January 08-13th Life Group Notes
FRESH STARTS
New Beginnings - Daniel 1:1-20
LEADERS - Take attendance on the app.
Open in Prayer
Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.
Next week’s passage/story: Daniel 10:1-3, 10-19
- Welcome/Introductions/Cast Vision – Remind the Life Group of the Guidelines– See back of sheet 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: Have you ever had a nickname? Did you like it, or hate it? How did it come to be your nickname?
- Share background for the passage: Jerusalem has been besieged by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. He has taken as slaves many people, but four young men were captured and trained to serve in this foreign kingdom. Their names were Daniel, Hananiah, Misharel and Azariah. Their names were changed to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, and Abednego.
- Thought/Focus: God is sovereign over our lives, through the good and the bad.
- Have someone read this week’s passage: Daniel 1:1-20.
Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.
- Where was Daniel from, and where did he end up?
- What kind of families did Daniel and his friends belong to in Jerusalem? (vs. 3)
- What foods did Daniel give up and why?(vs. 8)
- How does Daniel show his true loyalty to God?
- What did God give these four young men for honoring Him? (vs. 17)
- Would you be able to give up rich foods for simple foods if God asked you to? Why would He ask you to?
- In your current state of Spirituality, do you think you would be loyal to God if tested? Even if it meant something very unpleasant would happen to you?
- Do you have friends as Daniel did to do life together with? Good times and bad?
Next week’s passage/story: Daniel 10:1-3, 10-19
- 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. Give
encouragement, empathize, speak truth, point to Jesus. Don’t try to fix each other like a mechanic & a car. 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 forsomeone 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”, “the church”, “us”, “we”, etc.
CONFLICT: We will commit to resolve conflict biblically. When conflict or sin issues between group members arise, 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. 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. Give
encouragement, empathize, speak truth, point to Jesus. Don’t try to fix each other like a mechanic & a car. 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 forsomeone 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”, “the church”, “us”, “we”, etc.
CONFLICT: We will commit to resolve conflict biblically. When conflict or sin issues between group members arise, 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. 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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