May 30/31, 2015
READ Acts 26:12-29
Saul turned Paul has one of the most powerful stories in the Bible.
- What are the points of Paul's story that you find most compelling?
- Do you feel that you need to be speaking to kings to make a difference?
- Would you agree or disagree that through the lens of Paul's transformation, there's hope for all of us to become more like Jesus as we go?
SHARE with each other a story from the Bible that means a lot to you. What is it about this story that touches you? What have you learned as you've spent time contemplating this story? What makes you passionate about it?
What about your story? How does that fit into God's story? Can you define your story and explain it simply? Maybe it's time to come to know your own story. CHECK out the next steps below for some ideas. HELP each other fine tune your stories.
What about other people's stories? How do their stories intersect with your story and with God's story? Often, the best way to share our story with others is to listen first to their story. Are you intentional about building relationships and getting to know a person? Do you seek to LISTEN and ASK good questions to clarify and draw out a person's story?
How do you LIVE OUT your story as a way of sharing with others? Are you aware of those people God places in your life each day who need to see Jesus?
- SPEND TIME with your small group sharing your story.
- SHARE with your group how your story has intersected with another person's story. CELEBRATE those moments God has brought you together for His purposes.
- MAKE A LIST of people in your lives who need to hear God's story. TAKE this list with you this week to continue praying for people as they journey.
- PRAY Colossians 4:2-6 together.
- PRAY for opportunities to share with others.
May 23/24, 2015
READ Matthew 5:13-16
What do these verses say about how we should go about living our lives? What does that mean to you?
Have you ever thought deeply about what it means to be salt and light? Have you ever gone long periods of time without salt or light? It's hard to imagine because we have such easy access to both. Historically, salt and oil for light have been used as currency. That's how valuable they were to people. TALK about the correlation of our value to God and to others as it relates to salt and light.
So how do we go? How do we share the power of God's story? Do you have a clear picture of God's story? Have you stepped into God's story? The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith gives a great picture of who God is if you want to dive deeper into that topic. EXPLAIN the difference between sharing a story and sharing facts. Why is there more power in the story?
Let's LOOK at some other stories. REFLECT on each character, how they come to Jesus, how Jesus responds, and the power of the story as they go. DISCUSS in your small group.
- READ Matthew 8:5-13 - a man with power and authority
- READ Mark 1:40-45 - a man riddled with disease and shunned
- READ Luke 19:1-10 - a greedy man
So what's the power of your story? in light of God's story? intermingled with the stories of everyone in your small group? How does God work them all together for His good?
SPEND some time praying together as a group thanking God for the beauty and power of His story. CELEBRATE your stories together. PRAY for His hand in the continuation of your stories that you may be salt and light in a dull and dark world.
