Can you see definite changes in your life before and after Jesus?
-What was the advice of Jesus? Wait. The disciples had no idea why they had to do that. Now in chapter 2, we see the master plan. Instead of making the disciples travel to the ends of the earth, Jesus brought the earth to them. We have to realize that God's way is perfect, even when we don't recognize it. One of the things that will make us a Dangerous Church is having radical obedience. What are some instances in your life where you had radical obedience to God? How did God blow your mind through the process, even when the initial command didn't make much sense?
-True or false: What you believe determines how you act. Diet, exercise, your fears, etc. It's the same with God. So why is an understanding of the Holy Spirit so important? (imagine how knowing the power and authority of the Holy Spirit and what that means for you will do for you! Your boldness, your willingness to listen to God and follow Him, etc).
Know these basic tenants of the Holy Spirit:
1. The Holy Spirit is eternal. Seriously, if the H.S. did it back in the Bible, then He can do it now! If he can use Galilean rednecks, he can use us! John 14:16
2. The Holy Spirit draws people to God and draws believers closer to Jesus. Acts 1:8 and Ephesians 3:16-19.
3. The Holy Spirit is our sanctifier. 2 Corinthians 3:18, we are transformed into the image of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 gives characteristic of how the Holy Spirit is manifested in our lives, characteristics of sorts. Both of these help us Move Forward with our relationship with God.
REMEMBER: the same power that was unleashed and changed the world in these verses is still active in changing people's lives today.
-Remind your crew to recite Acts 1:8 for memory this week and drive home the importance of Scripture and the Word of God.
-Verse to memorize this week: Acts 2:4a- "And they were filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 1:8 was the mission, and 2:4 is the power source.
-How would you describe the Holy Spirit to someone? 3-headed monster, Egg, 3 leaf clover, H2O, etc.
-Is it ok with you that there are things about God that you don't know? Do you have to know everything in order to worship and surrender your life to Jesus?
-Give me your top 5 most significant bible stories. Mine are (in chronological order in Scripture) 1. Creation, 2. Fall of Man, 3. Resurrection of Jesus, 4. Coming of the Holy Spirit, 5. Second Coming of Christ. In anyone's top 5, Acts 2 should be there. That goes to show that this is an important text!!
-The 12 disciples weren't known for being at the top of the social or economic ladder. That makes what they did in this passage even more significant. However, the point isn't power-filled rednecks or guys speaking in foreign languages. The point to remember is that when the Spirit came down and dwelt in the lives of the apostles, their lives radically changed. It is impossible to have a real encounter with God and not experience a life change. What are ways that your life has changed since meeting Jesus? Can you see definite changes in your life before and after Jesus?
-What was the advice of Jesus? Wait. The disciples had no idea why they had to do that. Now in chapter 2, we see the master plan. Instead of making the disciples travel to the ends of the earth, Jesus brought the earth to them. We have to realize that God's way is perfect, even when we don't recognize it. One of the things that will make us a Dangerous Church is having radical obedience. What are some instances in your life where you had radical obedience to God? How did God blow your mind through the process, even when the initial command didn't make much sense?
-True or false: What you believe determines how you act. Diet, exercise, your fears, etc. It's the same with God. So why is an understanding of the Holy Spirit so important? (imagine how knowing the power and authority of the Holy Spirit and what that means for you will do for you! Your boldness, your willingness to listen to God and follow Him, etc).
Know these basic tenants of the Holy Spirit:
1. The Holy Spirit is eternal. Seriously, if the H.S. did it back in the Bible, then He can do it now! If he can use Galilean rednecks, he can use us! John 14:16
2. The Holy Spirit draws people to God and draws believers closer to Jesus. Acts 1:8 and Ephesians 3:16-19.
3. The Holy Spirit is our sanctifier. 2 Corinthians 3:18, we are transformed into the image of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 gives characteristic of how the Holy Spirit is manifested in our lives, characteristics of sorts. Both of these help us Move Forward with our relationship with God.
REMEMBER: the same power that was unleashed and changed the world in these verses is still active in changing people's lives today.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Dangerous Word Night, Feb 12-18
Dangerous Church rGroups!
The Dangerous Church rGroup guides are designed to be discussion based. It isn't lecture form. Instead of sitting in rows with all eyes on the leader in the front, rGroups are designed to be in circles, with each person interacting and sharing around the truths of God's Word. These questions each week are designed to get the conversation started.
If a person in your group did not get the opportunity to come to a REVO worship experience, the sermon podcasts are posted online by Monday at noon. The small group guides are always posted on the rGroups blog tab on the REVObackstage website on Sunday at 11:00am.
