Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
Ice-Breaker:
2020-21 was definitely a crazy time for all of us. On the lighter side, what was the most interesting thing you saw in public during the pandemic? Any crazy homemade masks?
Discussion Questions:
- In our Creed series we've been talking about what the church is and why the church exists. It's important for us to know what God intended the church to be so that we can honor him. So, in your own words, why do you think the church exists? Have you ever pondered this question before? How would you have answered this question based on growing up, whether in or out of church?
- The first reason the church exists is so that we can minster to God through worship. Have someone read Colossians 1:15-18 and 3:16. We exist for him. Worship of him is all about lifting up his name, expressing his nature, singing about who God is and what he's like. This stands in contrast to how a lot of Christians view worship, using it as a means to be ministered to themselves. It should be about him, not satisfying our own feelings. This is where we tend to get it backwards in today's church culture. A lot of modern worship is centered around us, if we're being honest, while older hymns tended to focus more on the nature and glory of God. This is why we are careful at the City to sing songs, whether old or new, that focus more on him than us. Is this something you've ever thought about in the kinds of Christian/worship music you choose to listen to? What are the dangers of becoming too "me" focused in our worship?
- Next, the church exists to minister to YOU. This happens through FELLOWSHIP and DISCIPLESHIP. We see in the book of Acts that everyone constantly met together and shared everything they had.... so much so that there were no needy people among them. They were united in heart and mind. It was through this godly fellowship that true discipleship happened. Paul said that it wasn't just his primary goal to get people saved, but that they would grow in their faith. The church exists to EQUIP you! Our primary purpose as pastors is to equip you for your relationship with God so that you know him and become more mature, so that you know what you believe and why you believe it, to equip you to be able to share the Gospel with people in your life that don't know him, to help you know how to disciple your families, to help you find and develop your own ministries based on your spiritual gifts. Do you feel you have the tools to be able to share your faith with others? Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts test? Have you found a way to use those gifts to minister to the church or City Group?
- Finally, the church exists to minister to THEM. We are to reach people outside of the church. We are to bring the Gospel to an unbelieving world. This is EVANGELISM. Have someone read Matthew 28:18-20. As the body of Christ we are called to take the Gospel to all nations. He gave us his Holy Spirit to empower us to do this work. But our message isn't just about preaching truth to people. It's also about showing a lost world MERCY and COMPASSION. Ministries of mercy should adorn our Gospel message. We are to care for the poor and needy in the name of Jesus. Evangelism AND mercy... both/and. When you think of churches in our country, do you see them as compassionate and merciful? How do we make sure we balance evangelism and truth with showing people God's mercy? How might this approach make our message more effective?
- One thing we don't see in Scripture is how the church exists to entertain or inspire us. It's not meant to be a social event. This is where the church in America misses the point. We tend to think it's all about us and our preferences and our comfort and our needs getting met. Churches have become more and more entertaining which creates a bunch of spectators and consumers. However, as in any healthy relationship, our relationship with the church should be give and take. It should be consume, yes, but also contribute. People that only consume choke the cause of Christ, while contributors champion the cause of Christ. The consumer says it's all about ME, while contributors say it's all about HIM and THEM. Do you have a healthy relationship with the church, give AND take? Are you contributing your time, talent, money and energy for the glory of God? Have you ever experienced the true joy that's found when you pour yourself out for HIM and his church?
Prayer Topics:
- That we would minister to God through true, God-glorifying worship.
- That we would discover our spiritual gifts and use them to serve his church.
- That we would learn to walk in grace and truth among unbelievers.
- That we would maintain a healthy relationship to his church, consuming AND contributing.
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