Sanctuary- Week of November 26

~Inward Journey~
Gathering Flow:

Icebreaker:
(Intro/Names if needed)
How was your Thanksgiving (what did you do, etc.)?

Ground Rules:
Remind everyone...
1. We are here for God/spiritual growth, and community.

2. This is a 'safe space.' We are here to discover God together, so be real, don't worry about saying the 'right' thing. And anything shared here about our spiritual journeys stays here.

Prayer: 1. Give people a few moments of silence. Invite them to decompress from the day.

2. You pray- Welcoming God's presence into your time together.

Discussion:

Text:
2 Cor. 4:7-9, 13-18

1. Read v. 7-8
- If we are the "jars of clay," What is the "treasure?"

- Can we identify any "treasure" in our lives? In those around us?

2. Read v. 13-15 - Why is Paul (the author) so thankful here, even though he just talked about suffering?

- How do we allow thanksgiving to "overflow" from us, in good times and bad?

- This is also a good time to begin to discuss the 'outward journey': How do we begin to "overflow" grace and thanksgiving to our city? Are there simple things God is doing out there (that add value to our neighborhood/city) that we as a group can get involved in? Take a minute to brainstorm...

3. Read v. 16-18 -What is the "eternal glory" in v. 17? (don't let your group get away with just the 'Sunday School' answer here!)

- How do we begin, in our everyday life, to live into v. 18?

4. And, if you have time...
- In response to this passage, what can we really be thankful for?

Remember, you will probably not get through all the discussion questions... that's OK!
Focus on those that resonate most with your group.

Closing Prayer:
1. Take requests.
2. Invite anyone who wants to pray for each of these.
3. Don't forget to begin to pray for your 'outward journey' as a group... 'God show us where you are making a difference in our city, and how we can join!'
3. Ask someone else to open.
4. You close.


Keep hanging out as much as everyone wants!

Sanctuary- Week of November 12

Thanks for your commitment and leadership!...
We are on our way towards building groups that are growing in love for God and others.

The next step is coming soon...
To love God and others OUTSIDE our gatherings.
Stay tuned for more info... but begin to plant the seeds that soon we will be venturing out!


Inward Journey

Text: Luke 19:1-10
‘The Risk of Hope’

This Week...
Open in Prayer:
Spend a few quiet seconds 'decompressing' from our day,
and then invite God to work in your Sanctuary.

Read Luke 19:1-7
1. Who was Zacchaeus? What did it mean to be a “chief tax collector” back in his day?

2. How does Jesus respond to a “sinner?” (v. 7)
How does that give us hope?

3. Who in our culture would be the "chief tax collectors?"
How should we respond?

Next Read Luke 19:8-10
4. Pay attention to Zack's response to Jesus...
What is the relationship between change of heart and change of action?
Do the two necessarily always go together?

5. Zack took the risk to follow Christ, trusting that there was hope for a different life for him in God.
Where do we see ‘seeds of hope’ already planted in our lives?

Prayer Practice:
1. Spend a few moments in silence…
In the quietness, invite people to prayerfully ask God:
What is one way I need to take the ‘risk of hope?’
2. Then invite them to take a minute or two to respond to God…
This could be simply writing that thing down,
Or a short letter to God,
Or a drawing in response to God, etc.
(however each person responds best)

If you're brave enough (and have time),
Have people share their 'hope risks,'
and then make those part of your closing prayer.

Close in Prayer:
1. Take requests from the group,
maybe even ways they need to risk living into our hope in Christ.
2. Invite others to pray for specific requests.
3. You close.