Answers Week 1
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ANSWERS WEEK 1 - LEADERSHIP COACHING [The purpose of this page is to help you sharpen your skills as a Small Group Leader. Each week we will include concepts, challenges and resources designed to assist you as you lead and shepherd your group and grow as a disciple yourself.] Leading [learn to facilitate your group more effectively] • Let’s face it, most of us have more questions than answers. The answers we get often confuse us and cause us to ask even more questions. We have more information at the tips of our fingers than ever before, but it’s hard to know what to believe as truth. In this series, ANSWERS – looking for truth in a world full of opinions, we want people to seek and to know God’s truth for their lives. We want them to be confident that Jesus and His Word are the standard for living the life they were created to live. • During this series, we will discuss scriptures and stories which answer faith’s fundamental questions. In group, we will often use a story that has not been taught in the sermon for that week. This gives you and your group an opportunity to further explore the biblical truth for that week. • Each lesson in this series will also have a Key Verse for your group to read, discuss and apply. You may want to challenge your group to memorize these verses each week. Shepherding [know the sheep, feed the sheep, lead the sheep, protect the sheep] • Encourage your group members to attend church regularly or to watch the services online if they are sick or cannot attend in person. The sermons will help answer questions that many people wrestle with and then in group time, you will be able to discuss the truth in the context of a Bible story. For many people this two pronged approach will be beneficial. • Begin giving your apprentice some additional responsibilities as we enter this next season of group life. Don’t forget that your job as a leader is to disciple each person in your group so that they can one day lead their own group. That begins with your apprentice, but extends to each member of the group. Abiding [grow as a disciple yourself] These are some scriptures which point to the truth. Read through them. Choose one to commit to memory. Have these verses on hand to help yourself, your family, or a group member during a time of doubt or confusion. o I believe, help my unbelief. (Mark 9:14-29) o Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32) o I am the way, the truth, and the life…no one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6) o Do not deceive yourselves…the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight (1 Corinthians 3:18-19) ______________________________________________________________________________ All Church [things you and your group need to know] Group leaders and apprentices are invited to attend the January 400 Series small groups leader training on Saturday, January 30, 2016 from 8:30am until 4:00pm. Light breakfast, lunch, childcare and some seriously awesome training are all included with registration! Click here to register now!
Transcript of Answers Week 1
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ANSWERS WEEK 1 - LEADERSHIP COACHING [The purpose of this page is to help you sharpen your skills as a Small Group Leader. Each week we will include concepts, challenges and resources designed to assist you as you lead and shepherd your group and grow as a disciple yourself.]
Leading [learn to facilitate your group more effectively]
• Let’s face it, most of us have more questions than answers. The answers we get often confuse us and cause us to ask even more questions. We have more information at the tips of our fingers than ever before, but it’s hard to know what to believe as truth. In this series, ANSWERS – looking for truth in a world full of opinions, we want people to seek and to know God’s truth for their lives. We want them to be confident that Jesus and His Word are the standard for living the life they were created to live.
• During this series, we will discuss scriptures and stories which answer faith’s fundamental questions. In group, we will often use a story that has not been taught in the sermon for that week. This gives you and your group an opportunity to further explore the biblical truth for that week.
• Each lesson in this series will also have a Key Verse for your group to read, discuss and apply. You may want to challenge your group to memorize these verses each week.
Shepherding [know the sheep, feed the sheep, lead the sheep, protect the sheep]
• Encourage your group members to attend church regularly or to watch the services online if they are sick or cannot attend in person. The sermons will help answer questions that many people wrestle with and then in group time, you will be able to discuss the truth in the context of a Bible story. For many people this two pronged approach will be beneficial.
• Begin giving your apprentice some additional responsibilities as we enter this next season of group life. Don’t forget that your job as a leader is to disciple each person in your group so that they can one day lead their own group. That begins with your apprentice, but extends to each member of the group.
Abiding [grow as a disciple yourself]
These are some scriptures which point to the truth. Read through them. Choose one to commit to memory. Have these verses on hand to help yourself, your family, or a group member during a time of doubt or confusion.
o I believe, help my unbelief. (Mark 9:14-29) o Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32) o I am the way, the truth, and the life…no one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6) o Do not deceive yourselves…the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight (1 Corinthians 3:18-19)
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All Church [things you and your group need to know] Group leaders and apprentices are invited to attend the January 400 Series small groups leader training on Saturday, January 30, 2016 from 8:30am until 4:00pm. Light breakfast, lunch, childcare and some seriously awesome training are all included with registration!
Click here to register now!
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ANSWERS WEEK 1– SAUL’S CONVERSION Open in Prayer Welcome/Introductions Remind group of Small Group guidelines Ask a hook question [Ask a thought provoking question to get the group focused]
Describe how you navigate for a trip. (Do you use apps?, Siri?, a map?) Share background for the story [Provide context by sharing what comes before the story in the Bible]
Saul of Tarsus was a member of the Pharisees, a group of religious leaders in Bible times. He violently opposed the people who followed Jesus as the Messiah, and he spent his time hunting them down to throw them in prison. He was as zealous about persecuting the disciples of Jesus as he was about his Jewish pedigree.
Saul was the man mentioned who held the coats of those who stoned Stephen for his faith in Jesus. He agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. We discover later that Saul is the apostle we know as Paul. Today we will hear about Saul’s conversion to Christianity.
Key verse - Acts 4:12 - ”There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Tell the story - this week’s passage is Acts 9:1-19 Rebuild the story [Group members tell the story together based on what they remember] Read the story out loud [Read the scripture passage to see if anything was added or omitted] Discuss these questions:
1. Read the key verse. How does this verse support the story in Acts 9?
2. How do the key verse and our story help provide a feeling of eternal security?
3. How did Jesus demonstrate to you that He is the only way to Heaven?
4. Why do you think the world struggles with the idea of there being only one way to Heaven? Ask someone to retell the story [Ask for a volunteer from the group]
Assign next week’s passage – Acts 9:20-31
Close in Prayer
