This guide is a tool to help you facilitate discussion with your rGroup. Use it to lead your group in discovering, owning, and applying God’s Word. This is a flexible tool, not a rigid task list. Follow the Holy Spirit’s lead as you lead your group. You don’t need to ask every question.
Understanding God’s Word: Know and Understand the Truth
READ Luke 5:1-11
- In one sentence, how would you describe the message of this Scripture?
- What does this passage tell us about who God is?
- What does this passage reveal to us about ourselves?
Living and Applying God’s Word: Give a Vision of Life With God
- Like Peter, all people, each of us, are given the invitation to become followers of Jesus. We can’t literally follow around a physical Jesus like Peter did in this Scripture, but what would someone look like who faithfully follows Jesus today, here in Winston-Salem?
- Followers of Jesus have a completely different purpose and aim in life from those who don’t follow him. In this specific passage, Jesus tells Peter that he wants to use him for a specific purpose, to become a “fisher” or “catcher” of men. What does that mean?
- Example: It means bringing people into the kingdom of God, and into a relationship with Jesus.
- Why is this purpose to life, God’s purpose for our life, far greater and better than any other end or purpose that we could pursue on our own?
Assessing the Heart: Identify and Address Sin
- Take a moment to reflect on your own life. Many of us call ourselves Christians, and believe we are faithfully following Jesus. But how many of us could honestly say that this is the intentional purpose of our life? How many of us can say that we are living our lives as “fishers of men?”
- If you aren't, why not?
- In the sermon we talked about things in our lives we are unwilling to drop or give up. What are things in your life that you’re holding onto, things that are keeping you from giving your whole self to Christ, things that are keeping you from living for this purpose?
- What are the consequences when God’s church only halfheartedly lives for this purpose or fails at it all together?
- What are the consequences that your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors face when you halfheartedly or rarely live out your purpose of inviting people into God’s kingdom and help introduce them into a relationship with Jesus?
Turn to God: Confess and Renew Belief in God
- The church is filled with people who struggle or fail to live out this purpose. Even Peter went on to be a failure at living out Jesus’ calling, going so far as denying any association that he had with Jesus. But Peter didn't remain in that place of failure. READ Acts 3:38-41.
- Peter went from someone who, just weeks before, was denying Jesus to someone who was boldly calling thousands of people to give their lives to make Jesus their Lord and Savior. What did Peter experience that made such a big change in his life?
- Example: The reality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection gave him boldness and conviction to pursue others; the Holy Spirit who is given to all believers helped him share the gospel; etc.
- Peter went from someone who, just weeks before, was denying Jesus to someone who was boldly calling thousands of people to give their lives to make Jesus their Lord and Savior. What did Peter experience that made such a big change in his life?
- How can your own encounters with Jesus, remembering the reality of who Christ is and what he has done for you, help you to genuinely live for God’s purpose rather than your own?
- Take a few minutes to pray in groups of 2-3 people, confessing where we have failed and asking that God would graciously help us change to believe in and pursue God's purpose for our lives.
Announcement: REVO's Guest Services event on Saturday, April 9th from 1:30-3:30 pm. Guest Services will be holding a Family-Style Backyard Barbecue at Michael Daniel and Ambar Russo's house (2890 Bradenton Dr, W-S 27103). This event is for any of you who might be interested in serving with Guest Services, is ready to commit to serving, or are already serving! There will be Little Richard's barbecue provided, as well as a photo-booth, 3-legged race, kids corner, and more. If you're looking to start serving at REVO, this is a great opportunity to get plugged in!
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