April 1st- April 6th Life Group Notes
True Love, True Life, True Family
John 15: 9-17
LEADERS - Take attendance in the TLC app.
Open in Prayer
Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.
4. What two relationships did Jesus contrast in vss. 13-15? What do you think He wants them to understand from this about their true relationship with Him? Do you have this kind of relationship with Him?
5. What fruit do you see yourself bearing for Jesus?
6. What connection do you see between you bearing fruit & getting your prayers answered? (vs.16) Examples?
7. How will you live out His command to love one another?
8. Who is He leading you to do this for? Will you? How? When? How can you sustain this love?
Next week’s passage/story: Romans 10:8-15
- Welcome/Introductions/Cast Vision – Remind the Life Group of the Guidelines– See bottom of page.
- Doing the Mission: Did anyone share Jesus or last week’s passage?
- Does anyone have a God story? An undeniable encounter or experience with God that creates an impact or breakthrough in your day-to-day life. These moments can be extraordinary or very humble, but always personally powerful.
- Opening Question: Who did you consider to be your first ‘true love’? Was it? Who do you know is your true love now?
- Share background for the passage: Jesus is on His way to the cross. He has spent over 3 years making disciple makers of His 12 apostles. He has been answering their questions and preparing them for His death & departure. In these final instructions, He is emphasizing the necessity of truly loving as He does.
- Thought/Focus: What truths about relationships is Jesus teaching His disciples in this passage?
- Have someone read this week’s passage: John 15: 9-17
Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.
- What relationships did Jesus use to model true love to His disciples? (vss. 9-10, 12)
- What did Jesus see as an outcome of our abiding in His love? (vs. 11)
4. What two relationships did Jesus contrast in vss. 13-15? What do you think He wants them to understand from this about their true relationship with Him? Do you have this kind of relationship with Him?
5. What fruit do you see yourself bearing for Jesus?
6. What connection do you see between you bearing fruit & getting your prayers answered? (vs.16) Examples?
7. How will you live out His command to love one another?
8. Who is He leading you to do this for? Will you? How? When? How can you sustain this love?
Next week’s passage/story: Romans 10:8-15
- Dismiss in Prayer
Life Group Guidelines
This needs to be a place where people feel comfortable opening up and sharing with one another. Below are some group guidelines that will help create a safe environment.
CONFIDENTIALITY: What is said in the group stays in the group.
LISTEN: Let’s value one another during the discussions by really listening to what is being shared. Try to avoid thinking about how you are going to respond or what you are going to say next.
PAUSE: Allow a pause in conversation after someone shares. Give the person sharing a chance to finish and the group the opportunity to consider what was just shared before responding.
NO “CROSS TALK”: Be considerate of others as they are sharing- no side conversations.
NO FIXING: We are not here to fix each other. Jesus does that part. Speak truth is love, give
encouragement, empathize, point to Jesus. You may share solutions God has led you through. The other person should never feel shame or failure, but rather connection & hope.
NO HIJACKING of shared stories.
NO RESCUING: When people are sharing something deeply personal, there can be a tendency to try to make them feel better about themselves or the situation by providing immediate condolences. This will often cause them to stop sharing. Resist the temptation to rescue people.
SHARING: Be sensitive about the amount of time you share.
SILENCE: It is important to allow silence in the group as it provides an opportunity for someone else to share and for members in the group to process the topic or question being considered.
BE SELF-AWARE: Be self-aware of how you are personally affecting the environment through your words, actions, and non-verbal communication.
“I” STATEMENTS: It’s easy to talk about the issues of others, but for our purposes, we want you to put yourself on the table. Try to use “I” statements rather than “them”, "they", "you", “the church”, “us”, “we”, etc.
FIGHT FOR RELATIONSHIP: We will commit to resolve conflict biblically. When conflict or sin issues arise between group members, we want to make sure that we are honoring God and each other in the way we deal with these issues. We will fight for relationship. I will discuss the struggle with the person I am in conflict with first, & if not resolved, seek wise advice. The following are a few key Scriptures in this regard (there are many others.)
LISTEN: Let’s value one another during the discussions by really listening to what is being shared. Try to avoid thinking about how you are going to respond or what you are going to say next.
PAUSE: Allow a pause in conversation after someone shares. Give the person sharing a chance to finish and the group the opportunity to consider what was just shared before responding.
NO “CROSS TALK”: Be considerate of others as they are sharing- no side conversations.
NO FIXING: We are not here to fix each other. Jesus does that part. Speak truth is love, give
encouragement, empathize, point to Jesus. You may share solutions God has led you through. The other person should never feel shame or failure, but rather connection & hope.
NO HIJACKING of shared stories.
NO RESCUING: When people are sharing something deeply personal, there can be a tendency to try to make them feel better about themselves or the situation by providing immediate condolences. This will often cause them to stop sharing. Resist the temptation to rescue people.
SHARING: Be sensitive about the amount of time you share.
SILENCE: It is important to allow silence in the group as it provides an opportunity for someone else to share and for members in the group to process the topic or question being considered.
BE SELF-AWARE: Be self-aware of how you are personally affecting the environment through your words, actions, and non-verbal communication.
“I” STATEMENTS: It’s easy to talk about the issues of others, but for our purposes, we want you to put yourself on the table. Try to use “I” statements rather than “them”, "they", "you", “the church”, “us”, “we”, etc.
FIGHT FOR RELATIONSHIP: We will commit to resolve conflict biblically. When conflict or sin issues arise between group members, we want to make sure that we are honoring God and each other in the way we deal with these issues. We will fight for relationship. I will discuss the struggle with the person I am in conflict with first, & if not resolved, seek wise advice. The following are a few key Scriptures in this regard (there are many others.)
- If someone sins against you: Mat. 18:15-20
- Restoring someone in sin: Gal. 6:1-5
- Forgive a sinner: Col. 3: 12-13
- Reconciling differences: Mat. 5:23-24, Mat. 7:1-5
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