Small Group Study Participant Guide

Small Group Study Participant Guide 1190 North Hicks Road Palatine, IL 60067 847-359-3451 www.poppalatine.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 4 Session 1 - The Divine Endorsement 6 Session 2 X-Ray Vision 8 Session 3 More Than Hype 10 Session 4 Red and Blue Unite 12 Session 5 Man of the People 14 Session 6 A Simple Plan APPENDIX 16 Group Member s Contact Sheet 17 About P.E.A.C.E. Groups/ Leader Tips 18 Sample Group Covenant

Trust Me? Trust. It s fundamental to so many things in our lives. We learn it through experience as we form those first attachments with our parents. It s one of the earliest questions we have to answer. Can I trust? WHO can I trust? No relationship can thrive for very long if it lacks trust. This is especially true in our relationship with Jesus. The challenge is that we live in a world of mistrust. Stranger danger. Suspicion. People trying to manipulate us and sell us things. Almost constantly. Additionally, people even people close to us, have hurt us, have broken their promises, and have broken our trust. In this series, we ll travel along with those original disciples as they encounter Jesus. Along the way, we will get to know Jesus and learn what it is to trust him in our everyday lives today. Since this is election season, we ll utilize some political imagery and analogies that we hope will bring greater clarity as you trust Jesus. Ultimately, we ll experience Jesus radical and agendaless friendship and find out just how trustworthy he really is. PAGE 3

Session One Big Idea: We will trust Jesus because God literally said so. OPENING PRAYER [~2 min] Led by a group member, apprentice, or leader. CONNECT [~10 min] What intrigues you about the topic of this study? What would you like to see God do in and through our small group as a result of this study? What attributes in other people help you to put your trust in them? GROUP STUDY AND DISCUSSION [~45 min] Group members are encouraged to take one of the passages below and read aloud for the whole group. Read Matthew 3:13-17 1. How do you think the people watching this felt, and what might they have thought about what they just saw? 2. How do you think you would have reacted? 3. Reread verse 17. Is there something special about what God is saying here about Jesus? Read Isaiah 42:1-9 4. Look at verses 1-4. What do these verses prophesy about Jesus and what he will do? 5. Did Jesus accomplish all of these things? How do we know? Give examples. 6. Reread verse 5. What is this saying about God? 7. Why do you think these words about God are so important for us to understand and for us to trust God today? 8. Look at verses 6-9. What do they tell you about God? About yourself? How do they give you hope and help you trust God in hard times? PAGE 4

9. How does knowing God as the Creator, who brings justice, who is a covenant-maker and promise-keeper, and who is actively seeking to release people from darkness, help you to trust Him? What other attributes of God help you to know Him better and trust Him? Read Romans 6:3-5 10. Verse 3 says we are baptized into Christ s death and later verses say our baptism raised us from the dead. What do you think Paul is talking about here? 11. What does our newness of life mean for us? How are we made new through baptism? 12. Reread verse 5, what does this say to you as a Christian? PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE THIS WEEK [~ 2 Min] This week show your trust of Jesus. Talk to someone that you do not know. Step out of your comfort zone and talk with someone you do not recognize from church, work, or in your neighborhood. Ask God to show you someone you have not yet met. You might even purposely look for people who are different than you! Trust that Jesus will bless your efforts as you step out of your comfort zone. Pray that God will give you a natural way and a time to say hello, share a smile, or have a friendly exchange. We as Christians should be looking for and taking advantage the these moments. Be prepared to share next week who you talked to and what happened. GROUP PRAISE AND PRAYER [~10 Min] Write a PERSONAL PRAYER REQUEST on a slip of paper and pass it to the person on your LEFT. Ask Jesus for anything on your heart. Ask him to help you trust him in the midst of the storm as well as with the outcomes. Have one person in the group open the time of prayer with PRAISE listing the attributes of God found in the Isaiah 42:1-9 (i.e. God you are Creator of the heavens and the earth, the one who gives breath to His people ) Each person then prays the PERSONAL PRAYER REQUEST on the slip of paper they received. Continue in a circle prayer going to the LEFT with each person reading the prayer request on the paper they hold, until everyone has prayed. The leader will then close the prayer. PAGE 5

