Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
Ice-Breaker:
- What kind of cartoons/shows did you grow up on?
Discussion Questions:
- We talked on Sunday about bearing one another's burdens. Paul commands us to do so in Galatians 6. All of us go through difficult things in life... there's just no escape from it. It's something Jesus promised would happen. And when we do, we'd better not be alone. We were created to be fully known and fully loved by a COMMUNITY of believers. It's pretty simple actually... not only are we designed for community, but we desperately need it in our lives. Have there been times in your life where you lacked solid, biblical community in your life? On the flip side, have you had the experience of a godly community surrounding you in a difficult time and bearing your burdens alongside you?
- Jeff shared his testimony about how, after the passing of his dad, his church community and youth group surrounded him with love and support. He shared that the first way we can bear one another's burdens is to SUPPORT people that are struggling. In Job 2, we see that when Job was at his absolute lowest point, his friends showed up and sat with him in his struggle. They mourned with him and, without saying a word, sat with him for seven days. It's hard to know what to say to someone who has suffered great loss. Describe a time when you have been devastated and someone showed up for you? What about a time when you had the opportunity to sit with someone else in THEIR grief?
- The next way we can support those who are suffering is to SEE them. Sometimes we just need people to lament with us, to say how bad the situation sucks, to understand. It seems like half of the Psalms are laments from David, where he cries out to God about how He's forgotten about him, or how He's turned His back on him. But David never stops there. He eventually returns to the truth of who God is and thanks Him for His faithfulness and goodness. This is a great pattern for us when we suffer. We must acknowledge our pain and grief, but we can't get stuck there. We have to worship God through the storm. What are the dangers of getting stuck in your grief? What are the benefits of being able to acknowledge God's goodness even when you are suffering?
- When people are suffering, we need to STAY WITH them. It's important for us to not just show up and then disappear, but to stick with people for the long haul. Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." It's important to note the difference in the terms "friend" and "brother." As believers, we are to live with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. A brother is much more than just a friend. A brother is born for adversity. A brother is always there, no matter what. A brother is never just a fair-weather friend. Do you have other Christians in your life that you consider a brother or sister, that are much more than just friends? If not, how can you begin to build these vital relationships into your life?
- The big idea from Sunday was simply to SHOW UP. Jesus commands us to love each other... but not just any kind of love. He tells us to love each other the way HE loves us. That's a different kind of love. That love is self-sacrificing and unconditional. In fact, He says that it's THAT kind of love that we have for each other that will prove to the world that we belong to Him. Who is struggling in your life right now? Who do you need to show up for? Maybe you should send a few texts today?
Prayer Topics:
- That we would be committed to godly community.
- That we would love each other like Jesus loves.
- That we would learn to show up for each other.
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