Parent LiSTeNeRs
Connect: What stands out the most about the way your parents/guardians raised you?
Surrender: Share a characteristic or attribute of God for which you are thankful (holiness, all knowing, all powerful, etc.)
Think about what it means that God is called our Father.
Use this prayer as a springboard or
Each person can read a line or
You can recite it together
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Grow:
The extremes in parenting are the authoritarian parent and the lenient parent. Do/did you tend toward one of these?
Ephesians 6:4 advises parents to “bring them (children) up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. What is the difference between discipline and instruction?
Do/did your children ever drive a wedge between you and your spouse by playing you against each other (“Mom said I could stay out until 11 pm”)? What do you do about this?
Let’s compare notes. What is the best way you have found to exasperate/irritate your children (Eph. 6:4)? How are you growing through this issue?
In the Ten Commandments, we are challenged to “Honor our fathers and mothers.” How do you obey this command when your parents are not Christians or continually hurt you?
Why do you suppose God attached a promise (long life) to the command to obey our fathers and mothers?
In 1Samuel 12:29, Eli was honoring his sons more than God. Bruce called this Kid Worship. Do you think this is a problem today? Have you seen yourself falling into this trap?
For those who do not have children: You have an opportunity (like the Apostle Paul) to spiritually father or mother people in the family that is our church. What are your thoughts on this?
Develop:
Talk about when/if the group will end for the summer.
You might ask for specific feedback on what you can do as a leader to make the group better next time around.
Share:
It is time to get the outreach events on the calendar.
· Push your group to evaluate your options and choose one.
· Remember to think relationally (How will this help us connect relationally with pre-Christians?).
· Invite pre-Christians to join you. Example: we ministered this weekend to an elderly woman who recently attempted suicide. We invited her neighbors to join us in doing some work around her house and playing Scrabble with her. We were able to share Christ’s love with her neighbors too.
· One group is hosting a pizza/game night at the church on a Saturday night. They will all invite pre-Christians t o join them.
This summer is a chance for us to get out into the fields and plant some gospel seed. My wife is planning on doing a “For Women Only” group either at a local bookstore or at the church poolside. The idea is for four women from our church to find four pre-Christian women to join them for this study.
There are lots of other ideas out there:
Science and the Bible discussion, knitting group, book club, etc. Anything that interests pre-Christians can become an opportunity for us to reach them with the good news. See if anyone in your LIFE Group is interested in starting one of these type groups. I will help them.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Single LiSTeNeRs
Connect: Share something that you enjoyed doing when you were single. If single, what do you enjoy doing now?
Surrender: Prayer for Singles. Each person could read a paragraph while the others listen for their own spiritual benefit or to use it as a guide to pray for singles they know.
I am God, you must know that I love you. I even sent my only son to die for you. You must know that I will never forsake you and I will never leave you alone. I will be with you always, even when you fail to return my affection I am patient with you.
I know that you long to give yourself to another person and have a deeply intimate relationship with them. You have wanted for some time to be loved thoroughly, exclusively, and unconditionally by another person. Please know that I want you to have your heart’s desire but right now I am asking you to wait.
Wait until you are satisfied with being loved by me alone, for I am a jealous God and I must know that you will have no other gods before me. Wait until you can find fulfillment in an intensely personal and unique relationship with me alone. Wait until you can be content with the knowledge that only in me is your satisfaction to be found. When you are ready, I have planned the perfect relationship for you. However, you are not ready for another relationship until you are committed to me exclusive of anyone or anything else, even your most secret desires and longings.
My beloved, I want you to have the best. Don't become discouraged, just keep expecting great things. Keep listening to me and talking with me. Keep learning the things that I'm trying to teach you. You just wait. Don't you be anxious, don't worry, don't even look at what others have or what I've given them. Don't become distracted by the things you think you want. Just keep looking ahead and up to Me, or you may miss what I want to show you.
When you are ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would have dreamed of. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, your union cannot perfectly reflect my love for you. When both of you are ready I will unite you with my blessing and your union will more perfectly reflect our relationship.