Session Two Big Idea: We will trust Jesus because He knows me better than I do. OPENING PRAYER [~2 min] Led by a group member, apprentice, or leader. CONNECT [~10 min] If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why? What happened in your conversation last week with someone you don t know? How did you share Christ s peace? GROUP STUDY AND DISCUSSION [~55 min] Group members are encouraged to take one of the passages below and read aloud for the whole group. Read Luke 5:1-11 1. Why, do you think Jesus asked Simon to put out a little from the shore? Had Jesus met Simon and his partners before? 2. What did Jesus ask Simon to do? Why do you think that Jesus would ask Peter to do that? Note Peter s response to Jesus. Remember that Peter was a life-long fisherman and knew what he was doing - Jesus was not. Peter also knew that fish would not bite during the midday heat. The best times to fish are the morning and the evening. 3. Do you think that Peter and his friends really expected to catch any fish after trying all night? What did Jesus x-ray vision tell Him about their attitude? Why did He persist in asking them to try again? 4. What was Peter s reaction to this miracle of Jesus? Did He really want Jesus to leave Him? What would your reaction have been to seeing this if you were in Peter s place? 5. As usual, when Jesus wants to make a point He does so in a dramatic way, providing so many fish that the men can t handle them. Looking into the hearts of the fishermen with His x-ray vision, what do you think Jesus saw? PAGE 6

6. The calling of Matthew (Levi) is another instance where Jesus used his x-ray vision in calling a disciple. (See Luke 5:27-32) What did Jesus see in Matthew? How do you think Jesus sees you? 7. How did Peter, James, and John respond to Jesus invitation to become fishers of men? At that point they did not have any training, experience, or know what to expect being fishers of men. How do you think this fishing experience helped them trust Jesus more than their own skills? Read 1 John 1:9-10 8. What is the great promise and comfort in these verses? 9. Why are these words important to you? Or are they? 10. Complete the statement, Trusting Jesus means to me. 11. As a result of this reading and discussion today, what do you think Jesus wants you to know or do? How can this group help you in prayer? CLOSING PRAYER AND REFLECTION [~ 5 Min] The leader will open in prayer with any requests shared in the question above. Then, the group will read 1 John 1:9-10, but in reverse order. Have your group read verse 10 out loud together: If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Pause for a moment of silent reflection. Then as a group, read verse 9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. After this verse is read, pause and silently confess all the sins that you know, or don t know. Ask God for his forgiveness and renewal. After a few seconds pause, the leader will say: You are a loved child of God and you are forgiven though Jesus death and resurrection for you. Now go and be fishers of men both now and forever. AMEN! PAGE 7

Session Three Big Idea: We will trust Jesus because He delivers on all his promises. OPENING PRAYER [~2 min] Led by a group member, apprentice, or leader. CONNECT [~8 min] Pick one question below. Think back to a time when someone promised to do something for you and fulfilled the promise. What is it like for you when someone does what they say they will do? What is the thing for which you are the most excited? An outing with a friend? An upcoming event? A new job? Something else? Tell the group what it is and why you are excited for it. GROUP STUDY AND DISCUSSION [~55 min] Group members are encouraged to take one of the passages below and read aloud for the whole group. Read Isaiah 9:1-7 1. In a time of great darkness, God promised to send a light to shine in the darkness. In Isaiah 9:2, a great light is seen. What are some of the words that Isaiah uses to describe the light in verses 6-7? 2. What expectations would this pronouncement create in you if you were to hear it for the first time? What type of person would you expect to arise if you heard Isaiah proclaim these words? 3. This prophesy was fulfilled in Jesus. Take a look at the titles given to Jesus in verse 6. Which one(s) do you identify most with Jesus? Why? 4. Reread Isaiah 9:7. What does it mean to you when it says, His government and peace will have no end and He will reign on David s throne forever? Read Matthew 4:12-22 5. Look at Matthew 4:12-16 and compare that to Isaiah 9:1. Are there any similarities? What are they? How does this tell you about the promises of the Old Testament and its connection to Jesus in the New Testament? PAGE 8

