02.03.08
Small Group Plan - February 3, 2008
“Our Vision For 2008”
Small Group Plan
February 3, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
Sunday our church was presented with a bold new ministry plan. And it was presented with our congregational vision in mind. Use this small group plan to talk through the Biblical foundation behind our vision.
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· When you take a trip, do you like to plan it in advance or just start driving? Explain.
· Does your sense of God’s leading come in slow, deliberate steps or sudden, immediate insights? Explain.
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
Making The Vision Personal
Matthew 22:37-38
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
· Why is “love” used to describe every kind of thought and emotion – “I love pizza … I love movies … I love you” ?
· How can loving God re-boot, restart and renew our view of love?
· Take each word Jesus used, “heart” “soul” and “mind” and describe what it means to love God.
Matthew 22:39-40
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
· They were not expecting a second commandment. No one asked, “What are the two greatest commandments.”
· So, why did Jesus volunteer the second commandment?
· How does it flow from the first?
Making The Vision Practical
Reaching Up
Psalm 34:3 (NIV)
O magnify the Lord with me
and let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 7:17 (NIV)
I will give thanks to the Lord
because of his righteousness and will sing praise
to the name of the Lord most high.
· Our worship is first and foremost for God, but we gain so much when we offer it. Describe the power of celebration and praise? What do they give us?
· These two Psalms illustrate both personal and collective praise.
· Personally, how do the two differ?
· Why is it important to gather with Christians to celebrate God’s presence?
· How can we personally praise God’s name?
Reaching In
Ephesians 2:19 (LB)
You are a member of God’s very own family
and you belong in God’s household
with every other Christian.
Ephesians 4:12-13 (LB)
Building up the church, the body of Christ,
to a position of strength and maturity
… until all become full grown in the Lord.
· How important is it to have a spiritual family?
· How does it feel to “belong” to others? What responsibilities does it bring?
· How does the church lead Christians to “strength and maturity” ?
· Why do some Christians live without close spiritual relationships?
Reaching Out
Acts 20:24 (NCV)
The most important thing is that I complete my mission
… to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.
Ephesians 4:12 (LB)
To prepare God’s people for the work of ministry.
· Paul had a real sense of “mission” and a passion to complete it.
· Where did his mission come from and what was fueling his passion?
· What is the “Good News about God’s grace” ?
· When you look through the brochure passed out on Sunday listing Prestoncrest’s ministries what is your reaction?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Where, when, what and how do you reach up to God?
· On a scale of 1 to 10 (low to high), how do you rate your involvement with other Christians at Prestoncrest?
· Do you have a sense of mission? What is it and where did it come from?
Close by asking God to lead our church into 2008.