Week 4: How Do I Get There?

Before watching the video, here is a starter question to discuss with your group.

1. Share about a time when you thought you knew where you were going, but you got lost. Why did you get lost?

Then, watch the video below.

After watching the video, here are some questions to discuss with your group.

1. You hear the words ‘obedience’ and ‘legalism’ a lot in church circles.

• In your own words, how do you see them as different from each other?
• Give examples of what it looks like for obedience to become legalism.

2. There are three major differences between obedience and legalism. The first difference involves ‘motivation.’

• What do the following passages tell us about the relationship between obedience and love (have someone in your group read each aloud)?

– John 14:21
– 2 John 1:6.

• How can one’s motive change obedience to legalism?

– Galatians 5:4a
– Romans 3:20

3. The second factor that separates obedience from legalism involves ‘declaration’ (what our actions demonstrate in regards to our belief about God).

• Take turns reading the following passages within your group. Identify what each passage tells us about God.

– 2 Chronicles 7:14
– Malachi 3:10
– Isaiah 55:8-9
– Romans 12:17-19

4. The third differentiator between obedience and legalism involves the “results” of our actions.

• What is the result of our obedience according to the following?
  – John 15:10
  – 1 Samuel 15:22-23
  – Last, Psalm 119:165
• What kind of impact has legalism had on you in the past (your own legalism or someone else’s)?

5. We are reminded that, “obedience is the love-motivated process of acting in accordance with God’s word because you believe that you are living under His favor and that He only has your best interest at heart.”

• What is your gut reaction to the assertion that God has your best interest at heart?
• How can/does this truth effect the way you live?

6. As we wrap up this study – identify some next steps.

• What you may need to work on in regards to your own heart – walking in obedience or battling legalism.
• Staying (or getting connected) with people who will walk with you at this part of your journey.

7. Consider these quotations from today’s lesson:

• “Obedience is acting out of love in accordance with God’s Word.”
• “Legalism is acting in accordance with God’s Word to earn love.”

End this time with prayer – identify any specific needs within your group and thank God for bringing you to where you are today, trusting Him with what is to come and asking for His help as we seek to follow Him in obedient love.

Week 3: What Am I Supposed to Do With My Life?

Before watching the video, here is a starter question to discuss with your group.

1. How does it feel to say God has a calling, specific to you?

Then, watch the video below.

After watching the video, here are some questions to discuss with your group.

1. What have you been taught about God’s ‘specific’ calling on your life? Did you resonate with the teaching today?

2. Consider the stage of life you are presently in? Share your answers to the two questions suggested as tools in helping you identify your vocation?

• What are your strengths, talents and abilities? What are the things that you possess an increased or abundant ability to do?
• What are you passionate about and what are broken over?

3. God not only gives us a vocation, something we are designed to do best – He also gives us assignments – specific times and specific places to practice the vocation He has given us. Below are a few examples from Scripture:

• Joseph, who was assigned to lead and organize in many different settings – a ruler’s home, jail and eventually over an entire kingdom.
• Esther, who was raised up for such a time as this.
• Paul, who was assigned to church plant in numerous cities around the world.
• And Phillip, who, in one moment, was led to preach the Gospel to a stranger on the road leading to Gaza, and in the next was commissioned to preach the Gospel in every town until Caesarea.

Identify some ‘assignments’ that you recognize from in own personal life.

4. Throughout the video, we spoke of working our way through the five-tier funnel of purpose, in order to identify and pursue the specific work for which God has placed you on the planet. Review these five (listed below). Where are you in the process right now? What are some next steps that you will make toward living God’s call on your life? How can we pray for you at this time in the process?

• Living out your God given identity as a new creation; as a child of God, as God’s friend, as a member of His team, as one who is accepted, forgiven, and justified, and as one who is loved.
• Living out your God given Purpose to bring and give God glory.
• Carrying out your God given calling to work with him in changing lives and eternities.
• Pursuing your God given vocation – the specific work God has uniquely gifted, skilled and graced you with for His glory.
• Accomplishing your assignments – including the specific times and specific places where you will practice the vocation God has given you.

