Group Discussion Guide
Life Together, Part 2
This guide is designed to help your group create a space for genuine connection and conversation within your discussion time. Don't feel pressured to address every question each week. Instead, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you lead your group in uncovering what God intends to communicate during your time together.
This guide comprises three sections: Loving, Learning, and Living. Each section aims to steer your conversation towards meaningful discussions about spiritual growth as individuals and as members of the body of Christ.
This guide comprises three sections: Loving, Learning, and Living. Each section aims to steer your conversation towards meaningful discussions about spiritual growth as individuals and as members of the body of Christ.
LOVING
First moments together as a group to connect and pray (approx. 10-15 min).
Open with prayer and invite God to be part of your conversation and relationship.
- How have you seen God at work in your life since the last time we met?
- What has been one high and one low since the last time we met?
- How did you do with living out what we talked about last time we met?
Open with prayer and invite God to be part of your conversation and relationship.
LEARNING
The majority of the group discussion is devoted to open dialogue, reflecting on God’s Word and its personal application to each of our lives (approx. 60-75 min).
Scripture References from Message: ACTS 2:37-47
Big Idea from Message: Devotion to life together transforms old ways into new life.
The story in Acts 2 takes place during the festival of Pentecost (50 days after Passover), a time when Jerusalem would have been full of people from around the ancient world going about their religious duties and doing all the right religious things. And yet, God still chose this moment to send the Holy Spirit and call the people there to something more. Why do you think this timing is important for the story of the Good News and the birth of the early church community?
Peter’s call to those gathered in Jerusalem wasn’t to be better people but to let go of the whole of their old life and live in the new, resurrection life of the risen One, Jesus. Is there something from your life before Jesus that you are holding onto?
Take a minute to process Tyler’s big question, “What are you devoted to?” What would your calendar, bank account, plans for the new year, etc. say you are devoted to?
What practices of devotion in this section do you think we are good at as a church or campus? What practices might we need to grow in (together) in order to better embody the new life of Christ as people made new in him?
Scripture References from Message: ACTS 2:37-47
Big Idea from Message: Devotion to life together transforms old ways into new life.
The story in Acts 2 takes place during the festival of Pentecost (50 days after Passover), a time when Jerusalem would have been full of people from around the ancient world going about their religious duties and doing all the right religious things. And yet, God still chose this moment to send the Holy Spirit and call the people there to something more. Why do you think this timing is important for the story of the Good News and the birth of the early church community?
Peter’s call to those gathered in Jerusalem wasn’t to be better people but to let go of the whole of their old life and live in the new, resurrection life of the risen One, Jesus. Is there something from your life before Jesus that you are holding onto?
Take a minute to process Tyler’s big question, “What are you devoted to?” What would your calendar, bank account, plans for the new year, etc. say you are devoted to?
What practices of devotion in this section do you think we are good at as a church or campus? What practices might we need to grow in (together) in order to better embody the new life of Christ as people made new in him?
LIVING
This week, revisit the quote from Henri Nouwen, “Christian community is the place where we keep the flame of hope alive among us and take it seriously so that it can grow and become stronger in us." What would it look like for you to share in the work of keeping “the flame of hope alive” for or with someone else this week? What are some things in your life that you need to start or stop doing to “take it seriously” and let the Good News of Jesus grow in your life and help it grow in the life of someone else?