JUNE 30
COMMUNITY
Community is the answer to the problem of selfishness.
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What does community mean to you currently? Who would you consider your community?
- How has community influenced and shaped your relationship with God?
3. Read Hebrews 10:23-25. The letter to the Hebrews was written to a group of Jewish Christ followers who are tempted to abandon their faith in the face of persecution and go back to the laws and practices of Judaism. The writer is warning them about the foolishness of turning their back on Jesus for there is nothing and no one better than Jesus.
Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):
- What do you notice and what are you curious about?
Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?)
- What do you learn about humanity?
- What do you learn about following Jesus?
Now make some applications (what’s my response?)
- How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
- What should be our response to this passage?
4. How does practicing community help us know Jesus more?
- How does practicing community help us become more like Jesus?
- How does practicing community help us do the things Jesus did?
5. In what ways are you are you practicing community well? In what ways do you need to grow in knowing others and allowing others to know you?
KEY SCRIPTURE
Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
PRAYER
Intercession: divide up into pairs and pray for one another. Pray for the areas of growth you expressed through the discussion above.
PRACTICE
How are you going to practice being community for others and allowing them to be community for you this week? What is one step you can take toward community this week?
FOR THE PARENTS
Hey, families! Here’s a look at what we’re covering with your kids so you can help them continue to grow at home during the week.
THIS WEEK FOR PRESCHOOL – 1 Samuel 17
This week we learned we all feel afraid sometimes, but God can help us be brave
THE BIBLE: “So do not be afraid. I am with you. Do not be terrified. I am your God.” Isaiah 41:10
THE MESSAGE:
In today’s true Bible story, something scary happens to two men. One of them feels afraid, but the other one stays brave.
THE BIG IDEA: God helps me be brave.
THIS WEEK FOR ELEMENTARY – 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, Hebrews 12:1–3
THE BIBLE: “I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize…The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.” Philippians 3:14
THE MESSAGE:
Just like with any race, following Jesus can be hard sometimes. It’s easy to get tired! That’s why God gave us the church. Look around you — we get to run this race together! We get to help and encourage each other towards the prize. More than that, Jesus runs the race with us too. He gives us the strength we need to finish the race strong! Let’s pray right now and thank Him for doing that.
THE BIG IDEA: Jesus is the ultimate prize, so we can throw off our sins and run to Him.
ASK THIS
Because sometimes you and your kid need a conversation-starter that isn’t,
“So . . . how was church?”
- How do you think following Jesus is like running a race?
- What kind of “prize” or reward do you think we get for following Jesus?