6. What was Jesus message in Matthew 4:17? What do you think is the relationship between Isaiah 9:2-3, repentance, and the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 4:17? 7. What did Jesus tell the fishermen in Matthew? 8. What does he mean by making them fishers of men? Do you think that Jesus fulfilled his promise to them? Why? 9. How do you think Zebedee felt when his sons left to follow Jesus? Do you think that Zebedee felt that he was being left or that his sons were being called for a greater purpose? Why? 10. Is all this surrounding Jesus worth the hype? Why do you think so? 11. Seeing that what was said in the Old Testament is being fulfilled in Jesus, does that help you understand the hype surrounding Jesus? The facts are this about Jesus: He did die on a cross. He did perform miracles while on earth. After his death he was seen alive by hundreds of people. Jesus is the most influential person to ever walk the earth. He changed the way that people saw faith and their way to heaven. He is the one that made people see that they did not have to keep the Old Testament law perfectly and the extra 200+ rules the Pharisees had for the people to follow in order to go to heaven. Everything that was said about him in the Old Testament has come true. If that is the case how can Jesus not be God and the Savior as he stated. Jesus is worth all the hype that he gets because that is how great he is. PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE [~12 MIN] As a group, discuss how you can be more than hype, and truly be salt and light to others. Come up with a way to serve your neighbors or community. It can be simple like bringing a meal to a family in a difficult time, or cutting someone s lawn, or it could be more involved like hosting a neighborhood garage sale and donating the money to a good cause. Begin to plan what and when you will do the project. Get it on the calendar! Talk as a group afterward about how you saw this bring Jesus to your community in a real way. CLOSING PRAYER [~ 5 Min] Stand in a circle holding hands and pray. Have an opening prayer person and a closing prayer person. Once the opening person is done praying they say AND in a way that lets others in the group know they can go. Once everyone has had an opportunity to pray, the closer will close the prayer for the evening. PAGE 9

Session Four Big Idea: We will trust Jesus because He brings people together. OPENING PRAYER [~2 min] Led by a group member, apprentice, or leader. CONNECT [~10 min] What is the greatest team that you have ever been a part of, watched, or have appreciated? Was it the 70-win Bulls, the 1986 Bears Super Bowl win, the 1927 Yankees? Or is there another team/group that you feel was great and totally united? Explain what you think united the group. GROUP STUDY AND DISCUSSION [~50 min] Group members are encouraged to take one of the passages below and read aloud for the whole group. Read Genesis 28:10-17 1. Why was Jacob forced to leave Beersheba and flee to Harran? (See Gen. 27:41 and Genesis 28: 1-2 for the short answer. For more background, you can read all of Genesis 27!) 2. What was Jacob s dream about? What does his dream mean? 3. How would you feel if you were Jacob in this situation? Would you be comforted, scared, angry, or a combination of several? Explain why. 4. Take a look at this passage again. How does Jacob feel? Why would he feel this way? Would you have had the same reaction as Jacob? 5. Read Genesis 32:6-7. How was Jacob feeling about meeting Esau? How would you feel as Jacob? After all, Jacob stole everything that should have gone to his brother. 6. Read Genesis 33:1-4. What happened? 7. Have you been reconciled to someone where God changed hearts in order to bring you together again? How did you see God in it? In what ways did you need to trust God during the process? PAGE 10

Read John 1:43-51 9. What did Jesus say to Philip? How would you have responded to that? 10. What was Nathaniel s response to Philip telling him that Jesus was the Messiah from Nazareth? Why such a mean response do you think? 11. Sometimes people today still make assumptions about others based on where they are from, their age, ethnicity, the way they dress, or their political views. Sometimes that can divide people rather than unify them. What helps break down barriers and bring people together? In what ways does Jesus bring people together today? 12. So what did Jesus say to Nathaniel? How does Jesus exchange with Nathanial win him over to Christ? (Note: Nathanial is still present and listed as a disciple in John 21:1-2.) 13. How can your words and actions with people you don t see eye to eye with, help to win them over to Christ? How could they hinder it? How does Jesus model here guide you? Instantly these men in the John reading were connected to Jesus, and in the Old Testament, Jacob and Esau were reunited in God and God blessed them both. In all things Jesus brings us together, whether it is on a Sunday morning for church, a Bible study, in a P.E.A.C.E. Group, or someplace else; we are all united and bound to Christ. In fact, every time we come together for communion we are united in Christs body and blood and in community. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE [~2 MIN] Spend time in prayer this week praying for a person or group with whom you disagree. Perhaps it is someone with a different political persuasion, or perhaps they simply value different things than you do. Pray for their well-being, for God to be with them, and bless them. Pray for God to grant you understanding, wisdom, and humility. Ask God to show you the ways in which you are alike, rather than simply seeing the ways you are different. Pray for God to bring peace in all things. CLOSING PRAYER [~ 5 Min] Break into pairs. Share a personal prayer request. Pray right now for your partner. During the week, find time to e-mail, text, or call your prayer partner with a note of encouragement, and/or to see how the prayer is answered. PAGE 11

