02.24.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“What’s It All For?”
Myspace or Ourspace?
Small Group Plan
February 24, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
Risking … hosting … teaching … listening … traveling … loving … feeding … working … encouraging … correcting … learning … inviting … explaining … sharing … sacrificing … giving …
How would you like to have friends whose lives matched these words? Paul and Apollos had such friends. In fact, when Paul explained to the Corinthians that he planted and Apollos watered (1 Cor. 3:6) these friends were behind the scenes supporting and encouraging it all. Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18) were the hidden source of strength for both Paul and Apollos. They illustrate one major purpose of a marriage – ministry.
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Why do most people have friends?
· How would describe the power of friendship?
· What makes you feel alone?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
An Encouraging Marriage
Acts 18:1-3, 18-19
1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them … 18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila.
· In Athens Paul was alone (17:15) and criticized (17:18, 20, 32). Imagine his frame of mind as he leaves Athens and arrives in Corinth (18:1).
· How would you feel and react if a religious prostitute from the Corinthian temple to Aphrodite approached you in the street?
· If, like Paul, you were new to a big city, how would you feel and what would you need?
· How did Priscilla and Aquila encourage Paul?
A Giving Marriage
Acts 18:24-26
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
· What do descriptions like “learned” (Vs. 24), “fervor” (Vs. 25) and “boldly” (Vs. 26) tell us about the personality of Apollos?
· Do you find it easy or difficult to correct a dominant, outgoing person? Explain.
· Why did Aquila and Priscilla explain “the way of God” to Apollos?
· What is “the way of God” that Apollos was missing?
A Risking Marriage
Romans 16:3-5a
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.
· What “risk” did they take?
· How significant is it that “all” the Gentile churches are grateful to this Jewish couple?
· After all Paul has been through with Aquila and Priscilla, how does he feel when he calls them “fellow workers”?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Which of Pricilla and Aquila’s projects most appeals to you: hosting churches, going on short-term missions, mentoring young ministers or offering hospitality? Explain.
· Which of the above sounds most frightening or difficult? Explain.
· Priscilla and Aquila got close to Paul and Apollos. One they taught, the other taught them. Who has been a spiritual mentor to you? What have you learned?
Close by asking God to show every family at Prestoncrest how they can be used in ministry.
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02.17.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“Payback or Pullback”
Myspace or Ourspace?
Small Group Plan
February 17, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
“If you devote your life to seeking revenge,
first dig two graves.”
– Proverb
“He that cannot forgive others
breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself.”
– Thomas Fuller
“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea,
until they have something to forgive.”
– C.S. Lewis
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Describe the emotional weight of deep financial debt.
· What would you do to celebrate, if all your debts were suddenly paid?
· When would it be difficult for you to forgive? Why?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
Unforgiven
Matthew 18:21-25
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
· Why do you think Peter asked this question?
· How does it feel to need, but not have, forgiveness?
· How serious is it to be in debt to God?
· What is Jesus trying to illustrate by using the “impossible to pay” debt (10,000 talents)?
Forgiven
Matthew 18:26-27
26 “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
· The master “took pity” – compassion, sympathy, kindness. How can we feel another person’s wounds?
· Do you believe it’s true that we won’t let go of our hurt – “cancel debt” (Vs. 27) – until we feel their hurt? Explain.
Unforgiving
Matthew 18:28-30
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
· How could someone need mercy, receive mercy, but not give mercy?
· Notice all the violent words: “grabbed” “choke” “demanded” “refused.” How would you describe the inner life of such a person?
· Why do some hold on to and even rehearse their emotional wounds?
· The story says, “he found” someone who owed him (Vs. 28). Why do some search for a way to forgive, while others search for a way to be hurt and angry?
Unforgivable
Matthew 18:32-35
31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
· What caused the “other servants” distress?
· What caused the master’s anger?
· There are four players in this story: “the other servants” (Vs. 31), “the master” (Vs. 32), “the wicked servant” (Vs. 32) and “the jailers” (Vs. 34). If Vs. 35 identifies God as the master, who do the other characters represent?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· What is a “seventy-seven times” forgiveness?
· What is the difference between a quantity forgiveness (Vs. 21) and a quality forgiveness (Vs. 35)?
· Why is forgiveness sometimes given with strings?
· What are the strings?
Close by thanking and praising God for His complete forgiveness.
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02.10.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“We Must Protect This House”
Myspace or Ourspace?
Small Group Plan
February 10, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
D’Esta Love has written:
We live in an impermanent and disposable world … Everything is biodegradable, recyclable … throw-away, plastic. Since nothing apparently is permanent, we seek instant satisfaction and reward. We buy instantaneous, pre-packaged … products…. We agree to thirty or sixty-day trial periods and if not completely satisfied we … get our money back, no questions asked. It is no wonder couples live together as a sort of trial run to see if compatibility exists before permanent marriage commitments are made, or that marriages are easily terminated, since nothing is forever in a temporary world.
Good News For Marriage (Page 41)
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Imagine God being married? How does it feel?
· Imagine God fighting to preserve His marriage. What would He do?
· Imagine God leading a seminar on marriage? What would He say?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
· Tucked away in an 8th century book of prophecy is a story of God fighting for His marriage. In the Old Testament book of Hosea God is pictured as a bridegroom. His story merges to Hosea’s as they both struggle to preserve their marriages.
· From the twin pain of God and His prophet emerges three steps:
The Persistence
Hosea 2:14-15
14 “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. 15 There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
· Why is God taking his bride back into the desert? What does the desert represent for them?
· Why is He so persistent? In view of her unfaithfulness, why does God stay with her?
· What are the lessons of persistence for our marriages today?
The Partnership
Hosea 2:16-18
16 “In that day,” declares the LORD, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ 17 I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked. 18 In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety.
· What does God mean “you will no longer call me ‘my master’” ?
· Describe the power of partnership?
· Does partnership have to battle leadership in marriage today? Explain.
· Why is God promising safety (Vs. 18)?
· What are the lessons of partnership for our marriages today?
The Promises
Hosea 2:19-20
19 I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. 20 I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.
· God promises His marriage partner “righteousness” (deliverance).
What kind of deliverance can marriage partners promise today?
· God promises His marriage partner “justice” (fairness).
How can marriage partners provide fairness today?
· God promises His marriage partner “faithfulness” (physical, emotional, social, psychological).
How can marriage partners provide a broad and deep faithfulness today?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Does our culture protect or attack our marriages today? Explain.
· In God’s three-point plan, what is most needed in marriages today? Why?
· What touches you most deeply as you see God fight for His marriage?
Close by asking God to give us His sense of passion, forgiveness and tenderness.
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02.03.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“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.
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