Session #3: Reflecting The Citizenship of Christ

Transcription

1 Session #3: Reflecting The Citizenship of Christ

2 Host Notes We re into our third session together now and I Peter is already bringing some big thoughts to the forefront. We pray that your discussions and time together have been rich with new questions and thoughts. It is likely that each member of your group is at a different point in their spiritual journey so patiently walk at a pace that leads each person while challenging them to take a next step with God. Thank you for being a disciple of Jesus who is discipling others by leading this study of the Bible. We re diving back into I Peter this week and picking up in Chapter 2 and just focusing in on verses We believe that you ll find many discussion points for your group to engage in each session as we look at this central thought: How can the character of Jesus be reflected in my life so others see him? This third session focuses on Reflecting: The Citizenship of Christ. The concept of citizenship has a lot of political baggage nowadays so let s be clear. We are not talking about any immigration or naturalization issues. We re going to take a look at how Jesus lived as a citizen (native) of heaven and how that impacted his life here on earth. Most of us don t think about our citizenship as primarily being in heaven and we identify as American or some other nationality. We ll be looking at how the model of Jesus life shows us that when we choose to follow God we are swearing our allegiance to heave above all else. Here are a few key thoughts you ll be discussing as a group this session: - What does it mean to be a citizen? - How does being a citizen of heaven impact your daily life? - Where does your primary citizenship lie? What can you do to get ready for this weeks study? Pray. Pray for the members of your group. Pray for yourself. Pray for North Terrace. Prepare. Take time to review the video, curriculum, and other materials before the meeting. This should take 1-2 hours each week. Communicate. With your group members ahead of each meeting and at least once during the week. With NT Groups leaders so we can support you. This week s gathering flow looks like this: - Pre- Meeting - Eating Together - Starting Together - Learning Together - Sharing Together - Praying Together - Post- Meeting

3 Week #3: Reflecting: The Citizenship of Christ Pre-Meeting Materials List: o Pens/Pencils o Scrap Paper (Dangerous Jobs Activity List) o Copies of Week #3 Citizenship Discussion Notes o Copies of Reflecting Jesus Week #3 o Name Tags o Snack o Prayer List Preparation o Review Video Teaching o Review Discussion Questions o Pray Eating Together (10 minutes) As people begin to arrive for your this meeting: o Greet them at the door and welcome them in. o Have everyone wear a nametag. Opening Activity: Nametag Notes o As people write their names have them also write their families countries of origin (i.e. Germany, France, England, etc.) o Have some fun looking for common ground among ancestors and fun stories about previous generations. Snack o Have a snack and drink(s) available for everyone to share.

4 Starting Together (10-15 minutes) Gather everyone together and remind them of three simple expectations for the group: o What we talk about in this group, stays in this group. o Be here. Make it a priority to participate and attend. o Have an open mind and open heart to God. Opening Discussion: Citizenship Requirements o Open a discussion time by asking, What does it take to be a citizen of the United States? If you re curious, here s a link to check out: o This is a casual discussion so make sure not to get off on any political tangents. o An alternate question might be, If you want to become a citizen of another country, what would it take? Opening Activity: Allegiance Test o Have everyone answer the following quiz to see how American they are. You get one point for every Yes answer. 1. Do you own a piece of clothing with an American flag on it? 2. Do you eat your hamburger with American cheese? 3. Do you own at least one gun? 4. Do you own 3 or more tv s? 5. Do you have two or more vehicles? 6. Do you have clean running water? 7. Do you make more than $15,000/year? 8. Do you have a high school education? 9. Have you traveled beyond a 100 mile radius from where you were born? 10. Have you ever had: braces, glasses, hearing aids, or other medical devices? o Scoring: 0-4 Foreigner 5-6 Somewhat American 7-8 Very American 9-10 Red, White, and Blue American o Say, Obviously, this was not a scientific test. It does however reveal some stereotypes we have about American citizens. What is a stereotype you can think of about Americans? Prayer o Pray for your group and your time together.

