Quitting is not an option

Week Five: Quitting is not an option

Connect: 7:00-7:20

Are you a natural optimist or pessimist? Why?

Surrender: 7:20-7:30

Topic of Sunday’s talk: not quitting. Let us pray for perseverance. One way to stretch ourselves in worship is to read prayers that others have written and use them as our own or use them as a springboard for our own prayer.

Prayer for Perseverance
Lord,let Thy wisdom melt into my heart...And give me courage to be always true...Teach me to be sincere in what I do...And keep the honor of my daily art...Show me the way to make another start... Where life is young and melodies are
new... Where goodness grows and jealousies are few... And perseverance plays a noble part... For that is all that I would have today...To take the proper path and and persevere... And be un-
noticed all along the way... Until the end of everything is near ...And then, before I go, to hear them say... This life was like a prayer from year to year. James J. Metcalfe

Does anyone in the group need special prayer for perseverance?

Grow: 7:30-8:00

Romans 12:11
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

How much does the world’s motto “If it doesn’t work for you, dump it” affect us as Christians?

Bruce brought up the phrase “One eye on the EXIT sign.” Does this describe how to approach certain aspects of your life?

The distinguishing mark of saving faith is not perfection. The mark of faith is not that I never sin…The mark of faith is that I fight. I fight anything that dims my sight of Jesus as my glorious Savior. I fight anything that diminishes the fullness of the lordship of Jesus in my life. I fight anything that threatens to replace Jesus as the supreme Treasure of my life. Anything that stands between me and receiving Jesus. Faith fights -- not with fists or knives or guns or bombs, but with the truth of Christ. John Piper

What biblical material supports this idea of the Christian life being a fight?

The illustration for fervor was a “slow boil.”

How is that apt word picture?

What helps you keep your spiritual fervor?

What situation these days is trying your ability to persevere?

Spiritually speaking, what discourages you the most so that you consider quitting?

You could also take a look at

Ephesians 6 where it talks about putting on the whole armor of God.
Galatians 6 where it talks about reaping a harvest if you don’t quit.
James 1:4 where it talks about letting patience have its way with us so that we might be fully mature.

You could pray for any issues that arose during discussion.

Develop: 8:00-8:15

Since we don’t have a mission team at the church, I wonder if your small group would be interested in ministering to a missionary family. The Forsens and Muttis have both ministered here in our church recently. Would your group be interested in making a connection either of them? Ideas: pray for them, write them, visit them on the field, etc.

What is the next step for your group? Does the group want to continue focusing on the sermon scriptures each week or branch out into something different (I have plenty of curriculum ideas and material at the church).

Share: 8:15-8:30

Group Outreach Project
This brainstorm exercise should be completed within the next few meetings so that the group can perform the outreach before Christmas.

Ask people to throw out ideas, and write them on a whiteboard or poster board. DO NOT evaluate whether or not the idea is a good one, just write it down. Ask them to think outside the box. You can come back next week and evaluate which ideas make the most sense for the group. People will come up with better ideas if they know no one is going to judge it on the spot.

The only request I have, at this point, is that you focus their attention on personal type outreach (something that will touch people personally as opposed to impersonally).

Example: Instead of just collecting books for the local hospital waiting room, ask if you could host a story time when the room is full of anxious children waiting for a doctor’s visit. Instead of just raking leaves for the elderly, ask if you could throw a party and get to know them too.

Thanks for offering up your homes and/or hearts to give people a place to gather and live life together this week.

Vinnie C.

Secret Ingredients

Week Four-Secret Ingredients

Connect: 7:00-7:20

Tell us about a family secret recipe or favorite dish.

Surrender: 7:20-7:30

These are various translations of Rom. 12:12; I would pass one out to each person for them to read aloud. Ask them to quietly meditate on the verse. Ask them to open themselves up to the Lord in prayer.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

King James Bible
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Bible in Basic English
Being glad in hope, quiet in trouble, at all times given to prayer,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Instant in prayer.

Darby Bible Translation
As regards hope, rejoicing: as regards tribulation, enduring: as regards prayer, persevering:

Weymouth New Testament
full of joyful hope, patient under persecution, earnest and persistent in prayer.

Young's Literal Translation
in the hope rejoicing; in the tribulation enduring; in the prayer persevering;

The Message
cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder.

New Living Translation
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

Grow: 7:30-8:00

What are you the most hopeful about these days?

What encourages you in this hope?



What is the latest affliction/trouble you have endured?

What has helped you to patiently endure this trouble?


Thinking back on what you are most hopeful about and the troubles you have experienced recently, has prayer made a difference in these?

This discussion engendered great prayer time in the Sunday discussion group. At this point, you might ask people to pray for one another based on what they have heard thus far. Break up into smaller groups if you think it might help.


