Habits - Friends by Lifetogether Ministries

By Matthew Cork Friends Church Yorba Linda

Copyright © 2018 by Matthew Cork, Friends Church Yorba Linda ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Published by LifeTogether Ministries No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means -- electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise -- except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Copyright and use of the curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotes are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 and 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ISBN: 978-1-7325871-9-9 Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

Endorsements 6 Foreword by Brett Eastman 9 Acknowledgements 11 Welcome 12 About the Author 13 What We Mean by Habits 14 Using This Study (Read This First) 16 Outline for Each Session 18

SESSIONS SESSION ONE: BIBLE 22 SESSION TWO: PRAYER 46 SESSION THREE: STEWARDSHIP 68 SESSION FOUR: FASTING/SILENCE/SOLITUDE 90 SESSION FIVE: EVANGELISM 112 SESSION SIX: SERVICE 134

APPENDICES Frequently Asked Questions Life Group Agreement Life Group Calendar Life Group Roles Spiritual Partnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Check-in Memory Verse Cards (Clip and Review) Prayer and Praise Report Life Group Roster

158 160 162 163 165 166 169 170

LIFE GROUP LEADERS Hosting an Open House Leading for the First Time Leadership Training 101

173 174 176

Notes 180

ENDORSEMENTS “Pastor Matthew Cork and the team at Friends Church have created the next best chapter of your faith development. Engaging in the Habits curriculum will move you to a new level of authenticity as a Christ follower. Pursuing a deeper life with God is meant to be done in community. Invite your friends to join you on this six-week journey.” Jon R. Wallace, DBA President, Azusa Pacific University

“Life-long sustainable habits are the fuel of spiritual formation. Habits are powerful, they encode in us. The habits we form control our lives, they shape us and affect our soul. In this series, Habits, you will discover ways to break free of those old, harmful tendencies and develop new soul-building habits that last a lifetime.” Palmer Chinchen, Ph.D. Author of True Religion, God Can’t Sleep, and Justice Calling.

“Habits” promises to be an important stimulus for growing people in Christ in six important habits if a church or small group is willing to embark on this journey together. Keeping the “Important Limitations of the Spiritual Habits” central to the study, the authors are seeking to grow a Christ/gospel-centered focus to growth in godliness rather than a “work harder” focus. David Talley, Ph.D. Professor and Chair of Biblical and Theological Studies, Biola University

As the next generation of the church navigates spiritual disorientation and deconstruction like never before, it seems critical to invite any who would follow Christ to discover or reclaim the life-giving rhythms and practices He Himself showcased. I believe HABITS offers a practical yet potent resource to help churches guide their people beyond mere attendance into true apprenticeship to Jesus. Todd Proctor Alpha USA Founder, Floodways Lead Pastor, Canopy Founding Leader, Rock Harbor

“Habits can be good or bad, and the surest way to go deeper into one’s life with Christ is by developing the best habits possible. I love what Friends Church Yorba Linda is doing here, cultivating habitual spiritual disciplines as a transformative way of life! For any seeking to follow Jesus and to make His love known to others, this program is a winner. Many blessings, as you embark on this exciting venture together!” Paul N. Anderson, Ph.D. Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies, George Fox University; author of Following Jesus: The Heart of Faith and Practice and several books on the Gospel of John

FOREWORD BY BRETT EASTMAN Have you ever found yourself just going through the motions in life, and feeling disconnected? Our culture keeps us dialed in and “connected” through technology: we can text, email, and instant message. We can connect through social media, phone, video conferencing—or even in person. But sometimes, despite all these opportunities, we can feel isolated or alone. We could have 2000 friends on Facebook but still feel like no one really knows us. More than ever, we need a group of friends who can encourage us, pray for us, love on us. Life Groups provide that kind of community. It’s life-changing—and electronic connections can’t compare! This study focuses on connecting—with God and with others. The points of contact will be various classic habits of the Christian life. You’ll also learn about community, but more importantly, you’ll experience it in your group. Through that experience, you’ll understand and appreciate community in a deeper way. In this guide, you’ll find six lessons you can use with your small group to explore various aspects of community even as you grow personally. You’ll also find some unique daily reflection opportunities. Each will remind you of Jesus’ deep love for you, and encourage you to grow closer to Him even as you’re also growing closer to those in your group. Here at LifeTogether, we believe life change happens in small groups. We’ve created resources that have changed millions of people’s lives, and we’d like to invite you to experience something equally profound. Brett Eastman President and Founder LifeTogether Ministries

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Pulling together the kind of meaningful resource you have in your hand and the creativity of the accompanying videos don’t just happen. I can’t say enough about Brett Eastman, Katie Crofford, KyLynn Richey and the amazing LifeTogether team who partnered with us on this project, including Neil Wilson who masterfully authored this study guide. The LifeTogether team of people were encouraging and passionate partners who brought great enthusiasm, guidance, and creativity every step of the way. We couldn’t have done it without them. With already full schedules, Chris Ward, Jay Hewitt, and Chantelle Gibbs brought their considerable knowledge and insight to the teaching, adding great depth in very practical ways, along with Amy Brookman and Aaron Ophaug. This group’s commitment is evidence of their passion for greater spiritual growth and connection in our church. Scott Benson, Drew Heim, Jonathan Reider, Travis West and Ron Prentice wrangled all the many logistics and details that go into a production like this and worked magic with their usual grace and skill. The unsung heroes are our Friends Church Life Group leaders who faithfully encourage and shepherd their group members to take next steps on their journey of becoming authentic Christ-followers. They provide supportive environments where we study, pray, and mobilize to reach others around the corner and around the world. Finally, a special word of thanks for our Friends Church family on all our campuses. We’re excited for our future, knowing that as we individually cultivate the powerful habits that engage our daily walk with Jesus, together we’ll become a church of Christ-followers who really will change our world. In Him, Matthew Cork

WELCOME Have you ever wondered why doctors refer to their work as “practicing medicine?” As a patient, that language may make you feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but the phrase is not an indication of how much your doctor may or may not know. It is instead a recognition that doctors constantly practice to improve their ability to care for their patients. They are continually seeking to develop the best habits in the practice of medicine. This same idea applies to our life with God. No matter how long a person claims to have been a follower of Jesus, they are still practicing. There is always room for new insights. This study was designed to help you on that journey. Small group experiences are often described as journeys. As we travel together over the six weeks of this study, we’re going to ask you to think about dropping some extra baggage along the way. We are also going to encourage you to pick up some equipment you may not be used to carrying, and to develop some new habits that will change the way you understand a relationship with God. As a part of each session you’ll be invited to experience some practices that may be brand new for you. Remember that each of these is designed to help you grow as an authentic Christ-follower. The goal is not to learn to practice them perfectly, but to practice them faithfully. I’m confident that God can use this study and your life group to bring about some great habits in your life during these weeks. I hope this will be a catalyst for your relationship with God for the rest of your life. Thanks again for taking the time to be a part of this study. We are honored to have the opportunity to share it with you. In Him, Matthew Cork

ABOUT THE AUTHOR MATTHEW CORK Pastor and author Matthew Cork is the senior pastor of Friends Church in Yorba Linda, California. Friends Church has three campuses in north Orange County with plans to open one additional campus in Anaheim, California in 2019. Under Matthewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership, Friends Church is leading a movement of hope and freedom as they build educational centers to bring holistic transformation for the most marginalized people of India through the work of Dalit Freedom Network (DFN). Matthew serves as the Superintendent of the Friends Southwest region of churches, bringing vision and leadership to this family of 42 churches. He is the author of Why Not Today and Broken for Good, set for release in 2018. Matthew and his wife Mardi have been married for 24 years and have three children: Nolan, Sophie, and Ella.

WHAT WE MEAN BY HABITS As many of us have discovered, good habits are hard to make; bad habits are hard to break. We’re about to form some good habits! All spiritual disciplines are practical ways we apply or obey what God has said or commanded in His Word. The memory verses connected with each of the habits in this study represent part of the biblical root for those practices. Realize that, with experience, a greater capacity for these habits might be expected, though by no means guaranteed! Remember, there will always be more ahead to learn and experience. Rest in knowing God is also working to bring you along by His plans (Philippians 1:6). So there is no misunderstanding of the purpose of our emphasis on spiritual habits, note this helpful comment from Richard Foster: “A farmer is helpless to grow grain; all he can do is provide the right conditions for the growing of grain. He cultivates the ground, he plants the seed, he waters the plants, and then the natural forces of the earth take over and up comes the grain...This is the way it is with the Spiritual Disciplines - they are a way of sowing to the Spirit... By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done.” - Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline.

Habits (Spiritual Disciplines) included in this study: Bible

study, prayer, stewardship, fasting/silence/solitude, evangelism, and service. There are many more. But these offer an excellent opportunity for us to experience some of what Paul meant when he instructed Timothy, “Train yourself to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7).

Important Guidelines for the Spiritual Habits (we’ll review these four points each week)

1. These Habits will not transform you. It is the Spirit that transforms us. 2. These Habits are a means to being with God, not an end in themselves. They are a means to drawing near to God. They open us to Him. These are relational disciplines, and they function like

all relationships in our lives with the added factor that we are relating with our Creator and Savior. It’s not about “getting it right.” The point is being with God. 3. These Habits will not earn you anything from God. You are already fully accepted in Jesus. In Him, there are no shoulds or have to’s. You will not earn anything from practicing these Habits. They are not about performing a religious duty or an obligation to be a “good Christian.” They are not about getting rid of our guilty or shameful feelings. In the gospel we are ALREADY fully accepted in Jesus. We literally need to do NOTHING. Rather, these Habits are invitations to meet with God. 4. When you fail, remember the Cross. Your failure is covered in grace. When you fail, talk to God about that. When it’s uncomfortable, talk with God. When it’s confusing, talk with God. When you fall asleep while practicing a Habit, talk with God. These Habits might lead to a very different conversation with God than you thought.

USING THIS STUDY GUIDE

TOOLS TO HELP YOU HAVE A GREAT LIFE GROUP EXPERIENCE!

1. Notice there are three sections in the Table of Contents: (1)

Sessions; (2) Appendices; and (3) Life Group Leaders. Familiarize yourself with the Appendices. Some of them will be used in the sessions themselves.

2. If you are facilitating/leading or co-leading a life group, the Life

Group Leaders section will give you some hard-learned experiences of others that will encourage you and help you avoid many common obstacles to effective small group leadership.

3. Use this guide for facilitating your life groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discussions. If the

group responds to the lesson in an unexpected but honest way, go with that. If you think of a better question than the next one in the lesson, ask it. Take to heart the insights included in the Frequently Asked Questions pages and the Life Group Leaders section.

4. Enjoy your life group experience. 5. Pray before each sessionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;for your group members, for your time together, and for wisdom and insight.

6. Read the Outline of Each Session on the next pages so that you understand how the sessions will flow.

OUTLINE OF EACH SESSION

A TYPICAL GROUP SESSION FOR THE HABITS STUDY WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS:

INTRODUCTION. Each lesson opens with a brief thought that

will help you prepare for the session and get you thinking about the particular subject you will explore with your group. Make it a practice to read these before the session.

