Group Leaders Guide 01-21-2010

8/8/2019 Group Leaders Guide 01-21-2010

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FaithComesByHearing.com

Life Group Study

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Special thanks to

Grace Point Church in San Antonio, Texas

for providing us with these materials.

Immersion: Go Deeperis a 40-day group

study designed to compliment a New

Testament listening experience. The lis-

tening experience is facilitated by media

and material developed by Faith Comes

by Hearings Youve Got The Time Bible

listening program.

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Closing Remarks

Hopefully this journey has had a profound impact on each person

in this group and their walk with Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah

gives us the promise that the Word of God will not return void

and we are called to write it upon our hearts. Now that we have

heard the entire New Testament, let us not stop therehow do we

continue to wrestle, learn, grow, and apply?

As a leader, facilitate some discussion about what next for your

group. Perhaps another week or two is needed to wrap up loose

ends and discuss. Make sure everyone understands the global

need for poor and illiterate people around the world to hear theBible in their own language.


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(2) James talks about pure religion, faith, works, and a number

of real issues we all wrestle with. How do the teachings in

James create tension with what you heard in Romans and

other epistles?

Close in Prayer

Introduction WeekIntroduction WeekIntroduction WeekIntroduction WeekIntroduction WeekIntroduction WeekIntroduction WeekIntroduction Week

Leader Notes

This week is an optional, but recommended kick-off session for the

Immersion study. Depending upon which day of the week your

group meets, the members of your group may not have covered

very much ground in the listening journey. This week is intended

to set the stage for the rest of the journey.

Look over the elements of this session and determine what will

work best for your group context. Since the next few weeks will

focus more on facilitation than any new teaching element, it is

also a great opportunity to share leadership responsibilities with

others in your group. Consider rotating each week during this

study for an added sense of togetherness in the listening experi-

ence.

Checking In

Coming into this group time, what big things from this

past week are still distracting youwhether positive or

negative?

Describe what your relationship with God has lookedlike at key periods in the pastwhen you first ex-

changed your life? early years of faith? The past

year? The past month?

Pray over any of the things from this past week that are

distracting people, and pray for this time that it would

be clear and free for everyone to experience

community while seeking God together.

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Diving In

(1) How much of the Bible have you read prior to this?

(2) What has your experience been reading and understanding

the Bible before this program? Good/bad? Challenges?

(3) Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. How have you experienced Gods

Word in teaching, correcting and training you?

(4) What do you hope to gain from this listening experience over

the next 40 days?

(5) Is there anything that intimidates you about the idea of

listening to the entire New Testament?

(6) What challenges do you anticipate? How can this group

help encourage you in overcoming any challenges during

the next 40 days?

Dive Deeper (optional)

Divide up and have different people read these passages: He-

brews 4:12; Psalm 119:105; Ephesians 6:17, Luke 24:25, and Luke

8:11-15. Discuss what insights these passages offer about what

we can expect and should seek from understanding the Bible.

Close in Prayer

Confess fears or concerns to God, share excitement and desires

pertaining to this journey, invite God to transform each person

by the renewing of their mind as everyone is immersed in truth

during the coming week.

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(3) What personal lessons and lessons for our group/church can we

draw from Pauls writings?

(4) The letters to the Colossians and Ephesians talk a lot about the

relationship between the local church/believers and Jesus

Christ. Share some of the relationships Paul describes and what

the implications are for believers according to those passages.

You may want to go back and glance at the first chapter of

both books to see some of the powerful language Paul uses.

(5) How would you describe the attitude and tone of the author of

Hebrews? What issues are being addressed?

(6) What are the major themes of James? Discuss how the talk

about faith, works, true religion, and actions are addressed in

James.

(7) How can you apply what you have heard this week in your life?


(1) In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul talks of his thorn in the flesh, some-

thing that helped to keep him humble, and that served to

remind him of his own weaknessprobably some type of temp-

tation or chronic illness. Have you had persistent struggles that

served to keep you in check and dependent upon God?


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Diving In

(1) How was the first week of listening? Surprises? Share about

the initial experience of hearing Gods Word.

(2) Was there a story you particularly identified with or that

stands out to you from this past week? What does it reveal

about Jesus or God? Your life as a Christ-follower?

(3) What are some of the common themes in Matthew and

Mark? Major stories or statements that were new to you?

