"We Live For More" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. How did you did you demonstrate God’s love by serving someone else over the past week?

Main Thought

After Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples all hid in the fear that they too would suffer the same fate. Yet, soon after, they were found boldly preaching in Jerusalem that Jesus was the risen Savior. On one occasion, the disciples Peter and John were arrested by the Jewish authorities and threatened not to preach about Jesus anymore. Their reply was, “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” They were not afraid to risk their lives because they were convinced that Jesus was alive and that through Him, they had the promise of eternal life. Like them, when we trust in Jesus, He gives us the power to live a transformed life in order to make an eternal difference in the lives of others.

Main Passages

“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… 8 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.’ 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
- Acts 1:3-5, 8-9 NIV

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
- Ephesians 3:20

Discussion Questions

1. The disciples were transformed from cowards who hid for their lives into bold preachers. How has the resurrection of Christ changed your life?

2. How is God challenging you to live confidently for Him? What challenges do you face in doing so?

Application

1. Take a step of faith and do something to live confidently for God as a witness to someone who doesn’t know Him this week.

"Serving God by Serving Others" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. How did you think, act, or become more like Jesus over the past week?

Main Thought

God commands His followers to love Him and others. One of the most powerful and effective ways to demonstrate love is through acts of service. Jesus took on the role of a lowly servant by washing His disciples’ feet. He set the ultimate example for us. If we want to follow Jesus, then we must also practically serve as He did. God uses things like our gifts, personalities, passions, and experiences to shape us for service. Many use their God-given talents and opportunities to serve themselves, but that’s a fool’s venture. Actions driven by selfishness don’t last forever. Only our service to God - and other people with God’s love - can have an eternal impact.

Main Passages

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
- Philippians 2:3-7

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
- Ephesians 2:10

13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
- 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

Discussion Questions

1. What holds you back from serving God? Why?

2. How can you practically and passionately serve God? Is there anything that you enjoy that you’d be able to use to serve others?

Application:

1. Do something outside your ordinary routine to demonstrate God’s love and serve someone else this week.

"The Plan, The Promise, The Power" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. Who did you connect with over the past week to help them feel like they belong?

Main Thought

We were created to be like Christ! We can see that people were uniquely made in God’s image because we’re morally conscious, relational, intelligent, and able to think critically about ourselves and the world around us. But sin distorted our ability to develop Christlike character on our own. We need a spiritual transformation that brings our values, attitudes, habits in line with those displayed by Jesus. We begin to develop a Christlike character by actively choosing to be like Him. Then, we trust the Holy Spirit to give us God’s love, wisdom, and other character traits as we act in faith and obedience. God cares more about who we’re becoming than He does about what we’re doing.

Main Passages

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
- Romans 8:29, NIV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- Galatians 5:22-24

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV

Discussion Questions

1. What’s one Christlike character trait that you demonstrate right now? How did that trait develop inside you?

2. Have the people, circumstances, and/or situations around you revealed a way in which you can become more like Christ in the future?

Application

1. Identify one way in which you can become more like Jesus Christ. Memorize a scripture about it, and pray that God would you help you develop Christlike character.

"Born to Belong" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. What common, daily activity did you do to bring God pleasure or happiness over the past week?

Main Thought

People long to belong. God designed us to need others physically and spiritually. Yet we’ll eventually find that our desires for belonging are unfulfilled on some level. We may build bad bridges in our desperation to belong, or put up walls to insulate ourselves from pain. God’s perfect love is the solution to both of these problems. We were born to belong to Him! If we belong to God’s Family, then the family benefits (like access to God, purpose, and eternal life) belong to us. God’s family, the Church, gives us a perfect opportunity to learn how to love. Choosing to love others, in spite of their flaws, teaches us to love like Jesus and causes us to appreciate His love even more.

Main Passages

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
- 1 John 3:1

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
- 1 John 3:16

Discussion Questions

1. Has God’s love ever helped you heal from relational wounds? How?

2. Have you ever shared God’s love with someone who offended you? What happened?

Application

1. Connect with someone in God’s Family this week, and help them feel like they belong.

"Made for God's Pleasure" Discussion Guide

Main Thought

God deserves our worship! Worship is anything we do that brings God pleasure or happiness. These things “glorify” God. We were made for God’s glory. In turn, we experience our greatest joy when we bring God joy. The Westminster Shorter Catechism famously declares, “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” This means that God’s glory and our greatest happiness go hand-in-hand. Common ways to worship God include loving Him and other people, living our lives in obedience to His Word, and praising Him with music at church. A lifestyle of worship allows us to enjoy God’s presence continually.

Main Passage

3 Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. 4 For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
- Psalm 149:3-4, NLT

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
- Romans 12:1

14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
- Colossians 3:14-17

Discussion Questions

1. What habits, activities, or mindsets please God in your life?

2. What common task could you start doing as if you were doing it directly for Jesus?

3. Are there any areas in your life that you’re holding back from God? How can you practically take a step of faith, and surrender that part of your life to Him?