COME TOGETHER. The foundation for spiritual growth is an intimate

connection with God and God’s family. You build that connection by sharing your experience with a few people who really know you and who earn your trust. This is helpful preparation for being able to share what Christ has done in your life with anyone you meet—which is what a disciple is ready to do. This section includes some simple questions to get you talking—letting you share as much or as little of your story as you feel comfortable doing. Each session typically offers you two options. You can get to know your whole group by using the icebreaker question(s), or you can check in with one or two group members, your spiritual partner(s), for a deeper connection and encouragement in your spiritual journey. Note: As the group engages in the Habits, it may be helpful to review and share your past week’s experiences with the Spiritual Disciplines during this opening time, emphasizing grace and encouragement.

GROW TOGETHER. In this section, you’ll read the Bible and watch

the teaching on video, in order to hear God’s story—and begin to see how His story aligns with your story. When the study directs you, start the video and watch a short teaching segment. You will then have an opportunity to read a passage of Scripture, and discuss both the

teaching and the text. The focus of this time is not on accumulating information but on how you can go deeper in your life with God. We want to help you apply the insights from Scripture practically and creatively, from your heart as well as your head. At the end of the day, allowing the timeless truths from God’s Word to transform our lives in Christ should be your greatest aim. The Habits we are exploring in this study are all parts of spiritual growth. By making small, simple choices, we can begin to see our lives moving under God’s direction. This is where the Bible’s instructions to “be doers of the Word, not just hearers” (James 1:22) comes into play. Many people skip over this aspect of the Christian life because it’s scary, relationally awkward, or simply too much work for their busy schedules. But Jesus wanted all of His disciples to know Him personally, carry out His commands, and help others connect with Him. This doesn’t necessarily mean preaching on street corners. It could mean welcoming newcomers, hosting a short-term group in your home, or walking through this study with a friend. In this study, you’ll have an opportunity to go beyond Bible study to biblical living.

STUDY NOTES. This section provides

additional commentary, background or insights on the passage you will study in the Grow Together section.

DEEPER STUDY (OPTIONAL). Following the

general discussion, two other Bible passages will be provided for groups or individuals who want to delve more deeply into the topic of the session. For groups who choose not to include this, move directly to the Preparing Together to Put It into Practice section.

PREPARING TOGETHER TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE. Since we are introducing spiritual

practices each week, these should be reviewed by the group each session and the new habit of the week should be clarified. Let’s make sure we’re on the same page in understanding the habit. And let’s remember what habits won’t or can’t do for us, too.

SHARE AND WORSHIP TOGETHER. This

section concludes the session with a question or two that will challenge you to live out your faith by serving others, sharing your faith, and worshiping God. There will be suggestions for mini-celebrations of what God is doing among you and ways you can end the session in His presence.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE. Each day of

the week you can choose from one or more of the three habit-related exercises that will promote spiritual growth: 1) a brief daily Bible reflection; 2) work on the memory verse, and 3) a habit exercise of the day. Do these at a pace that stretches you without discouraging or breaking you. These are intended to be healthy challenges, not impossible missions.

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DAILY REFLECTION. These will include Scriptures to read and reflect on between sessions. This provides you with a chance to slow down, read just a small portion of Scripture each day, and reflect and pray through it. You will then have a chance to journal your response to what you’ve read. Use this section to seek God daily throughout the week. This time should begin and end with prayer. Try not to be in a hurry. Take enough time to hear God’s direction.

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WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE. A verse for memorization and meditation will be suggested each week that emphasizes an important truth from the session. We believe that memorizing Scripture can be a vital part of filling our minds with God’s truth. We encourage you to give this important habit a try. The verses for our six sessions are also listed in the appendix.

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HABIT OF THE WEEK. A range of different practical exercises related to the spiritual discipline highlighted in the session (or perhaps a review exercise featuring a previous habit) will be offered each week for you to practice.

SESSION

1 BIBLE

WELCOME TO HABITS Unfortunately, the term habit can often have a negative connotation. We all struggle with bad habits. The real problem for many of us is that because we give so little attention to the value of good and life-affirming habits, we end up settling for habitual negative behaviors that hinder spiritual vitality. It’s time for some good habits. And what better place to start than with the instruction manual for good habits, God’s Word? Enjoy the company around you on this journey over the next few weeks. By the end we’ll all realize that the kind of life with God we all long for is closer than we ever imagined. It’s only a change away. It is our prayer that in the weeks to come you will begin to notice why God designed you a certain way, how he operates within your life, and what it means to be part of a larger Church family pursuing together a deeper life with God.

COME TOGETHER

15 min

Open your group with prayer. Rotate this duty from week to week with those who are comfortable praying out loud. As the group gets comfortable, encourage those who have never prayed aloud to lead the group in this valuable discipline. 1. Let’s begin by brainstorming what you first think of when you hear the expression, “God’s Word”? How many Bibles do you think we could find if we searched your house? 2. Here’s a tougher one: What is a memorable experience you’ve had in which the Bible played an important part? 3. Whether your group is new or ongoing, it’s always important to reflect on and review your values together. On page 160 is a Life Group Agreement with the values we’ve found most useful in sustaining healthy, balanced groups. We recommend that you choose one or two values—ones you have not previously focused on or have room to grow in—to emphasize during this study. Choose ones that will take your group to the next stage of depth and spiritual health. •

•

If your group is new, you may want to focus on welcoming newcomers or on sharing group ownership. Any group will quickly move from being the leader’s group to “our” group if everyone understands the goals of the group and shares a small role. See the Life Group Roles on page 163 in the Appendix for help on how to do this well. We recommend that you rotate host homes on a regular basis and let the hosts lead the meeting. We have come to realize that healthy groups rotate leadership. This helps to develop everyone’s ability to facilitate the group’s conversation in a safe environment. Even Jesus gave others the opportunity to serve alongside him (Mark 6:30–44). Look at the FAQs in the Appendix additional information about hosting or leading the group.

WATCH THE VIDEO Watch the video teaching for this session now. In the Notes space, record any key thoughts, questions, and things you want to remember or follow up on. After watching the video, have someone read the Scripture passage and the discussion questions in the Grow Together section before you begin the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask different people to read the questions and direct the discussion.

NOTES

GROW TOGETHER

20 min

As was obvious in the video you just saw, Bible reading is both an individual and a team exercise. Our spiritual habit of engaging with God’s Word improves by practice and also by participating with others in talking about the way the Scriptures impact us.

READ: 2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 14

1. Matthew began the group discussion by quoting 1 Timothy 4:7 and talking about the phrase, “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” In what ways have you found “discipline” or “habits” to be good things in your life? 2. What does “godliness” look like? How does Jesus’ statement in Matthew 6:33 offer some clues? 3. Paul reminded Timothy (above) that his experiences with

God’s Word were “from infancy.” How does that compare with your experience? What advantages do you see in growing up with the Bible? 4. Based on Chris’ comments, what does the term “Godbreathed” mean in describing the origin of the Bible? 5. Talk a little about each of the categories of Scripture: teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Clarify the differences and suggest ways each of these is significant. Brainstorm some examples of each category. Any verse in Scripture may actually fit more than one of these categories. 6. What does verse 17 tell us about the ultimate purpose of Scripture in God’s plans for us? 7. What was one idea shared by the panel in the video that was new or challenging to you personally? What Bible reading lesson could you share with the rest of the group? 8. Learning to listen to the Holy Spirit takes time and persistence. We must take time in prayer, in God’s Word, and in meditation, to hear God speak to us daily. What have you learned about using God’s Word to listen to the Holy Spirit?

STUDY NOTES HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES AND INSIGHTS ON OUR SCRIPTURE READING FOR TODAY.

From infancy. Timothy received training from his mother and grandmother in the Old Testament scriptures that prepared the young man to follow Christ.

Godliness. This shortened form of “Godlikeness” points to our pattern of spiritual growth that develops the character of Christ in us. He followed in His own counsel in Matthew 6:33, constantly surrendering His life to His Father’s purposes.

Teaching. Here the focus is on

the truth, facts, and information of Scripture. It is our go-to source for God’s thoughts on things that matter.

Rebuking. The Bible has a way

of piercing our conscience and confronting our sins. It dares to tell us “no” and “don’t” while showing us that God’s rebukes are always for our good.

Correcting. God’s Word doesn’t condemn us; it points us in the right direction. It shows us the way out when we’ve gotten lost, after it informs us of our condition.

Training. We do learn from our mistakes, but we can

also learn by submitting to God’s instructions and avoiding mistakes. Training is obviously another word for discipline— developing the habit of living in God’s Word.

DEEPER STUDY (OPTIONAL)

The two deeper study Bible passages for this week further highlight the importance and power of Scripture in our lives.

READ: PSALM 19 This is one of the great Bible passages on the way God speaks to us through His creation and through His written revelation. • In what different ways does God’s creation “speak to us”? What does it say? • What’s the difference between worshipping the Creation and worshipping its Creator? • In what different ways is God’s Word effective as described in these verses? Note at least one example for each. • Which of these effects of the Word have impacted you in a special way? • What area(s) of your contact with God’s Word will benefit from some attention this next week as you follow Christ?

READ: MATTHEW 4:1-11/MARK 1:12-13/LUKE 4:1-13 Three of the Gospels record the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness following His baptism. That wasn’t His plan; it was His Father’s plan. But note the special role the Scriptures played in the conflict between Jesus and Satan. • In the light of these passages, how did Jesus use Scripture when facing temptation? • How did Satan try to use Scripture? • 1 John 2:15-16 gives a list of the primary types of temptations we encounter. How do Jesus’ temptations match that list? • In what ways did this confrontation with Satan help prepare Jesus for ministry? How have temptations benefitted you?

PREPARING TOGETHER TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE Let’s prepare to focus on Bible study as a foundational habit that informs and directs all the other spiritual habits God encourages us to explore. Before we review this week’s “habit,” here are the four reminders that we keep before us as we develop spiritual habits:

1. These Habits will not transform you; God’s Spirit does that. 2. These Habits are a means to being with God, not an end in themselves. 3. These Habits will not earn you anything from God. You are already fully accepted in Jesus. 4. When you fail, remember the Cross. And then keep going. Let’s put each of these into our own words, emphasizing why they are significant reminders as we work on these habits. Which one do you think is the most important for you to remember?

This week we will experiment with one or more of the three Bible reading practices described in the HABIT OF THE WEEK section on page 42. The group should turn to that section and briefly discuss the instructions. You can combine the Habits with the Daily Reflections and the Weekly Memory Verse you will also find at the end of this sessionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pages. These are all tools which will help you move intentionally into a greater response to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word.