Encourage your group to listen to the podcast in order to better participate in your rGroup. However, attending REVO and listening to the sermon is NOT a necessity to attend an rGroup. The passages should be read again at the beginning of the group and the questions are formatted in a way that anyone can answer and reflect on them, even if they did not have the opportunity to hear the sermon.
Passage: Acts 1
-What are some different words to describe a person that adheres to the Christian faith? Follower of Jesus, Christian, evangelical, believer, etc. How often do you think "apostle?" It means "sent out ones." When you think of your Christian faith, do you think of yourself as a person that is "sent out?" How does your Christian life live up to that description of what a follower of Jesus looks like?
-What is the significance of telling the disciples to wait? It was so that they wouldn't start their ministry without the Holy Spirit. Where does a reliance on the Holy Spirit come into play in your life? Is the presence of God the first thing you wait on, having the mentality that without Him you aren't even going to try to do anything on your own? Or do you do everything you can and only call on God when you get stuck or frustrated or can't do it on your own anymore?
-Has God ever told you to wait? How hard was that? Did you ever rush into something and found out later it was the wrong move?
-Jesus's very last words were the to communicate to the Church what it's mission is. Let's break the locations down:
1. Jerusalem- what is your Jerusalem? Your current location, your job, your school, your direct sphere of influence. How can you be a witness to your Jerusalem?
2. Judea- what is your Judea? Acquaintances, new friends, co-workers, even complete strangers like cashiers, waiters, and retail workers where you shop. How can you be a witness to your Judea?
3. Samaria- what is your Samaria? These are people that are not like you. Not your social status, economic group, race, or class. There are people that don't have anything in common with you. These people are on the outskirts of society, like needy people, impoverished people. How can you be a witness to your Samaria?
4. To the end of the earth. Just in case there is an obscure group of people that you think, "I wonder if God includes them in his mindset of people that need him." The answer is yes. There are no areas or people that are left out.
Answer this question together: Are you called into the ministry? All believers have a general call. You may not be called to be a full-time minister serving in a vocational setting, but you are called to tell people about Jesus. Period. As a follower of Jesus, have you ever sat back and realized that Jesus has called you to be a "minister."
The Spirit of God was inside of Jesus when he was on earth. That is what gave him the power and authority to do what he did. All the miracles, healings, preaching, teaching, and incredible aspects of Jesus were attributed to the very spirit of God being inside of him. Now, that same spirit is inside of you. How does that make you feel? Empowered, confident, obligatory, unstoppable, dangerous.
The Church in the book of Acts lived by a certain pattern found so many times in the book. The pattern was 1. pray, 2. God showed up, and 3. Things start to happen. How can you make that applicable in your life today. Is that a pattern you can identify in your own life? What are examples of times you did this and it worked?
At the end of each group time, spend some time going over the memory verse for that week, and also help them define not only what it means to be a dangerous church, but also how we can apply it to our lives. I don't want this new series to simply be a study of a dangerous church. I want this series to help us BE a dangerous church.
Give some accountability to each other with your Scripture memory. Each week ask team members to recite the verse. Make it a big deal and put a priority and importance on the Word of God. Hopefully by the end of the series your group will have verses memorized out of each chapter that tell the story of the first 11 chapters of Acts and how God used this early church plant.
What does it mean to be dangerous?
-Listing to and relying on the Holy Spirit
-Praying with direct access to God
-Reading/Memorizing/Honoring the Word of God
-To be focused on the mission
Acts 1:8- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
The Dangerous Church rGroup guides are designed to be discussion based. It isn't lecture form. Instead of sitting in rows with all eyes on the leader in the front, rGroups are designed to be in circles, with each person interacting and sharing around the truths of God's Word. These questions each week are designed to get the conversation started.
If a person in your group did not get the opportunity to come to a REVO worship experience, the sermon podcasts are posted online by Monday at noon. The small group guides are always posted on the rGroups blog tab on the REVObackstage website on Sunday at 11:00am.
Encourage your group to listen to the podcast in order to better participate in your rGroup. However, attending REVO and listening to the sermon is NOT a necessity to attend an rGroup. The passages should be read again at the beginning of the group and the questions are formatted in a way that anyone can answer and reflect on them, even if they did not have the opportunity to hear the sermon.
Passage: Acts 1
-What are some different words to describe a person that adheres to the Christian faith? Follower of Jesus, Christian, evangelical, believer, etc. How often do you think "apostle?" It means "sent out ones." When you think of your Christian faith, do you think of yourself as a person that is "sent out?" How does your Christian life live up to that description of what a follower of Jesus looks like?
