Leader’s Study Guide #AnyoneListening for the week of March 6, 2022
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LEADERS COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY GUIDE
For the week of March 6, 2022
This guide is designed to give helpful hints in preparing & leading your group in discussion.
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LEADER NOTES |
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Things to Remember: • Drinks when people arrive Goals for the Evening: • Continue to build relationships • Discuss the Study Questions • Pray together ⇨ FINALIZE ROSTERS FOR the SPRING QUARTER We have a quicker turn around for than normal for Spring Sign-ups, which start March 19. To ensure we have plenty of openings for new people to join a group, please let us know of any changes to your group or indicate “NO CHANGES” when you submit your attendance this week. Thank you! New Leaders & Hosts: Do you know someone who would be great at leading or hosting a Community Group? If so, please let your Groups Pastor, Chris Sullivan know but emailing him at chris@stfchurch.com Extra Grace Required Podcast: Trying to get authentic answers? Listen to our latest podcast for ideas! https://open.spotify.com/episode/4o6vmHZ5FxZFZmBaQA8r4P?si=miKj1523QY2gcZ-e3TG2AQ&nd=1 Meeting Notes ⇨ PRAYER
⇨ ATTENDANCE Submit your group’s attendance by replying to your email. STF upcoming EVENTS
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QUICK REVIEW
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or something that caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
MY STORY
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Who in modern day would you call a “holy person”? |
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We learned the word “holy” means to be “set apart.” Yet, for many of us “holy” has meant something totally different. How do you think most people would define the word “holy”? |
DIGGING DEEPER
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Read the passage below about holiness and then answer the following questions below. |
Exodus 3:1-6 New Living Translation
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
Recall an event in your life when you felt like you were “standing on holy ground.” What was sacred about that moment?
How has that moment served to establish a right relationship between God and you?
Revelation 4 New Living Translation
4 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. 6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
What response does the central figure elicit? Why?
Imagine yourself in this scene. What impresses you about God?
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What reasons are given in the verses below that could help motivate us to holiness even in our most challenging relationships? |
Ephesians 6:1-4 New Living Translation
6 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
Romans 13:1-5 New Living Translation
13 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
Luke 6:32-36 New Living Translation
32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Can you think of any relationships or situations where it would be hard for you to apply these verses?
TAKING IT HOME
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Based on this week’s teaching or homework, is there a relationship or area of your life you’d like to be more set apart in? Optional take-home assignment: Ask the following questions to help improve connection and communication in marriage, friendships or with family. • What am I doing right? • What could I be doing more of? • How can I love you better? |
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Read Matthew 6:9 and then read Psalm 33. Highlight and choose 1-2 to pray for in regards to God’s reputation – Thank God for who he is and for his character qualities – love, grace, forgiveness, power, etc. |
Matthew 6:9 New Living Translation
9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
Psalm 33 New Living Translation
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Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord;
it is fitting for the pure to praise him.
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Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre;
make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.
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Sing a new song of praise to him;
play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.
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For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything he does.
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He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.
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The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.
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He assigned the sea its boundaries
and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
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Let the whole world fear the Lord,
and let everyone stand in awe of him.
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For when he spoke, the world began!
It appeared at his command.
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The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations
and thwarts all their schemes.
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But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
his intentions can never be shaken.
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What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,
whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.
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The Lord looks down from heaven
and sees the whole human race.
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From his throne he observes
all who live on the earth.
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He made their hearts,
so he understands everything they do.
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The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
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Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
for all its strength, it cannot save you.
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But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his unfailing love.
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He rescues them from death
and keeps them alive in times of famine.
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We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
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In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
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Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in you alone.
PRAYER REQUESTS