WEEK 7 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

Community: Confess your sins.

Introduction:

God’s primary goal for humanity is loving community – for the many to be as one. We are created in the image of a relational God for loving relationships with God and each other. The image of the relational God can become distorted because of our sin. Community remains a constant challenge. It requires tremendous effort and sacrifice, and quite frankly, it’s risky. And so, an obvious question arises: Is community worth pursuing? The Bible’s answer is yes, yes—a thousand times, yes.

Something To Talk About:

God expects that we, who are a part of the community of faith, should provide a safe place where caring relationships can be developed and nurtured.

We have to live with a high degree of intentionality: Intentionality. We hear this word often enough. To be intentional means to do something on purpose. We can do intentional wrong or intentional good. The goal is to be more intentional as followers of Jesus. He invited us to lean into His direction and guidance. Intentional Christian community, where individuals purposefully engage in loving, serving, and encouraging one another, is crucial for spiritual growth and living out the Great Commandment. This involves making conscious choices to cultivate relationships, share life experiences, and support one another’s journeys toward Christ-likeness. Christian community provides a space for mutual encouragement, accountability, and support, leading to deeper faith and spiritual maturity. Intentional community enables individuals to demonstrate love and compassion by sharing their faith and building bridges with others. The Christian community provides a network of support and encouragement during difficult times, enabling individuals to navigate life’s challenges with greater grace and resilience. Make a conscious effort to connect with others in your church or faith community, finding opportunities to share meals, participate in activities, or be present. Demonstrate genuine care and compassion for fellow believers by offering support and encouragement during times of need. Encourage and be encouraged by others in their faith journey, helping one another grow in understanding and the application of God’s Word. Regularly pray for the needs of your community, seeking God’s guidance and support for each individual’s journey. Model Christ-like behavior, demonstrating love, patience, and forgiveness in your interactions with others.
The deeper problem: shame: The awesome God we worship is eager to forgive us, as is revealed in the words of Psalm 103: 12, which says, “He has removed our sins as far from as the east is from the west.” With these words, He offers us a guilt-free existence. But without acknowledging our sins before God and depending on His mercy to help us change, guilt and shame can constantly plague us. A Christian small group can be a powerful resource for dealing with the shame of sin. Here’s how it can help: It is a safe place for confession and vulnerability. Small groups provide a supportive environment where individuals can feel safe to open up and confess their struggles and sins without fear of judgment. Sharing your struggles with trusted believers who understand and offer compassion helps break the power of shame, which often thrives in secrecy and isolation. Small groups also offer accountability; group members can hold each other accountable for spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible study, which are essential for growth and overcoming temptation. A small group can help you focus on your identity in Christ. Shame can distort our self-perception and make us feel unworthy; a small group can help remind us of our true identity as a child of God, loved and accepted despite our past. Through Bible study and discussion, group members can reinforce the truth that God does not condemn you but offers forgiveness and freedom through Jesus Christ. In summary, a Christian small group provides a crucial community where individuals can find support, accountability, and encouragement in overcoming the shame of sin. This happens through open confession, experiencing God’s grace through others, focusing on truth, and engaging in activities that foster spiritual growth and healing.

Discussion Questions:

How does the early church, as depicted in Acts 2:42-47, serve as a model for intentional community building?
How can you, as an individual, and the church collectively, be intentional about creating a welcoming environment, especially for newcomers?
How can you move from simply being “in church” to being “in community,” where care and love go deeper?
What challenges do you face in being intentional about building community, whether they are personal or structural within your church? How can you work through these challenges?
What are the risks of not having biblical fellowship in your life? How honest are you willing to be with others in your community?
What is one tangible step you can take this week to build more intentional community with others?
How do you personally tend to experience or respond to feelings of shame? How might the shame of sin keep us isolated or prevent us from seeking help?
How can being part of a loving and supportive community help dismantle the power of shame?
What are the characteristics of a community that fosters openness and vulnerability, allowing individuals to share their struggles without fear of judgment?
How can grace and compassion be extended to those struggling with shame within a community? How can open and honest conversations about sin and shame be encouraged within a community?
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message? What challenged you?

Take one thing home with you:

We can sing together, listen to God’s word spoken, and learn together as members of the Body of Jesus Christ. We can leave with new insights into Scripture. However, there’s one thing we cannot do among several thousand people, and that’s to have a small group to do life together with.

Small groups are crucial in large churches because they foster discipleship, build meaningful relationships, and create a sense of community where individuals can experience personal growth and accountability. They offer a more intimate setting for engaging with faith, learning, and serving one another, which can be harder to achieve in a large congregational setting.

Small groups provide a space for individuals to connect with others on a deeper level and receive personalized encouragement and guidance. They can help create a sense of belonging and foster strong relationships among members, which can be vital in a large church where individuals might feel anonymous. Small groups provide a platform for members to hold each other accountable, offer support during challenging times, and encourage one another’s spiritual growth. Small groups enable a more personalized approach to discipleship, where members can learn from one another and grow in their faith through shared experiences and discussions.