Session Five Big Idea: We will trust Jesus because He forgives every sin. OPENING PRAYER [~2 min] Led by a group member, apprentice, or leader. CONNECT [~10 min] Pick one question below. How have you seen God at work this past week? What kind of person were you growing up? Athletic? Class clown? Loner? Rebel? Bookworm? Life of the Party? Shy? Other? Do you think you are similar or different today and why? GROUP STUDY AND DISCUSSION [~50 min] Group members are encouraged to take one of the passages below and read aloud for the whole group. Read Hosea 6:1-6. 1. Do you think that the people were genuinely repentant? Why or Why not? 2. Reread verses 1-2. How do these verses point to God s provision in Jesus? (See Matthew 16:21) 3. Read Hosea 4-6. Do you think that God felt that the people s profession of loyalty was heartfelt? Why or why not? 4. Hosea s name means salvation which symbolizes God s relationship with Israel. How does knowing that God loves us and sent his Son to die for our sins while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8) give you hope and peace? How does knowing this, help you trust him? 5. What do you think is meant in verse 6 by, For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings? (See also Isaiah 1:11-18, 1 Samuel 15:22-23, and Micah 6:8) PAGE 12

6. Silently reflect on what things you have done that you know are wrong. What have you have left undone that you know you should have done? Have you tried to do good things, but perhaps with a wrong heart? (Remember that God wants your heart. A religious ritual not carried out with love for God is unacceptable to him.) Discuss: How does acknowledging your sin, bring you to God? How does it help you acknowledge God and who he is? Read Matthew 9:9-13 8. How do you feel about Matthew just getting up and going with Jesus? Could you do that? Do you think we are called to do that today? How? 9. Take a look at verses 10-11. Why would Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners? How does that benefit him? 10. What do you think about the response of the Pharisees in verse 11? Did they act correctly or incorrectly? Why? 11. What are your feelings about Jesus response to the Pharisees in verse 12? What does he mean by Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.? 12. What do you think Jesus meant when he said,...go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners? 13. Jesus didn t worry about his reputation when he visited with Matthew, the taxcollector in his home. In what practical ways can you put sharing the gospel above worrying about your reputation? Who are we called to share the Gospel with? The Good News is that we can trust God because through Jesus Christ, he forgives every sin! We, as his followers, are called to share the Good News. God asks us to confess our sins, receive forgiveness through Christ Jesus, and to live anew for him. God s love and forgiveness are greater than we can imagine! PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE [~2 MIN] This week spend some quiet time talking to God. Ask him to search your heart for things that you have to confess/repent. As he reveals this to you, truly confess and repent of these things. The more we repent and confess, the closer we come to God. CLOSING PRAYER [~ 5 Min] Write a personal prayer request on a piece of paper and pass it to the person on your RIGHT. Pray in a circle prayer going to the RIGHT with each person reading the prayer request on the paper they hold, until everyone has prayed. Have one person in the group close the prayer by thanking Jesus for all He has done, and that he has forgiven each and every sin. PAGE 13

Session Six Big Idea: We will trust Jesus because His plan brings peace. OPENING PRAYER [~2 min] Led by a group member, apprentice, or leader. CONNECT [~10 min] In what ways have you seen God bring peace to your life or others this week? GROUP STUDY AND DISCUSSION [~45 min] Group members are encouraged to take one of the passages below and read aloud for the whole group. Read Matthew 3:1-2 and 4:17 1. In Matthew 3:1-2, what is John s message to those who sought him? 2. Does it say something different to you if you change the word Kingdom to the word reign? (Note: John is telling the people that the Kingdom or reign of God is near in the form of Jesus.) 3. In Matthew 4:17, Jesus uses a similar message here. Is Jesus saying something different or the same thing? (Note: The phrase at hand is also translated to mean here right now. So Jesus is saying I am the kingdom and I am here with you right now.) How would you feel is someone walked into this group and pronounced that they were God and were ruling, at this time, over all the earth? 4. What do you think it looks like today when God is at work bringing the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth? How does that show up to you in your daily life? Read Matthew 10:1-14 5. Matthew 10 tells us how Jesus sent His disciples out. How do you think they are equipped for their ministry? 6. Do you think you are equipped for your ministry? PAGE 14

