Leader’s Guide, CHOSEN, for the week of Sept 19, 2021 PDF Version
COMMUNITY GROUP LEADER GUIDE
For the week of September 19, 2021
This guide is designed to give helpful hints in preparing & leading your group in discussion.
|
LEADER NOTES |
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS ⇨ Game Day Jersey Weekend September 26, 2021 Wear your favorite jersey and join us on Sunday, September 26th, as we celebrate Game Day Jersey Weekend at STF! ⇨ Hurricane Ida Disaster Relief Trip September 24 – 30, 2021 Due to Hurricane Ida, the GO Team will be headed to Metairie, Louisiana, to assist with Mass-Feeding and Cleanup & Recovery in a few weeks. Would you please pray for our neighbors in Louisiana and join us in serving those in need. Please consider joining our GO Team this Sept 24th-30th to help with relief efforts. ⇨ Married Life: Axe Throwing September 25, 2021 5:45 – 8:15pm STF Married Life will hold an ax-throwing date night on Saturday, September 25, from 5:45-8:15. Join us at Axe Throwing Tampa at 5:45 to get trained and have some axe throwing fun. Then, at 7:30, we’ll have some appetizers and fellowship time. ⇨ Annie F Downs Podcast Tour at STF Church Sat Oct 2 2021 7:30 PM New York Times bestselling author and podcast host Annie F. Downs is embarking on her That Sounds Fun Podcast Tour this fall! This one-of-a-kind tour with special guests, friends, a live podcast interview, comedy, giveaways, confetti and more! (Doors 6:30 PM) $39.95 – $100.00 LEADER INFO ⇨ DISCUSSION SUGGESTIONS
⇨ PRAYER
⇨ ATTENDANCE Submit your group’s attendance online by responding to your email from church center. Things to Remember:
Goals for the Evening:
⇨ 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. Where is the weirdest place you have ever fallen asleep accidentally?
2. Did you dread or look forward to Sunday’s as a kid? How about now?
DIGGING DEEPER
Remember the goal of a successful meeting: to hear from everyone and keep God’s Word at the center. Ask the group to help you as the facilitator to create this environment. This helps build trust with group members who may not feel 100% comfortable sharing vulnerably yet.
“Sabbath is an invitation by God to serve you.”
1. Read Exodus 20:8-11. What is the origin of Sabbath-day rest?
Exodus 20:8-11New International Version
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
2. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” How would meditating on God impact the healing; the constant striving to gain, or the impatience, confusion and pain in your life?
3. While we can rest our bodies any time we choose, soul rest only happens in the presence of our Creator. Read who He is in the following passages and share with the group how you can experience provision, peace, and rest as a result.
Matthew 10:30 New International Version
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
He is the One who knows every detail about us and exactly what we need.
Psalm 56:8 New International Version
Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll – are they not in your record?
He keeps track of our sorrows and is intimately aware of our pain.
Romans 8:28 New International Version
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
God is the One who is going to use all our unique challenges and circumstances for good. Nothing is wasted.
Romans 5:8 New International Version
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God is The One who loves us enough to be our rescuer – in spite of our sin and struggle – knowing it would cost Him.
Revelation 21:4 New International Version
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Jesus is The One leading us through this broken world to the Promised Land of heaven, where there will be no more fear, pain, or strife.
Which of these verses bring you feelings of rest, peace, hope? Why?
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. Keeping the Sabbath is most obviously marked by not working. But God’s primary intention behind the commandment is to intentionally enter into God’s presence. What needs to change in your schedule or in your mind-set to rest the way God intended?
2. To Sabbath there are 4 things we need to do: Stop; Rest; Enjoy; Worship. Which of the four is the easiest for you to do? Which is the hardest?
12 Ideas For How To Sabbath
Spend Time With Family
The Sabbath is a great time to just spend time with loved ones and friends. Invite your family over for a great meal or spend time together during the day having lunch!
Go To Church
Attending service on the Sabbath is a great way to draw closer to the Lord and be fed! Fellowship with other believers is vital for us as a Church family.
Read and Study the Word
Devote time to reading the Bible AND studying it. Choose a book to study and learn more about! Read together as a family and allow for open discussion!
Set it Apart – Make it Different From Other Days/Time
You can do this by saying no phones, no social media. Make it like a mini-fast for a day or portion of day and focus on God. Do something that really lets you know THIS day/time is different.
Go Outside!
Get out and enjoy creation! Sit on your deck and enjoy the view or just lay in a hammock in your yard if the weather is nice! Have a picnic or sit at the beach in wonder of the Holy God who created all that is around you.
Create a New Tradition
Find something new you can do as a family. Maybe it’s as simple as beginning to have that meal all together as a family. Do something that honors God. Make the Sabbath something that your children look back on with love and carry on for their own families. Perhaps light candles for the special event and read Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
Usher it in Like a Bride
Find a way to make your Sabbath time something you WELCOME into your home, not just wake up to. Usher it in! Do something special in the morning to usher it in, like a special prayer, devotional time or play worship music.
Do Good!
It is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath Jesus said. So find a way to serve others.
Fill Your Home
Play praise and worship for the day! Have Alexa on a specific playlist to play everywhere in your home so that the rooms we go into are filled with worship even when we are not in them. This just fills your home with the Spirit.
Talk With Your Children About God
Family devotions are a great way to share God with your children. Share a Bible story with them. Ask them to give you lessons they drew from the story. Share with them about Jesus. This is a great time to compliment the message they got from church or children’s church. Have them share what they learned and foster conversation.
Work on Scripture memorization!
Write down some of the passages of Scripture we are using in the sermons on index cards and keep them in your car or on your mirror to glance at throughout the day.
Take a Nap!
This is, after all, a day of rest. So rest! Take a nice nap! Kick back and just let God reward you for a week well done!
PRAYER REQUESTS