Fueling Life

Continuing the series of why do Growth Groups…Proverbs 15:22 says in many advisers lies success!

A prayer you could pray for your GG today:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

1. What advice can you give about how to relieve stress?
2. Why are some people cruel and unkind?
3. Do you believe ignorance is bliss?  Why or why not?
4. Why are bad habits so hard to break?
5. What makes a true friendship?
6. What’s the best approach for resolving conflict?
7. How would you define “freedom”?
8. What’s the best way to negotiate a raise in salary?
9. What’s the best way to earn another person’s respect?
10. How do you define “true love”?

Continuing in our series of why do Growth Groups – Psalm 133 says because it is wonderful when God’s children do life together in unity – his blessing rests there.

A prayer you could pray for your GG today:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through allspiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance…. in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:9-17

1. If you could switch job responsibilities with your boss, would you do it?
2. If you could go back in time, what year would you visit?
3. If you could spend one hour doing absolutely anything, what would you do?
4. If you could take an early retirement, what would you do?
5. If you won a million dollars in the lottery, how would you spend it?
6. If you could live your life all over again, would you?
7. If you had to change your first name, what name would you choose?
8. If you could look into the future to find out one thing, what would you want to know?
9. If you were to write a book about your life, what would it be called?
10. If you could give one gift to your children, what would it be?

Continuing our series of scriptures on why we do Growth Groups.  Here is Jethro’s profoundly simple advice to Moses as he was trying to lead the people of Israel.    What you are doing in leading a GG means no one needs to stand alone!

¹⁷ Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. ¹⁹ Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. ²⁰ Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. ²¹ But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²² Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.

²³ If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Exodus 18:17-23.

A prayer you could pray for your GG today:

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11 NIV

1. As a kid, what di you want to grow up to be?
2. What one word sums up your high school experience?
3. As a child what was your idea of fun?
4. What’s something you’ve done that surprised even you?
5. Was school easy or difficult for you?  How so?
6. What is the best bargain you’ve ever found?
7. How has your birth order affected you?
8. As a child, did you take music lessons or take part in band or choir? Explain.
9. What dream has come true for you?
10. What one new thing did you learn in the last week?

Today I’m starting a series of scripture quotes on why we need others  – and so why groups are so important.  Here’s the first – and this scripture is not just about marriage!