Preparing for LifeGroup

Transcription

1 Preparing for LifeGroup 1. Prepare for each LifeGroup session by praying for: A. Each group member B. That God would make His Word (the Bible) clear to people in the group. C. That God will help you as you lead 2. Personally prepare for the LifeGroup Discussion by: A. Reading through this LifeGuide and becoming familiar with the content. B. Make sure you take time to read and study the Scripture that is used in this LifeGuide. 3. Create a positive LifeGroup Environment by: A. Serving Food! (Snacks or a meal rotate who provides) - *optional B. Arranging the seating where everyone can see everyone s face C. Setting the room 69 degrees (cold keeps them awake) D. Placing pets in another room E. Supervising and placing children in a remote room F. Keeping room bright with natural and artificial lighting G. Having light/fun music playing (low to medium sound volume) H. Having pens available I. Keeping extra Bibles on hand J. Making sure everyone knows each other K. Making sure you don t go too long. (Try aiming for 30 minutes of fellowship at the beginning and 1 hour of group time.) Now you are ready for group time!

2 LifeGuide for Multiple Choice Catholicism Ice Breakers Use one or more of the following Ice Breakers to get them talking: A. What are some of your funny morning or evening rituals? B. What is the best movie you have seen recently that had a major religious theme to it? C. What s the strangest wedding you have ever attended? Leader Tips: Remember that the purpose of the ice breakers is to get everyone involved and ready to talk. Try to make this a natural transition into your Bible study time. Setting the Stage Leaders: The purpose of setting the stage is to effectively transition from the icebreakers to a discussion of the current weekend message. This section reminds everyone in your group of the overall theme and purpose of the sermon series, and gets their minds prepared for the subject matter. It has been said that America is the melting pot for all peoples of all nations, ethnicities, and religions. While it may be exciting to live in such a country, this melting pot effect creates a lot of confusion when it comes to spiritual matters. Many people question what truth is, and they are left wondering which religion is right. Then, in an effort to be tolerant of other people s ideas, people begin to accept the pluralistic idea that all religions are right. Maybe all the religious roads lead to the same God. It s important to understand that religion is ultimately a man-made concept. One could define religion using this formula. Human effort + Religious activity = Salvation Religion is man s attempt to make himself right with God or to simply make himself better.

3 In response to these confusing times, Micah has started a new series called Multiple Choice. During this sermon series we will look at some of the prevalent religious worldviews of today. Remembering that religion is man s attempt to save himself, we will seek to understand how each of these major religious worldviews is inconsistent with Biblical truth. The Bible clearly teaches us who Jesus Christ was and is, and what He has accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection. Each of the religious worldviews that we will look at challenges the Biblical account of Jesus. To put it another way, each religious worldview has redefined Jesus, and distorted the truth about Christ found in the Bible. Through this series we seek to remind ourselves who Jesus is according to the Scriptures so that we aren t tempted to redefine Him in our own terms. Discussion Time Leaders: Let me take a moment to make you aware of the content found in each LifeGuide, and how you can use it. Remember this is a guide so you should not feel compelled to read every word and follow it in perfect order. Basically, I want this guide to provide you Scripture that you can read and study together, explanation and commentary, and discussion questions to get the group talking. The questions are bulleted so that you can locate them easily. The guide does provide you with a general flow for the evening, but you are free to adapt the guide to the needs of your group. You are always welcome to call or me if you have any questions. Please don t feel like you are bothering me. It s my pleasure and my job to help you. This week we are taking a look at Catholicism. This is a very different week, because Catholicism is a Christian religious worldview. Let me be clear that Catholicism is not a cult by definition, but some of Catholicism s teachings are contrary to the true gospel. To put it simply, Catholics do embrace the Biblical gospel, but they have over the years added man-made traditions to the gospel. For some Catholics, salvation looks like it is more based on man s works than it is on faith alone in Jesus. I firmly believe that some Catholics can be true followers of Christ. It s becoming increasingly difficult to define the Catholic Church, because each individual parish can be so different based on the beliefs of the priest and the community of people in the congregation. Catholic churches in America are very different from Catholic churches in Europe. We have to be careful and wise when we talk about Catholicism. We have to find the balance between overstating the negatives of Catholic teaching and understating the positives. There are many Baptist churches, Lutheran churches, Methodist churches, Church of Christ churches that have added all kinds of traditions to the gospel message as well. All Catholic churches as well as Protestant churches struggle with making Christianity into a man-centered religion. Remember that the formula for man-made religion is: Human effort + Religious activity = Salvation This unbiblical formula can creep into any Christian church or sect. It s important that we fight against the tendency to try and earn our own salvation.

