Repentance: Week 14 (Jan 23-30)
Repentance Practice: Week 14| Week of (Jan 23-30)
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
Goal for Week: Practice what God is telling us needs to change in our life
15 Minutes Before Start Time: Arrive + Set Out Food
45 Minutes: Welcome, Pray, Eat, + Mingle
If appropriate, consider asking any of these questions during the time sharing a meal:
What practice, event, or experience has most impacted you in your Christian life?
Did you have anyone who helped you in your Christian walk and if so, how did they help you?
15 Minutes: Review of last week’s practice experience
Last week’s practice: (1) examine which of the four people (Road, Gravel, Weeds, Good Soil) you tend to be and then, if needed, confess any sin and seek forgiveness from God and (2) if you never accepted Jesus, talk to your leader about joining the family of God.
How did this practice go? What did the Holy Spirit stir/prompt in your heart this past week?
Did this understanding change your heart and soul in any way?
45 Minutes: Introduction of Practice + Discussion
Over the last few weeks, we’ve looked at sin, repentance, conversion and how we can respond to the seed of the Gospel of Jesus. This week we’ll discuss how we live our new life in Christ.
How do you know you are maturing as a Christian over time? What are the marks of a growing faith? (Bible study, prayer, quiet time, small group, love for God and people etc.)
Leader Note: On the last page of this document is a page with the three attitudes for discipleship and the Practice items for this week. Print copies of the page, cut out the items and distribute them to the group. The alternative is to have people write them in their notebooks.
We are going to look at three measures that impact our growth as a follower of Jesus. They are (1) a desire to be with God and learn from him, (2) willingness to do what God teaches me, (3)growing in love and service to all people.
We say that we are followers or disciples of Jesus. Let’s see how these three elements apply to us.
What is likely to happen if you have little or no desire to be with and learn from God? (You will spiritually dry up and probably turn away from the Gospel and the church.)
What can you do if you lack this desire to be with God? (Ask God to change your heart)
What ways can you learn more about him? (Prayer, bible study, groups, church service, accountability groups, etc.)
How are you personally doing in these areas? Be honest.
How important is knowledge as a goal to maturity? How can knowledge become an obstacle? (Knowledge provides direction on how to live, but it can inflate our egos, especially if we are not willing to act on what we learn. Knowledge should change how we live.)
So, again, how are you doing at applying what God is teaching you, and what needs to change?
Read Matthew 22:37-40
What does this say about loving others? (Love others because it’s God’s heart and a command)
Why is loving and serving others a strong measure of maturity?
Have the group take 1-2 minutes in silent prayer to ask the Lord if they are growing in their love and service to others and then ask if anyone wants to share what they heard from the Lord.
5 Minutes: Practices for Week Ahead
This week's practice is a review of our attitudes toward discipleship.
During the week review the three measures listed on your handout and reflect on how they are present in your life and ask God to show you where you can grow.
Identify one thing you can do this week to practice one of these values and be ready to share next week.
10 Minutes: Pray for One Another + Close
Leader: Close the session by praying Ephesians 3:14-21over your group.
Three Measures of Christian Growth
A desire to be with God and learn from him.
A willingness to do what God teaches me.
Growing in love and service to all people.
Practice:
Review the three measures and reflect on how they are present in your life and ask God to show where you can grow.
Identify one thing you can do this week to practice one of these values and be ready to share next week.
Three Measures of Christian Growth
A desire to be with God and learn from him.
A willingness to do what God teaches me.
Growing in love and service to all people.
Practice:
Review the three measures and reflect on how they are present in your life and ask God to show where you can grow.
Identify one thing you can do this week to practice one of these values and be ready to share next week.
Three Measures of Christian Growth
A desire to be with God and learn from him.
A willingness to do what God teaches me.
Growing in love and service to all people.
Practice:
Review the three measures and reflect on how they are present in your life and ask God to show where you can grow.
Identify one thing you can do this week to practice one of these values and be ready to share next week.
Three Measures of Christian Growth
A desire to be with God and learn from him.
A willingness to do what God teaches me.
Growing in love and service to all people.
Practice:
Review the three measures and reflect on how they are present in your life and ask God to show where you can grow.
Identify one thing you can do this week to practice one of these values and be ready to share next week.