Leaders CG Study Guide, CHOSEN, Matthew, for the week of Oct 31, 2021 PDF VERSION
LEADERS COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY GUIDE
FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 31, 2021
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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ANNOUNCEMENTS ⇨ OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Each Community group is asked to take several boxes and return them full November 14th. See www.samaritanspurse.org for details. ⇨ GO DAY November 6, 2021 2:00-5:00pm Paul Sanders Park, Brandon The GO Team is hosting a fall festival for our church plant partner, Extraordinary Church. We have many volunteer positions! This is a family event with bounce houses, face painting, free food and ice cream, music and so much more. ⇨ NEXT GEN PARENT CONFERENCE Wednesday, November 10, 6:30-7:30pm, BP Campus, 3rd floor YTH Room Get updated on the latest information of technology including social media, online safety, screen time monitoring, and more. This event is open to all parents or individuals seeking to grow in their awareness of how the gospel speaks specifically to our use of technology. If you are serving in Awana or elsewhere, there will be a recording of the event so you won’t miss out. ⇨ DAVE PETTIGREW WORSHIP CONCERT Thursday, November 11th, 6:30-7:30pm Celebrate Recovery invites everyone to this very special worship/concert located in the East at the BP campus. The Rhode Island born singer/songwriter was selected among the Top 20 new emerging artists in contemporary Christian music and has opened for bands such as Mercy me and Michael W Smith. The event is free but we will be collecting a love offering. ⇨ VETERANS DAY BBQ TAILGATE Sunday, November 14, 4;00-6:00pm STF Military is hosting a BBQ Tailgate for active duty and retired military and their families. Free BBQ food truck, bounce houses, and yard games. LEADER INFO ⇨ 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
These last several weeks we have gotten to know the characters chosen by Jesus. Which one have you enjoyed learning about the most and why?
- Mary Magdalene – called out of the most obvious kind of darkness, possessed by 7 demons, unable to earn her Savior’s help with good behavior, Jesus redeemed her in spite of who she was for the sake of who He created her to be
- Jesus – fully God and fully man practicing “Shabbat” or the Sabbath. Sabbath is an invitation by God to serve you. Jesus invites us to: Stop; Rest; Enjoy; and Worship Holy God.
- The Children – When it comes to God’s love, it’s not about our age, our appearance, our abilities, or anything else we may or may not bring to the table. Its about what already is, we are precious in His sight.
- Simon (Peter) – self sufficient, brash, and reluctant to obey. Simon recognizes he is completely unworthy to be in Jesus’s presence yet also left everything behind to follow Him to remain in His presence.
- Mary, Mother of Jesus – Celebrating her friend’s wedding, told the servants, “do whatever He tells you”. Jesus transforms simple obedient acts of faith into experiences of His great power bringing new creation and overflowing joy to our everyday lives.
- The Paralytic – Seeing the faith of his friends, Jesus gives him a new name, friend, and forgives his sins. The man made new by Christ has a new start living a life of forgiveness and proclaiming ultimate healing by Jesus.
- Nicodemus – Intelligent and educated, he had a difficult time relinquishing his preconceived notions of what being born again meant and what it would require him to give up. He wants to do life on his own terms and in his own strength. Nicodemus ultimately misses out being a disciple of Jesus choosing his own understanding over following Jesus.
- Matthew – Considered an outcaste, hated by all, living in physical, emotional, and spiritual isolation. Jesus gave very specific marching orders by telling him, “follow me”. Matthew up to this point, found security in his love for money more than people. Jesus calls him out of isolation and into spending his life with Him. Matthew subsequently became one of Jesus’s disciples and a faithful follower for the rest of his life.
2. What new thing are you afraid Jesus might lead you to? (Missionary work, adoption, ending a toxic relationship, sharing your faith, leaving your job – so many terrifying options; free free to name more than one.)
DIGGING DEEPER
1. This week we heard that isolation is where Satan wants us. Read the following warnings of isolation and answer the question below.
Genesis 2:18 ESV
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Proverbs 18:1 ESV
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
1 Corinthians 12:14 ESV
For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
In light of the above passages, why do you think we sometimes wrestle with the desire to do life alone?
2. Make a list of anything you can’t currently see your way through. Then next to whatever you wrote down, write Jesus’s corresponding attributes that we have learned through the series, The Chosen. Which attribute encourages you the most when things seem too big for you? (Jesus is our Rescuer, Provider, Keeper, Leader, Sure Foundation, Waymaker, King, Re-Creator to name a few)
(The group need not share their list. But DO ask them the attribute that encourages them the most. There are many more attributes not listed here. Remind them that hearing from one another is what encourages each of us in our times of hardship.)
TAKING IT HOME
1. What does it mean to you to be chosen?
2. What tangible thing might God be calling you to say or do in order to put your faith into action?
(Encourage: God, in his great mercy, has chosen to redeem you from the wrath of God. He has placed you in a specific ministry to those around you. You must now, in good effort and much grace, pass on the truth of the peace of God to the people God has placed around you. Do not overlook this great privilege and opportunity today. Seek out those you may encourage. Seek them out. Seriously, look for opportunities. Rest easy in the gracious encouragement of others.)
PRAYER
(This week, we challenge the groups to be vessels of praise in a prayer that only calls out the character of God and thanking Him for it. After this time of group prayer, then move into men/women only groups to take prayer requests, pausing after each request to have another member pray for that person)
Spend a moment contemplating on the following and then praise God because He is worthy.
We are called because He’s our Rescuer.
We rest because He’s Present.
We are cherished because He’s our Keeper.
We change course because He’s our Leader.
We are witnesses because He’s our King.
We are made new because He’s our Re-Creator.
We are established because He’s our Sure Foundation.
We are carried because He’s our Waymaker.
We are chosen.
How can this group remember you in prayer this week?