Develop: 8:00-8:15

Did group members invite others to join you for group this week? If so, what happened?

Is there someone who might be able to help you lead a small portion of the meeting next week?

Need help with refreshments? Ask for help!

Encourage the group to point out to each other when they see someone using a spiritual gift. Ask if anyone in the group would like to say something encouraging to someone else who has utilized their gift tonight.

Share: 8:15-8:30

Start thinking about outreach ideas the group can perform together before Christmas. Ask them to think about people they hope to lead to Christ and ways the group might be able to help that person.

To end the meeting, you could pray and ask God to lead your group in this regard.

In the coming weeks, I will ask you to lead the group in a brainstorming session on this topic (let me know if you think your group is ready for this now).

Living in Harmony

Week Three Living in Harmony

Connect: 7:00-7:20

§ Make sure everyone understands the covenant/guidelines for the group (last week you were to have created them).

§ Can you think of a time when you saw people who were “not on the same page” get “on the same page?” (from disharmony to harmony)

What made the biggest difference in this case?

Surrender: 7:20-7:30

Humility seemed to be Paul’s answer for disharmony in the church.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chron. 7:14 KJV)

Read together Philippians 2:1-11

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NIV)

We all want the kind of exaltation Jesus enjoyed, but few of us are interested in the humility that preceded it.

Open your hearts to God in prayer using this passage as a guide.

If anyone has a specific prayer request regarding something for which they need humility, the group can pray about that too.

Grow: 7:30-8:00

§ What about the premise of the message: “Sharing God’s peace with the world depends on our ability as Christians to be in harmony with one another?”

What scriptural support is there for or against this idea?

§ Romans 12:16 says “do not be proud.” This could be written “do not think the high thoughts.”

What “high thoughts” do you have about yourself that trip you up from time to time?

§ Philippians 2:6 says Jesus didn’t see equality with God as something to be grasped; this led to Him coming to earth as a man to save us. Jesus also did not grasp the kingdoms of the world when offered them by Satan.

What are you grasping for that may not be within God timing for you to have right now?

Are you holding on to something that you need to let go of?

§ Is there something in your life right now for which you need to eat some Humble Pie?

In what ways is putting on humility like putting on clothing (1Peter 5:5)?

What are some practical ways that we can cloth ourselves in humility this week?

§ Humility doesn’t mean you can’t set boundaries with people. Humility does mean letting people take advantage of you all the time. Talk about what should be done if people make it a pattern of taking advantage of your humility.
Develop: 8:00-8:15

Did group members invite others to join you for group this week? If so, what happened?

Is there someone in the group who shows initiative? Ask them to help you with a portion of the meeting next week.

If the group discussion was particular fruitful, you could have the group pray for each other about needs that arose during discussion or…

Let the group know you would like for them to pray for each other. Let the group know how much time you have set aside for this. Take requests (keep this moving along) and pray.

Share: 8:15-8:30

Ask the group to start thinking about outreach ideas the group can perform together before Christmas. Ask them to think about people they hope to lead to Christ and ways the group might be able to help that person.

To end the meeting, you could pray and ask God to lead your group in this regard.

Quick to Share

Week Two_Quick to Share

Connect: 7:00-7:20

Create the group covenant

“What values do you expect to be present in this group?” Or “What are some guidelines we will need to keep us on track?”

If the group gets stuck, here are some samples:

Clear purpose: to connect with one another, surrender ourselves to God, grow in application of God’s word, develop in our gifts, and share God’s love with outsiders.

Group attendance: to give priority to the group (call if I am absent or late).

Safe environment: to create a safe place where people can be heard and feel loved (no quick answers, snap judgments, or simple fixes).

Confidentiality: to keep sensitive information within the group.

Conflict: to avoid gossip and to immediately resolve concerns by following Matthew 18:15-17 which begins with going directly to the person with whom you have an issue.

Spiritual health: to give group members permission to help me live a healthy, balanced spiritual life pleasing to God.

Welcome newcomers: to invite our friends who might benefit from this group and warmly welcome newcomers.

Surrender: 7:20-7:30

Read Luke 3:7-14

Verse 10 is the central question for the Christian life, “What should we do then?”

“As we pray to recognize the Lord’s presence here with us, let’s ask ourselves individually what God would have us do to ‘produce fruit in keeping with repentance’.” How does God want us to share with others?

Pray. You could break up into groups for this time or ask if someone else wants to lead the entire group in prayer.

Grow: 7:30-8:00

What benefits do you see to the biblical challenge to share with God's family first?

Does this seem unfair or out of balance?

John the Baptist had some angry words for his listeners in Luke 3:7-14. Review those words again and discuss together verse 10 (the central question of the Christian life).

How do you find John's answers to the various groups of people?

Personally, how do you see your relationship with the church?