Know that I am God, and I love you. ---- Author Unknown
Grow: Here are a bunch of questions; pick a handful to work through with the group.
How did God speak to you this past Sunday?
Had you ever thought of singleness as a gift from God?
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:8 , “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. Can you think of reasons why it would be good for people to stay unmarried?
1 Corinthians 7:17 & 20 says to retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to you and to which God has called you. What does that say to you about your work situation, family situation, your church situation or any other situation?
For singles: What would it look like for you to accept singleness as a gift from God?
Romans 8:28
In all things God works for the good of those who love him. What does mean to you today?
The goal of marriage should be Christ-like-ness not happiness. Happiness is an outcome of a marriage where both spouses are becoming more like Christ. Do you believe this? Why or why not?
How is the greener grass syndrome affecting you today?
1 Corinthians 7:28 says, “Those who marry will face many troubles in this life and I want to spare you this.” What do you think of Paul’s premarital counseling approach?
If you are always looking at the other side of the fence, you will never enjoy what’s on your side. Any comments on this?
Develop:
Discuss if your group will take a break for the summer and how/when that will happen.
This is a good week to begin asking for feedback from the group on what has been helpful and what has not been helpful in the past weeks of LIFE Group.
Share:
It is time to get the outreach events on the calendar.
• Push your group to evaluate your options and choose one.
• Remember to think relationally (How will this help us connect relationally with pre-Christians?).
• Invite pre-Christians to join you. Example: we ministered this weekend to an elderly woman who recently attempted suicide. We invited her neighbors to join us in doing some work around her house and playing Scrabble with her. We were able to share Christ’s love with her neighbors too.
Surrender: Prayer for Singles. Each person could read a paragraph while the others listen for their own spiritual benefit or to use it as a guide to pray for singles they know.
I am God, you must know that I love you. I even sent my only son to die for you. You must know that I will never forsake you and I will never leave you alone. I will be with you always, even when you fail to return my affection I am patient with you.
I know that you long to give yourself to another person and have a deeply intimate relationship with them. You have wanted for some time to be loved thoroughly, exclusively, and unconditionally by another person. Please know that I want you to have your heart’s desire but right now I am asking you to wait.
Wait until you are satisfied with being loved by me alone, for I am a jealous God and I must know that you will have no other gods before me. Wait until you can find fulfillment in an intensely personal and unique relationship with me alone. Wait until you can be content with the knowledge that only in me is your satisfaction to be found. When you are ready, I have planned the perfect relationship for you. However, you are not ready for another relationship until you are committed to me exclusive of anyone or anything else, even your most secret desires and longings.
My beloved, I want you to have the best. Don't become discouraged, just keep expecting great things. Keep listening to me and talking with me. Keep learning the things that I'm trying to teach you. You just wait. Don't you be anxious, don't worry, don't even look at what others have or what I've given them. Don't become distracted by the things you think you want. Just keep looking ahead and up to Me, or you may miss what I want to show you.
When you are ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would have dreamed of. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, your union cannot perfectly reflect my love for you. When both of you are ready I will unite you with my blessing and your union will more perfectly reflect our relationship.
Know that I am God, and I love you. ---- Author Unknown
Grow: Here are a bunch of questions; pick a handful to work through with the group.
How did God speak to you this past Sunday?
Had you ever thought of singleness as a gift from God?
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:8 , “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. Can you think of reasons why it would be good for people to stay unmarried?
1 Corinthians 7:17 & 20 says to retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to you and to which God has called you. What does that say to you about your work situation, family situation, your church situation or any other situation?
For singles: What would it look like for you to accept singleness as a gift from God?
Romans 8:28
In all things God works for the good of those who love him. What does mean to you today?
The goal of marriage should be Christ-like-ness not happiness. Happiness is an outcome of a marriage where both spouses are becoming more like Christ. Do you believe this? Why or why not?
How is the greener grass syndrome affecting you today?
