Intro to Groups
Fusce in magna cursus ipsum laoreet varius. Cras eu purus quam. Phasellus ac ligula fermentum, tincidunt tellus eget, eleifend nulla. Etiam et nisi pretium, egestas ex vel, tincidunt nibh. Nulla elit dolor, rhoncus ut bibendum nec, lacinia dapibus arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.
Read the first Session of LIT Process (Why Groups PDF)
Or watch/listen to Intro to Groups
Deacon Qualifications
Take a minute and walk through the Deacon Qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
Which areas do you feel you are already strong in?
Which areas do you feel you need to grow in?
Are there any areas of specific concern?
Walk through the Deacon Qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3 with your current Group Leader. Be sure to share any areas of weakness you believe you may have currently.
Personal Evaluation
Fusce in magna cursus ipsum laoreet varius. Cras eu purus quam. Phasellus ac ligula fermentum, tincidunt tellus eget, eleifend nulla. Etiam et nisi pretium, egestas ex vel, tincidunt nibh. Nulla elit dolor, rhoncus ut bibendum nec, lacinia dapibus arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.
1) Work through the Personal Evaluation (Personal Evaluation PDF)
2) Read the Closed Handed Theology training (Closed Handed Theology PDF)
PERSONAL EVALUATION
Take some time to pray through and consider the personal evaluation.
Read through the Closed Handed theology document and prepare any questions you may have about theology prior to meeting with your Group Leaders.
Discuss with your Group Leaders your personal evaluation, any questions you have about the Closed Handed Theology document.
Gospel Fluency: Session 1
Fusce in magna cursus ipsum laoreet varius. Cras eu purus quam. Phasellus ac ligula fermentum, tincidunt tellus eget, eleifend nulla. Etiam et nisi pretium, egestas ex vel, tincidunt nibh. Nulla elit dolor, rhoncus ut bibendum nec, lacinia dapibus arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.
Read Session 1 of Gospel Fluency (Gospel Fluency: Session 1 PDF)
Or
Watch the video below and read through (Basic Gospel Vocab PDF)
Good news before good advice
Scenario: Michelle confesses to your group that she is having marital issues. Her husband, Tom, accuses her of loving her job more than her family, but Michelle knows that her job is what provides everything for the family, while Tom stays home with the kids. She is worried they will get a divorce.
What would you or your group normally say in response to something like this?
Did the reply point Michelle to the gospel? Or was it mostly advice?
Jesus is the answer
Scenario: Dave’s girlfriend just broke up with him, and now he won’t hang out with your group anymore.
Using the Basic Gospel Vocab document which facets of the gospel do you believe would be helpful to point Dave toward?
Find someone in your group with whom you can take some time to discuss with them one concept from Gospel Fluency that stood out to you. Do this some time over the next week.
Gospel Fluency: Session 2
Fusce in magna cursus ipsum laoreet varius. Cras eu purus quam. Phasellus ac ligula fermentum, tincidunt tellus eget, eleifend nulla. Etiam et nisi pretium, egestas ex vel, tincidunt nibh. Nulla elit dolor, rhoncus ut bibendum nec, lacinia dapibus arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.
Read Session 2 of Gospel Fluency (Gospel Fluency: Session 2 PDF) (Deep Idol Chart)
Or
Watch/Listen to Session 2
Deep Idols
Jarrod is a new believer who is consistently confessing to your group that he parties every weekend. It often keeps him from joining your group on Sundays at the Gathering and he routinely regrets poor decisions he made while drinking - ranging from arguments with friends to sexual sin.
What is the surface level idol or sin? How would you begin to discover the deep idol? Explain how each of the four deep idols could cause Jarrod to pursue these sins.
Identity in Christ
Alexa has just lost her job and is anxious about how she’s going to survive. She is hanging out with your group, but most of the night, she is quiet and withdrawn. She quickly shifts to borderline panic when she talks about her situation. “I just don’t know how I’ll make it. I won’t be able to find a job. I won’t be able to pay back my loans. They’re going to repo my car, and I’ll definitely get evicted!”
Work through Alexa’s situation using this model.
Creation-Fall-Redemption-Restoration
Situation 1: You are getting to know your coworker Cam over lunch in the break room. He says, “We just grew up so poor, you know? I’ve never wanted my kids to be poor like we were. That’s why I’m working here. I hate this place, but the pay is good. I figure about 20 years here and I’ll be able to retire and my kids can have all the stuff I never had.”
Plot Cam’s story using the Creation - Fall - Redemption - Restoration framework. How does the gospel intersect with Cam’s story?
How might you begin to help him see this?
Situation 2: You are trying to get to know your neighbors and you’ve invited Claire over for dinner. She says, “We were only married for 4 years before it all melted down. We were young, we were in love, but we just couldn’t keep it together. Some of it was my fault. Some of it was his. One day he was just gone. I’m on eHarmony now. I’ve had a few matches, nothing has worked out yet. I know it will one day soon, I guess. I’m just kind of waiting for the right guy to come along so life can get started again.”
Plot Claire’s story using the Creation - Fall - Redemption - Restoration framework. How does the gospel intersect with Claire’s story?
How might you begin to help her see this?
Over the next week take the time to explain one of these methods with someone else in your group.
Gospel Fluency: Session 3
Fusce in magna cursus ipsum laoreet varius. Cras eu purus quam. Phasellus ac ligula fermentum, tincidunt tellus eget, eleifend nulla. Etiam et nisi pretium, egestas ex vel, tincidunt nibh. Nulla elit dolor, rhoncus ut bibendum nec, lacinia dapibus arcu. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.
Read Session 3 of Gospel Fluency (Gospel Fluency: Session 3 PDF) (Gospel U Chart PDF)
Or
Watch/Listen to Session 3
Gospel U Chart
Scenario: “Every time we go out somewhere, I end up yelling at my kids. I don’t want to, but it’s so frustrating. They’re loud, they don’t listen, and they cause problems everywhere we go. The whole situation is embarrassing because it makes me look like a bad parent.”
Use this method to help us move beyond simply addressing behavior to identifying the root source of unbelief that led to sinful action.
Confession, Repentance, Communion
Think through times that you have confessed to your group. Were you genuine and open? How did you confess both, your sin and your savior? If you only confessed your sin, how can you clearly confess Jesus as your savior in light of this sin area?
One Step Further
Scenario: Tina is struggling with same sex attraction and feels guilty and condemned. James says, “You know that God loves you and forgives you. You’re okay.”
How can you take the truth that James told Tina one step further to reach the gospel?
Over the next week take the time to explain one of these methods with someone else in your group.