SHARE & WORSHIP

10 min

As group members are thinking about the practices they might pursue this week, make sure to pull them back together for this final segment. 1. Allow everyone to answer this question: “How can we pray for you this week?” Be sure to write prayer requests on your Prayer and Praise Report on page 169. In our session next week we will be focusing on prayer, but we can certainly start practicing right now. 2. What kind of worship fits your group? Spend a few minutes worshiping God together. Here are two ideas: • Have someone use their musical gifts to lead the group in a worship song. Try singing a cappella, using a worship CD, or have someone accompany your singing with a musical instrument. • Read a passage of Scripture together, making it a time of praise and worship as the words remind you of all God has done for you. Choose a psalm or other favorite verse. 3. Every believer should have a plan for spending time alone with God. In the video, Chantelle encouraged us to start by deciding on a time that works for us and to dedicate it to God. In this first session, review the PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE section to make sure each person knows the options they can explore each day of the week as they seek to develop healthy spiritual habits. Tell someone what time you will dedicate to spiritual habits each day this week and ask them to pray for you.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE • Each day, read the daily verses and give prayerful consideration to what you learn about God, God’s Spirit, and God’s place in your life. • Record your thoughts, insights, or prayer in the Action Plan section below the verses you read. • Review the Weekly Memory Verse. • Take some time for the Habit of the Week, remembering that the best habits start out as intentional decisions.

DAY ONE REFLECTION Read: Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Reflect: What two purposes for God’s Word does this verse highlight? Action Plan… (note any personal applications or decisions you make in the Reflections space provided below)

DAY TWO REFLECTION Read: Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 4

Reflect: In what ways does your current use of God’s Word compare to feeding yourself? Where can you improve?

Action Plan… (note any personal applications or decisions you make in the Reflections space provided below)

DAY THREE REFLECTION Read: Psalm 19:7

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Reflect: When it comes to refreshment and wisdom, how has the Bible impacted your life in these areas?

Action Plan… (note any personal applications or decisions you make in the Reflections space provided below)

DAY FOUR REFLECTION Read: James 1:22

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Reflect: What is this verse saying about the importance of going

beyond reading or hearing God’s Word? In what ways are you doing what it says?

Action Plan… (note any personal applications or decisions you make in the Reflections space provided below)

DAY FIVE REFLECTION Read: Psalm 1:1-2

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Reflect: The kind of meditation described in these verses requires

a certain “uploading” or memorizing of God’s Word. Consider the memory verse below and experiment using it to meditate day and night. In what ways might you be blessed?

Action Plan… (note any personal applications or decisions you make in the Reflections space provided below)

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE:

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

HABIT OF THE WEEK BIBLE READING Choose one of these Habits to emphasize this week. Explore the others as you are able. Continue to review the four Habit guidelines weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve established.

1. SCRIPTURE MEDITATION Prepare yourself to meditate on Scripture by getting into a comfortable and quiet place. Do not rush. Sit in a position that you can maintain without effort or attention. Ask the Lord to open your heart to His presence with you. Release your worries and responsibilities to the Lord. Read Psalm 139, Psalm 86, Psalm 42, or another short passage from Scripture. Take your time, and when a word sticks to you, stop and attend to it. Let the word or phrase roam around in your mind and heart. What do you hear? What feelings surface? Write down any questions that arise. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back and continue your meditation. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry about trying to finish. Take the word that stuck out to you into your day. Begin again tomorrow with the same passage. This can be done in 5 minutes or 30 minutes. Use the time that you have available and aim at progress over perfection. {Adapted from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us, by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Books, 2007), p. 174.}

2. SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION Spend time memorizing a passage (e.g., Psalm 23, Matt. 6:25-31, Phil 3:7-11). Write the passage out on a 3x5 card. Go on a walk or a drive and recite the passage several times in your mind. What is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you in this passage? What resonates? What do you need to confess or release? Talk with God about it.

3. BASIC INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY

AN A-B-C APPROACH TO PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY

Choose a passage of Scripture such as one of those suggested above in the Scripture Memorization section. Or choose one of the Deeper Study passages included in the session notes. Then: A. Look Down - As you read, try to observe the characters, what the plot is (if there is one), the surrounding passage that might give context to the passage you are reading. Ask the questions: What is going on? What does it mean to the audience or culture? Note any questions you might have from the passage. B. Look Up - Ask the question â&#x20AC;&#x153;How does this apply to our world today culturally, in the church, and in your own life?â&#x20AC;? Where do you see similar circumstances, issues, emotions, and actions? C. Look In - Now look into your own heart. What might God be saying to you through this passage? Where do you struggle with any of the principles that you see in this passage? Write a prayer to God and spend time talking to Him about what He might be saying to you.

NOTES Use the following space to record any personal notes, questions for the group, or observations you would like to share in the next Life Group session.

SESSION

2 PR AY ER

WELCOME BACK TO HABITS We hope last week’s taste of a fresh look at Bible reading was encouraging to you. This is meant to be a time when you can, in your own situation, experience God’s help to live in a way that takes us deeper in relationship with Him. Ultimately this is not about us trying a lot harder; it’s about us discovering just how much Christ will do for us because we cannot do it for ourselves. Let’s note here at the start that most of the places in the New Testament where the word, you, is used, the original language is plural. Sometimes it’s good to read certain verses differently. For example: “I pray that out of His glorious riches He [God] may strengthen y’all with power through His Spirit in y’all’s inner being, so that Christ may dwell in y’all’s hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:16).

COME TOGETHER

15 min

Open your group with prayer. 1. Let’s keep it light. Who had a humorous experience this week related to doing a better job in connecting with the Bible? 2. On a slightly more serious note, what did you experience with this whole practice of regular Bible engagement as part of your spiritual life? Were any of the Spiritual Practices particularly encouraging or frustrating? How? 3. Most people want to live a healthy, balanced life. A regular medical check-up is a good way to measure health and spot potential problems. In the same way, a spiritual check-up is vital to your spiritual well-being. Pair up with another person (men with men/women with women) and briefly share and record your answers to the two questions on the Spiritual Partners’ Check-In on page 165: “How did it go practicing the Habit of the week? What is the Holy Spirit doing in your life?” You will touch base with this person each week.

NOTES

GROW TOGETHER

20 min

As is clear from the conversation we just watched and our own experiences, prayer is easier to talk about and to declare important than it is to actually practice as a spiritual habit. Ultimately, if we are followers of Jesus and want to pattern our habits after His habits, we will have to act on His example of persistent prayer, both in public and in private.

READ: LUKE 11:1-13 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which 1

of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?” In this abbreviated form of what we call, “the Lord’s Prayer,” Jesus provided a basic pattern and some reasons why prayer ought to be our habit. 1. Why is it crucial to recognize that if Jesus made prayer a habit we should imitate Him? Summarize the little case study and application Jesus gave in verses 5-11. 2. What is the difference between seeing the Lord’s Prayer as kind of a “secret code” that must be said exactly and repeatedly or seeing it as a pattern Jesus gave to show us the kinds of things we can and should pray about? 3. What are some of the typical struggles you have with practicing prayer? 4. The following statement was repeated by our teaching panel: “It’s not until you believe prayer can make a difference that it makes your prayer life different.” How does this help us deal with some of the typical struggles we have with practicing prayer? 5. If we think of the habit of Bible reading as the primary way we listen to God speaking to us, in what ways is it helpful to think of prayer as our participation in the conversation to respond to God? How did you respond to Chantelle’s reference to Ephesians 3:17 and Paul’s prayer for us to know and grasp Christ’s love in a deeper way? 6. The panel mentioned at least three significant ways to practice prayer in the rhythm of life: 1) setting aside a daily time for prayer; 2) responding in prayer to small events in life; 3) maintaining prayer as a part of our family routine at meals and elsewhere. How were these helpful and can you think of other ways prayer can be woven into the fabric of living? 7. How do you feel about praying out loud in a group? Do you pray silently or out loud when you’re alone? Why do you take that approach?

8. In general, how did you relate to the panelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sharing about struggles with prayer and their suggestions for improvement? 9. Take a look at the Circles of Life diagram below and write the names of two or three people you know who will benefit from a deeper relationship with God. Commit to praying for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guidance and an opportunity to share with each of them.

STUDY NOTES HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES AND INSIGHTS ON OUR SCRIPTURE READING FOR TODAY.

Teach us to pray. We may read this verse as if the

disciples were asking for instructions in how to pray, but their request is more direct. They were watching Him pray and they knew that John the Baptist and his disciples had the habit of prayer. They were asking, “Lord, teach us Your habit of prayer.”

Ask…seek…knock. Prayer is more than bringing God

our “wish and want lists.” Seeking and knocking have to do with longing for fellowship with God and desiring to know Him better.

Receives…finds…the door is opened. Two points emerge from

Jesus’ story: the ill-timed request for bread was between neighbors who knew each other well, and the asker persisted. When we approach God as a stranger and we fail to persist in prayer, how can we resent the appearance that God isn’t answering? Knowing God more deeply not only increases the answers we see to prayer but even more it also changes what we pray about.

DEEPER STUDY (OPTIONAL)

The two deeper study Bible passages for this week highlight the significance of prayer in our spiritual lives.

READ: EPHESIANS 3:14-21 Paul’s letters are filled with prayers. They are a gold mine for discovering ways to pray for others. This one combines not only Paul’s longings for his brothers and sisters in Christ but leads into an amazing expression of praise. • Scan the passage again. What specifics did Paul ask for? • What is the significance of the four dimensions of God’s love? • In what ways do these verses help you understand what it means to know Christ? • Use this prayer to lift up those who are closest to you by name in the next few minutes.

READ: LUKE 22:39-46 While Jesus withdrew in the garden to pray, He must have been close enough to be heard. The disciples had a ringside seat to Jesus’ most transparent prayer as a human being. • Verses 39, 45-46 include words to the disciples from Jesus. What lessons could you take from hearing Him say them to you? • How did Jesus express inner turmoil, asking, and yielding in His prayer? • In what way(s) did the Father answer Jesus’ prayer? • In what ways is Jesus an example to us in this prayer time?

PREPARING TOGETHER TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE This week we’ll experiment with one or both of the suggested prayer practices described in the HABIT OF THE WEEK section on page 64. The group should turn to that section and briefly discuss the instructions. You can combine the Habits with the Daily Reflections and the Weekly Memory Verse also found at the end of this session’s pages. These are all tools which will help you move intentionally into a greater response to God’s Word. Remember, it’s tempting to try to “do everything” but exploring the spiritual disciplnes is more like training for a marathon than running a 40-yard dash. The following suggestions are meant to help you gain traction to approach living in a new way. Have fun with this small step into the deeper life. Gladly assume that you are a beginner, even if you are advanced in these practices.

SHARE & WORSHIP

10 min

DAY ONE REFLECTION Read: Psalm 51:1-2

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Reflect: This entire Psalm is an expression of repentance. What does repentance mean in your relationship with God?

Action Plan…

DAY TWO REFLECTION Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray continually,

Reflect: What does this verse actually instruct us to do? In what ways could you make prayer the “default” setting in your life?

Action Plan…

DAY THREE REFLECTION Read: Luke 11:9-10

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Reflect: As you work on memorizing this passage this week, think

about the categories of asking, seeking, knocking as you approach God. How are you practicing each of these forms of prayer?

Action Plan…

DAY FOUR REFLECTION Read: Mark 12:29-31

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 29

Reflect: Since Jesus called this the most important dual

commandment, how could it direct your habit of prayer?

Action Plan…

DAY FIVE REFLECTION Read: Ephesians 6:18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Reflect: How could you more intentionally “pray in the Spirit” as well

as “keep praying for all the Lord’s people” as you practice the habit of prayer today?

