Why Church (and why this one)?

TO START

Welcome back to Small Group! This week we’d love for your group to take some time to get re-connected.

Consider having your group members share “one thing” from their summer. Here’s a list of possible “one thing” prompts:

  • One funny thing that happened this summer.

  • One difficult thing that happened this summer.

  • One thing I learned this summer.

  • One place I saw God this summer.

  • One thing I’m trying to accomplish these days

  • One problem I’m trying to solve these days.

Additionally, as you welcome your group back and jump into discussion, you might take a minute to refresh them on the purpose small group: “to provide a predictable environment where we can experience authentic, intimate community that leads to spiritual growth.” This week would be a great time to talk through that purpose and to flesh out what it means.

  • Drill down on the words “authentic” and “intimate”. What do these words look like for your group? What wouldn’t they look like? What might these behaviors change for your group?

  • Does your small group have any goals for this year? Things you want to do more of? Less of? Things you want to be better about? Write ‘em down, and hold yourselves accountable!

  • Lastly, set expectations related to how often you’ll meet, when you’ll meet, childcare, prayer practices, special group meetings, who is willing to host, etc.

TO DISCUSS & TO READ

Ask this question to begin:

  • Why did you choose this church? What made you feel like you wanted to call this place home?

Today, Zane invited us to consider why church matters and in particular, why this church matters! He reminded us that the importance of church is centered around the reality that “love isn’t meant to just be spoken but experienced” and that being together is the conduit of God’s love being realized.

  • When you think of someone who has helped you to experience the love of God at this church, what’s one of the first names that comes to mind and why?

Read Romans 16:1-16 together…

Then read this from Zane today, "Don’t miss the massive statement Paul makes at the end of this letter: God’s love has been, and always will be, personal. God’s love doesn’t come through a study guide, a bar exam, or statement of faith. God’s love doesn’t come to us in a podcast. God’s love comes through the Person of Jesus Christ. It’s an experience of a person, and with that person being gone, it now comes through people that makes us His body.”

  • How do you feel about God’s love always being personal?? Has that always been your experience or understanding of God’s love?

To close, Zane encouraged us to consider that Paul’s greeting is addressed to multiple groups of people with varying opinions about faith, church, etc. and that Paul has chosen alongside these folks to practice love for one another even when it’s difficult, hurtful and messy… that’s church… “the people, their love for us, and our love for them which stands in the gap and what’s real”… The problem is that we are so easily persuaded to make church about a lot of different things rather than maturing in love together.

  • What most gets in the way of you experiencing church as a place to practice God’s love towards others and to mature in love (preferences rather than people, worried about being reach out to rather than reaching out yourself, being fixated on correcting someone’s misinformed view versus being the hands and feet of Jesus, etc)?

TO PRAY

This week, we want to encourage you to remember the names of people in this church and in your community. Spend some time lifting up specific names of people at this church and in your life whether you are lifting up a prayer request on their behalf OR thanking God for them.

Matt DeLano