Life Groups Study – Week Of 10/2

Life Groups Study – Week of 10/2

Breaking The Ice

What is your favorite memory from being on a team, in a club, or other type of group? Could be little league baseball, chess club, a place you’ve worked…anything that you have been a part of with another group of people.

My Highlight

On Sunday Lennon preached about being “Kingdom Citizens”. Looking back at your notes from Sunday’s message, what stood out to you, challenged you, or confused you?

My Story

The passage from this week’s message paints a picture of people that were transformed by their shared devotion to God:

Acts 2:46-47 They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Have you ever had a friend or group of friends in your life that helped you grow in your understanding of God and even the way you lived? Who were they, and what was it about them that had a strong effect on you?

This Is God’s Word

This week we will discuss a passage about Kingdom priorities from the Apostle Paul in his letter to a church in Philippi.

Philippians 3:13–21 (CSB)

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.

17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things, 20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.

Let’s Go Deeper

QUESTION: Paul says, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”  

Paul obviously didn’t worry about being “too heavenly minded to be any earthly good.” Do you think that is actually possible? How does a person navigate being a heavenly citizen while still being able to thrive in an everyday world?

QUESTION: Our culture prides itself in individuality and freedom of choice and lifestyle, but everywhere you look people are proud of the groups they associate themselves with. In verse 17 Paul boldly says “Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.” What qualities should you look for in person that is a good example of following Jesus?

QUESTION: Paul speaks gravely of those who live as enemies of God. What do you think it means when Paul says “their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame”?

QUESTION: Our Sunday sermon series has taught that the Kingdom of God is not only a future reality, but something we seek and build right now.  Yet Paul speaks excitedly about the FUTURE reality of the Kingdom of God in verse 21:

“He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.”

Is this something you ever genuinely look forward to? Why, or why not?

Let’s Pray