05.13.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:00 am by Bob
Building Through Small Groups
The Prestoncrest Church of Christ is seeking to transform God’s people into passionate and compassionate followers of Jesus through three powerful relationships:
Reaching Up
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” - Luke 10:27
Reaching In & Reaching Out
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Luke 10:27
The Prestoncrest Small Group Ministry is designed to help people find places of involvement and growth where relationships are formed and strengthened, where people are introduced to Jesus, and where leaders are equipped for service.
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Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“O Worship the King”
Small Group Plan
May 11, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
Everyone worships! God wired us with a craving, a built-in appetite to worship. And so the question is not “DO” we worship, but WHO or WHAT? It might be a person or a position. It could be a career or a car. It could be money or “stuff.” But if it’s not God, then it’s wasted. Because only God can meet the needs that worship uncovers.
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What activity or responsibility took the greatest amount of your time this past week?
· What is your favorite name for God?
· When have you felt closest to God? How did it happen?LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
Psalm 100:1-2
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
· What images come to mind when you read the words “shout for joy?”
· What age group among us today would find this easier than other? Why?
· What age groups among us today would find this more difficult? Why?
· How do the words “shout” “gladness” and “joyful” help to compliment and define each other?
· If you were to imagine yourself in heaven praising God, how would it differ from you praising God right now on earth?
Psalm 100:3-5
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
· What six reasons are given that inspire our praise of God?
· Which reason most motivates you to worship and praise?
· Why is thanksgiving a public community event?
· What does it mean to “know that the Lord is God?”
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Using the words and thoughts of Psalm 100, share with each other your own personal experience with God.
· What are the emotions of Vs. 1, 2 and 4?
· How does this Psalm encourage and inspire you?
· How does it challenge you to change?
· What most restricts your free expression of praise? Where did this feeling of restriction come from?
As a group, take a few moments of silence to reflect on what is going on in your lives. Then read the following personalized version of Psalm 100 a line a time with silence between the lines to give everyone confident thoughts for silent praise, reflection, and decision.
I know that You Lord are my God …
I know that You made me and that I am Yours …
I know that You have gathered us together as Your people …
I offer You my God both praise and thanksgiving …
I know that You Lord are good and that Your love endures forever …
I know that You are always faithful to me …
I pledge my faithfulness to You.
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05.07.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“Compassion: Going the Distance”
Windows on the Soul
Small Group Plan
May 4, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
Who is my neighbor?
Eleanor Bradley was shopping on 5th avenue in Manhattan when she tripped and broke her leg. Dazed and in shock she called for help for forty minutes. No one stopped. Shoppers, executives, students, everyone walked around her and stepped over her. Finally, after hundreds of people had passed by, a cab driver pulled over, helped her into his cab, and took her to a hospital.
Who is my neighbor?
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
The opposite of love is not hate.
It is something much cooler, more pallid,
and really much more cruel
The opposite of love is indifference.
– William Hague
· Do you agree with William Hague? Why or why not?
· Who was your favorite neighbor when you were a child? Did you have a neighbor that all the children in the neighborhood feared?
· Can you think of a time when a complete stranger acted like a neighbor to you?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
The Story Before The Story – Luke 10:25-29
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
· Why did the lawyer want to justify himself?
· Why did Jesus tell this story as His answer to the lawyer?
· What is the connection between loving God and loving neighbors?
· Jesus said these two will bring life. How?
Avoiding Compassion – Luke 10:30-32
30 “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
· What reasons, religious or not, could the priest and Levite invent that would stop them from offering help?
· What are the conflicts between their being official representatives of God and their choice to avoid compassion?
Embracing Compassion – Luke 10:33-35
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
· Identify the six action verbs describing the Samaritan in Vs. 34.
· How do these actions fill out or illustrate the meaning of compassion?
· Explain the risk that the Samaritan took in Vs. 35.
The Story After The Story – Luke 10:36-37
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
· Jesus asked the lawyer to pick a person from the story who was a “neighbor,” but the lawyer couldn’t bring himself to say “Samaritan.” Why?
