BIG IDEA
When God created the first person, Adam, He declared, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18). Then, He created Eve so that Adam would not be alone. We read throughout Scripture that we were never meant to live in isolation. God never intended for us to live life alone. If we are followers of Jesus, God has given us the church and other Christ followers we get to live alongside. The church is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us.
BREAK THE ICE
What is one of the most impactful parts of being involved in this small group?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study
1. What are the pitfalls of trying to live life on our own?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read Matthew 4:18-22. How did Jesus embrace community, according to these verses?
Matthew 4:18-22
"One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers-Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew-throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him. 21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind."
"One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers-Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew-throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind."
3. Read John 13:34-35. How did Jesus redefine love in this verse?
John 13:34-35
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."
4. Read Acts 2:42-47. How is the way the early church lived counter-cultural to the way everyone else lives?
Acts 2:42-47
"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity- 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."
"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity- 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."
Application
1. When it comes to your community of Christ followers, what is going well? What needs improvement?
2. How does Jesus' new command in John 13:34-35 impact how we love the people in our communities?
3. What is one way this small group serves each other well? What is an area that this group can better grow?
Moving Forward
The early church members devoted themselves to prayer. Let's follow their example today. Pray for the people in your lives who do not have relationships with Christ. Pray that God would continue to work in their lives to reveal Himself to them. Commit to inviting them to one of our Christmas Eve services this year and pray they will be receptive to that invitation.
Going Deeper
It is clear that living life in community with other followers of Christ is vital if we want to grow in our faith. The question becomes, how do we live life in community? What habits do we need to pick up? How can we help each other grow spiritually and become more like Christ? Let’s take a few moments to look at Scripture to learn how to help each other live lives that point others to Christ.
Speak the truth.
Scripture teaches us the importance of speaking the truth. Speaking the truth is certainly not always easy, but it is always necessary. When it comes to our community of followers of Christ, there are times when we need to speak a hard truth. We need to be honest about sin. We need to be honest when people need help making a difficult decision. We need to tell the truth when the truth may not be popular. Take a look at what Scripture teaches us about speaking the truth.
1. Read Ephesians 4:11-16.
Ephesians 4:11-16
"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."
"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."
2. How are we called to speak the truth in this passage of Scripture?
3. What is the impact of speaking the truth in love?
4. What is at stake if we do not choose to speak the truth in love?
Serve each other.
One of the beautiful aspects of the church is that we get to serve each other. When we see needs, we get to help meet them. God gave us each other to live life together and walk through the ups and downs of life together. Take a few moments to discover what Scripture says about serving each other.
1. Read 1 Peter 4:10-11.
1 Peter 4:10-11
"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen."
2. How has God equipped believers to serve each other in the Body of Christ?
3. How has God specifically equipped you to serve the body of Christ?
4. What happens when people in the body of Christ serve each other.
Serve others together.
Not only are we called to serve members of the body of Christ, but we are also called to serve those who do not have relationships with Christ. When we take steps to serve, we point others directly to Christ.
1. Read Galatians 6:7-10.
Galatians 6:7-10
""Don't be misled-you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-especially to those in the family of faith."
2. Why are we called to not tire of doing good, according to this passage of Scripture?
3. When and to whom are we called to do good in this passage of Scripture?
4, What is the impact of continuing to do good?
Reflect:
When it comes to serving together, how is it going with your group? What is going well? What needs improvement? Answer these questions as a group and think of how your group can serve together over the next month.
Monthly Memory VerseRomans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
©2024 Sagebrush Church