As an opportunity to share with others or as an opportunity to receive? How might you become more balanced?

What ways can this Life Group share with a person or with people in need?
Help the group experience the scriptures!
What creative ways can you think of to share with & bless another person or family?

Develop: 8:00-8:15

If your group is small, you should challenge the members to help you reach out to others in the church who might benefit from the group. Many people will not engage with a group unless specifically asked to join.

Perhaps you could brainstorm about people the group could invite. You could pray for those people.

Share: 8:15-8:30

Let the group know that in the coming weeks you will spend time discussing and praying about how as a group you might reach out to those who are outside of God’s family.

Before Christmas, you could pray about your own outreach idea and either 1) implement it yourselves, 2) implement it with another small group or ministry, or 3) invite the whole church to help you.

To end the meeting, you could pray and ask God to lead your group in this regard.

Hating and Clinging

Preparing for Sampler
You should provide some food/refreshments for this first sampler meeting. Try to create a fun, party atmosphere.

Give people a chance to chat before the meeting, but start as close to 7:00 as you possibly can to set the tone for future weeks.

Connect: 7:00-7:20

Tell us about the place where you were born and something noteworthy about it. Keep your response to 1 or 2 minutes.

As the group leader, you go first to model how you want them to answer the question. Set the expectation that everyone is to share something.

Surrender: 7:20-7:30

Recap: On Sunday, Bruce spoke about hating evil and clinging to good (Romans 12:9).

Have someone read 1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.”

Ask if someone would lead the group in prayer regarding the contents of this verse.

A prayer of surrender to be simple concerning evil and mature adults about that which is good. You might give people a chance to meditate on the verse before you pray.

If no one offers to pray, you can pray.

Grow: 7:30-8:00

Paul warned the Romans about teachers who did not have the Roman’s best spiritual interest in mind. He told them to stay away from these teachers. Then he applauded their obedience to the truth.

Ask someone to read Romans 16:19
Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

Let’s brainstorm together and get as many ideas out there as possible then we will come back and talk about some of them more in-depth. Try to involve everyone in this part of the discussion.

What are some things that should be part of our game plan of “becoming wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil?”

Example: applying Bible to our lives, praying against evil in our lives, spiritual disciplines like solitude, fasting, etc.

Let’s look at the list we came up with. Which do you see as most important for you? Why?

Bruce spoke about “potential evil.”
Food can be evil if you struggle with weight issues
Alcohol, if you struggle with restraint
Unfiltered computer for some people.

These things are not evil or wrong for everyone but may be wrong for you.

Can you think of other potential evils?

Develop: 8:00-8:15

Take some time here to explain how the group will be going forward.

Each week we will…

Take a few minutes to get to know each other better (connection).
Recognize the Lord’s presence in our meeting and surrender ourselves to him (via prayer, reading scripture, listening to a song, and other ideas you might come up with).
Discuss the message/scriptures we heard on the previous Sunday (we will do this for the next four weeks and decide as a group whether to continue this or choose another method for spiritual growth).

If you missed the Sunday message, you can download/listen to it on the website or check out pastor Vinnie’s weekly blog email for a recap of the message.

End the meeting after 90 minutes; if you want to stick around after we break that is fine.


On some weeks, we will…

Ask for people to take on more and more ownership of the group (bring snacks, help with various aspects of the group meetings, use your spiritual gifts, help champion a particular value in the group like fellowship, discipleship, ministry, outreach, worship)
Spend time discussing and praying about how as a group we might reach out to those who are outside of God’s family.

Before Christmas, we will come up with our own outreach idea and either 1) implement it ourselves, or 2) implement it with another small group or ministry, or 3) invite the whole church to help us.

This group will meet from now until mid-December. We will take a break during the holidays and decide before the holidays whether or not we would like to reassemble in January.

Next week, we will talk about what values we expect to be present in this group and draft a simple covenant to guide our group.

If you will be attending the group, let me know later tonight or before the next meeting. If you want to wait until after next week’s meeting before you commit to the group that is fine too.

Remind people where and when you are meeting next week. You might discuss if 7:00 pm is the best time to start. If so, remind them you aim to end at 8:30 so it is important for people to be there before 7:00 so that you can start on time.

Share: 8:15-8:30

Feel free to invite someone to join you next week.

If you still have time, you might break the group up into twos and threes and have them pray for each other.

Bruce talked about clinging to that which is good. The imagery for clinging to that which is good is that of pounding or joining one metal to another.

What good things has God brought into your life that you would like to cling to (patience, more family time, love for His word, etc)?

Tell someone in your small group about this and pray with them for a few minutes before we go.

If you can’t think of anything to share, take a moment and pray that this group will be a healthy one that bears fruit spiritually in our own lives and bears fruit in reaching out to outsiders.