February 8th - February 14th 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: Have you ever tried to reassure someone that your word is good, and that they don’t have anything to worry about? How did you phrase it? “cross my heart”, “scout’s honor”?
                                                                                               
  
• Share background for the passage: Abram has just finished a battle with 4 Kings. God gave him the victory and God sent Abram blessings. Now God has come to Abram in a vision, telling him not to be afraid.

                                                                                       

• Thought/Focus: Abram is fearful about not having an heir of his own family. Do you feel he was right in wanting God to reassure him about his fear? Does this fear qualify him as being faithless?
• Have someone read or tell this week's passage/story: GENESIS 15:1-6, 18
• Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.

1. What is it that Abram fears? See verse 3.
2. In adopting a servant heir, do you think Abram is faithless or fearful?
3. What is the first thing that God tells Abram in verse 1?

 4. What does it mean when God says He is his shield? His reward?
 5. How is faith related to righteousness? See verse 6.
 6. Where in your life do you need God to say, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield, your very      great reward”?
 7. The Lord spoke often to Abram. Does He speak to you? How does He speak to you?
 8. Will you work on having faith in God’s plan, even tho you may not see the end result              right now?
 9.  Fear is certainly a human emotion. Can you think of a scripture that helps you not to             fear?


Next week's passage/story: TBD
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