ICEBREAKERS
Make sure to start off with prayer. Then choose one or more questions to open up with.
- What is your favorite family memory?
- Tell about a quirky thing that your family does.
- Would you say that your family experience has been mostly positive or mostly negative?
Message Review
Main points and scriptures from this week's message.
All of us come from natural families. Some of us have had positive family experiences and some not so positive. Even the greatest of families still have real tensions, quirks, and issues. However, the benefits of a healthy family, not a perfect family, far outweigh the frustrations that comes along with being part of a family.
God made us because he wanted us to be a part of his family.
Hebrews 2:10a (NCV)
God is the one who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory . . .
You are designed for God's family.
1 Timothy 3:14–15 (NCV)
I’m writing . . . so you’ll know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God.
Maybe something happened, and it has caused yourself to become removed and distant from God's family. But God's plan did not change.
Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
God’s unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
How do we best utilize this Spiritual Family that God has given us? Here are four essentials to thriving in God's family.
1. SHARE TOGETHER.
Acts 2:44 (LB)
All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other.
Hebrews 10:25 (TEV)
Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead, let us encourage one another.
1 Corinthians 14:26, 30–31 (MSG)
When you gather, each one of you be prepared with something useful for all: Sing a song, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight . . . Take your turn, with no one person taking over. That way . . . you all learn from each other.
Romans 12:15 (NIV)
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
2. BELONG TOGETHER.
Ephesians 2:19 (LB)
. . . You are members of God's very own family . . . and you belong in God's household with every other Christian.
Romans 12:5 (NIV)
In Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
1 John 4:21 (GW)
The person who loves God must also love other believers.
1 Peter 2:17b (MSG)
Love your spiritual family.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (MSG)
This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized. Each of us is now a part of his body.
3. SERVE TOGETHER.
1 Corinthians 3:9a (TEV)
We are partners working together for God.
Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)
The whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Galatians 6:10 (NCV)
When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those in our family of believers.
4. HURT TOGETHER.
Galatians 6:2 (NLT)
Share each other's troubles and problems. In this way, you obey the law of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:26 (ESV)
If one member suffers, all suffer together.
Romans 12:10 (GW)
Be devoted to each other like a loving family.
1 John 3:16 (NLT)
We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.
Remember that you are designed for God's family!
TALK-IT-OUT
The following questions will help guide your discussions and give your group some opportunities to open up and share.
- Do you feel like you are currently connected well to God's family?
- Why do you think that some people love God, but they refuse to get planted in church and community?
- We thrive in God's family when we share experiences, resources, and other things together. What is one way you are going to start "sharing" with God's family?
- Describe a time when you really felt like you belonged? What was it that made you feel that sense of belonging?
- Knowing that God designed us for His family, what does that teach you about God?
- To thrive in God's family, we must hurt together. Are you currently hurting?
WRITE-It-Out
Encourage your group to starting writing things down. In a journal or on paper, write down the following:
- Draw a circle in your journal and label it, "God's family." Then list all the people you can think of, including yourself, that are a part of God's family with you.
- Pick two people from the circle and write out a prayer for them. In the future, you might have an opportunity to share it with them.
- Healthy families often send thank you cards to each other. Write down a thank you to someone in either your spiritual family or your natural family, and then send them the letter.
Live-It-Out
Encourage your group to start doing. Commit to a step, and live it out this week.
- Reach out to one person this week from church and get together with them to talk and hang out.
- If you have not been baptized already, sign up to be baptized this weekend by going to cc.church/baptisms
- Serve together as a group. Every month, we have serving opportunities with Champions Foundation. To view the calendar of events, click HERE
Closing Thoughts
- Finish group with prayer requests and praise reports.
- More resources always available here: Group Resources