Small group discussion notes - 17-23 October 2021

If you haven't seen last Sunday's sermon you can watch it here.

Welcome (Community)

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?

Worship

Give each person a piece of paper and a pencil. Read one or two passages about God's glory e.g., 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 and Isaiah 6:1-8. Ask the group to write the letters G L O R Y down one side of the paper, and to write a word or phrase of praise beginning with each letter. The end result may be something like:

God, you are great.

Let every creature worship you.

Our hearts are full of praise for you.

Reign in us always.

Your glory will last for ever.

Then let each read their composition in turn as worship to God.

Word (Discipleship):

Scripture reading: Ephesians 1: 1-14

1. The gospel is good news, not good advice. From the passage, identify what is good news about what Jesus has done for us?

2. The gospel is good news, not good advice. From the passage, identify what is good news about what Jesus has done for us?

3. So, do I choose God or does God choose me?

4. Which of the truths identified by Paul in this passage (holy/blameless, adopted, redeemed/forgiven, eternal security, chosen) do you struggle to believe? Why? Pray for each other in twos around these struggles.

Works (Mission)

Two challenges for the week:

• Be sure you watch the Ephesians video teaching from The Bible Project.

• Pray for someone you know who is a ‘not-yet believer’, asking God for an opportunity to share with them something that God is doing in your life at the moment.

Children’s address:

SUPPLIES: ✓ photocopies of a maze—one for each child. Use this object lesson to illustrate how God’s plan directs our lives toward Christ even though we freely make choices as we go. The maze only has one correct path to the finish. The children will freely negotiate the maze and reach the end. You knew exactly where they would end up even before they began to do the maze. You even knew the exact way they would go to get to the finish point. Our lives are like that to God. He knows and has planned all things. Even though we freely make choices about what we will do, the Lord is behind the scenes determining our steps (Proverbs 16:9).

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17 October 2021

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Small group discussion notes - 3-9 October 2021

If you haven't seen last Sunday's sermon you can watch it here.

Welcome (Community)

How did your prayer walk go last week?

Worship

Share Holy Communion together.

Word (Discipleship):

Scripture reading: Ephesians 3: 7-12

You may find it helpful to get some print paper and put it up on a wall, with a thick pen to list answers.

1. Paul talks about the gospel as a mystery - What aspect of faith and God is still a mystery to you?

2. Paul writes about himself as being a minister of the gospel, do you believe this to be a calling of only a few, or all of us? The word minister comes from the Greek word diakonos. It is possible that the word has its origin in a similar Greek word, diakonis, which means “running through dust.” In the Roman world, servants would run errands for their masters through the dusty streets, and oftentimes, when the masters went on journeys the servants would trot along in the billowing dust behind the master’s horse and bodyguards.

3. Where are you finding it hard (dusty and dirty) to represent Christ?

4. Read vs. 12 – Share your personal prayer request and pray together.

Works (Mission)

We are really struggling to find enough people to serve Sunday mornings, be it Kids Church, Band, Welcome Team, etc. Contact info@proteavalleychurch.org and offer to put shoulder to the wheel.

Children’s address:

https://www.childrens-ministry-deals.com/pages/object-lesson-on-the-gospel

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3 October 2021

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