Leadership Packet. This week s Leadership Packet includes. Leader s Notes Leadership Article Small Group Announcements. Week of November 3, 2013

Transcription

1 Leadership Packet Week of November 3, 2013 This week s Leadership Packet includes Leader s Notes Leadership Article Small Group Announcements

2 Bringing it Home Leaders, I will admit it, these questions seem kind of risky to me. In other words, it might be hard to share answers to these questions. I will be telling this to my group members before I ask these questions, hopefully leading them to be courageous with their answers. I will also start out with my own response. 1. Is it possible that you have some personal life fulfillment aspirations that are getting in the way of surrendering fully to Jesus? If Jesus were with you right now, what question might He ask you about your life pursuits? Earlier we looked at verses where Jesus confronted people with the truth. How would He do that with you too? I could spend an hour on this one seriously! Who is the Greatest? Mark 9:30-37 November 3, 2013 Dr. David Jeremiah Sermon Notes I. Information - Mark 9:30-32; 8:31; 10:33; Isaiah 53:6, 12 II. Interrogation - Mark 9:33-34 A. The Questioning Jesus - Mark 9:33 B. The Quiet Disciples - Mark 9:34; 8:35; John 12:24; Romans 8:16-17; Proverbs 25: Jesus is very clear that cost is a component of following Him. What has it cost you so far to follow Jesus? Are you struggling with sticker-shock when it comes to following Jesus? Is there a cost (something that God is asking for) that you are resisting right now? Is there a price that you think God is asking you to pay, but you re resisting it? III. Instruction - Mark 9:35; 10:31, 43-44; Matthew 20:16, 26-27; 23:11; Luke 9:48; 13:30; 22:26, 27; James 4:6; Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3-6; I Peter 5:3; III John 9 IV. Illustration - Mark 9:36-37; James 2:1-4; Matthew 25:31-40; Luke 14: Earlier we asked you to imagine and describe a person who aspires to serving others. Now imagine yourself talking to Jesus about that person. Which of that person s qualities do you think Jesus would point you toward? Well the truth about me is that I am melancholy. That causes me to be too self-focused; I m often all up in my head about a lot of things in life. I think God is asking me to be less self-absorbed and more focused on some other people in my life. I could say more, but how about you leader? What would you share in your group? Small Group Questions Getting Started 1. It seems like hero-worship may have originated here in America. Who are some of the people we call great these days? Leaders, you can use this question quickly as a fun way to get people into the topic of greatness. No need to spend a ton of time on this. I would probably do a quick white board list. 2. How does greatness get defined in our culture? What are the criteria for acceptance into that exclusive club in our world? Answers will vary greatly on this. One of my thoughts has to do with fame. Seems like if you are famous (for whatever reason) you get the greatness tag in our culture. What else: athletic skill, bravery in battle, winning elections, wealth, philanthropy, acting ability, etc Copyright 2013 by Shadow Mountain Ministries 2100 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon, CA