· Compare the lawyer’s question in Vs. 25 with Jesus’ question in Vs. 36. How did they use the term “neighbor” in different ways, and how did Jesus change the whole question?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· We don’t usually find victims along the road, so where is, or what is the roadside where we find people today?
· Is today’s “compassion” usually careful or risky? Why?
· What kind of person would you least likely stop and help? Who would you most likely stop and help? Explain the difference.
· Who are some “Good Samaritans” that you personally know? Why do you think of them as such?
Ask God to show you what compassion really means and to give you an opportunity this week be His Samaritan.
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04.30.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“Investment: Avoiding A Success That Fails”
Windows on the Soul
Small Group Plan
April 27, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
“He is no fool
to give what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose.”
– Jim Elliot
“In Whatever Man Does Without God,
He Must Fail Miserably,
Or Succeed More Miserably.”
– George MacDonald
“What Good Is It …
To Gain The World, But Lose Your Soul?”
– Jesus
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· If your house caught on fire and family and pets were safe, what three possessions would you want to save from the flames?
· Are you more of a spender, saver, or giver? Explain.
· How does our culture define success? Why?
· If most people got what they wanted in “retirement” what would they get?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
The Story That Prompted The Story – Luke 12:13-15
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 1`5 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
· Why would someone conclude that the “abundance” defines their life?
· What would you say makes your life abundant right now?
A Success That Fails – Luke 12:16-20
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
· Count the personal pronouns in this man’s speech to himself. What does it tell you about him?
· What is the goal of this man’s life? If he were your son or close friend, what would you say to him?
· Is Jesus condemning material prosperity in this parable? Explain.
· What in the man’s attitude led to God’s condemnation?
· What does “the ground” represent in verse 16?
Possessed By Possessions – Luke 12:21
“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
· How do you reconcile this verse with Proverbs 6:6-8, which tells us to be, like the ant and store up for the future?
· Also, how do you balance the message of this parable with Paul’s message to provide for our families (1 Tim. 5:8)?
· What does it mean to be “rich toward God?”
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Why do you think people place such value on money and material possessions?
· Even though America is wealthy compared to the rest of the world, do you think of yourself as wealthy? Why or why not?
· Is it possible to be prosperous without being greedy? If so, how?
· If you could write your obituary, how would you fill in the following blanks?
- Last night, __________ died suddenly.
- He/she will always be remembered for _____________.
- He/she always had time for ______________.
- He/she felt that their possessions were _______________.
As you close in prayer, confess to God that He already owns everything and ask for His help to manage His wealth.
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04.23.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“Waste: Looking for a Purpose”
Windows on the Soul
Small Group Plan
April 20, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
prod·i·gal
Pronunciation: prä-di-gəl
Etymology: Latin prodigus, from prodigere to waste, to squander
— Merriam-Webster
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What is the closest you came to running away from home? Explain.
· If you were to “run away” to a “far country,” where would you go and why?
· If you had access to a lot of wealth to “squander” how would you do it?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
The Rebellion – Luke 15:11-16
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.”
· Why would a boy with such a loving Father choose to leave?
· What does this parable tell us about he nature of humanity?
· What is the modern equivalent to being “in need?”
· What has happened to the son when he wanted to eat pig’s food?
The Realization – Luke 15:17-20a
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.”
· What brought the boy to “his senses?”
· Why did he rehearse his speech?
· What was he expecting from his father?
· Find the process in the story that turned the boy’s life around.
The Reunion – Luke 15:20b-24
20 “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
· What does the Father teach us about the nature of God?
· Does this parable speak to the issue of grave and works? How?
The Resentment – Luke 15:25-32
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
· Who does the older brother represent?
· Why does Jesus tell this story and who is it aimed at?
· Is it possible to be with the “Father” (God) and not have His heart?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Who are you most like in the story – leaving prodigal, hurting Father, returning prodigal, resentful older brother? Explain.
· How do you identity with the younger son?
· How would you compare your spiritual journey to that of the younger son?
· This story ends with celebration. What do you have to celebrate?
As you close in prayer, ask God for His heart of mercy and grace.
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