August 12th- August 17th Life Group Notes
The Joy of Doing Jesus' Mission
I Thessalonians 3:6-13
LEADERS - Take attendance in the TLC app. Read group guidlines.
Open in Prayer
Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.
4. Paul remembered these people during his times of distress and persecution. Why would he find joy remembering the Thessalonians during the hardest times of his ministry?
5. What was the thing that encouraged Paul the most? See verse 7.
6. In verse 8, Paul talks about really living. What do you think he meant by this?
7. When someone’s faith gives you courage to have even more faith, do you tell them about it, and/or thank them?
8. Read verses 11-13. Which of Paul’s prayer requests would you want someone to pray for you?
Next week’s passage/story: TBD
- 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: Have you ever been encouraged by someone else’s faith?
- Share background for the passage: Paul had visited the Church of Thessalonica earlier in his ministry. He had been so encouraged by the people there that he decided he must hear from them again. He sent Timothy to see how they were doing and to bring him a report.
- Thought/Focus: It is vital to realize that our walk with the Lord, and our actions, and our beliefs are very important to those around us. To be an encourager helps others to walk a better walk with the Lord!
- Have someone, or a couple of people, read this week’s passage: I Thessalonians 3:6-13
Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.
- Why did Paul send Timothy to see about the Thessalonians?
- What report did Timothy bring back to Paul about the people there?
4. Paul remembered these people during his times of distress and persecution. Why would he find joy remembering the Thessalonians during the hardest times of his ministry?
5. What was the thing that encouraged Paul the most? See verse 7.
6. In verse 8, Paul talks about really living. What do you think he meant by this?
7. When someone’s faith gives you courage to have even more faith, do you tell them about it, and/or thank them?
8. Read verses 11-13. Which of Paul’s prayer requests would you want someone to pray for you?
Next week’s passage/story: TBD
- 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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