Fueling Life

Why do Growth Groups?  Because God commands us to share with God’s people who are in need and to practice hospitality.

A prayer you could pray for your GG today:

²⁰“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
John 17:20-23

1. When and how often do you prayer? What motivates you to pray?
2. Has there ever been a time you were convinced you received direction from God?  Describe it.
3. What fears do you have about God?
4. What has been your biggest obstacle to spiritual growth?
5. What are you in your spiritual journey?
6. What does it mean to be made in the “image of God”?
7. What season are you currently in with regard to your spiritual life?
8. Who’s the closest thing to a spiritual mentor to you?
9. The Bible syas, “God is love.” What does that mean to you?
10. What’s the first question you will have for God when you die?

As you read the Easter story again over the next week or so, you might find yourself associating with some of the characteristics of those involved: the faith and failure of Peter; the grief of Mary; the fear of the disciples locked in the upper room; the searching for truth of Pilate; the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus; the “doubting” of Thomas; the joy of the disciples on the Emmaus Road; even perhaps the rule-keeping, man-pleasing nature of the Pharisees.

For all those helpful (and some painful) associations to our spiritual journey, there is one character who we all are associated with in the Easter story, every year. Barrabas. Yes, the murderous, infamous criminal. Doesn’t sound like you? You may not have murdered anyone, but Barrabas was set free because Jesus took his place.

This Easter, if you are in Jesus, remember that Jesus took your place. You were set free. You didn’t deserve it. And you still don’t. But he did it. And he deserves all the glory. And we get so much joy.

A prayer you could pray for your GG today:

¹²May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and foreveryone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thess 3:12-13

Why do Growth Groups?  It’s what the Holy Spirit has been leading Christians to do throughout history…

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.   Acts 2:41-47

Listed below are several spiritual gifts that are named in the New Testament. Which of these gifts could you bring to and exercise in this group?

• service
• teaching
• leading
• hospitality
• faith
• prophecy
• administration
• love
• encouragement
• comfort
• generosity

From www.SmallGroups.com

Leading a Growth Group Just Got Simpler!

We’ve put everything in a box that you need to lead a Growth Group, including: your curriculum and discussion guide, reading plan, group calendar, coordinators signup sheet, Growth Group Agreement, name tags, ice-breaker suggestions, prayer journal and communion setup.

So this means that all you need to do add is people!

What Curriculum is available with”GG in a Box”?

The Me I Want to Be  by John Ortberg

This book will help you discover spiritual vitality like never before as you learn to ‘live in the flow of the spirit.’  This book will show how God’s perfect vision for you starts with a powerful promise. All those who trust in God ‘will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit’ (Jeremiah 17:7-8). Ortberg urges you to recognize your brokenness, understand that God is the project manager, and follow His directions. The author first helps gauge your spiritual health and measure the gap between where you are now and where God intends you to be. Then he provides exercises to help you live in the flow of the Spirit. The Me I Want to Be shows you how to graciously accept God’s invitation to live as He intended.  This comes with a DVD teaching aid, making the introduction of each section simple! Read more at Amazon.com.

View the Growth Group reading plan for The Me I Want to Be.

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

In this remarkable best-seller, Rick Warren will help you understand God’s purpose and plan for your life so that you can learn to live the life for which you were created. The book is divided into forty short chapters, very easy to read and yet will profoundly impact your life.  This is a life-transforming book which is great for new believers and those who have been walking with God for years.

Look inside the book with Amazon.com.

View Growth Group reading plan for this book.

Liquid DVD Studies on Jesus’ Parables and James, or The Ten Commandments.

Spend five weeks in five of Jesus’ parables and five weeks in the book of James, the great book of wisdom!  Or spend spend ten weeks going through the Ten Commandments.  With a 10-minute video story to introduce each week, this is a very easy curriculum to lead- but still life-transformational!  Read more about Liquid DVD studies here.

View the Growth Group reading plan here.

Wide-Angle: Framing Your World-View

There are all sorts of ways of looking at this world, and the way you do determines how you view God, yourself and other people.  This study will examine worldviews as they relate to the most important questions of our day. It explores such key issues as truth, tolerance, terrorism, reconciliation, and the purpose of life.   This comes with a DVD teaching aid, making introducing the topic each week simple!

View the Growth Group reading plan here.

Discussion Guide on Timothy & Titus by John Stott

We live in a culture where beliefs and preferences of the individual are given authority.  Paul’s firm commitment to the church as “the pillar and foundation of the truth” stands against the current.  His letters to Timothy and Titus call us to reestablish the core beliefs of Christianity and affirm our convictions in the gospel.  Through these studies, you will be challenged to carry on the battle, armed with the truth of the gospel.  John Stott is one of the world’s leading and most loved Bible teachers and preachers and in the discussion guide you can explore Scripture under his fantastic guidance.  Read more at Amazon.com.

View the Growth Group reading plan here.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Marriage should be based on love, right? But does it seem as though you and your spouse are speaking two different languages? Dr. Gary Chapman guides couples in identifying, understanding, and speaking their spouse’s primary love language—quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, or physical touch.  By learning the five love languages, you and your spouse will discover your unique love languages and learn practical steps in truly loving each other.   Look inside the book with Amazon.com.

View the Growth Group reading plan here.

Other marriage studies with “GG in a Box”:  Fireproof Your Marriage, Love & Respect and Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage.

If none of these curriculum appeal, check out these links:

Growth Group Resources – See the many resources we have for you!

Curriculum Guide – Produced by Andy Stanley’s church, this is a useful search tool for curriculum.

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Find out more about leading a Growth Group here.

Register to lead a Summer Growth Group here.

Why do Growth Groups?  So that our unity will show the world that Jesus’ message of love is true!

A prayer you could pray for your GG today:

⁴I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. ⁶I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. ⁷Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Phil 4-7