1 Corinthians 7:28 says, “Those who marry will face many troubles in this life and I want to spare you this.” What do you think of Paul’s premarital counseling approach?
If you are always looking at the other side of the fence, you will never enjoy what’s on your side. Any comments on this?
Develop:
Discuss if your group will take a break for the summer and how/when that will happen.
This is a good week to begin asking for feedback from the group on what has been helpful and what has not been helpful in the past weeks of LIFE Group.
Share:
It is time to get the outreach events on the calendar.
• Push your group to evaluate your options and choose one.
• Remember to think relationally (How will this help us connect relationally with pre-Christians?).
• Invite pre-Christians to join you. Example: we ministered this weekend to an elderly woman who recently attempted suicide. We invited her neighbors to join us in doing some work around her house and playing Scrabble with her. We were able to share Christ’s love with her neighbors too.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
OutREACH ideas?
Idea from the Sunday group: For the people who can’t come to church, we will take the church to them. Someone in our group knows and witnesses to a shut-in. Some of us will go and clean up the yard/house, while others play games and build a relationship with the person. We will attempt to help others this way too.
Idea from the Thursday group: Host a neighborhood block party at someone’s house; invite people from the Divorce Care ministry to join us.
Idea from the Thursday group: Host a neighborhood block party at someone’s house; invite people from the Divorce Care ministry to join us.
Disciplined LiSTeNeRs in Marriage
Connect: In one minute or less, tell us about a marriage that has influenced you greatly (either positively or negatively).
Surrender: Break up into groups to pray for the marriages in our church that they might be strong like triple-braided cords. Husbands and wives could pray together. Couples could pray for one another. Single people could pray for married people they know. ETC.
(Remind people of how much time you have set aside for this).
Grow:
Do you think marriage is in crisis in our society? Why or why not?
For you, what is the hardest part of weaving the spiritual into your marriage relationship?
Read Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
Ask the singles in the group if anything stood out to them (about marriage or relationship in general) from the passage on Sunday.
Ask the married people which word picture stuck out to them the most.
Work v. 9
Walk v. 10
Warmth v.11
War v.12
One verse 9,
Practically speaking, what do you think it means for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church?
It is easy for you to ask for help when you are overloaded? If not, why not?
On a scale of 1-10, how easy is it to recognize when your spouse is overloaded? How can we be more attentive to our spouse’s overload?
On verse 10,
Read Galatians 6:1. What do you think Galatians 6:1 would like in a marriage relationship?
On verse 11,
Why do you suppose God specifically tells husbands to love their wives and wives to submit/honor/respect their husbands?
Men tend to value respect over love. Women tend to value love over respect. In your experience, have you found this to be true?
What have you learned about living out these principles of love and respect?
On verse 12,
The world’s system works against marriages in many ways. Which one concerns you the most?
If you were the Devil, what would you do to unravel Christian marriages?
What are some ways that you have found to weave Jesus into your marriage relationship?
Thoughts:
Pick several; of questions that you think will best meet the needs in your group. Start with simpler questions and work toward the more difficult ones.
Do not let the single people sit this one out. If they don’t answer the questions, reframe the question specifically for them. They might not be married, but as objective observers they must have some ideas on it.
Develop:
Should you try the blessing chair this week? This is a great way for people to learn to exercise their spiritual gifts (through prayer).
Last week, I tried the blessing chair (put someone in a chair and have the group lay hands on and pray for God’s blessing). It took awhile for the group to decide who should be in the chair, but I am glad I waited the group out, b/c the person who ended up there really needed focused prayer from the group.
Share:
How are the outreach ideas coming? Both of my groups have ideas and we are working on them, but we don’t have dates settled yet. This is the week to start firming up those plans. If you run out of time, perhaps some people would stay after and work on the outreach stuff with you?
Surrender: Break up into groups to pray for the marriages in our church that they might be strong like triple-braided cords. Husbands and wives could pray together. Couples could pray for one another. Single people could pray for married people they know. ETC.
(Remind people of how much time you have set aside for this).