5. As you close today, remember to thank God for His call on your lives, His equipping you to live out your calling, and pray for those specific steps/areas that each one of your group identified as important for moving forward in following His call.

Week 2: Why Am I Here?

Before watching the video, here are some starter questions to discuss with your group.

1. Introduce yourselves around the table again this week and share who/what you wanted to grow up to be or to do when you were a child. What was your motivation at the time? What motivates you today?

Then, watch the video below.

After watching the video, here are some questions to discuss with your group.

1. Take a moment and share to the group what, in the American life, competes for God’s attention (optional: feel free to also share what competes for God’s attention in your own personal life as well).  Share the implication that has on the Christian life.

2. It was shared that, “the true north, the purpose of everything we do, is the glory of God.” How does that feel? What are the implications of this assertion in how you make decisions – about church, family, relationships, jobs, life?

3. The Scriptures mention three ways that we, you and I, can bring God glory. Practically speaking, what could each of the following look like in your own life (look up the attached verses as needed)?

• By seeking God’s glory in your heart – John 7:18, John 17:1, Philippians 2:13.
• By bringing God glory with your speech – 1 Chronicles 16:28-29, Psalm 36:28, Psalm 150, Deuteronomy 5:11, Ephesians 4:29, James 3:3-12, Colossians 4:2-6.
• By bringing God glory with your actions – 1 Corinthians 10:31, Ephesians 2:10, John 13:13-14, John 13:35, 1 John 4:7-11, Matthew 25:34-40.

4. Which of these: seeking God in your heart, your speech, or with your actions do you believe God is calling you to focus on for His glory? Identify one thing you can do this week to bring more glory to God.

5. Finish your time together by praising and thanking God for who He is and what he has done in your life to date. Ask him to break down any strongholds and barriers that keep you from bringing glory to God in your heart, your words and in your actions.

Week 1: Who I Am in Christ

Before watching the video, here are some starter questions to discuss with your group.

1. Introduce yourself and share what you are most hoping to get out of the Together Experience?

Then, watch the video below.

Week 1 After Video Questions

After watching the video, here are some questions to discuss with your group.

1. Take a moment and share to the group and identify your ethnic or family background (how do you describe your heritage)? How does your cultural identity impact your life, decisions, priorities or reactions?

2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ?

3. Discuss what it looks like to live as a new creation in Christ in light of the assertions made in today’s lesson.

• Don’t live as victims
• Don’t be defeated
• Don’t live in the past

4. The Scriptures tell us that ‘in Christ you are’:

• A new creation (Galatians 6:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17).
• A child of God (Galatians 4:4-8, Romans 8:15-23, Ephesians 1:4-6,).
• A friend of God (John 15:12-15).
• Accepted, forgiven and justified (Romans 15:7, Colossians 1:13-14, Romans 5:1-2).
• On God’s team (Romans 12:5-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 2:10).
• Loved by God (John 15:9, Romans 8:37-39, Galatians 2:20).

Which of these resonate with you most? Which makes you the most uncomfortable? Explain.

5. Identify at least one thing you can do this week to cultivate or enhance your relationship with Jesus.

6. Finish your time together by expressing gratitude to God in prayer for how He’s worked in your life to date, asking Him to continue the transformation process in your life with the renewing of your mind and the deepening of relationships.

7. There is power in agreement! Every day this week, speak the following proclaimed truth that God has already spoke over you and watch how it can transform:

• “God is for me so nothing and no one can stand against me!”
• “I am his loved kid!”
• “He is well pleased with me!”
• “I don’t have to strive for because I live from!”
• “I am already righteous in Christ!”
• “I am already forgiven in Christ!”
• “I am already loved in Christ!”
• “I am already liked in Christ!”
• “He will never leave me!”
• “He will never forsake me!”
• “God is my just judge!”
• “I know good is always on the way!”
• “He is my material provider!”
• “He is my spiritual provider!”
• “I will NOT say yes to, meditate on, and mull over the enemy’s lies and will live out of my identity in Christ!”