LifeGroup study guide – Week 12: “Trust God.”

Stepping In: Getting things started!

1-Share one thing that really stuck with you from the message this past weekend.

2- What was one of your first real challenges to truly TRUST God?

Building Up: What is God Saying?

Read Proverbs 3:1-2. What does it really mean to keep these Proverbs, or any of God’s wisdom and commands, in our heart? Why is that important?

Read Proverbs 3:3-4. How can love and faithfulness change everything for our lives?

Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What’s a way you’ve leaned on your own understanding and NOT fully trusted God?

Read Proverbs 3:7-8. Why are we continually tempted to be wise in our own eyes? Practically speaking, why is that a huge problem?

Read Proverbs 3:9-10. Why is putting God first in our finances such a critical test of our trust?

Living Out: How do I obey?

1-Take some time to thank each other in the group for each one’s unique contribution to your LifeGroup. Have a time of prayer and thanksgiving for your time together this summer.

I know this is Labor Day Weekend and some of you have plans to be somewhere other than Community. Good for you. I hope you enjoy the beach, river, mountains or wherever else you’re heading. It can be a very special time with family and/or friends.

However, just so you know, you might be missing something really special. Recently I was crunching the numbers (actually I wasn’t crunching anything but a granola bar) and I discovered something really amazing.

You put your head down and work hard, but sometimes you need to look back to see how far you’ve come. Well, the numbers helped me do that. All of this research brought me to why THIS weekend at Community might be something really special. Are you ready for it?

Well, here goes. This weekend we might hit 1,000 baptisms in our worship center! We are just a few away and already have some lined up for our weekend services.

This is quite a milestone, and one that we will definitely remember and continue to build on. We’ve been in our building for 10 1/2 years. And now, with summer drawing to a close, we’re about to be a part of something really special.

God has used Community to help so many people “STEP IN” to that special relationship with Jesus. YOU are a part of that. Every person you encourage, support, invite, love and pray for is part of this bigger picture of what God has been doing right here in this place we call home. It happens one person at a time, but now it’s about time to celebrate a whole bunch of ones…that add up to 1,000!

“For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12 NLT)

By the way, if you’ve never taken the plunge and been baptized and want to…bring a swimsuit and towel. We’ll give you the t-shirt to wear and you’re ready to go!

While we’ll be wrapping up our Proverbs series this weekend, I feel like we’ve only been scratching the surface these past 12 weeks. There’s so much more wisdom throughout this great book.

I told you early on that one of the books I was reading to help frame our 12 week series was, Making Life Work, by Bill Hybels. I love the way he describes this unique part of God’s Word:

“Proverbs is a fascinating and powerful book. As the introduction suggestions, where else can we find writing that is poetic yet practical, humorous yet helpful, direct yet deep? Where else can we find the wisdom of God compressed into a few pithy phrases that please our ears and stretch our minds and satisfy our souls?”

I’ve loved this series. Now, while making plans for this weekend I can only say… YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT!

Every time I lead one of our First Step dinners, I feel like I’m doing what God wired me to do. I love seeing all these new people who are hungry and eager to connect with Community and start making a difference with us.

Last night was no exception.

The room was filled with people from all different ages, races, backgrounds and spiritual journeys. God has brought them all here…and I love it!

Each one of them knows their mission, like ours, is to help people as they are Stepping In, Building Up and Living Out this amazing adventure with Jesus!

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22b NLT)

So today, again, let’s go BE a friend and then BRING that friend to Him.

LifeGroup study guide – Week 11: “Cool It”

Stepping In: Getting things started!

1-What is your “go to” anger management tool?

2-Why do we tend to do things we seriously regret when we’re angry?

Building Up: What is God Saying?

Read Proverbs 15:1. Why or how does this actually work?

Read Proverbs 16:32. What are the tangible benefits of being in control of your emotions? What can happen if we’re not in control of them?

Read Proverbs 19:19. How have you seen this Proverb played out in your experience?

Read Proverbs 22:24-25. We looked at these verses a few weeks ago, but here it is again. Are you in a position now where you need to back away from a relationship? Without naming names, talk about how you can go about creating some distance.

Read Proverbs 29:11. Wise or Foolish. This is a theme that is used a lot in the Proverbs. Why is it a problem (foolish) to give full vent to your anger or rage? Why is that a problem even if we say, “I’m just telling it like it is?”

Living Out: How do I obey?

1-In what area of your life do you tend to be more vulnerable to losing your temper?

2-What is a practical thing you can do to help you develop more self-control?