Grace. Discussion Questions. Next Step Ideas. Identify your Next Step, and record it on your Personal G5 Action Plan

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1 G5 Series Guide

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3 Grace Galatians 2:20 says, I have been crucified with Christ and it s no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me an exchange of life has occurred. A truly exchanged life is uncommon life in Jesus! And when you have exchanged your life, the exchange that takes place gives you a new identity. This is your Grace Identity. Knowing who you are in Christ is central to living an uncommon life. The starting point for living uncommon life is sharing how and when you exchanged your life: a ONE Story. It s as simple as telling what your life was like before you exchanged your life (I was ), how you came to exchange your life, and what your life is like now that you have exchanged your life (I am ). The intersection of knowing your identity in Christ, knowing and being able to articulate your story, and understanding that God has put you in places and with people for the purpose of introducing them to uncommon life is what we call Grace Lifestyle. A ONE Card is a helpful Grace Lifestyle reminder. o How would your life be different if you knew and lived your identity in Jesus each day? o Your story (I was and now I am ) is updated daily. Are you living your story daily or just in the past? Explain. o Do you define your life experiences, or do they define you? Explain. What role does Grace Identity play? o How have you creatively considered sharing your story in different contexts? Share. o If someone looked at your life, would they say you lived a Grace Lifestyle? Why or why not? o Study Scripture on identity in Christ o Attend Identity Group o Attend Freedom Prayer o Attend Evangelism Class (ONE Workshop) o Get baptized o Develop / learn to tell your story ONE Story Form: (LGL Documents) o Fill out a ONE Card Pray for specific lost people Invite others to church o Make a plan to share your ONE Story

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5 Growth In the context of an exchanged life, growth involves three aspects of faith: beliefs, practices and virtues. Through the truths of God found in Scripture, we grow in the way we think (beliefs), act like a Jesus-follower (practices) and be like Jesus as we grow in the fruit of the Spirit (virtues). We experience growth on a personal level through individual study/prayer, but we also experience growth in biblical community because growth does not happen in isolation. Biblical community is Acts 2 lived out, which means it s where there is encouragement, accountability and support while gaining a deeper understanding of our beliefs, practices and virtues. These settings allow you to hear from Jesus through scripture or teaching, know how it applies to you, and then do it as you walk in obedience. o What does your current involvement with Scripture look like? Does evidence suggest you see Scripture as a source of truth? Why or why not? o What are some of the practices of a Jesus follower? Which practices come natural to you? Which do not? o In the context of community, are you living in light (transparent / authentic with others) or in darkness (solitary)? How has this affected your pursuit of God? o What is the benefit of accountability when is comes to beliefs, practices and virtues? o What is your role in growth? What is God s role? o Attend Life Group regularly o Study Life Group covenant scriptures Covenant: (LGL Documents) o Attend a discipleship class o Find an accountability partner o Find a mentor o Find an opportunity to disciple others o Identify a belief/practice/virtue to study and grow in List: (LGL Documents) o Begin a personal time of Bible study and prayer o Read Believe by Randy Frazee (beliefs, practices, virtues)

6 Gifts Scripture clearly says that the Holy Spirit gives all believers gifts to serve the local church body. Paul uses the analogy of body parts to help us understand just how important each person s gifts are to their church and how challenging it is for the entire body when people keep their gifts to themselves. Just like a body that is missing its thumb or its eyes, the church is at a disadvantage when a believer isn t using their gifts. When it comes to spiritual gifts: know them and use them. There is a unique joy that comes when you discover how God has gifted you and find the place to use your gifts. Serving is not a have to but a get to. o What confusion have you had on the topic of gifts? o What are your gifts and how are you using them presently? o If God placed you in a church body and you are not playing a part, then the church is dysfunctional. What is your reaction to that? o What is hindering you from living out your giftedness right now? o When it comes to you using your gifts, how does God s role compare to your role? o Take a spiritual gifts assessment: o Understand/study spiritual gifts Gifts description: o Establish a plan to use spiritual gifts o Find a place to serve at Grace Point Ministry Description Booklet: o Encourage other believers in knowing and using their gifts

7 Give Everything belongs to God and we are his stewards. The question should not be how much do I have to give? but how much can I give back to God and his work? Healthy stewardship involves systematic, sacrificial and proportionate giving. Systematic giving is in keeping with the spirit of 1 Corinthians 16:2, where believers set aside an amount on a weekly basis. Systematic giving helps make sure good intentions don t fall victim to forgetfulness, unexpected expenses or temptation. Sacrificial giving is giving beyond what might be expected, like in 2 Corinthians 8:2-4, where believers displayed extreme generosity. Whether we are giving to missionaries, a building fund, benevolence or parachurch organization, sacrificial giving means we are less concerned with our personal needs and wants and more concerned about the opportunity to invest in Kingdom efforts. Proportionate giving leads us to offer a biblical tithe, or 10% of gross income. The tithe has been a clear mark for thousands of years going back to Abraham s tithe which was his way of honoring God for his provision. The practice of tithing continued throughout the Old and New Testaments and is a way to honor God and support the ministry he has called us to do together. o Do you see yourself as the owner of your money or a steward of God s money? How is this evidenced in your life? o What area of giving is your biggest struggle? To what do you attribute that? o What hinders you from being able to give joyfully? o God doesn t need our money, so why would He have us practice giving? o What are examples of sacrifices you can make in order to give more? o Study stewardship o Learn God s plan for joyful giving and generosity o Begin to give a tithe (10%) or move towards a tithe as act of worship o Begin to give systematically o Set up automatic giving o Make a personal lifestyle sacrifice in order to give o Attend Financial Peace University o Seek biblical financial counsel

8 Go In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said to go and make disciples of all nations. All nations begins at home locally, but also carries us around the world. Local mission efforts are focused on caring for those who are marginalized in our community: those in prison, in the sex-trafficking industry, the homeless and to children in the foster care system. Go Local at least once a year to love and share the gospel with others. Global missions work includes partnering with missionaries in locations all around the world. Partnering means supporting these missionaries financially and sending teams to evangelize the lost and provide whatever support we can for our partners. The financial support of our partners comes through the sacrificial contributions of Grace Pointers to our Red Bowl fund. Leave your normal context and Go Global at least once every five years. o What are some of the benefits to getting outside your everyday context to serve? o When was the last time you shared your ONE Story in a Go Local or Global context? o If you have been on a Global mission trip, how did God use that experience to grow you? o How have you struggled with not feeling called or qualified to Go? Share. o What is a way you can be the hands and feet of Jesus in your community? o Go Local, choose an opportunity: o Go Global, attend info meeting / choose a trip: o Give to Red Bowl o Study what Scripture says about loving and serving the least of these o Practice your ONE Story