Healthy Relationships: Week 6 (Nov 14-19)
Healthy Relationships Practice: Week 6 | Week of November 14-20
Communities @ Grace
Overview of the Night:
15 Minutes Before Start Time : : Arrive + Set Out Food
45 Minutes : Welcome, Pray, Eat, + Mingle
15 Minutes : Review Last Week’s Practice
45 Minutes : Introduction of Practice + Discussion
5 Minutes : Practice for Week Ahead
10 Minutes : Pray for One Another + Close
15 Minutes Before Start Time : Arrive + Set Out Food
45 Minutes : Welcome, Pray, Eat, + Mingle
Take time as a group to share a meal and get to know each other more fully.
Continued ice-breaker/getting-to-know you question:
When you were at home as a child, what room in your house did you feel the most warmth and comfort? Why was that? What room would you say currently?
15 Minutes : Review of last week’s practice experience
After the meal, move to the discussion location and then ask the group to share how the practices for the last week went or previous ones, whether encouraging or discouraging.
*Leader Note: As the leader, it may be easy to only share the most positive side each week, but challenge yourself to be as honest with yourself and the group because you are modeling a heart posture you want them to pursue. If it might help conversation, break the group into groups of 2-3 to enhance discussion.
45 Minutes : Introduction of Practice + Discussion
To introduce the passage, ask the following question of the group: “Is there a time in your life when either your family of origin or the family of Christ came around you or someone you knew who was in need in some way?” How did you or the person in need feel about the experience?
The following passage is similar to the passage read two weeks ago in Acts 4:30-35 but with more specifics on how the arrival of the Holy Spirit impacted their way of life. Have someone read Acts 2:42-47.
Group Discussion questions: (feel free to pick one or two that would resonate the most with the Community)
What were practices they followed in this passage and why do you think they chose them?
*Leader Note: practices included daily worship, learning from the apostles, baptism, shared meals at home as a celebration, shared everything in common, pooled their resources to meet needs, etc.
What motivated them to follow those practices?
Are the same motivations and practices used today? Why or why not?
Are there ways that we can follow the practices today with the same energy and motivation both individually and as a Community @ Grace?
The practice for this week is to select one of the practices mentioned in the passage and apply it this week. That might include:
Plan a time of worship at home multiple times this week with song, praise, and rejoicing - practice being in the presence of God.
Take some time to study the sermon topic for this week
If you haven’t been baptized yet, consider if now is the timing for you. Please reach out to any pastor or your own Community leader if you’d like more info about what baptism is. You can sign up online.
Share a meal with others in the group or someone who is alone and would appreciate the time
If you know someone who is struggling financially, emotionally, or physically, consider how you could come alongside and help them.
Plan a fun event for this group where we all celebrate each other and the Lord we share
5 Minutes : Practices for Week Ahead
Provide a few minutes for each person to consider what practice they might follow this week. They may not be ready to decide, but give some time for each person to reflect on what the Lord would have them try this week.
10 Minutes : Pray for One Another + Close
Complete the evening by praying for each person's struggles over any past or the current practice as well as any other need each member has. Keep it personal.