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Current Discussion GUide

I Can’t Believe that… Jesus is God.

Written by Liz Ditty and Nathan Gelsinger

 

  • Have you ever found out that someone was more or less than they presented themselves to be? How did that affect the way you thought of them?

 

  • Read John 1:1-18
    • How was Jesus uniquely able to reveal God to humanity? (v.18)
    • Why might John think it is important for people to realize that Jesus was present at the time of creation? (v.1-3)
    • How do the stories of Jesus in the Gospels affect your understanding of God?

 

  • Read Philippians 2:5-11
    • Jesus set aside his privilege of being only God, and also became human. As you think about what his existence may have been like before being born to a human life, discuss his motivation to do this.

 

  • Read Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 Peter 4:12-14.
    • What do these verses tell us about our ability to approach God? What do they tell us to expect regarding suffering and difficulty?

 

  • Read Colossians 2:8-15
    • Leaders note- The power of the cross to reverse the power of sin and death is connected to Jesus’ authority as God (v.9) No one else could have died and taken away all the sins of the world. 
    • What happened when Jesus, being God, died on the cross? Make a list from verses 13-15.

 

  • God didn’t just save the world, he saved each one of us. Tell the group the short version of the story about how you decided to follow Jesus. If that’s not part of your story yet, tell us what made you curious about him?

  • Knowing what it cost Jesus to forgive you, is there any unforgiveness or resentfulness you are holding against someone else that you’d like to examine more closely? How can the group pray for you in this situation?

 

  • Prayer Time
    • Adoration: Let’s take time to worship God in the fullness of who He is as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
    • Confession: Let’s approach God and ask Him to forgive us for the sin we have done or the things we have failed to do that could separate us from His presence. Jesus came to reconcile us and gave His life so we could be forgiven.
    • Thanksgiving: Thank God for what he has done and how he has expressed Himself through the person of Jesus. Thank God for all his other good gifts in your life as well.
    • Help: In what area of your life do you need the self-giving character, eternal wisdom, and incredible power of God to be present with you?

 

 

Click Here For a Downloadable Version of the Discussion Guide

*Much thanks to Gerry Breshears and the notes from his Christology class at Western Seminary which influenced the flow of this discussion guide.

Mid-Season Training Report

 

You’ll recall that we have 6 distinct types of groups within our Life Groups Ministry and it was a joy to be able to have a time more specific to each of your specific groups’ needs. Women’s Life Groups, Men’s Life Groups, Family Life Groups, Mixed Life Groups, Affinity/Activity Life Groups, and Discipleship Life Groups. Thank you!

  

As we round the corner towards summer We need to consider how to Multiply your group in the Fall….

NOW BEFORE YOU FREAK OUT :), Just hear me out… 

 

      We have a continuing need for new groups (particularly in the Activity Groups, Family Life Groups, and Women’s Life Groups areas) and additionally we have a responsibility to raise up those in our group to become leaders just like we are (read Ephesians 4:7-16). 

 

     I want to approach Multiplication through the lens of Mentoring for this Fall. It can really look like one of two different Pathways:

 

Pathway #1

  • March → Summer

    • You start training up someone (or a few) in your group right now. They gain confidence (through following the HeroMaker model) and agree to start a group in the Fall.

  • August → December

    • In the Fall they attend BOTH your group AND their new group. This provides a place for them to be encouraged as they pour into this new group that’s beginning.

    • You both agree to spend the year in a mentoring relationship where you connect/talk/laugh/cry/pray through the process of this new group beginning

    • As the Fall season ends they can begin to taper off attending your group as they feel settled and ready to be in their new group

  • January → June

    • They only attend the new group and you are alongside them mentoring/praying/encouraging them during the remainder of the season

Pathway #2 

  • Everything goes exactly the same as Pathway #1 with the change that you as the existing leader step out to start a new group and the person you’ve been training steps up to take leadership of the existing group. 

 

     Now I recognize that some groups are not in the right space to send out a leader!! That’s okay! Even if that is the case for the Fall, beginning to train them through the HeroMaker process will help your group bond more deeply and be a more enjoyable experience as a leader. 

 

    As I wrap this up I just want to say that Multiplication and Prayer Partners will be a main focus through the rest of our season. Multiplication to prepare for the fall and Prayer Partners to make sure you understand the Prayer Partner Role and have consistent communication with your prayer partner. 

 

New Group Member Follow Up

  • Individuals requesting to join via groupfinder are added to your group and their information is sent to you. 
  • Your responsibility is to connect with them within 48 hours. 
  • If you have been unsuccessful over three attempts please update the google sheet (that we send open groups weekly) with that information
  • Review the Google sheet (that we send with potential members) and update accordingly. We will send this weekly as a reminder if you have pending requests. 

System Update – New Attendance Look and Feel

  • First of all, attendance now AUTO-SAVES. This is convenient and confusing. When you enter attendance (by clicking on a person’s name which highlights them with a blue box) this attendance is automatically saved and updated.
  • You can share prayer requests by clicking “Share Prayer Requests”
  • There is no saving or submitting anymore. When you’re finished click “back” or close the page.
  • We are fixing an issue that some of you are not receiving an attendance summary. 
  • You can access your group at: my.venture.cc