Action Plan…

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE:

LUKE 11:9-10 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

HABIT OF THE WEEK PRAYER Choose one of these prayer Habits practices to emphasize this week. Explore the other as you are able. Continue to review the four Habits guidelines weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve established:

1. These Habits will not transform you; Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spirit does that. 2. These Habits are a means to being with God, not an end in themselves. 3. These Habits will not earn you anything from God. You are already fully accepted in Jesus. 4. When you fail, remember the cross. And then keep going.

1. BREATH PRAYER Breath prayers are short, repetitive prayers that coincide with our breath. When you are walking to a meeting, waiting for an appointment, or driving home from work, take time to recite one of the following prayers as you inhale and exhale. This form of praying, which was introduced earlier, is a time-honored application of one of the shortest verses in the Bible: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray continuously” or “Pray without ceasing.” Breath praying uses powerful phrases from Scripture or brief heart-felt expressions to God, repeated for emphasis, concentration, and meditation. A breath prayer is short enough to say in a single breath. The best environment to practice this and other forms of prayer involves times of silence and solitude. Fasting ought to sharpen and deepen prayer as we seek hunger for God. Mindless repetition is not praying. Rattling off repetitions of the Lord’s Prayer does not accumulate spiritual favor. But the human mind handles many tasks at the same time. Fortunately, you don’t have to remember to tell your heart to beat. When we use breath prayers in a thoughtful and deliberate way, we eventually discover that they were “running in the background of our thinking” throughout the day, breaking through when they were needed. This isn’t automatic or immediate, but can become part of our experience of the full life. Here are some sample breath prayers: Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Jesus, I belong to you. Come, Lord Jesus. Bring your Kingdom. Not my will but your will Lord. My help comes from the Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Practice Breath Prayer at least once daily for ten minutes. Breathing is an unconscious thing. Breath prayer reminds us that even as we can’t live on just one breath of air, we can’t live on just one breath of God. God is the oxygen of our soul, and we need to breathe Him in all day long. Breath prayer reminds us that each breath we are given is a gift and that His Spirit is nearer to us than our own breath. For example: Breathe Breathe want.” Breathe Breathe

in “Abba,” breathe out “I belong to you.” in “The Lord is my shepherd,” breathe out “I shall not in “Jesus,” breathe out “Have mercy on me, a sinner.” in “Lord,” breathe out “Here I am.”

{Adopted from Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, p. 206.}

2. P-R-A-Y ACROSTIC The four letters are reminders of essential components of a healthy prayer life.

P – Praise: Related to God’s character and faithfulness in your

life, verbalize what you appreciate and are in awe of. Aim to express gratitude.

R – Repent: The more you see God’s majesty and holiness, the

more repentance will be your response. Admit your sins and claim the promise of 1 John 1:9.

A – Ask: Ask for forgiveness and then ask for the specific needs of others and yourself.

Y – Yield: Close your prayer in Jesus’ name, claiming His authority to grant your requests and to sovereignly choose to respond with His will rather than your own. Use the P-R-A-Y acrostic at least once daily in your chosen time for intentional prayer.

NOTES Use the following space to record any personal notes, questions for the group, or observations you would like to share in the next Life Group session.

SESSION

3 S T E WA RDSHIP

WELCOME BACK TO HABITS Over the past two weeks we have focused on regularly connecting with God’s Word and persistent prayer. This week, and in the next three sessions, we will work on developing more specific habits that shape a healthy spiritual life. All of them flow out of time spent with God, seeking His will. If your soul is feeling a little overwhelmed, it is time to take a breath. We’re sampling the common habits that Christians through the ages have found helpful in developing a deeper life with God, but most of us find resistance when we try to practice these habits ourselves. This is normal. We’re aiming for a rhythm of obedience to Christ that produces steady spiritual progress over time, without losing sight of the truth that He is ultimately the one working on us and in us (Philippians 1:6).

COME TOGETHER

15 min

Open your group with prayer. Ask someone to pray who hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yet led the group in prayer. 1. Start by sharing with one another how it went following through on your plan for this past week. What struggles did you have, if any? 2. Does anyone have a small victory to share, some moment when you intentionally tried to practice a spiritual action and something surprising happened? 3. Pair up with your spiritual partner and share more personal experiences this past week. If your partner is absent or if you are new to the group, join with another pair or someone who does not yet have a partner. If you have not yet established your spiritual partnership, do it now. (Refer to the Session Two, Come Together section, question 3, and the Spiritual Partner Check-In page in the Appendices for help.)

NOTES

GROW TOGETHER

20 min

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-9 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 1

Matthew used verse 7 above to introduce the concept of stewardship as a spiritual habit. What does this mean to you? How would you picture someone with the “grace of giving”? 1. Based on the discussion you heard from our panel, how would you explain the difference between giving and tithing?

2. Matthew offered several reasons why giving should be one of our spiritual habits. What were they and which one do you find particularly compelling? 3. In general, what are your impressions of the role of tithing in the life of a church? 4. In what ways were Amy’s practical suggestions on developing a giving habit helpful for you? 5. Turn to the person next to you and take turns answering each of the following questions: “What is my current view of God’s faithfulness?” and “How does my giving reflect my view?” Spend only about one minute on each question. For the whole group, what observations did you make during that sharing? As the panel illustrated personally, giving involves sacrifice and trust. These are not easy lessons and they sometimes recur in our lives as we pass through different seasons and challenges. Before we look at the practice we will exercise this week, let’s talk about how we can encourage one another to persevere and to be patient with those who are struggling with this whole idea of spiritual habits as well as the specific area of giving. 6. How did you personally respond to Matthew’s statement: “Part of developing a habit of stewardship is also developing a habit of contentment, really. Being content with what we have”? 7. What does the role of “steward” mean to you? 8. In what ways have you taken advantage of the church’s efforts (sermons, studies, financial coaching) to instruct and encourage practical stewardship in all of life in a world that encourages indebtedness and over-consumption? How have these been helpful? 9. Are there any questions you would like to ask the rest of the group about the topics of giving and stewardship?

STUDY NOTES HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES AND INSIGHTS ON OUR SCRIPTURE READING FOR TODAY.

Rich generosity. The context of this gift from the

churches in Macedonia was the need of the church in Jerusalem. Not only were the believers in Jerusalem under financial pressure as the church grew, they were experiencing the added burden of a famine.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not commanding you. Giving is very personal and also very real. It is an opportunity to put into practice our trust in God. If we trust what we have in our possession more than we trust the God who provided everything we have, we are actually doubting our Source and we need to shift our allegiance.

Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.

Philippians 2:5-11 describes all that Jesus gave up in order to be our Lord, Savior, and Model. He sets the bar high for giving.

DEEPER STUDY (OPTIONAL)

The two deeper study Bible passages for this week highlight the significance of stewardship in exercising our daily roles as disciples of Jesus.

READ: EXODUS 35:4—36:7 Once God provided the detailed plans for the Tabernacle that would represent the visible location of God’s presence with His people, it was time to gather the materials and fund the project. It was time for stewardship. • What things were donated to the effort? • What was the attitude of the people to giving? • Why did Moses have to tell the people to stop giving? • What lessons about your own stewardship outlook are affected by this passage?

READ: LUKE 12:13-21 One of our obstacles to greater soul health and a giving habit is the extreme materialism of our surroundings. We are raised as consumers and even unthinkingly accept being labeled that negative description. In this passage, someone tries to draw Jesus into an argument over “stuff.” He responds with a parable that includes a man’s deadly conversation with his soul. NOTE: Where NIV says in v.19, “I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty…” the original Greek literally translates as, “I’ll say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods…’” • What are Jesus’ two main points from v.15 and v.21? • What was the man’s mistake? • How does Jesus parable help you understand the importance of the subject of this session? • Is Jesus against having things or is there something else He wants to focus on in this conversation? • Based on v. 20, what kind of lifestyle might promote the best kind of soul health?

PREPARING TOGETHER TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE As we prepare to focus on stewardship as a description of our responsibilities as followers of Jesus and caretakers of all that God has given us, let’s review this week’s habit, noting the four reminders that we keep before us as we develop spiritual habits. This week we will experiment with one or more of the four stewardship exercises described in the HABIT OF THE WEEK section on page 86. The group should turn to that section and briefly discuss the instructions. You can combine the Habits with the Daily Reflections and the Weekly Memory Verse you will also find at the end of this session’s pages. These are all tools which will help you move intentionally into a greater response to God’s Word.

SHARE & WORSHIP

10 min

As group members are thinking about the practices they might pursue this week, make sure to pull them back together for this final segment. 1. In the last session we asked you to write some names in the Circles of Life diagram. Who did you identify as the people in your life who need to meet Jesus? Go back to the Circles of Life diagram on page 54 to help you think of the various people you regularly come in contact with who might benefit from a deeper life with God. Consider the following ideas for action and make a plan to follow through on one of them this week. • This is a wonderful time to welcome a few friends into your group. Which of the people you listed could you invite? It’s possible that you may need to help your friend overcome obstacles to coming to a place where he or she can encounter Jesus. Does your friend need a ride to the group? Help with child care? • Consider inviting a friend to attend a weekend service with you and possibly plan to enjoy a meal together afterward. This can be a great opportunity to talk with someone about your faith in Jesus. • Is there someone who may not be ready to participate in your group, but who would still benefit from you connecting with them? Would you be willing to have lunch or coffee with that person, catch up on life, and share something you’ve learned from this study? Jesus doesn’t call all of us to lead small groups, but he does call every disciple to spiritually multiply his or her life over time. 2. Allow everyone to answer this question: “How can we pray for you this week?” Be sure to write prayer requests on your Prayer and Praise Report on page 169. 3. What kind of worship fits your group? Spend a few minutes worshiping God together. Close the session in prayer.

DAY ONE REFLECTION Read: Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Reflect: How do you see the connection between your treasure and your heart in your relationship with Jesus?

Action Plan…

DAY TWO REFLECTION Read: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Reflect: What would enthusiastic, cheerful giving look like in your life? Action Plan…

DAY THREE REFLECTION Read: Malachi 3:10

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

Reflect: When was the last time you actually tested the Lord through the act of giving?

Action Plan…

DAY FOUR REFLECTION Read: Acts 11:29

The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.

Reflect: Ask God to give you a clearer picture of what you are able to give and to provide you with guidance in the giving.

Action Plan…

DAY FIVE REFLECTION Read: Mark 12:43-44

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Reflect: Since it really isn’t about the amount but the attitude in giving, what changes might you consider when it comes to your exercise of stewardship?

Action Plan…

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE:

2 CORINTHIANS 8:7 But since you excel in everything— in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you— see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

HABIT OF THE WEEK STEWARDSHIP Choose one of these Habits practices to emphasize this week. Explore the others as you are able. Continue to review the four Habits guidelines weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve established:

Again, the specific exercises below are suggestions. Mix and match; combine ideas. Just like oceanic exploration is about going deeper and deeper into uncharted areas of the ocean, consider yourself an explorer in the deeper things of God. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re never going to run out of things to discover about God! If you discover nothing more than the joy of getting started and the thrill of perseverance, you will have received a priceless gift from these sessions together. Have fun with this next small step into the deeper life where we are trying to consider our souls, and move toward a place where we know better how to monitor our inner being. Our connection with our possessions is a key place for spiritual growth or stagnation.

