Oct 24 2023 From Thought to Action: Chapter 20
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Before we begin, remember…making disciples can be as easy as reading a chapter of The Four Priorities and discussing it with someone else. This blog series is designed to supplement your journey. Feel free to take what you need and leave the rest! And remember, please share this post with your disciple so they can subscribe, too!
KEY QUOTES from Chapter 20: Small Groups – From Isolation to Connection
From the very beginning of Christianity, small groups have been essential to healthy spiritual growth. Large public gatherings were common, but individuals depended upon regular small gatherings for meaningful connection with other believers.
We often have a lot of fellow worker and fellow soldier relationships, but few, if any, brother relationships.
True fellowship involves accountability to one another as well as expressing our dreams and aspirations.
REFLECT: Using the guide on how to make your small group grow into a supportive team, which of the four steps do you want to focus on this week?
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- Share the Scripture
- Having a time to learn from what the others are learning not only helps accountability but it’s part of what helps us to be people who fulfill Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
- Share your schedule
- How can you reflect the Four Priorities that you’ve been studying in your schedule over the next few weeks? If it’s hard to name, invite your people into the conversation and see if they have any ideas to help!
- Share your relationships
- You become like who you spend time with. Who are the people you are spending time with? Will they make you more like Jesus?
- Share where you are now.
- Many people are better at being transparent (honest sharing from something that happened in the past), than they are at being vulnerable (honest sharing about something that is currently happening). Be vulnerable with the people in your life!
- Share the Scripture
PRAY: We have a tendency to overcomplicate things – especially our prayers! One way to simplify your prayer life is to pick two phrases or truths from scripture and attach them to your breath pattern. As you inhale, internally say the 1st phrase. As you exhale, say the 2nd phrase.
INHALE: As you are my friend
EXHALE: Let me be a friend to others
MEMORIZE: Take this week to memorize Hebrews 10:25 with your household. Write it on a sticky note to place on your car dashboard, your bathroom mirror, or wherever you will view it often.
Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
WORSHIP: Listen to this song called Good Grace by Hillsong.
TABLE TALK:
Discuss over dinner: Who are your people? What does it mean to be a best friend? How have you lived in community – trusting and sharing with others – this week?
TEACH/PLAY:
Object lesson about bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33).
How do you move out of isolation?
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- Understand that Christ never meant for you to go through life alone.
- Read Philippians 2:25. Regarding your friendships, consider the “brother/sister” relationships in your life:
- Are they a true friend?
- Are they honest with you?
- Are they available to you and find time to maintain a friendship?
- Are they willing to have fun?
- Do they desire to go deeper in their relationship with the Lord?
- Do they pray for you? Hold you accountable?
- Do they stick with you through thick and thin?
- If you need friends, pray for some!
- In your small group, share the Scriptures, your schedules, your relationships, struggles or triumphs, and prayer requests.
- Take the initiative to ask them to meet with you for a few weeks.
That’s it for Chapter 20!
Now…go! And make disciples!