Leader’s Guide, CHOSEN, The Chidren, for the week of Sept 26, 2021 PDF Version
COMMUNITY Group Leader Guide
For the week of September 26, 2021
This guide is designed to give helpful hints in preparing & leading your group in discussion.
|
LEADER NOTES |
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS ⇨ Candy Trail October 24, 2021 5-8pm Wear your costume, decorate your trunk and come prepared — for Tricks … and Treats … and more! This is a perfect thing to do as a Community Group Social AND Service project! We need candy to be donated and we need trunks to fill up the spots. We expect 800-1000 kids from the community to come. We NEED YOU!To sign up your Community Group, click the following link: LEADER INFO ⇨ PRAYER
⇨ ATTENDANCE Submit your group’s attendance online by responding to your email from church center. ⇨ FINALIZE PLANS FOR YOUR SOCIAL & SERVICE PROJECT |
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
Remember, a successful group meeting is one where we hear from everyone and keep God’s Word at the center. The “My Story” questions are designed to help start conversation off in a positive direction and to help all group members feel comfortable to share. This builds momentum toward the “Digging Deeper” questions.
1. Kids ask a ton of questions. Kids don’t take anything at face value. What is the funniest question you have heard a child ask lately?
2. “Become like children” doesn’t turn out to be “don’t ask questions” because kids ask A LOT of questions. What is a question you wrestle with and ask God?
How do you react when God appears to be silent in answer to your question?
DIGGING DEEPER
1. Read the following passages. Circle the behavior/actions and childlike qualities Jesus was encouraging. Underline the behaviors he was scolding. What catches your attention or challenges you?
Matthew 18:1-5 New Living Translation
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.
The problem is we’re too strong, too talented, too capable, too grown-up. We pray, “God help me,” but our actions say, “Don’t worry Lord, I’ve got this.” Only we haven’t. We try and fail and resolve to try harder next time.
Matthew 19:13-14 New Living Translation
13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15 And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.
What makes little children special is they are helpless. The kids in this story didn’t come to Jesus; they were brought to Jesus. Most of them couldn’t walk, so they had to be carried. Some couldn’t stand, so Jesus had to hold them, and he was delighted to do so.
Mark 10:13-16 New Living Translation
13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
This isn’t about your baby-like faith or your infant-like humility. It’s not about you at all but Jesus whose desire is to help the helpless. And you are totally helpless when it comes to living the life that God wants for you.
2. Read the passage below and answer the following questions:
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 New Living Translation
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
How has God worked in and through you during a time of weakness?
What childlike quality do you need to recapture during times of weaknesses?
Paul wasn’t saying sickness is a good thing or a secret blessing, because it’s not. But when we’re down, the Lord can take us up.
What’s the path to greatness in the kingdom? It’s the one taken by the little child, the weak, and the lowly.
Give up and admit defeat – real defeat, not the super-spiritual pretending kind – and see yourself as dependent as an infant. Then watch and marvel at what God can do with the weak and lowly!
TAKING IT HOME
As mentioned in past weeks, mixing up how you end your meeting can help with focus. Dividing in men / women only groups, smaller groups, etc. may help with this. If you haven’t divided up yet this quarter, this may be a good week to start.
1. It’s easy to want to “hush” kids when we are busy adulting. However, God values every question we ask and never sees us as a distraction. What is one thing you could do differently that would reflect more of God in the way you listen to other’s questions?
2. Childlike excitement to see Jesus was evident, they were delighted to be in his arms and have his attention. You have Jesus’ attention. How does that make you feel?
PRAYER REQUESTS