1. Ask God to speak to you about being a steward of His gifts to you.

Use a journal and write down what comes to mind. Decide to give God a percentage of your income rather than a dollar amount. Begin to increase this percentage as you earn more.

2. Take a look at the people who regularly are in and out of your life. Ask God if there is anyone in your life that He may want you to bless. Spend some time praying about this. How could you be the loving hands of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s provision to them?

3. Use a journal to reflect back on your life. When have you given

something that brought you great joy? What did you give? Why did it touch you so deeply? How might you continue to give in the area that gives you joy?

4. Consider the stewardship legacy you are passing on to others.

How have you stewarded well and how have you not stewarded well? What do you want people to say about your stewardship once you are gone? What is one step you can take to make this more of a reality? {Adopted from Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, p. 198.}

NOTES Use the following space to record any personal notes, questions for the group, or observations you would like to share in the next Life Group session.

SESSION

FA S T ING / SILENCE / SOLI T UDE

WELCOME BACK TO HABITS We have passed the halfway point in our study and we trust you are experiencing a new level of awareness in the dayto-day details of your spiritual life. Like any relationship, our relationship with God is continually expanding. It’s a lot easier to break rhythm with God’s plan than to maintain it. Healthy practices seem to vanish like a plucked rose while destructive patterns spring up like weeds. Fortunately for us, God is in this for the long haul. God is more patient than we can imagine and God’s commitment to us is a source of continual amazement if we will just consider it from time to time. The three overlapping habits we will discuss today provide us with the space and place to do just that.

COME TOGETHER

15 min

Open your group with prayer. Make it a point to thank God for what He is doing in your group through the lives He is touching. 1. What would you say is the quietest place you have ever been? 2. What experiences have you had that inform your understanding of the word “hunger”? 3. Now let’s take a few moments to check in with your spiritual partner(s), or with another partner if yours is absent. Share something God taught you during your time in His Word this week, or share how you did with your chosen practices for the past week. Be sure to write down your partner’s progress on page 165.

NOTES

GROW TOGETHER

20 min

When Richard Foster wrote his book Celebration of Discipline in the 70’s, he couldn’t find a volume by a Christian author about fasting in the previous century. This was true in spite of the fact that the Bible and the first 1500 years of Christianity included fasting in the natural course of spiritual living. Along with the other classic habits of our ancestors, this one is now seen as a significant, though largely ignored component of a disciple’s healthy lifestyle.

READ: MATTHEW 6:16-18 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 16

1. In discussing this passage, our panel made the point that Jesus didn’t begin His comment on fasting with the word “if,” but the word “when.” Would you say that most Christians’ attitudes about fasting today are the result of a lack of awareness or a lack of desire to undergo anything uncomfortable in our spiritual lives? 2. Why did Jesus give these particular instructions about fasting in a culture where there was a lot of fasting going on?

3. Matthew listed three major misunderstandings about fasting. What were they and why are they not biblically acceptable? 4. His definition of fasting was: “Fasting according to the Bible is simply deliberately choosing to go without something for a period of time for a spiritual purpose.” How is that definition and the accompanying examples helpful to you? 5. How did the panel discussion answer some questions you’ve had about fasting, silence, and solitude? 6. What reasons can you think of why both group and private times of prayer, Bible study, and fasting are essential to healthy spiritual growth? 7. What is the connection between physical hunger and hunger for God in your life? 8. What would have to happen for you to engage in a time of silence and solitude with God? 9. What difference do you expect might occur in you if there was more fasting, solitude, and silence in your life?

STUDY NOTES HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES AND INSIGHTS ON OUR SCRIPTURE READING FOR TODAY.

They have received their reward in full. Societal

praise from public displays of spirituality is possible, but anything done primarily to get the approval of others does little or nothing for our relationship with God.

When you fast. Jesus clearly expected His disciples

to fast. We find it odd that He didn’t include instructions about length or other practical logistics. He didn’t need to because most of His audience understood the basics of fasting. His instructions set His followers’ fasting apart from the general practice because it was a personal spiritual habit not to be on display before others. Fasting was intended to be a between-you-andGod exercise.

What is done in secret. Some

spiritual habits are unavoidably public. Those around us may know we are fasting (particularly if we’re the cook in the family and we’re skipping a meal). But fasting and all the spiritual habits will have little effect on us if we are pursuing them for the wrong reasons.

DEEPER STUDY (OPTIONAL)

The two deeper study Bible passages for this week focus on an Old Testament and a New Testament example of fasting in the lives of people who were pursuing God.

READ: ISAIAH 58:1-10 Isaiah was surrounded by a culture filled with an abundance of superficial spirituality. God had him confront the emptiness of His people’s spiritual habits. • What evidence does Isaiah list that are clues that something is definitely wrong? • Why does God reject their fasting? • What are the qualities of acceptable fasting in verses 6-7? • In God’s view how does refraining from food and other things lead to an impact on others? • What does God promise in response to acceptable fasting?

READ: MATTHEW 4:1-11 Just before His ministry years began, Jesus spent 40 days alone in the wilderness. At the end of that time, Satan showed up for a showdown. • Why would Satan wait for 40 days to make his move? • How do you think Jesus’ time of silence, solitude, and fasting prepared Him for Satan’s attack? • Satan attacked Jesus’ purpose, His plan, His identity—in which order? • How did Jesus answer each time, even when Satan misquoted Scripture to Him? • What insights about temptation and resistance can you draw from this episode in Jesus’ life?

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PREPARING TOGETHER TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE This week, our Habit includes three closely related practices of fasting, solitude, and silence. Exploring any one of them will usually involve the others. The practices from which you will choose have been helpful for believers in clarifying their hunger for God. Are we willing to give up food, company, and constant noise in exchange for intimacy with God? These are described in the HABIT OF THE WEEK section on page 108. The group should turn to that section and briefly discuss the instructions. You can combine the Habits with the Daily Reflections and the Weekly Memory Verse you will also find at the end of this sessionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pages.

SHARE & WORSHIP

10 min

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DAY ONE REFLECTION Read: Esther 4:15-16

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Reflect: What need do you care enough about that you would dedicate a fast as part of your practice of prayer?

Action Plan…

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DAY TWO REFLECTION Read: 1 Kings 19:11-12

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Reflect: What are the “loud” distractions that take your attention away from God or compete with your attention to Him?

Action Plan…

DAY THREE REFLECTION Read: Hebrews 12:11

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 11

Reflect: How can fasting from food and other things sharpen our awareness of our lack of hunger for God?

Action Plan…

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DAY FOUR REFLECTION Read: Matthew 6:17-18

But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Reflect: When during your routine of living are others most likely to note the joy that Jesus creates in you by His presence?

Action Planâ&#x20AC;Ś

DAY FIVE REFLECTION Read: Matthew 4:1-2

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Reflect: In what instances would you be willing to be uncomfortable, hungry, and alone if the Spirit led you into such conditions?

Action Planâ&#x20AC;Ś

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WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE:

MATTHEW 6:17-18 “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

HABIT OF THE WEEK FASTING/SOLITUDE/SILENCE Choose one of these Habits practices to emphasize this week. Explore the others as you are able. Continue to review the four Habits guidelines weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve established:

The following practices will probably fit where you are right now. Hear Paul’s words to Timothy, “continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,” and do likewise. Again, gladly assume you’re a beginner, even if you decide to try a more advanced set of practices. Before tackling fasting, take some time to think about what silence and solitude mean in your life. What are some times and places this week where you can practice silence and solitude for anywhere from a half hour to a half day?

BASIC GUIDELINES FOR FASTING: 1. Don’t fast if you are sick, traveling, pregnant, or nursing. Certain medical conditions make it unsafe to fast, so consult a medical professional if you are unsure. 2. Don’t fast if you are in a hurry, seeking immediate results regarding a decision. Fasting is not magical. 3. Listen for a nudge from God about when to fast. It’s alright to decide on a length of fasting, but serious fasting may involve asking God to release you from a fast. 4. Always drink plenty of water when fasting. 5. Start simple. Begin your fast after dinner and break your fast with dinner the next evening. 6. Don’t break a fast with a huge meal. The longer you fast, the more you need to gently break the fast. {Adapted from Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, pp. 220-221.}

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•

Fast for one day or one meal this week. Spend your normal mealtime in silence, placing yourself in the presence of God with the words, “Here I am.” As distractions come to mind, let them go by imagining that they are clouds floating in the sky. Let the wind blow the distractions away. Don’t follow them. Gently return to God repeating, “Here I am.” Make mental notes of what this experience is like for you.

OR •

For a period of one week, fast from social media, sports, shopping, reading, or use of the internet. Dedicate to God the spare time you now have. What feelings arise in you? What thoughts interrupt your prayer? Add breath prayers to your options for regular prayer each day.

•

At least once or twice this week create some space for silence and solitude in your life. Depending on your current role, you may have to turn off the radio on the way to work or you may have to get up early to take advantage of the moments of time available to you before your family is awake.

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NOTES Use the following space to record any personal notes, questions for the group, or observations you would like to share in the next Life Group session.

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SESSION

5 E VA NGELISM

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WELCOME BACK TO HABITS In this session, our habit is evangelism. Up to this point the four previous habits discussed and practiced - Bible engagement, prayer, stewardship, and fasting - have been primarily individual pursuits. With evangelism we bring our attention to the outside world and the call of God on our lives to be vehicles He uses to communicate and display the good news about Jesus. Like many of the best habits in life, evangelism may begin with awkwardness. It requires that we develop an ever-deeper understanding that following Jesus ultimately means bringing others with us.

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COME TOGETHER

15 min

Open your group with prayer. Perhaps, as part of a prayer-review from last session, you can simply have a time of prayer and encourage anyone who has used fasting, solitude, silence, and breath prayers during the week to pray them on behalf of the group. 1. Let’s have a check-in here. How did the last week go, working on the intentional disciplines of fasting, solitude, and silence? 2. Now as a way of shifting gears into what we will be discussing in this session, what examples can you think of in which someone shared their faith effectively or ineffectively? (Think of the guy who for years wore a “JOHN 3:16” T-shirt in the end zone at football games: effective or ineffective?) 3. Check in with your spiritual partner, or with another partner if yours is absent. Talk about any challenges you are currently facing in reaching the goals you have set throughout this study. Tell your spiritual partner how he or she has helped you follow through with each step. Be sure to write down your partner’s progress on page 165.

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NOTES

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GROW TOGETHER

20 min

It is hard to have a “together” experience as one person. It is also hard to be “with” a huge crowd. That’s the power of a life group. It’s a setting where we can open up without feeling like we’re exposing ourselves to the whole world. Hopefully you have been discovering a new sense of freedom in sharing your thoughts and experiences from week to week in this life group.