Grow:
Do you think marriage is in crisis in our society? Why or why not?
For you, what is the hardest part of weaving the spiritual into your marriage relationship?
Read Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
Ask the singles in the group if anything stood out to them (about marriage or relationship in general) from the passage on Sunday.
Ask the married people which word picture stuck out to them the most.
Work v. 9
Walk v. 10
Warmth v.11
War v.12
One verse 9,
Practically speaking, what do you think it means for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church?
It is easy for you to ask for help when you are overloaded? If not, why not?
On a scale of 1-10, how easy is it to recognize when your spouse is overloaded? How can we be more attentive to our spouse’s overload?
On verse 10,
Read Galatians 6:1. What do you think Galatians 6:1 would like in a marriage relationship?
On verse 11,
Why do you suppose God specifically tells husbands to love their wives and wives to submit/honor/respect their husbands?
Men tend to value respect over love. Women tend to value love over respect. In your experience, have you found this to be true?
What have you learned about living out these principles of love and respect?
On verse 12,
The world’s system works against marriages in many ways. Which one concerns you the most?
If you were the Devil, what would you do to unravel Christian marriages?
What are some ways that you have found to weave Jesus into your marriage relationship?
Thoughts:
Pick several; of questions that you think will best meet the needs in your group. Start with simpler questions and work toward the more difficult ones.
Do not let the single people sit this one out. If they don’t answer the questions, reframe the question specifically for them. They might not be married, but as objective observers they must have some ideas on it.
Develop:
Should you try the blessing chair this week? This is a great way for people to learn to exercise their spiritual gifts (through prayer).
Last week, I tried the blessing chair (put someone in a chair and have the group lay hands on and pray for God’s blessing). It took awhile for the group to decide who should be in the chair, but I am glad I waited the group out, b/c the person who ended up there really needed focused prayer from the group.
Share:
How are the outreach ideas coming? Both of my groups have ideas and we are working on them, but we don’t have dates settled yet. This is the week to start firming up those plans. If you run out of time, perhaps some people would stay after and work on the outreach stuff with you?
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Disciplined LiSTeNeRs
Connect: Tell us about a time in your life when you were the most disciplined in a certain area of your life. Example: When I played b-ball in high school, I went to the park late at night to practice while other kids were sleeping.
Surrender: Psalm 141: a prayer for discipline and protection. You could have each person read a verse and mediate for a 15 seconds on each verse (play some background music if you want).
1 A psalm of David. O LORD, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help!
2 Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
3 Take control of what I say, O LORD, and keep my lips sealed.
4 Don't let me lust for evil things; don't let me participate in acts of wickedness. Don't let me share in the delicacies of those who do evil.
5 Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they reprove me, it is soothing medicine. Don't let me refuse it. But I am in constant prayer against the wicked and their deeds.
6 When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, they will listen to my words and find them pleasing.
7 Even as a farmer breaks up the soil and brings up rocks, so the bones of the wicked will be scattered without a decent burial.
8 I look to you for help, O Sovereign LORD. You are my refuge; don't let them kill me.
9 Keep me out of the traps they have set for me, out of the snares of those who do evil.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own snares, but let me escape.
Grow:
1. In what ways is discipline implied in being "Living Sacrifices", "Transformed", "Not Conforming" and "Renewed"? 2. Read aloud 1 Corinthians 9:25-27. Discuss together what this discipline might look like in our lives.
What difference would it make in our church?
How do these verses challenge us regarding our perspective toward discipline?
3. In what ways were individuals challenged regarding the "2 Secrets of Learning Discipline"? (1. Start where you are 2. Don't avoid community)?
What other "secrets" have people found helpful in learning to discipline themselves?
I broke the group up into smaller groups for this next question…
4. How might we come alongside one another, like the coach in the film clip, and challenge each other to become all that God has desired for us to be?
Develop:
Do you need help with anything in your group? Ask someone to help.
Ask the guys if they plan to attend Men’s Fellowship on Saturday 7:30-9:30am. Perhaps the guys in your group could encourage each other to attend and sit together during this.