5. In verses 5-8, Jesus gives instructions of who needs their message and what to do. What does Jesus tell them to do? What would you be thinking if you were one of these disciples of Jesus and he was telling you this? 6. In verses 9-14, Jesus gives further instructions about ministry. What does Jesus tell them here with regard to what is going to happen and how they are to live? 7. This is Jesus plan for them. In your mind is it a good plan? Why or why not? Jesus plan worked for the disciples. The Gospel never spread so fast, and the numbers that followed Jesus and were baptized grew by the thousands as the word was being preached. Jesus told the disciples: no need for special training, full pockets, special clothes you will have all you need provided by God. What kind of a plan is that!? It almost sounds like no plan! We spend hours planning events, vacations, getting ready for a presentation at work, etc., and Jesus is telling his disciples to not take anything or spend time in preparation. The crazy thing is that the disciples did it, they were taken care of, and it worked! God s plans are better than ours and his ways are greater than ours. Look to follow God s guidance and plan and ask him to lead you. PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE [~2 MIN] Look for someone in your life today to befriend and focus on sharing Christ s peace with them in all you do. Have peace in your heart about spending time with them and talking to them. God has already prepared the way for you. Be content, courteous, kind, and gentle in your words and ways. Plan to stay in this person s life for a long time, if you are welcomed. If not, just move on to someone else God puts near you. Remember, He is leading you as you spread his plan and peace wherever you are. Write the person s first name in your prayer journal. Pray for them regularly. See how God blesses and grows you through this relationship. CLOSING PRAYER [~ 10 Min] As a result of today s reading and discussion, how can this group pray for you? Share prayer requests and the leader will offer them in prayer for the members of the group. Close as a group by reading the following verses from Jeremiah 29:11-13 aloud: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Amen. PAGE 15

Appendix Group Members Contact Sheet Name Phone E-mail and Address Birthday Other Information (Spouse s name, children s names and ages) PAGE 16

Appendix About P.E.A.C.E. Groups P.E.A.C.E. groups bring people together to enjoy each other, learn how to live like Jesusfollowers in daily life, and support one another on life's journey. They meet weekly or twice a month and are led by trained leaders. About 3-12 people are typically in a group. They meet in homes, at restaurants, or on the Prince of Peace campus. P.E.A.C.E. stands for the essential elements of every group P - Prayer Members pray for and with one another. E - Evangelism Group members look to invite and bring new friends to the group. Newcomers are always welcome! A - Apprenticing Leaders mentor individuals for future leadership. As more people join and new groups are formed, the need for more trained leaders increases. C - Christ-study Groups discuss the Bible with the goal of not only knowing Jesus, but becoming more like him, and doing what he did. E - Encouragement Groups are positive and uplifting where you are supported in your faith journey and personal life struggles. To find out about joining a group or starting one, visit www.poppalatine.org or contact the Director of Small Groups, Diana Vander Pas, at dianavp@poppalatine.org or 847-359-3451 x119. Leader Tips Before you start: Be sure to give people a copy of the study. There is no requirement to reading the Bible passages ahead of time, however some people in the group may prefer to do so and have more time to think about their responses. Each session is written to take approximately 75-90 minutes long, however you may tailor the material to the needs and length of time your group has. Don t feel obligated to get through all the questions. The point is for the study to get through you, NOT for you to get through the study! Therefore good discussion on fewer questions, rather than brief answers on more questions is encouraged. Involve group members as often as possible in scripture readings, hosting, prayer and facilitating questions. You will need index cards or small pieces of paper on occasion. Keep some on hand. Have fun and enjoy the time together! PAGE 17

Appendix Sample Group Covenant Leader: John Doe Apprentice Leader: Jane Doe Goals of our group: To support one another through Christian fellowship To strengthen one another through the practical study and active discussion of the Scriptures To actively pray with and for one another To be accountable to one another in our commitments to Christ and in our role as Christians To be bold witnesses for Christ through our conduct and actions To actively reach out to others with the Gospel Length of this covenant: until the end of current study series to be reviewed/updated thereafter. Frequency of meetings: 2x month rotating between member homes Weekday and time of meeting: second and fourth Wednesdays We will begin at: 7 p.m. and end no later than 9 p.m. Attendance: We will make this group a priority in our schedules and schedule other things around it. We will make every effort to attend every meeting. Confidentiality: Nothing of a personal nature that is shared in this group will be shared with anyone outside this group. What is said here stays here. Participation: We will be real and honest in our sharing with each other. We will not pretend to be something we are not. We will love, support, and encourage each other unconditionally no matter what is shared as God has done the same for us. Strategy for filling the empty chair: Partying (hosting a BBQ, service project, or fun outing each quarter) and being intentional about inviting others Responsibilities for Hosting: Switching each month Food: Simple snacks - responsibility of host family Babysitting: Responsibility of families with children Signed by: PAGE 18