READ: JOHN 4: 7-26

(FOR CONTRAST, HAVE T WO PEOPLE READ THE PARTS OF JESUS AND THE WOMAN)

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no 7

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husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” 1. In what ways do the comments and teaching by our video panel help you understand and apply this encounter between Jesus and the woman? Note that the conversation started as they talked about “being thirsty” and developed into a discussion about worship and the need to recognize who Jesus is. 2. In the video we heard Matthew introduce the topic with the statement: “I think that when a lot of Christians think about evangelism, all of the sudden, they start to sort of tense up and maybe sweat a little bit.” Why is evangelism such an avoided topic when none of us would be followers of Jesus if someone hadn’t shared the gospel with us? 3. How does the dialogue between Jesus and the woman parallel the conversation that might be shared at a meal with a new friend? In what ways did Jesus demonstrate He was really listening to that woman? 4. Aaron made the point that sharing our faith “is awkward because most of our evangelistic models begin with us ‘telling’ and ‘preaching’ and unfortunately, many Christians have isolated

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themselves from those who do not yet believe in Jesus. Most of us really don’t know how to have a conversation about Jesus with others in a loving, kind, respectful way.” In what ways did Aaron’s observation help you clarify your own understanding of faith sharing? 5. Discuss this definition: Evangelism is building a friendship with a person who doesn’t yet believe in Jesus, listening to their story, respecting them, asking them questions, and of course, praying for them, inviting the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to them. 6. What are some advantages to practicing evangelism as part of a team or at least including others in the process so that we are not left to share Christ on our own? Let’s practice the corporate habit of prayer right now and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us about sharing our faith as a group. After prayer ask: What have we heard God saying about “Together-evangelism”? 7. What was helpful to you in Chantelle and Jay’s discussion about leaving the results of sharing our faith in God’s hands and not taking rejection personally?

The whole experience of evangelism is another confirmation that the body of Christ is a shared experience rather than an overly individualized one. The gospel that comes to us is designed to pass from us to others. Each week, both together and individually, we have been practicing to understand and implement new habits. There is something special that happens when followers of Jesus shift from being consumers to being participants who are aware that those around them need to meet Jesus.

8. How would you describe the difference between evangelism as a habit and evangelism as a dreaded and avoided necessity? 9. If someone gave you a clear opportunity, would you be prepared to share your story? 10. Divide into pairs and take two minutes each to share the story of how you came to faith. 11. What was both awkward and amazing about that experience?

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STUDY NOTES HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES AND INSIGHTS ON OUR SCRIPTURE READING FOR TODAY.

Worshiped on this mountain…worship in Jerusalem.

The Samaritans were of mixed ethnicities whose partial heritage was the decimated northern 10 tribes of Israel. Other groups had been relocated by the Babylonians into that area and the cultures had blended. Jacob was still revered by the Samaritans, but they were despised by the Jewish people. And both claimed ties with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In His conversation with the Samaritan woman, Jesus demonstrated that engaging with others involves listening carefully to their confused or wrong ideas about religion and faith while respecting them.

Worship the Father. Typically, people

in Jesus’ day did not talk of God as Father. Jesus used the term personally and encouraged others to recognize God’s caring nature.

Salvation is from the Jews. The Jews

had been chosen by God through no merit of their own. Though salvation was from the Jews (Jesus was Jewish), it was not for the Jews alone, but offered to all.

Worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth. Used

twice by Jesus, this phrase can also be translated “in spirit and in truth.” Paul’s words in the book of Romans are helpful here to understand the meaning of this phrase. Paul writes in Romans 8:16, “God’s Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” Understanding the truth of who God is and who we are in Him is a gift of God’s Spirit at work in our lives.

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DEEPER STUDY (OPTIONAL)

The two deeper study Bible passages for this week provide an illustration and a teaching on evangelism. Review the ABC approach of inductive study from Session One and include it in your discussion of one or both of these passages.

READ: MATTHEW 9:9-13 Following Jesus’ call of Matthew to be His disciple, He was invited to a celebration at His latest follower’s house. Notice how comfortable Jesus was with people who didn’t know Him. • What was the complaint leveled against Jesus by the Pharisees? • Do you see any evidence that Jesus had to downplay or hide who He was in any group He found Himself in? What does that say about our tendency to feel we have to compromise in order to be accepted by others? • What was Jesus motivation in spending time with sinners? • What would motivate you to spend time with people who don’t know Jesus?

READ: MARK 4:26-29 Our panel referred to this parable of Jesus to discuss the aspect of our responsibility in sharing the gospel. When the seed is planted, whose job is it to create growth? • To what does Jesus compare the process of scattering seed? • How would you define the Kingdom of God? • In this parable, what are man’s responsibilities and what are God’s? • How ready and willing are you to participate with God in the harvest of His seed?

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PREPARING TOGETHER TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE This week we’ll focus on developing the habit of evangelism. 1 Peter 3:15 assumes that we will give some forethought and even train ourselves to share, even as we are asking God for opportunities to pass on to others what was given freely to us: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” We will experiment with several basic evangelism practices described in the HABIT OF THE WEEK section on page 130. The group should turn to that section and briefly discuss the instructions. You can combine the Habits with the Daily Reflections and the Weekly Memory Verse you will also find at the end of this session’s pages.

SHARE & WORSHIP

10 min

For the most part, the evangelism practices we have suggested for this week can be pursued on your own. In this final part of the session we want to focus on the role others play as we set out to share our faith in the world. 1. Allow everyone to answer this question: “How can we pray for you this week about sharing your faith?” Be sure to write prayer requests on your Prayer and Praise Report on page 169. 2. What are some things we could do together right now in the spirit and truth of worship that would acknowledge God’s presence among us in a special way? [Give some silence for people to listen to the Spirit’s leading here.] 3. Our next session is the last in this study. It may be a good idea before you end this meeting to talk a little about your plans for that session and beyond. Will this group continue to meet and what will be the focus of your time together?

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DAY ONE REFLECTION Read: John 4:10

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

Reflect: In what way was Jesus inviting this woman to move more

deeply into conversation? What does this tell you about the difference between blurting the gospel and interacting about faith?

Action Plan…

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DAY TWO REFLECTION Read: 1 John 4:20

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

Reflect: Describe a few ways you plan to incorporate loving God and loving your neighbor in your approach to evangelism.

Action Plan…

DAY THREE REFLECTION Read: Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Reflect: In what ways are you personally accepting this direction from Jesus as a high value in your life?

Action Plan…

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DAY FOUR REFLECTION Read: Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Reflect: Think for a moment about each of these areas: Jerusalem,

Judea, Samaria, the ends of the earth. What do each represent in your life? How are you engaged in sending the gospel to each of those areas?

Action Plan…

DAY FIVE REFLECTION Read: James 1:2-3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Reflect: This verse was used by our panel to discuss times when others don’t respond with faith to the gospel. How have you experienced new “perseverance” in your life when your faith was tested while sharing the gospel with others?

Action Plan…

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WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE:

MATTHEW 28:19-20 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.â&#x20AC;?

HABIT OF THE WEEK EVANGELISM Choose one or more of these Habits practices to exercise this week. Explore the others as you are able. Continue to review the four Habits guidelines we’ve established. The fact that you are even considering these habits is itself an indication of spiritual growth. Count on the truth of Philippians 2:13, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” 1. These Habits will not transform you; God’s Spirit does that. 2. These Habits are a means to being with God, not an end in themselves. 3. These Habits will not earn you anything from God. You are already fully accepted in Jesus. 4. When you fail, remember the cross. And then keep going.

One of the implications of our discussion in this session is that much of life can be evangelism. We can go about our daily tasks before God and with others in an attitude of awareness and response to God and others. While we remain in this fallen world, our sharing will come up short. But that does not mean we cannot do better or long for more opportunities to share our faith. The question is: how will you deliberately seek God’s guidance this week, ready to share your faith with others? •

Ask God to increase your awareness of opportunities to initiate conversations about faith. Take a moment at the close of each day and write down the ones you noticed, whether you took advantage or not.

•

Review the Circles of Life page from Session Two and ask God to show you which of those people you might invite for a meal in order to deepen your understanding of them and seek to realize how they need God. Invite a member of your life group to join.

•

Write down the names of two people God brings to mind who might be willing to listen to you practice your story. Tell them you are involved in a life group that has been discussing how we talk about our faith and then ask them for permission to practice your story. If they agree, share your brief account and leave the results in God’s hands.

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NOTES Use the following space to record any personal notes, questions for the group, or observations you would like to share in the next Life Group session.

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SESSION

6 SERV ICE

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WELCOME BACK TO HABITS Welcome back to the final session of Habits. One of the points all the Gospels share is that Jesus’ life included service and sacrifice. Yet the story doesn’t end there. Resurrection puts a radically different spin on service and sacrifice. In the Christian life, service is never self-serving. This session’s theme of service encourages us to remember that with Jesus Christ in the picture, every service and every sacrifice is made with resurrection in mind. Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Hopefully you have been challenged and encouraged in your pursuit of the full life in the company of fellow travelers throughout these sessions. But this is a short leg in a longer journey. The road continues. There is more to learn, and more miles to travel. The truth lies in this, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— these are the things God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). Enjoy this final time together and make plans for the next leg of the journey.

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COME TOGETHER

15 min

Open your group with prayer. 1. What is the most fun trip you have ever taken? What made it so memorable? 2. If this six-week study has been a journey, what are some of the highlights of this experience? 3. Take time in this final session to connect with your spiritual partner. What has God been showing you through these sessions about growing deeper with Him through practicing the Habits? Check in with each other about the progress you have made in your spiritual growth during this study. Make plans about whether you will continue in your mentoring relationship outside your life group.

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NOTES

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GROW TOGETHER

20 min

Watching the video reminds us that we have come a long way in six weeks. Then again, maybe not that far. Most of us could start this series over and immediately have a whole new set of lessons to learn and experiences to cherish, while covering the same material. This is because it is not the subjects or the practices that change; we are transformed under Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s instruction. No matter how often we return to the same deep truths that God reveals, there are still life-altering changes to discover.

READ: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-8 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in 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 of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to deathâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; even death on a cross! 1

1. In the video, what stood out for you in the sharing by each of the panel members?

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2. Now that we have been experimenting with these various disciplines and practices of the spiritual life, how do you understand the assertion that the disciplines themselves, or even pursuing them with lots of energy, is not the goal? What is the goal? 3. As you skim over the passage from Philippians, what stands out to you about service in those verses? 4. It’s easy to think of Jesus as Savior and Lord, but in what ways is He our ultimate model? 5. How does the gospel—the fact that Jesus died for you while you were still a sinner—free you up to serve others? What could it look like to live as a servant, changed by Jesus? 6. In the Philippians passage, how many “sacrifices” does Paul ask of his readers as they serve one another? What is the purpose of all his “if” statements in verse 1? When we depend on one another, sacrifices will be made. Schedules will be adjusted, priorities will shift, and a willingness to cooperate with Christ in the lives of others will grow. Service is seldom convenient. The quality of our life together might be measured by the number of us who are willing to sacrifice in small and large ways for the benefit of all. When we find ways to be generous with each other, bonds develop that are the true sign of “one spirit.” In this last application time, think together not only about the immediate practical aspects of this lesson, but also how it might make a difference for you a year or decade from now. 7. Who are some of the memorable Christians in your life, noted for their generosity in serving? How did they exercise that quality? 8. Focus on the three major settings of typical living: Home/Family, Church, and Work/School. For each one, brainstorm together: What are some general ways we can be serving more in these settings? 9. Take a few minutes as a group and reflect on the time you’ve spent together. Open the floor for people to encourage one another by telling them: “During these times together I’ve seen you serve by…” or “In the years I’ve known you, I’ve watched a sacrificial attitude in the way you’ve…”

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STUDY NOTES HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES AND INSIGHTS ON OUR SCRIPTURE READING FOR TODAY.