(4) Matthew contains some of Christs most famous teachings,

and his longest sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. What

does He emphasize in this section? Why do you think Jesus

repeats and emphasizes certain points in His talks?

(5) Can you identify the key difference in Matthews Gospel

from what you have heard so far in Mark? Why would these

differences exist?

(6) Are there any phrases or figures of speech, that have caught

your attention because we are hearing the Word? Why?

(7) How has hearing the Gospel rather than reading been

different? Is it easier? Harder? Why?

(8) How can you apply what you have heard into your life?

Please give some concrete examples.

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(1) Romans is one of the great explanations of fallen mans sin, our

need for mercy and grace, and Gods salvation plan by

sending a Savior. What section struck you the most? Why? Any

part that you want/need more information and/or have ques-

tions about? Who in the group can do some more digging onthese questions and bring back some insights for next week?

(2) Read and discuss Romans 6:1-12. This is a defining passage for

Christian theology and life. Discuss as a group what is most

powerful and what is most difficult about this passage.

(3) Read Romans 10:14-17. Begin discussing how your group will

respond to the missions challenge of taking the Word of God toother people groups in the world.

(4) Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. Discuss what things about God,

Jesus, and the Bible you have struggled with and what insights

youve gained so far from the listening experience.

Close in Prayer


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(3) As we are now halfway through the New Testament, what

stands out to you as core or central to the overall mes-

sage so far?

(4) In the latter part of Acts, we heard about Pauls suffering and

persecution. What lessons can we learn from how Paul han-

dled these experiences and the way he spoke truth to the rul-ers/crowds?

(5) Romans is a powerful book - it used to be required reading for

law students at Harvard because of how thoroughly it

addresses law, grace, righteousness, and Gods system of

truth. How does Paul describe the role of grace and

righteousness compared to law and works?

(6) After hearing Romans and 1 & 2 Corinthians, how would you

describe Pauls tone and themes of writing? What is Paul

passionate about?

(7) What is Pauls attitude toward the Corinthians? What issues

are they experiencing? Do we still have those same issues in

our churches today?

(8) How can you apply what you have heard into your life?

(9) You came up with ways in previous weeks to apply the

teachings youve been hearing. How is that going? Have

you initiated any changes? Are you seeing a difference in

your life?

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(1) The book of Matthew started out with the genealogy of Jesus.

Why do you think this would be considered so important?

(2) In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), Jesus gives His

final earthly words to a crowd of followers. Make disciples isthe primary command. Why would making disciples be so im-

portant that Christs final words would tell us to do this?

(3) Why do you think that the Gospels (Matthew and Mark in par-

ticular) quote a lot of Old Testament Scriptures so much?

(4) Jesus said the words Woe to you a lot in these Gospels. What

Woe to you statements would apply in your life, this group,

our church?

Close in Prayer

*Questions will likely arise that are unexpected or not easily answered

during group time. Encourage different members of the group to tackle

digging further into those and bringing back their findings next week. If

issues do arise that seem to bog the group down, write them down and

reach out for insight/direction for the following week. Diligently keep the

group time forward-focused.


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Week TwoWeek TwoWeek TwoWeek TwoWeek TwoWeek TwoWeek TwoWeek Two

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Leader Notes

This past week represents the last full week of Gospel listening.

For some, the listening experience may begin to drag at this

point as the repetitive nature of the life of Jesus and parable

teachings play out. Emphasize the value of hearing the different

perspectives of each Gospel, the need we have for reinforcedclarity on the life, words, and mission of Jesus and to stay the

course.

Checking In

How did the listening go this week?

Describe how your relationship with God has looked

and/or changed this past week.

Pray over distracting, competing, and challenging

factors of the past week that have hindered the

listening experience for group members

Did you have any major ah-ha moments during this

past weeks listening?

Diving In(1) What were the major themes from this weeks listening? Any

new stories, statements, or elements you heard?

(2) Matthew, Mark, and Luke are synoptic Gospels because

they are parallel. What differences and commonalities did

you notice about the three perspectives so far?

(3) Create a Top 10 Issues & Teachings List of things Jesus talks

about. Share which teachings were new or surprising to you.

