September 29th - October 4th Life Group Notes

Open in Prayer 

• 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: Do you think you could tell the difference between a goat’s cry or a sheep’s cry?
   
• Share background for the passage: Jesus teaches the crowds by speaking in parables.

                                                                                       

• Thought/Focus: Jesus will separate the people into groups: those who know Him and those who don’t.                                                                                 
• Have someone read or tell this week's passage/story: Matthew 25:31-46
• Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.

1. From this parable, on what basis are people divided into sheep and goats? Their beliefs, their actions, their character or their treatment of others?
2. Thinking about this parable, how would you feel if you were placed in the group of sheep?
3. What kind of people is it easy for you to have compassion for?
4. When have you ever been hungry, thirsty, a stranger, in need of clothing, sick or imprisoned, and who reached out to you? What did that mean to you?
5. Look at the six areas in number 4. Where do you find yourself serving most naturally? In which areas do you have the most trouble reaching out?

 6. If Jesus were to come today and evaluate your life, what would He say about how you          have “looked after” Him by caring for others?


 
Next week's passage/story: Matthew 22:1-14
Select someone to tell next week's story
Dismiss in Prayer  

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.)

• 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