If…if…if…if…. Paul wants to confront his readers

with the reality of all they have in Christ, in contrast to life without Christ.

Like minded…one mind. Paul asks the readers to

come together, as one body, acting together for a greater purpose.

One spirit. Paul asks us to dig

deeper here. It is not just about thinking the same way, but rather developing relationships with our fellow Christ-followers that allows us to move in the same direction, together with the Spirit.

In very nature God. While this is

difficult for us to understand, Jesus was both fully human and fully God.

Made himself nothing. Jesus sacrificed everything

that would have prevented Him from being fully human and then humbled Himself even to death on behalf of all other humans.

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DEEPER STUDY (OPTIONAL)

The two deeper study Bible passages for this week represent some of the core scriptural foundations for a life of service. Ultimately, if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re really following Jesus, our lives will be characterized by service.

READ: ROMANS 12:1-21 • What does a “living sacrifice” actually do? • Based on last week’s session, what is the relationship (see verse 1) between practicing the Habits and living as a servant? • How does our mind or thought patterns play into this whole matter of being a “living sacrifice” (v.2)? • Based on everything we have discussed in these sessions, what do you think is involved in “renewing your mind”? What connection do you see between the full life Jesus promised and the way we think? • How many examples of “servant living” can you identify in these 21 verses? • Which ones have you not yet attempted to practice?

READ: JOHN 13:1-17 This passage is the opening event in the Last Supper. Twelve boisterous, slightly confused disciples were gathering with their teacher for a Passover meal. Jesus was about to pull off the greatest act of service in history, but He decided to give His disciples a different taste of sacrificial attitude. • Jesus did not have to get down and wash His disciples’ feet—but He did. Why do you think Jesus did this? • As Jesus served, there were basically two reactions by the disciples. What were they, and what do those responses tell us about what we might expect when we serve others? • What was the specific lesson Jesus gave in v.14 that we can take to heart? • What do you think Jesus would have said if one of the disciples had spoken, “Thank You, Lord”? If we do something generous/ sacrificial, how should we handle someone actually noticing or expressing gratitude? • What is the promise of v.17?

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PREPARING TOGETHER TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE This week we’ll focus on what could be called the core application principle that flows out of our relationship with God. The more we love God, the more we will be led and pushed to exercise that love toward others, which inevitably involves service. In order to develop our habit of serving, we will experiment with some intentional service practices that will not only move us in the right direction but also help us see to what extent we are aware of the call to service in our walk with God. These are described in the HABIT OF THE WEEK section on page 152. The group should turn to that section and briefly discuss the instructions. You can combine the Habits with the Daily Reflections and the Weekly Memory Verse you will also find at the end of this session’s pages. These are all tools which will help you move intentionally into a greater response to God’s Word.

SHARE & WORSHIP

10 min

• Have an extended prayer time, emphasizing thanksgiving for what the group has been through and allowing individuals to express gratitude for what God has taught or given them through the group. • Have someone use their musical gifts to lead the group in a worship song. Try singing a cappella, using a worship CD, or have someone accompany your singing with a musical instrument. • Read a passage of Scripture together, making it a time of praise and worship as the words remind you of all God has done for you. Choose a psalm or other favorite verse. 3. Before you close in prayer, make sure there is some sense of what is next. Either plan to meet next week to simply celebrate your 6-week experience, announce/remind everyone what the next study will be and when you will meet, or present a range of other opportunities. Be sure to thank everyone for sharing in the journey.

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DAY ONE REFLECTION Read: Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Reflect: When there’s no “meeting,” there’s no “spurring” either. How many regular encounters do you have with people who are pursuing spiritual growth with you? How are you serving them?

Action Plan…

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DAY TWO REFLECTION Read: Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 1

Reflect: How do these verses speak to you about the sacrificial aspects of the full life Jesus came to offer?

Action Plan…

DAY THREE REFLECTION Read: Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 3

Reflect: When was the last time you intentionally looked out for the

interests of another person, even though they did not know it? What was the result?

Action Plan…

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DAY FOUR REFLECTION Read: Philippians 2:5

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Reflect: Some people make it easier to practice the mindset of Christ

than others. Some resist being served. Who is a “tough” case in your life, and what are you going to do about it next?

Action Plan…

DAY FIVE REFLECTION Read: 1 John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Reflect: What are three different ways you could “lay down your life” for someone? Who in your life needs you to do that right now?

Action Plan…

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WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE: JOHN 13:14 “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

HABIT OF THE WEEK SERVICE Choose one of these Habits practices to emphasize this week. Explore the others as you are able. Continue to review the four Habits guidelines we’ve established. If you are feeling overwhelmed at this point, take a breath and remember that you’re in a life-long marathon of spiritual development, not a mad dash for the finish line! Continue to review the four habit guidelines we’ve established: 1. These Habits will not transform you; God’s Spirit does that. 2. These Habits are a means to being with God, not an end in themselves. 3. These Habits will not earn you anything from God. You are already fully accepted in Jesus. 4. When you fail, remember the cross. And then keep going.

The questions in our group discussion may have given you plenty of ideas for practical ways to build more intentional, sacrificial, and generous actions in your life. Below we are encouraging you to think, not so much of specific opportunities but of patterns in your life that might be altered or replaced. As you have probably already discovered during this series, established habits (especially bad ones) resist change. But Jesus not only promised you a full life, He promised the power to change even those things that might seem impossible to change. •

This week, ask God to give you ideas of serving opportunities as you live in the three arenas (Home/Church/Work). Start creating a list: Ways/places where God is showing me that I can be more generous/sacrificial with others. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to one or two places or people to bless. Then, go bless them this week.

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Work through the study questions on Romans 12:1-21 in the DEEPER STUDY section this week. Practice one specific action in an area of service that God shows you.

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Realize the key to this practice is not drawing attention to yourself or expecting others to notice. Practice this also this week.

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If the above suggestions are already implemented in your life, it is time to take a hard look this week at discontentment in your life. What are some areas where you have made significant spiritual progress but have plateaued or stalled? These would be places where you have experienced significant growth but you sense there is more. Ask yourself: have I stopped making progress here because I have avoided service or limited my generosity?

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Each morning this week ask your spouse, roommate, or a colleague, “what can I do for you today?” Then do it. Talk to God about what this is like for you. What are you learning about yourself?

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Ask someone who knows you how they observe you using your spiritual gifts. Plan a way of using your gifts to benefit others this week.

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NOTES Use the following space to record any personal notes, questions for the group, or observations you would like to share in the next Life Group session.

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APPENDICES GREAT RESOURCES TO HELP MAKE YOUR LIFE GROUP EXPERIENCE EVEN BETTER!

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What do we do on the first night of our group? Like all fun things in life–have a party! Before diving into Session One, a “get to know you” coffee, dinner, or dessert is a great way to launch a new study. You can pass out study guides, take care of group logistics, and informally begin to develop group cohesion. You may want to review the Group Agreement (pages 160-161) and share the names of a few friends you can invite to join you. But most importantly, have fun the week before your study sessions begin. [For more on this, see Hosting an Open House in the Life Group Leader Helps section] Where do we find new members for our group? This can be troubling, especially for new groups that have only a few people or for existing groups that lose a few people along the way. We encourage you to pray with your group and then brainstorm a list of people from work, church, your neighborhood, your children’s school, family, the gym, and so forth. Then pray about who the Lord wants you to invite from that list. No matter how you find members, it is vital that you stay on the lookout for new people to join your group. All groups tend to go through healthy attrition—the result of moves, releasing new leaders, ministry opportunities, and so forth—and if the group gets too small, it could be at risk of shutting down. If you and your group stay open, you’ll be amazed at the people God sends your way. The next person just might become a friend for life. You never know! How long will this group meet? It’s totally up to the group—once you come to the end of this 6-week study. Most groups meet weekly for at least their first 6 weeks, but every other week can work as well. We strongly recommend that the group meet for the first six months on a weekly basis if at all possible. This allows for continuity, and if people miss a meeting they aren’t gone for a whole month. At the end of this study, each group member may decide if he or she wants to continue on for another 6-week study. Some groups launch relationships for years to come, and others are stepping-stones into another group experience. Either way, enjoy the journey. Can we do this study on our own? Absolutely! This may sound crazy, but one of the best ways to do this

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study is not with a full house but with a few friends. You may choose to gather with another couple who would enjoy some relational time over dinner and then walking through this study. Jesus will be with you even if there are only two of you (Matthew 18:20). What if this group is not working for us? You’re not alone! This could be the result of a personality conflict, life stage difference, geographical distance, level of spiritual maturity, or any number of things. Relax. Pray for God’s direction, and at the end of this 6-week study, decide whether to continue with this group or find another. You do not typically buy the first car you look at or marry the first person you date, and the same goes with a group. However, don’t bail out before the 6 weeks are up—God might have something to teach you. Also, don’t run from conflict or prejudge people before you have given them a chance. God is still working in your life, too! Who is the leader? Most groups have an official leader. But ideally, the group will mature and members will rotate the leadership of meetings. We have discovered that healthy groups rotate hosts/leaders and homes on a regular basis. This model ensures that all members grow, give their unique contribution, and develop their gifts. This study guide and the Holy Spirit can keep things on track even when you rotate leaders. Christ has promised to be in your midst as you gather. Ultimately, God is your leader each step of the way. How do we handle the childcare needs in our group? Very carefully. Seriously, this can be a sensitive issue. We suggest that you empower the group to openly brainstorm solutions. You may try one option that works for a while and then adjust over time. Our favorite approach is for adults to meet in the living room or dining room and to share the cost of a babysitter (or two) who can watch the kids in a different part of the house. This way, parents don’t have to be away from their children all evening when their children are too young to be left at home. A second option is to use one home for the kids and a second home (close by or a phone call away) for the adults. A third idea is to rotate the responsibility of providing a lesson or care for the children either in the same home or in another home nearby. This can be an incredible blessing for kids. Finally, the most common solution is to decide that you need to have a night to invest in your spiritual lives individually or as a couple and to make your own arrangements for childcare. No matter what decision the group makes, the best approach is to dialogue openly about both the problem and the solution.

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LIFE GROUP AGREEMENT OUR PURPOSE To provide an engaging environment where participants experience authentic community and spiritual growth.

OUR VALUES •

Group Attendance

To give priority to the group meeting. We will call or email if we will be late or absent. (Completing the Group Calendar on page 162 will minimize this issue.)

• Safe Environment To help create a safe place where people can be heard and feel

loved. (Please, no quick answers, snap judgments, or simple fixes.)

• Respect Differences To be gentle and gracious to people with different spiritual

maturity, personal opinions, temperaments, or “imperfections” in fellow group members. We are all works in progress.

• Confidentiality To keep anything that is shared strictly confidential and within

the group, and to avoid sharing improper information about those outside the group.

• Encouragement for Growth To be not just takers but givers of life. We want to spiritually

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multiply our life by serving others with our God-given gifts.

• Shared Ownership To remember that every member is a minister and to ensure that

each participant will share a small team role or responsibility over time. (See the Team Roles on pages 163-164.

