Opening Statement
The following Introduction will be included in our Discussion Guides periodically. It should help set expectations for the Life Group gathering. The statement should be read by a Life Group Leader. Leaders may also refer back to it and read it again when someone joins the Group for the first time.
“Welcome to Life Group! Our goal is to be a small group where anyone can belong, believe, and become the people that God made us to be. We want to grow as followers of Jesus together.
With these goals in mind, we’d like to keep our conversation focused on our personal lives, our discussion material, and on how God is teaching us to follow Him. Sharing is encouraged. We want to hear from everyone; however, you can choose to pass on answering a question if you’d like. Please be mindful of the time, so that everyone has equal opportunities to share, listen, and learn. As a Life Group Leader, I will do my best to guide the conversation.
Let’s open our Life Group in prayer, and ask God to be with us tonight.”
Main Thought
What’s a dad supposed to do? Fathers are often thought of as providers. Provision includes meeting the basic financial or material needs for one’s self and/or family. This is a good, noble thing. But there are other things that need to be provided as well. We need love. In our efforts to provide love, we should capitalize on our strengths while considering how those around us best receive love. We need God’s love too. We should do our best to provide spiritual guidance. A prayer, an invitation to a Life Group or a Worship Service, and an encouraging word can all point people to God. Anyone can contribute to the provision of basic material needs, love, and spiritual guidance. But God will (generally) hold husbands and dads accountable to a greater degree, as He did with Adam. Fathers should be responsible for their families. God wants to help us all do our parts to guide and provide. He provided what we needed most through Jesus; and, He’s ready to help us through the presence of His Holy Spirit.
Main Passages
'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.'
- Deuteronomy 6:5-7
'Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. '
- Matthew 6:31-33
'but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. '
- Romans 5:8,15-17
Discussion Questions
What stands out to you in the Main Thought or Main Passages above?
Has anyone in your life provided spiritual guidance by “talking the talk and walking the walk” - essentially, by living a life that was in line with their faith? How so?
What can you provide to your family? What can you add to your spiritual family?