April 13th - April 18th Life Group Notes
GOSPEL OFFENSE- A Righteous Anger
Matthew 23:23-28
LEADERS - Take attendance in the TLC app. Read group guidlines.
Open in Prayer
Next week's passage/story: TBD
Select someone to tell next week's story
Dismiss 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?
- Opening Question: Jesus is about to hit on some “hot topics” of the day. What are some “hot topic” buttons of our day? How do you deal with them?
- Share background for the passage: In this passage, Jesus is pointing out the hypocrisy that He is seeing in the Teachers and Pharisees of the day.
- Thought/Focus: What forms of hypocrisy do we see in the Teachers and Pharisees in this passage?
- Have someone read or tell this week's passage/story: MATTHEW 23:23-28
- Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.
- Where does Jesus catch your attention in this passage? Why?
- What practice, if any, touch close to home in your own life?
- Many people “talk the talk” in our churches, but don’t necessarily “walk the walk”. How can you avoid the talk and do the walk?
- What about today’s church do you lament over (as Jesus did over Jerusalem)?
- Have you seen money in a church become more important than what the Church stands for?
- From this reading, what do you believe teachers and pastors should be especially mindful of?
- Have you ever seen the power of the pulpit abused?
- What “camels” are easy for you to swallow? What “gnats” are difficult?
- How will you support your Pastor in making sure these things don’t happen in your church?
Next week's passage/story: TBD
Select someone to tell next week's story
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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