RE Series -wk. 2- REpurpose

Icebreaker: In your opinion, what is a book, movie, or TV show that is so popular you think everyone knows about it? 

Today we’re looking at one of the most popular Bible verses of all time. Even non-Christians have heard this one before!

*Background Info: Jeremiah 29 is part of a letter written to the Israelite people from God after they had been conquered and taken as exiles to Babylon. It is written in response to false prophets who were telling the people that this exile would be easy and only last a few years*  

READ Jeremiah 29:7-9 

1- Who sent the Israelites into exile in verse 7? Something that was seen as bad, was actually brought on God’s people by God. How can this encourage you with the season of life you are currently in? 

2- “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you…” How can you apply this command from God to the Israelite people to your life today? 

3- “Pray to the Lord on its behalf…(v.7)”  Now, read 1 Timothy 2:1-2. Do you ever consider praying for the good of the city/state/country that you live in? Why or why not? What about the leaders of the city/state/country, how can we pray for them? 

READ Jeremiah 29:10-11

4- Now that you have read some of the context of Jeremiah 29:11, what are your thoughts on the meaning of this verse? 

5- Looking at verse 7 after reading verse 10, we see that God sent the Israelites into exile for 70 years! Yet, 29:11 says that His plans are good, not evil, and will give them hope and a future. How do you reconcile these two truths in your faith? 

6- Now, think about 2020 in light of these verses. How can seeing the good and the bad mixed together in the story of the Israelites apply to our lives in 2020? Does that application encourage you or discourage you? Why? 

READ Jeremiah 29:12-13 and Matthew 7:7-8

7- God promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him. How have you seen this to be true in your life in the past?

8- As you think about the near future, what are some things that you are seeking God for and asking Him for? 

• Leaders: writing these down and praying over them as a group might be a great way to end this rGroup session!

Leader Huddle Season 2 Wk. 5

You’re either in the middle of a storm right now, or you are about to be in the middle of one. 

It’s coming, and people are counting on us to be able to lead them well regardless of what’s going on in our personal lives. 

So, how should a leader prepare for that reality? 

RE Series- wk. 1- REmedy

Icebreaker: What is a moment in your life that you would like to REvisit? What's one of you favorite memories?

Let's revisit Isaiah 53. It's a very popular passage in Christianity, so let's take a deeper look.

1- What are some expectations you had for 2020 that have not turned out like you had hoped?

READ Isaiah 53:1

2- Here, Isaiah is discouraged by the fact that no one in Israel has listened to his words from God. How have you dealt with unmet expectations in 2020? Why do you think you have responded in that way? 

READ Isaiah 53:2-3

3- Now, Isaiah turns toward the prophetic portion of this chapter. He is talking about Jesus. After hearing this, how do you think you would have reacted if you had been alive in the 1st century and seen Jesus as a human? Would you have expected great things from him? Why or why not?

4-  Look again at verse 3. How did people in the 1st century treat Jesus? Knowing that he looked unimportant, but promised to be the Messiah, why do you think he was treated like that? 

5- Have you ever thought of Jesus in a similar way as verse 3 because he didn't do something in the way you expected?

READ Isaiah 53:4-6

6- Put yourself in the shoes of Jesus' accusers. They were Jewish people who would have studied these verses, yet they did not connect Jesus' suffering with the sacrifice depicted here. What are some things in your life that might need you to look at again and change your perspective? 

7- Re-read verse 5. In what ways might the sacrifice of Jesus heal you from the wounds of unmet expectations, disappointments, and hurts in this year?

8- As you see a community, a country, and a world that is in need of healing in so many ways, how can you offer a remedy to their wounds this week? What habits can you try to instill in yourself now that will help others see the remedy for their wounds? 

9- Verse 6 encourages us that even though we fail and falter, Christ took the punishment for us. How does that encourage you to attempt the things you decided on in the last question? 

Leader Huddle Season 2 Wk. 4 (2020)

If I’m honest with you, I can get discouraged at times because I wonder if my group is even helpful or useful to the people in my group… What do you do when you feel like your group isn’t helpful or useful for the group members? Check out this leader huddle from John 4 to answer this question and get some encouragement!

Our Imperfect Family- 4

Icebreaker: What is one of your favorite childhood memories? 

1- How do you normally deal with conflict in your relationships?

2- How do you see the people that you are close to (family, spouse, friends, co-workers) deal with conflict?

READ Acts 15:1-3

3- Paul and Barnabas went straight to the source of their conflict. When you're "fighting" with someone in your life do you tend to deal with it immediately? Why or why not? 

4- Look at verse 3 again. Who was it that initiated Paul and Barnabas facing their conflict head on? Why do you think that's important? 

READ Acts 15:5

5- Check out what type of Jews had become believers in Jesus in verse 5. Jesus was always at odds with the Pharisees, but now they are among the "believers." How can this realization help you when you are in  conflict with someone?

READ Acts 15:12-13

6- Verse 12 says that everyone listened quietly. What do you think it practically looks like to listen quietly? 

7- How could listening quietly help you in your current relationship conflicts?

8- In verse 13, James spoke up. He was the brother of Jesus and a leader of this church in Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas went to the most wise and experienced people they could think of. Who are you getting advice from in the midst of your conflicts? Why? 

READ Acts 15:15-19

9- James' first response to conflict was to turn to Scripture, then he made his opinion known. How often do you turn to the Bible to help you in your conflict? 

10- After reading through this story, in Acts what is your biggest takeaway for your relationships? 

Leader Huddle - Father's Day edition

My dad has led a ton of groups in the past. Hear a quick (less than 2 mins!) tip from him about how to lead your group well! 

Our Imperfect Family- 3- Father's Day Conversation

Icebreaker: What’s a funny story that involves your father or father figure? 

READ 1 Kings 3:5-9

1- God approached Solomon and told him to ask for anything He wanted. What do you think the significance is of the fact that God came to Solomon wanting to give good gifts, rather than Solomon approaching God asking for good gifts? 

2- What did Solomon ask for? 

READ Proverbs 3:5-6

3- Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave it. Then he wrote the book of Proverbs to his son about how to live wisely. What is the first command you see in Proverbs 3:5-6? Why do you think that is listed first?

4- When Solomon says, “lean not…” he is referring to leaning on a crutch. How have you been guilty in the past of using your own understanding as a crutch? What are some situations in your life right now where you are tempted to lean on your own understanding?

5- Thinking about your answer to the previous question, what are some practical steps you can take in the coming weeks to trust God’s ways and submit to them rather than leaning on your own ways and knowledge? (ex. study the book of Proverbs to better understand what some of God’s ways are)

READ Proverbs 22:6

6- Think about this verse in the context of Solomon telling his own son to do this and his son hearing this from his parent. How did the actions of your parents affect the way you viewed their advice?

7- We all have children. Whether we literally have kids of our own, or have someone in our lives that we mentor in some way, we are all parents. How does this verse that Solomon wrote impact the way you think about your actions around your “kids.”

8- What was the most helpful piece of advice you picked up from the sermon conversation on Sunday? Why was that the most helpful? 

9- Pastor Wesley and Pastor Nathan both closed with the same encouraging words to all parents: There’s still time to right wrongs and there’s always enough grace for any kind of failure. How does this encourage you as you go about parenting your children or those people whom you regularly influence?