Share:
This is the week that you should begin shaping your outREACH ideas. If you didn't brainstorm last week, make sure to leave plenty of time (10 minutes) for this at the end. If you did the brainstorm thing last week, this is the week to evaluate the ideas you had and pick one or more to begin working on.
Before you brainstorm, you may want to have some ideas of your own (search the Internet for “evangelism ideas” or “servant evangelism” ideas). One of my groups had a hard time and I had to prompt them with ideas.
Pick the one that is the best fit for the group.
Pick the one that will make the biggest impact for Christ.
Think relational (there needs to be a relational component to outREACH). The idea to build relationships that could one day include God’s redemptive work in someone’s life.
Think community transformation (how could we make a difference that will impact our community?).
Whatever your idea--double it! Then ask God what it would take for your group to accomplish it. It might mean engaging others (who haven't gotten connected to a LIFE group or people outside the church) to help you. These are the type of things that can lead us toward community transformation. Think outside the box.
Start planning the outREACH for late May early June.
Check with the church office to make sure you don't schedule the outREACH during another church event.
Surrender: Psalm 141: a prayer for discipline and protection. You could have each person read a verse and mediate for a 15 seconds on each verse (play some background music if you want).
1 A psalm of David. O LORD, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help!
2 Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
3 Take control of what I say, O LORD, and keep my lips sealed.
4 Don't let me lust for evil things; don't let me participate in acts of wickedness. Don't let me share in the delicacies of those who do evil.
5 Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they reprove me, it is soothing medicine. Don't let me refuse it. But I am in constant prayer against the wicked and their deeds.
6 When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, they will listen to my words and find them pleasing.
7 Even as a farmer breaks up the soil and brings up rocks, so the bones of the wicked will be scattered without a decent burial.
8 I look to you for help, O Sovereign LORD. You are my refuge; don't let them kill me.
9 Keep me out of the traps they have set for me, out of the snares of those who do evil.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own snares, but let me escape.
Grow:
1. In what ways is discipline implied in being "Living Sacrifices", "Transformed", "Not Conforming" and "Renewed"? 2. Read aloud 1 Corinthians 9:25-27. Discuss together what this discipline might look like in our lives.
What difference would it make in our church?
How do these verses challenge us regarding our perspective toward discipline?
3. In what ways were individuals challenged regarding the "2 Secrets of Learning Discipline"? (1. Start where you are 2. Don't avoid community)?
What other "secrets" have people found helpful in learning to discipline themselves?
I broke the group up into smaller groups for this next question…
4. How might we come alongside one another, like the coach in the film clip, and challenge each other to become all that God has desired for us to be?
Develop:
Do you need help with anything in your group? Ask someone to help.
Ask the guys if they plan to attend Men’s Fellowship on Saturday 7:30-9:30am. Perhaps the guys in your group could encourage each other to attend and sit together during this.
Share:
This is the week that you should begin shaping your outREACH ideas. If you didn't brainstorm last week, make sure to leave plenty of time (10 minutes) for this at the end. If you did the brainstorm thing last week, this is the week to evaluate the ideas you had and pick one or more to begin working on.
Before you brainstorm, you may want to have some ideas of your own (search the Internet for “evangelism ideas” or “servant evangelism” ideas). One of my groups had a hard time and I had to prompt them with ideas.
Pick the one that is the best fit for the group.
Pick the one that will make the biggest impact for Christ.
Think relational (there needs to be a relational component to outREACH). The idea to build relationships that could one day include God’s redemptive work in someone’s life.
Think community transformation (how could we make a difference that will impact our community?).
Whatever your idea--double it! Then ask God what it would take for your group to accomplish it. It might mean engaging others (who haven't gotten connected to a LIFE group or people outside the church) to help you. These are the type of things that can lead us toward community transformation. Think outside the box.
Start planning the outREACH for late May early June.
Check with the church office to make sure you don't schedule the outREACH during another church event.
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