• Rotating Hosts/Leaders and Homes To encourage different people to host the group in their homes and

to rotate the responsibility of facilitating each meeting. (See the Group Calendar on page 162.)

OUR EXPECTATIONS • Refreshments/mealtimes • Childcare • When we will meet (day of week) • Where we will meet (place) • We will begin at (time) and end at • We will do our best to have some or all of us attend a worship service together. Our primary worship service time will be • Date of this agreement • Date we will review this agreement again • Who (other than the leader) will review this agreement at the end of this study

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LIFE GROUP CALENDAR

Planning and calendaring can help ensure the greatest participation at every meeting. At the end of each meeting, review this calendar. Be sure to include a regular rotation of host homes and leaders, and do not forget birthdays, socials, church events, holidays, and mission/ ministry projects.

DATE Monday, January 15

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LESSON 1

HOST HOME Steve and Lauraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

DESSERT/ MEAL Joe

LEADER Bill

LIFE GROUP ROLES The Bible makes it clear that every member, not just the life group leader, is a minister in the body of Christ. In a healthy life group, every member takes on some small role or responsibility. It’s more fun and effective if you team up on these roles. Review the team roles and responsibilities below, and have each group member volunteer for a specific role or place on a team. If someone doesn’t know where to serve or is holding back, have the group suggest a team or role for them. It’s best to have one or two people on each team so that each of the five typical life group functions or purposes are covered. Participating in even a small way will not only help the group leader by sharing logistics and duties, but will also make the group more fun for everyone. Don’t hold back; join a team! The opportunities below are broken down by the five purposes that roughly parallel the session components and aspects of an effective life group. The duties are organized by weight or experience, allowing team members to gradually assume greater responsibilities as they develop spiritually. These phases are listed as crawl (initial roles); walk (greater roles); run (advanced roles). As the group organizes, try to have the crawl and walk categories assigned, keeping in mind the group’s history and each person’s gifts and maturity.

CONNECTING TEAM (Fellowship and Community Building)

Crawl: Host a social event or group activity in the first week or two. Walk: Create a list of uncommitted members and then invite them to

an open house or group social. Run: Plan a 24-hour retreat or weekend get-away for the group. Lead the connecting team each week for the group.

GROWING TEAM (Discipleship and Spiritual Growth)

Crawl: Coordinate the Spiritual Partners for your Life Group. Facilitate a three- or four-person discussion circle during the Bible study portion of your meeting. Coordinate the discussion circles.

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Walk: Encourage personal devotions through group discussions and pairing up with spiritual partners. Run: Guide the group on a prayer walk, or plan a day of solitude, fasting, or spiritual retreat for the group.

SERVING TEAM (Discovering Your God-given Design for Ministry) Crawl: Ensure that every member finds a group role or team he or she

enjoys. Walk: Have every member take a gifts test and determine your group’s gifts. Plan a ministry project with others. Run: Help each member decide on a way to use his or her unique gifts somewhere in the church.

SHARING TEAM (Sharing and Evangelism)

Crawl: Coordinate the group’s Prayer and Praise Report of friends and

family who don’t know Christ. Walk: Search for group mission opportunities and plan a cross-cultural group activity. Run: Take a small-group “vacation” to host a six-week group in your neighborhood or office. Then come back together with your current group.

WORSHIP TEAM (Surrendering Your Heart to Worship)

Crawl: Maintain the group’s Pray and Praise Report or journal. Walk: Lead a brief time of worship each week (at the beginning and

end of your meeting, either a capella or using a recorded song such as from the LifeTogether Worship DVD/CD. Run: Plan a unique time of worship through Communion, foot-washing, night of prayer, or nature prayer walk.

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SPIRITUAL PARTNERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CHECK-IN

Briefly check in each week and write down an update on your practice of the spiritual discipline for the current week and also an update on what the Holy Spirit is doing in each of your lives (may or may not be related to the spiritual discipline)

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MEMORY VERSE CARDS CLIP & REVIEW

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SESSION ONE

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) SESSION TWO

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7 ) SESSION FOUR

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. (John 13:14)

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PRAYER AND PRAISE REPORT

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LIFE GROUP ROSTER NAME:

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LIFE GROUP LEADER HELPS KEY RESOURCES TO HELP YOUR LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE BE THE BEST IT CAN BE.

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HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE If you’re starting a new group, try planning an “open house” before your first formal group meeting. Even if you have only two to four core members, it is a great way to break the ice and to consider prayerfully who else might be open to joining you over the next few weeks. You can also use this kick-off meeting to hand out study guides, spend some time getting to know each other, discuss each person’s expectations for the group and briefly pray for each other. A simple meal or good desserts always make a kick-off meeting more fun. After people introduce themselves and share how they ended up being at the meeting (you can play a game to see who has the wildest story!), have everyone respond to a few icebreaker questions: • What is your favorite family vacation? • What is one thing you love about your church/your community? • What are three things about your life growing up that most people here don’t know? Next, ask everyone to tell what he or she hopes to get out of the study. You might want to review the Life Group Agreement and talk about each person’s expectations and priorities. Finally, set an open chair (maybe two) in the center of your group and explain that it represents someone who would enjoy or benefit from this group but who isn’t here yet. Ask people to pray about inviting someone to join the group over the next few weeks. Don’t worry about ending up with too many people; you can always have one discussion circle in the living room and another in the dining room after you watch the lesson. Each group could then report prayer requests and progress at the end of the session. You can skip this kick-off meeting if your time is limited, but you’ll experience a huge benefit if you take the time to connect with each other in this way.

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LEADING FOR THE FIRST TIME

(Ten common leadership experiences. Welcome to life out in front!) • Sweaty palms are a healthy sign. The Bible says God is gracious to the humble. Remember who is in control; the time to worry is when you are not worried. Those who are soft in heart (and sweaty palmed) are those whom God is sure to speak through. • Seek support. Ask your leader, co-leader, or close friend to pray for you and prepare with you before the session. Walking through the study will help you anticipate potentially difficult questions and discussion topics. • Bring your uniqueness to the study. Lean into who you are and how God wants you to uniquely lead the study. • Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Go through the session several times. If you are using the video, listen to the teaching segment. Consider writing in a journal or fasting for a day to prepare yourself for what God wants to do. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare. • Ask for feedback so you can grow. Perhaps in an email or on cards handed out at the study, have everyone write down three things you did well and one thing you could improve on. Don’t get defensive. Instead, show an openness to learn and grow. • Prayerfully consider launching a new group. This doesn’t need to happen overnight, but God’s heart is for this to take place over time. Not all Christians are called to be leaders or teachers, but we are all called to be “shepherds” of a few someday. • Share with your group what God is doing in your heart. God is searching for those whose hearts are fully His. Share your trials and victories. We promise that people will relate. • Prayerfully consider whom you would like to pass the baton to next week. It’s only fair. God is ready for the next member of your group to go on the faith journey you just traveled. Make it fun, and expect God to do the rest.

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LEADERSHIP TRAINING 101 (TOP TEN IDEAS FOR NEW LEADERS)

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Congratulations! You have responded to the call to help shepherd Jesus’ flock. There are few other tasks in the family of God that surpass the contribution you will be making. As you prepare to lead, whether it is one session or the entire series, here are a few thoughts to keep in mind. We encourage you to read these and review them with each new discussion leader before he or she leads. 1. Remember that you are not alone. God knows everything about you, and He knew that you would be asked to lead your group. Remember that it is common for all good leaders to feel that they are not ready to lead. Moses, Solomon, Jeremiah and Timothy were all reluctant to lead. God promises, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Whether you are leading for one evening, for several weeks, or for a lifetime, you will be blessed as you serve. 2. Don’t try to do it alone. Pray right now for God to help you build a healthy leadership team. If you can enlist a co-leader to help you lead the group, you will find your experience to be much richer. This is your chance to involve as many people as you can in building a healthy group. All you have to do is call and ask people to help. You will probably be surprised at the response. 3. Just be yourself. If you won’t be you, who will? God wants you to use your unique gifts and temperament. Don’t try to do things exactly like another leader; do them in a way that fits you! Just admit it when you do not have an answer, and apologize when you make a mistake. Your group will love you for it, and you’ll sleep better at night! 4. Prepare for your meeting ahead of time. Review the session and the leader’s notes, and write down your responses to each question. Pay special attention to exercises that ask group members to do something other than engage in discussion. These exercises will help your group live what the Bible teaches, not just talk about it. Be sure you understand how an exercise works, and bring any necessary supplies (such as paper and pens) to your meeting. If the exercise employs one of the items in the appendix, be sure to look over that item so you’ll know how it works. Finally, review “Outline for Each Session” so you’ll remember the purpose of each section in the study.

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5. Pray for your group members by name. Before you begin your session, go around the room in your mind and pray for each member by name. You may want to review the prayer list at least once a week. Ask God to use your time together to touch the heart of every person uniquely. Expect God to lead you to whomever He wants you to encourage or challenge in a special way. If you listen, God will surely lead! 6. When you ask a question, be patient. Someone will eventually respond. Sometimes people need a moment or two of silence to think about the question. Keep in mind, if silence doesn’t bother you, it won’t bother anyone else. After someone responds, affirm the response with a simple “thanks” or “good job.” Then ask, “How about somebody else?” or “Would someone who hasn’t shared like to add anything?” Be sensitive to new people or reluctant members who aren’t ready to say, pray, or do anything. If you give them a safe setting, they will blossom over time. 7. Provide transitions between questions. When guiding the discussion, always read aloud the transitional paragraphs and the questions. Ask the group if anyone would like to read the paragraph or Bible passage. Don’t call on anyone, but ask for a volunteer, and then be patient until someone begins. Be sure to thank the person who reads aloud. 8. Break up into small groups each week or they won’t stay. If your group has more than seven people, we strongly encourage you to have the group sometimes gather in discussion circles of three or four people during the GROW TOGETHER sections of the study. With a greater opportunity to talk in a smaller circle, people will connect more with the study, apply more quickly what they’re learning and ultimately get more out of it. A smaller circle also encourages a quiet person to participate and tends to minimize the effects of a more vocal or dominant member. It can also help people feel more loved in your group. When you gather again at the end of the section, you can have one person summarize the highlights from each circle. Small circles are also helpful during prayer time. People who are unaccustomed to praying aloud will feel more comfortable trying it with just two or three others. Also, prayer requests won’t take as much time, so circles will have more time to actually pray. When you gather back with the whole group,

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you can have one person from each circle briefly update everyone on the prayer requests. People are more willing to pray in small circles if they know that the whole group will hear all the prayer requests. 9. Rotate facilitators weekly. At the end of each meeting, ask the group who should lead the following week. Let the group help select your weekly facilitator. You may be perfectly capable of leading each time, but you will help others grow in their faith and gifts if you give them opportunities to lead. You can use the Life Group Calendar to fill in the names of all meeting leaders at once if you prefer. 10. One final challenge (for new or first time leaders): Before your first opportunity to lead, look up each of the five passages listed below. Read each one as a devotional exercise and ask God to equip you with a shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart. Trust us on this one. If you do this, you will be more than ready for your first meeting. Matthew 9:36 1 Peter 5:2-4 Psalm 23 Ezekiel 34:11-16 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12

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NOTES

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