3 Digging Deeper 1. One author writes, Truth is the raw material of growth. Why is it essential that we see and embrace truth in order to grow as a follower of Jesus? A follow-up question you could use is, Have you ever known anyone who was oblivious to their flaws? What are their chances of significant growth? If you can t see what is true of you, both upside and downside, you can t know what your growth areas are. Those who ask What is true of me? have a good chance to make necessary course corrections and/or major overhauls. 2. The disciples turned away from the truth about Jesus suffering and dying because it might spell suffering in their own lives. What happens in life when we turn away from things we don t want to see? Again, you might use a quick follow-up question to get them talking about this. You might ask, Have you ever known anyone who lived in denial? Have you ever known anyone who simply wouldn t acknowledge what everyone else could see about them? How did that go for them? Generally speaking, things just go from bad to worse. The bad circumstances don t get fixed on their own; they fester or multiply. 3. Jesus doesn t look away from the truth; rather He embraces it and calls others to see it also. Look at the following passages and talk about those whom Jesus confronted with the truth. Think of this exercise like this (three parts): (1) Who got confronted? (2) How did they try to hide (what was their deception)? (3) What truth did Jesus reveal about them? John 4:13-26 The Samaritan woman gets confronted here. Seems like there is something tricky going on here with her. She hides by trying to withhold relevant information. She tries to allow Jesus to believe something that isn t true (i.e., that she s an honorable woman). He just drops the truth on her though. John 6:25-29 Context- Jesus has fed 5000 people. They follow Him for more of what they ve just gotten. Okay, in this passage they don t hide well; no real indication of that. But Jesus confronts them with their selfish desires. Then He brings the truth that what they want won t last; they need to pursue eternal food. John 8:1-11 Jesus confronted the conniving religious leaders by making them admit that they are guilty sinners. They tried to hide behind the woman s guilt (she was in fact guilty) and their own self-righteousness. Notice that Jesus never covered up the woman s guilt; He simply met it with grace, truth, and admonition. Mark 14:3-11 A woman pours expensive perfume on Jesus and those with Him grumble about the expense of it, likely wanting the money themselves. Jesus confronts them about their motives (i.e., They could help the poor anytime so why hadn t they?) and their failure to love and value Him too. A big revelation shows up about Judas in the parallel passage (John 12:4-6- Judas is greedy and self-serving). Feel free to read those verses too in your group. 4. Pastor Jeremiah mentioned that while Jesus talked about surrendering His life, His disciples focused on fulfilling theirs. Why are we so naturally focused on our own personal aspirations and goals? Let me coin a term here: me-ism. Our whole world seems to be obsessed with me (or meism haha). It s kind of drilled into us since birth. Be sure you get yours. This is such a prevalent attitude that we feel like we must do the same or lose out in life. 5. When you think about someone who lives with an aspiration to serve others, what do you see? How would you describe that kind of person? What do they do? What are their attitudes? Self-forgetful, generous, action-oriented, sacrificial, satisfied/content, outwardly focused, they love to bring joy to others, they contemplate those in their life, etc

4 Get to know you questions By Dale Bacon Week of November 3, 2013 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, Will you give me a drink? John 4:7 The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you. Elbert Hubbard If you ve heard us say it once, you ve probably heard us say it numerous times (some would go so far as to say that we ve said it over and Over and OVER again). Get to know you questions are one of the best ways to get to know your small group. The more you know each other, the more information you have to love and enjoy about each other. But what are some new get to know you questions? I ve dug up a TOP 10 list of questions that could serve your group in November. Pick questions that you think your group will enjoy and use them over the next few weeks. What is your favorite soup? What is in the trunk of you car right now? What is the cheapest gas price you can remember? What year was that? What is the longest book you ve ever read? If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why? If you could perform in the Olympics, what event would you do? What song best describes your life right now? Do you like store-bought gifts or handmade gifts? Why? What is your favorite kind of pie? Describe taking a bite of that pie using three adjectives (e.g. delicious, yummy, good). Do you like mountains, coastline, or the plains? Why? Enjoy your group and Lead Well.

5 Announcements for your Small Group: Sports Ministry Looking to play some sports? Our Sports Ministry has some new opportunities this Fall: men s flag football, coed volleyball every Wednesday evening, coed softball, and youth club basketball. For more information, visit or call Carlos Peralta at Prison Ministry: Angel Tree The Angel Tree Project at SMCC is right around the corner. This is when children who have a parent incarcerated get blessed with a Christmas gift. The Angels (gifts needed) will be passed out starting Saturday/Sunday, November 9 &10 and then again on November 16 & 17. Can you and your small group help out at the table after one of the Saturday evenings or Sunday morning services to hand out the Angels? Gift sorters will also be needed on November 16/17, 24 and December 1. Contact Heather Miller at to sign up to help. Prison Ministry Messengers of Love Dinner: November 15 Ever wonder what Angel Tree & the Prison Ministry is all about? Interested in hearing the testimony of the founder of Angel Tree, former bank robber wanted by the FBI? If so, you re invited to the 9th Annual Messengers of Love Celebration Dinner with speaker, Mary Kay Beard & special music by Charity. Saturday, November 15, 5:30 pm, SMCC s Lower Campus Chapel Cost: $30 per person or $200 for a table of 8 ($25/person) For tickets, contact Tom Heyer at tomheyer@mac.com / Announcements for Leaders & Hosts: We look forward to seeing you at the Leadership Community event this Saturday, November 9, 9-11:30 am. A delicious breakfast will be ready for you in the Kid s Building - Lower Level Great Room. Haven t RSVP d yet? Just contact us at smallgroups@shadowmountain.org or Important Dates Sunday, December 8 Sunday, January 5 Saturday, February 22 Week of November 3, 2013 Official Small Group Christmas break begins There will be no Leadership Packets produced until the week of January 5. Official Small Group season resumes Spring Leadership Community Event