2/22/09 Leader's Guide

Small Group Leader's Guide
Feb. 22nd, 2009

Series: One

Getting Started

Read the Philemon verse 6 (there is only one chapter in Philemon)

1. What is Paul praying for?

2. How active are you in sharing your faith?

3. According to this verse, is there a benefit to the believer for sharing their faith, if so, what is it?

4. How could sharing your faith give someone a fuller understanding of what we have in Christ?


Showing the Good News By Your Deeds

God calls us to show our faith by our deeds, or as scripture says, to let our light shine. The following are verses written to people in specific life circumstances, see what they show about showing our faith by our actions.

In a Relationship Setting – 1 Peter 3:1 is written to wives are married to unbelievers.

• Have you seen a marriage or relationship situation where you or someone you know was won over by the other person’s behavior?

• What about their behavior stood out to you?

In a Work Setting – Titus 2:9-10 is written to Christians who were in a difficult life circumstance, slavery. Read the verse and then think through the questions

1. How do our lives make the teaching about Christ “attractive”

2. Do people at your work know you’re a Christian? If so, do you think your actions would attract someone to want to know more about your faith?

3. Can you think of a Christian you’ve worked with that really let their light shine?


Sharing the Good News By Your Words

Read 1 Peter 3:15

• The verse says “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” If someone asked you why you’re a Christian, what would your answer be?

Read Colossians 4:5-6

• What does verse 5 say about the way we act? How can we make the most of every opportunity?

• What does verse 6 say about our conversation?

• Christ calls us the salt of the world, how can we let our conversation be seasoned with salt?

• Specifically, what are some practical ways to bring up Christ and/or spiritual things into a conversation?


Putting it into Practice


1) Who is your one?

2) Besides prayer, What can you do this week to invest in that relationship?

2/15/09 Leader's Guide

Small Group Leader's Guide
Feb. 15th, 2009

Series: One

Getting Started:
Share with the group someone who played a role in helping you come to know Christ? What did they say or do that made a difference in your life?

Read Matthew 9:36 – In this verse, Jesus uses two metaphors, that of a flock, and of a harvest.

-In verse 37, What does the harvest represent?

- In verse 37, Jesus notes a shortage of workers, based on the context of this passage, what do you envision that these workers would help do?

- In verse 38, instead of a direct call for workers, there is a call for prayer, what is Jesus asking them to pray for? What would an answer to this prayer look like?

Read 2 Peter 3:9 Instead of saying, the Lord…”Is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to be saved”, it says the Lord is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”

-Why this focus on repentance? What relationship does repentance have with salvation? How can person tell if they have truly repented and turned to Christ?

-Repentance is an act that occurs at the beginning of our relationship with God, but it’s also an act what we continue to do –each time we sin. What is the difference, if any, of that initial act of repentance, and the subsequent acts of repentance after coming to know Christ?

-Both 2 Peter 3, and 2 Timothy 2:3 tell us that God wants all to be saved. If God wants all to be saved, and to be saved, we need to hear about Jesus, that must mean that God wants all people to hear about Jesus. Can you think of other verses that support God’s desire for people to hear about Christ?

Romans 10:9 –15

- Verse 14-15 lay out four questions? What are the questions?

- What conclusion(s) does this series of questions call the reader to think through?

- During this series, we’re inviting everyone to think of one person they can reach out to. With that person in mind, where do you stand in regards to the steps laid out in Romans 10. Has anyone taken the initiative to reach out to them? Have they heard about Jesus? Have they had an opportunity to believe? Have they publicly declared their faith?

- Verse 15 says how can they preach unless they are sent. (reference this to Matthew 9:38, where Christ talks about workers being sent). How can you tell if you’re sent? Is this sending for all Christians, for a group of specially called evangelists or apostles? How can you tell whether or not this applies to you?

Digging Deeper:

1) 2 Peter 3, and 2 Timothy 2 point to the fact that God wants all to be saved, but clearly, many people will not be saved. At the final judgment some will spend eternity in the lake of fire. How do you account for the difference between what God wants (all to be saved) and what will actually happen (some will be saved)

Action Steps

1) Who is your one? Share with the group one person you can reach out to.

2) In Luke 9:38, Jesus tells the disciples to pray for workers to be sent out. Take time in your groups to pray that members of our church would be believers who let their light shine and point people to Christ.