5 Learning Together (20 minutes) Video Introduction: o Say, Each session we ll watch some teaching on video and then discuss what the Bible says about that week s concept. This week we re looking at Jesus citizenship and how it helped him endure difficult seasons of life. Video Teaching: o Hand out Week #3 Citizenship Discussion Notes Encourage everyone to make notes and answer questions as you go along. o Play video. Sharing Together (20-30 minutes) Discussion Questions: o Lead a discussion through Week #3 Citizenship What are the rights we receive because of our citizenship in the United States? Why is swearing a vow of allegiance important to becoming a citizen? What does it mean to you to be a citizen? Where was Jesus citizenship? How did Jesus exhibit his loyalty towards God s heavenly kingdom above worldly kingdoms? How would keeping your focus on heaven help you through life? What has God done to make it possible for us to be citizens of heaven? What are differences between citizens of heaven and citizens of the world? Application and Challenge o Ask these final questions to wrap up: Have you ever considered yourself to be a stranger or alien in the world? What are ways we can live so that people around us praise God? Where is your citizenship?

6 o Hand out the weekly, Reflecting Jesus Personal Study Sheet. Encourage your group to take time this next week to do the Bible study and prayer time to go further in this study. Praying Together (5-10 minutes) Introduce your closing prayer time. Ask for things to pray about from members of your group. o What can you celebrate? o What can you ask God for help with? Record the prayer requests and them to the group for a reminder during the week. (Use the Prayer List) Have a volunteer pray or you wrap up the time together. Post-Meeting Attendance: o Who came: record and pass on to chris@ntcoc.org o Who missed: record and follow up Updates to NT Groups o Is there anything that NT leadership needs to know? Pastoral spiritual needs Physical life needs Other Prayer List o the prayer list to group members Reminders to Group o Updates and announcements for group to remember for next week or future.

7 Prayer List

8 Week #3: Citizenship Discussion Notes o What are the rights we receive because of our citizenship in the United States? o Why is swearing a vow of allegiance important to becoming a citizen? o What does it mean to you to be a citizen? o Where was Jesus citizenship? o How did Jesus exhibit his loyalty towards God s heavenly kingdom above worldly kingdoms? o How would keeping your focus on heaven help you through life?

9 o What has God done to make it possible for us to be citizens of heaven? o What are differences between citizens of heaven and citizens of the world? Application o Have you ever considered yourself to be a stranger or alien in the world? o What are ways we can live so that people around us praise God? o Where is your citizenship?

10 Reflections: Citizenship Week 3 Personal Study Read o Deuteronomy 7:6 Examine o Deuteronomy 7:6 is written to the Israelites after they have left Egypt. What was their legal standing while in Egypt? o Being freed from 400 years of slavery was the defining moment for the Israelite people and they were led by Moses. How does Jesus lead us to freedom? o Freedom comes with responsibility. What are we now responsible to do and be as citizens of God s kingdom? Apply We all belong somewhere, a place we call home. Our home is most likely where our loyalty and citizenship lie. It is easy to misplace our loyalty and God invites us to a new status in His kingdom. But to understand our new citizenship and leader we need to remember our state of being under sin s rule. When we let sin rule in our lives we are slaves with no rights and a doomed existence. By letting Jesus lead us to freedom at the cross and the empty tomb we enter into a new life, as citizens of heaven. God has done all he can to make us free. Our choice is whether to walk away from our chains of bondage into freedom or return to our prison lives to eventually die and suffer. Are you a citizen of the world or a citizen of heaven? How is your loyalty revealed in your life? Throughout history, some of Jesus followers have had to pay the ultimate price, their life, for their loyalty to God. Could you? Pray Pray for the freedom Jesus offers to become a powerful force in your life. Ask God to lead you into moments where your choices and actions cause others to praise Him. Reflect on how your loyalty to God can be strengthened. Ask God to give you a great hope in the kingdom of heaven that becomes your strength and inspiration for following Him with all your heart, body, mind, and soul.