Week FourWeek FourWeek FourWeek FourWeek FourWeek FourWeek FourWeek Four

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Leader Notes

This past week listeners heard parts of the New Testament that

contain some pretty heavy theologyall of Romans and

1 Corinthians. Hopefully the discussion will hit upon some of the

fundamental elements of the Christian life; but the discussion may

get bogged down in theological debate and lines of questionsthat go on endlessly. Be diligent to keep the discussion moving for-

ward and fruitfully focused on insights into truth and application.

Checking In


Describe what your relationship with God has lookedlike this week. What adjectives would you use to

describe it?






Diving In

(1) Thinking back to previous weeks, what were the top 3-5 themes

of the Gospels? What were central elements of the message

Jesus proclaimed?

(2) What major themes do you recall from Acts?


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Dive Deeper (continued)

(2) Before Stephen is stoned, he recounts a total history of the

Bible, weaving the meta-history of Gods actions with

mankind. Why is this so important? How have the trends of

that history continued into the present?

(3) Luke wrote both his Gospel and Acts as a letter to a friend,

Theophilus, potentially a high-ranking government official.

(Luke 1:4; Acts 1:1) Does Luke accomplish the purpose he

declares at the beginning of these letters?

(4) Acts 8:9-25 tells a story about someone who tried to use the

power of God for personal gain. Have you ever wrestled

with trying to use God apart from abiding in Jesus (John 14:6,John 15:5)? What are the risks and hazards of this?

(5) In Acts 20, Paul says farewell to the leaders of Ephesus and

claims confidence from knowing he did everything he was

called to. Do you have confidence you are living in full

obedience to Gods will for your current season of life?

Close in Prayer

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(4) Was there a story you particularly identified with or that stands

out to you from this past week? What does it reveal about Je-

sus or God? Your life as a Christ-follower?

(5) What differences in tone and emphasis have you noticed from

the beginning of Johns Gospel so far?

(6) What is something you can do to apply or integrate what you

heard this past week into the week ahead? How can the

group pray and encourage you in this?


(1) In Luke 3, there is another genealogy of Jesus. How is it different

from Matthews account? Why? What is significant about thedifferences?

(2) Jesus parables are a famous element of the Gospels. How has

hearing rather than reading them been different? Do you have

any new insights into how to apply their principles in your life?

Which parable impacted you most?

(3) In Mark 16, there is a slightly different version of the Great

Commission. How is it similar and different to Matthew 28:18-20?

(4) John 3:16, one of the most famous verses in the Bible is some-

times called the Bible in one verse. It is placed within the

context of Jesus visit with Nicodemus. Discuss the impact of

such a statement with a first century Jew, especially a Pharisee.

Also, discuss the impact of the often overlooked verses of

John 3:17-21.

Close in Prayer


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Week ThreeWeek ThreeWeek ThreeWeek ThreeWeek ThreeWeek ThreeWeek ThreeWeek Three

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Leader Notes

This week everyone should have transitioned from the repetitive

Gospels into the rapid sequence of missionary events in Acts.

Acts represents stories of early Christ-followers living out faithful

obedience and willingness to be used by God in the world

around them. There are powerful parallels and questions to beasked of what this means for a group of Christ-followerslike

your group! Embrace these opportunities to discover, reflect,

and turn intrigue into so what do we do with that? moments.

Checking In


Describe how your relationship with God has lookedand/or changed this past week.






Diving In

(1) In John, we find the most explicit references to Christ as the

Son of God and His divinity. What do you recall hearing this

week that makes Jesus divinity undeniable?

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(2) Was there a story you particularly identified with or that stands

out to you from this past week? What does it reveal about Je-

sus or God? Your life as a Christ-follower?

(3) In what ways was Johns Gospel different than Matthew, Mark,

and Luke?

(4) The Book of Acts captures the story of the earliest churches and

missionary journeys. What were the common themes of the

early church and missionary activities? What does it tell us

about the heart of what the Church is all about?

(5) Which missionary and/or story from Acts stood out to you most

this past week?

(6) Has hearing, rather than reading, the Gospels and the begin-

ning of Acts been insightful? Is it easier? Harder? Has your opin-

ion changed since last week?

(7) How can you apply what you have heard in your life?

(8) You came up with ways in the last couple of weeks in which

you can apply this teaching. How is that going? Have you

initiated any changes?


(1) In Acts, we see that the Church had to wrestle through change

as different types of people and backgrounds melted together

under the banner of Jesus. What lessons do you see for us in

navigating similar struggles in local churches with diversecultures?

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Group Leaders Guide 01-21-2010