Network Small Group Planning Sheet
Date: Sunday 30th September onwards (SG1)
Title: Ten Commandments – No 1 and No 2!
This is a guide line for your study and conversation – you do not need to use or answer every question – otherwise you might be there for a few nights! Pick out the points that are most relevant to you and your group!
Welcome
20 mins
Coffee and Tea
Icebreaker activity: The things in my life
1. Give each person a blank sheet and ask them to draw though bubbles to illustrate each of the ‘important’ things that are in their life right now
2. Get each person to share at least one thing and say why that is important to them
Or Question ‘Who are the most committed members of any religion that you have ever met? Why?
Worship
20 mins
The things of life grow strangely dim in His light
1. Ask each person to spend a few minutes in silent prayer to thank God for many of the blessings and ‘things’ that He has given to us already. (use the sheet from the icebreaker as a guide)
2. end this with a prayer together
3. then get group to listen and reflect on the words of a worship song from a Cd etc that speaks of putting Jesus at the centre of our lives (possibly Heart of worship by Matt Redman
4. Finally, lead the group in starting to consider what other gods they might have in their life right now. What things might be taking the place of God? What things maybe have more importance than worship, church attendance and speaking up for what you believe in?
Word
40 mins
No 1 and 2 - No other gods and No images!
Read Deut 5 v 1 – 21 these help to explain some of God’s most basic rules for living. These are living rules, God’s standards for living. Jesus in Matt 5 v 20 issues a challenge that we need to keep and uphold the commandments – yet, unlike the way the Pharisees live – creating a relationship with God is always the most important thing.
Number 1!
1. Read Deut 5 v 7 again – Why do you think God starts his most basic rules with this statement? Does God feel threatened? Is He insecure? Does He feel unsafe? Is he vulnerable that we might prefer another God to Him?
Well – yes, He is. He knows what we are like.
2. What is it that makes us want to replace God with other things?
3. What other things might we have made into our gods – what are the things that get in the way of our true worship for and love for God?
4. Do we worship the wrong thing? Can we worship sin?
Read Isaiah 40 v 18 – 31
5. Who or what do we compare God to?
6. How is God superior to either our idols or our achievements? (look at v 28 - 31)
God shows us his might through his total sovereignty but also through his Grace - he brought the Israelites out of slavery, out of Egypt and gave them a place they could have had and did not deserve. God expects nothing less than first place.
Number 2!
1. Read Deut 5 v 8-10 again - was God being a bit sensitive with this rule? Why does He not want us to accept idols and images of Him?
2. Why do you think that God emphasises his jealous nature for our love and attention?
3. By making an image of God – do we try and fit Him into our own stereotypical world view of what He looks like? Why do we feel a need to KNOW what God looks like? Why is it hard to accept God as a spiritual rather than merely a physical presence?
4. R T Kendall wrote ‘Accepting God just as he is – loving God just as he is’ - what do you think this means?
5. What idols/ man-made things are around today that people worship in the place of God?
6. Read Romans 1 v 25 - do we serve created things in our lives today?
7. Rob Bell in the book ‘Velvet Elvis’ writes about how the mystery of God is fundamental to understanding God he writes “The Christian faith is mysterious to the core. It is about things and beings that ultimatley cant be put into words. Language fails . .The mystery is the truth.”
How is God a mystery to you? Does that frighten you or strengthen you? Does it bring more questions that it answers?
8. Hebrews 11 v 1 helps us comprehend the mystery – we must apply our faith. This is the root core of the Christian’s faith. ‘Faith Is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.’ Faith cannot be based on what we see and then take action . . . that is not faith - why can having faith in God be so hard?
9. God demands his place. God clearly shows that his jealously for our worship has consequences. How does this vengeful, wrathful God make you feel? Is it easier to believe in/ love a God like this? (Interestingly David Murrow argues that a God that punishes is more interesting to men than women – is that the case with you?)
10. Yet God does not want to punish us – he wants to show us His mercy. If we live God’s way we get mercy and Grace – is this a fair deal?
11. Is your faith too small? Is your image of God too small, too restricted? Have you stuck God into a restrictive box in your mind about what He can and can’t do – is this a true image of the living God?
Witness
10 mins
For network to be useful and vibrant within the church it is really important that we all encourage others to join up for small group bible study. Whether we bring people with us to our small group or we direct them to Tim or Mark to be fitted into a like-minded group . . . does not really matter.
· Think of one or two people that are in your immediate friendship group – pray for them and then make a decision to ask them to come to a small group or the Network night on 10th November at 8pm.
· Spend a few minutes to pray for these people and for courage that we would see our faith as something worth sharing with others.
Planning
1. Please make sure that everyone is aware of the next Network night at 8pm on 10th November in the church. Make sure that everyone has contact details for everyone in the group
2. Make sure that you have agreed the time and the venue for the next group meeting.
3. Maybe ask one other group member to take a lead in one part of the evening.
4. Try to see if you can email, text or phone all the people in your group to see how they are over the next few weeks.