4 When you hear Catholicism, what do you think of? What has been your experience with the Catholic Church? Can you name any famous Catholics? What is the strangest thing that you have witnessed in a Catholic church? Here are some quick facts about Catholicism. Catholic means universal There are 600 million Roman Catholics in the world. About 1/6 of the world s population claim Catholicism. In the U.S. alone, about 48 million people claim Catholicism. I. Brief History Catholics believe Peter was the first bishop in Rome. (no scriptural evidence for this) In 1054, the Eastern Church (Byzantine Church) split from the Western, Roman Church (known as the Great Schism) In the 1500s a monk named Martin Luther emerged hoping to reform the Catholic Church. He is well known for the Ninety-five Thesis and sola scriptura. The Eastern Church became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Western Church became known as the Roman Catholic Church. The protesters became known as the Protestants. II. Similarities: Trinity: One God who consists in three persons. We have all sinned. Jesus died on a cross for our sins. After three days, God raised Jesus from the grave. Because of Christ, salvation is available to all. Mormonism and Jehovah s Witnesses are cults. III. Differences: 1. Scripture and Tradition All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 2. Baptismal Regeneration For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

5 3. Purgatory Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) 4. Prayers to Saints My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (1 John 2:1) 5. Penance If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) 6. Absolution For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5) Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 The Real Jesus Leaders: In this final section of the LifeGuide, we will look at how each religious worldview tries to redefine Jesus. It s extremely important that we allow the Scriptures to correctly define Jesus. Remember that the ultimate purpose of your group time is not that people walk away knowing more about another religion. We want your group members to go home knowing Jesus better, so that their lives will be changed. Catholics embrace the Biblical Jesus, but they have allowed human tradition to make its way into the requirements for salvation. Many of them believe it s faith plus your works that save you. Remember that we are defining religion as man s attempt to save himself or make himself better. It s important to understand that Jesus did not come to start a new religion. Jesus came to satisfy God s justice and provide for us a right relationship with God. So the main point is: Jesus came to free us from religion and provide relationship. Have someone in your group read Matthew 5:17. What is the Law? (the first 5 books of the Old Testament) What are the Prophets? (the rest of the Old Testament) What do you think Jesus was trying to communicate in this verse? How did he plan on fulfilling the Law and Prophets?

6 In what ways does the Old Testament foreshadow his coming? Why do you think so many Jews fail to see Jesus in the Old Testament? What would it be like to live under the Law? How do you think you would do living according to the Law? God did not provide the Law to the Jews to help them know how they ought to live. The true purpose of the Law was to help the Jews understand their desperate need for a Savior. God knew that no human would be able to live according to the Law, but it was given to help us understand that we can t save ourselves by fulfilling the Law. So Jesus came to free us from the burden of the Law. Have someone read Romans 5: What does Paul mean by the law came to increase the trespass? How does the Law make sin increase? What is the positive benefit of this increase in sin? Do these verses give you a better understanding of the lyrics to Amazing Grace? What is so amazing about grace? When you appeal to human effort for salvation, you begin to lose the concept of grace. Catholicism has a tendency to put too much emphasis on human effort and religious tradition to accomplish salvation for the people within the Catholic Church. How should we talk with our Catholic friends and family? (with love and patience, emphasizing the grace of God) Do you think a growing Christian within the Catholic Church should eventually leave the church? Did Martin Luther leave the Catholic Church or was he kicked out? Do you think the Catholic Church can be reformed again? How can we encourage our Catholic friends and family members? How have you been guilty of depending on your own religious activity to put you in right relationship with God. What can you do to battle against the temptation of following religion instead of depending on a relationship with Jesus? Wrap Up Sum up the lesson by re-capping the main point and challenge the group to apply the truth to their life this week. 1. Ask for praise reports from previous prayer requests 2. Ask for prayer requests 3. Ask each person (or couple) to volunteer for part of next week s meal/snack.

7 4. Make any announcements 5. Close with prayer and praise Let me know if you have any questions