Leader’s CG Study Guide for I AM, March 1, 2020 PDF
Leader’s Community Group Study Guide
For the week of March 1, 2020
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS
THANKS to all the amazing Community Groups that came out for the Church Wide Serve Day! So much was accomplished all over Tampa through you!!!!
Blind Eyes Open – Movie event, March 15, 5-7pm, BP campus
Join us for a special viewing of the film “Blind Eyes Open” produced by USIAHT (United States Institute Against Human Trafficking) and hosted by STF in partnership with V3 Ministries. This will be an eye-opening event to help raise awareness about human-trafficking and find out how you can join the growing movement to end human-trafficking in our city, nation and world.
Blind Eyes Opened presents an honest and sobering account of sex trafficking in the U.S. The film is a powerful resource but is not appropriate for children or young teens. The content discussed in this film may be difficult for some viewers. If you go as a group, you can purchase tickets by going to stfchurch.com/events
MY STORY
1. If you participated in our Church-Wide Serve Day, what was the highlight of your experience?
2. What is something you could eat every day?
3. From this weekend’s sermon, which one statement, point or insight was most helpful, challenging or even confusing to you personally?
DIGGING DEEPER
1. How would you describe your spiritual diet lately?
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2. Review John 6:25-66. What are the similarities and differences between manna (Exodus 16) and the “bread of life”? What claims does Jesus make in verses 35-40? What do these claims emphasize about his being the being the bread of life?
Jesus then compares and contrasts Himself to the manna that Israel had eaten in the time of Moses: “Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die” (John 6:49–50). Like manna, Jesus came down from heaven; and, like manna, Jesus gives life. Unlike manna, the life Jesus gives lasts for eternity (verse 58). In this way, Jesus is greater than Moses (see Hebrews 3:3).
3. Read Matthew 6:9-13. In getting serious about your spiritual life, what is your biggest challenge?
God has already met our greatest spiritual need, that of forgiveness and restoration, through Christ (Colossians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21; John 20:31). But He does not stop there. Jesus calls Himself the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35). “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4). Jesus says He came to bring us abundant life (John 10:10). Not only are we saved for eternity, but we also experience a restored relationship with God now. We seek Him daily, and He renews us day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). The branch is continually nourished by the Vine (John 15:5). God sustains us physically and meets the less tangible needs of this life. More than that, He fulfills our spiritual needs. He is the bread that satisfies our spiritual hunger. He sustains our hearts. When we ask God for our daily bread, we are humbly acknowledging Him as the sole giver of all we need. We are living day by day, one step at a time. We are exercising simple faith in Him to provide just what we need, when we need it – for every area of life.
TAKING IT HOME
- What is the main reason you follow Jesus?
Speaking metaphorically: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63). Those who misunderstood Jesus and were offended by His talk about eating His flesh and drinking His blood were stuck in a physical mindset, ignoring the things of the Spirit. They were concerned with getting another physical meal, so Jesus uses the realm of the physical to teach a vital spiritual truth. Those who couldn’t make the jump from the physical to the spiritual turned their backs on Jesus and walked away (verse 66).
2. If you’re spending alone time (solitude) with God, what does it look like? How often? What would you like to do differently or continue doing?
Some of your members may not know what “quiet time” or daily devotions is. If not, below helps explain:
Biblically speaking, solitude is a valuable practice. “Alone time” with God can allow God to examine us. It can be a time of knowing God more deeply, a time of strengthening, a time of refreshment, a time of sharing our deepest concerns with God, and a time of simply being with the One who formed us and loves us beyond our understanding. A quiet time is an important part of a Christian’s everyday life, for this is when he goes to a comfortable and rather secluded place in (usually) his own home, where he can draw close to God with no distractions. It should be a place where there are no interruptions from TV, telephone, family member interactions or traffic noises, in other words, silence. A quiet time is a set-aside part of each day for a meeting between a believer and God. It consists of reading a part of the Bible of the believer’s own choosing, and praying.The length of the quiet time does not matter, but it should be enough time to meditate on what was read and then pray about it or anything else that comes to mind. Drawing near to God is a rewarding experience, and once a regular habit of quiet time is created, a specific time for study and prayer is eagerly looked forward to. If our schedules are so full and pressing that we feel we cannot carve out some time daily to meet with our heavenly Father, then a revision of our schedules to weed out the “busyness” is in order.
3. How can the group encourage and pray for you this week?
Ideas to help with having your daily bread:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/biblelockscreen/sets/72157625663985375/detail/ 4. Put a 3×5 card in your car with praises or a verse on it and read the card at stoplights. 5. Get with someone in your CG or a trusted friend weekly and discuss what God is teaching you through your time spent with Him. 6. Use the YouVersion app and choose one of their many resources for daily reading. Bonus by inviting other CG members to join you! |
PRAYER REQUESTS
We recommend that men and women separate at this time for further discussion and have an in-depth prayer time.