-What is the significance of telling the disciples to wait? It was so that they wouldn't start their ministry without the Holy Spirit. Where does a reliance on the Holy Spirit come into play in your life? Is the presence of God the first thing you wait on, having the mentality that without Him you aren't even going to try to do anything on your own? Or do you do everything you can and only call on God when you get stuck or frustrated or can't do it on your own anymore?
-Has God ever told you to wait? How hard was that? Did you ever rush into something and found out later it was the wrong move?
-Jesus's very last words were the to communicate to the Church what it's mission is. Let's break the locations down:
1. Jerusalem- what is your Jerusalem? Your current location, your job, your school, your direct sphere of influence. How can you be a witness to your Jerusalem?
2. Judea- what is your Judea? Acquaintances, new friends, co-workers, even complete strangers like cashiers, waiters, and retail workers where you shop. How can you be a witness to your Judea?
3. Samaria- what is your Samaria? These are people that are not like you. Not your social status, economic group, race, or class. There are people that don't have anything in common with you. These people are on the outskirts of society, like needy people, impoverished people. How can you be a witness to your Samaria?
4. To the end of the earth. Just in case there is an obscure group of people that you think, "I wonder if God includes them in his mindset of people that need him." The answer is yes. There are no areas or people that are left out.
Answer this question together: Are you called into the ministry? All believers have a general call. You may not be called to be a full-time minister serving in a vocational setting, but you are called to tell people about Jesus. Period. As a follower of Jesus, have you ever sat back and realized that Jesus has called you to be a "minister."
The Spirit of God was inside of Jesus when he was on earth. That is what gave him the power and authority to do what he did. All the miracles, healings, preaching, teaching, and incredible aspects of Jesus were attributed to the very spirit of God being inside of him. Now, that same spirit is inside of you. How does that make you feel? Empowered, confident, obligatory, unstoppable, dangerous.
The Church in the book of Acts lived by a certain pattern found so many times in the book. The pattern was 1. pray, 2. God showed up, and 3. Things start to happen. How can you make that applicable in your life today. Is that a pattern you can identify in your own life? What are examples of times you did this and it worked?
At the end of each group time, spend some time going over the memory verse for that week, and also help them define not only what it means to be a dangerous church, but also how we can apply it to our lives. I don't want this new series to simply be a study of a dangerous church. I want this series to help us BE a dangerous church.
Give some accountability to each other with your Scripture memory. Each week ask team members to recite the verse. Make it a big deal and put a priority and importance on the Word of God. Hopefully by the end of the series your group will have verses memorized out of each chapter that tell the story of the first 11 chapters of Acts and how God used this early church plant.
What does it mean to be dangerous?
-Listing to and relying on the Holy Spirit
-Praying with direct access to God
-Reading/Memorizing/Honoring the Word of God
-To be focused on the mission
Acts 1:8- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Word Night, February 5th-11th
This week’s sermon revealed that in order to be All-In,
fully embracing the Gospel (not side hugging), one must submit themselves to
sanctification.
At any natural point during the sermon
recap, open the floor for questions, comments, light bulb
moments, etc…
-Redefine sanctification for your group:
Sanctification-the
process initiated and carried out by the Holy Spirit by which transformation
from wicked desires and actions to Gospel oriented and God honoring desires and
actions. In essence you become like Jesus.
"Sanctification"
comes from two Latin words: "sanctus" which means holy, and
"ficare" which means make, so to sanctify means to make holy.
-Assert this truth about
sanctification:
Sanctification is not
something you accomplish. You can’t make yourself holy. This is an essence
issue. You can act differently and you can change your behavior but you have
absolutely no power to change your essence. Jesus demonstrates this is Matt. 5
-Support this assertion with these
scripture references:
Romans 15:15 , "Grace has been given to me by God to be a
minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel
of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."
1 Thessalonians 5:23, “The God of peace Himself sanctify
you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire,
without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13 "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the
Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in
the truth."
1 Peter 1:2 "who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
the sanctifying work of
the Spirit, to be
obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours
in abundance."
We are not the active
agent in our sanctification, but we can proactively submit to sanctification!
-Pose this question to your question to
your group:
What are you going to do this week to put yourself in a
position to be sanctified?
-Don’t settle for these answers (even
though they are technically correct):
Spend more time reading the Bible
Spend more time in prayer
-Get them to commit to give something up
this week in order to intentionally pursue sanctification:
Television shows
Facebook stalking
Pintrest perusing
Video games
-Spend some time in prayer admitting our
need for the Holy Spirit to change us
-Spend some time praying that the time
spent pursuing sanctification would be rich and beneficial
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