Community Group Guide
> Why We Gather
At The Springs Church, we desire for community groups to be a place where we BEHOLD JESUS, BECOME LIKE JESUS, and BELONG IN COMMUNITY. This means that our primary goal for groups is to gather around the transforming presence of Christ. As we gather around the transforming presence of Jesus, we believe by faith that we will be incrementally transformed into His image and likeness. With that in mind, let's begin in prayer by asking the Holy Spirit to lead our time together, move on our hearts, and help us behold Jesus, become Like Jesus, and experince the gift of belonging in community. Let's pray.
> Announcements
- Baptism Sunday on October 4th! If you have recently made a decision to follow Jesus, your next step is to enter the waters of baptism. Click here to register.
- If you're new to The Springs, we invite you to join us for our newcomer class called Life at The Springs! It will take place Sunday, October 4th at 10:25 AM. Breakfast items and childcare will be provided.
> Give Thanks
Take a few moments to briefly share about anything that you are thankful unto the Lord for? Perhaps you've witnessed God answer a prayer or experienced a moment that strengthened your faith. Feel free to share any recent occurrences that have encouraged you or instances where you've felt God's presence at work in your life.
> Scripture Reading
Have someone read Acts 1:8. Our focus this week is on how the Holy Spirit empowers Christian living. We will consider three ways the Holy Spirit supernaturally supports the Christian to imitate Jesus.
> Discussion Questions
Strength to Endure
[Have someone read Ephesians 6:10-13.] The Holy Spirit gives us power to endure hardships in this world. We face challenges and troubles of many kinds. These reflect the underlying reality that we are fighting for the Kingdom of God to come on earth against the spiritual forces of darkness in the world. We work to shine God’s light and push back the darkness. When we endure hardship with faith and steadfastness, this shows Jesus’ victory over evil. Indeed, the early church often understood that they were participating in the suffering of Christ, which transformed their suffering and redeemed it. We already know that Jesus has won victory on the cross and he will return to complete that victory. In this time between, the Holy Spirit empowers us to endure. When we stand firm like this, we imitate Jesus in his victory.
Reflection Question: When have you experienced God’s help to endure hard circumstances? Reflection Question: How do you seek to experience Jesus in the midst of challenges?
Power to Overcome
[Have someone read Romans 8:9-11.] In this passage, Paul points out that an essential mark of being a Christian is having the Holy Spirit living in you. It is by the Spirit that we know we belong to Jesus. In verse 11, he draws out a powerful implication for Christian living. The same power that raised Jesus’ physical body from the dead is at work in us. In the context of the passage, Paul understands that this means we will have power to overcome sin and live according to Jesus’ new way of being human. One of our great inheritances as Christians is the power to overcome sin and to live a life of love and self-sacrifice like Jesus.
Reflection Question: What are some ways you have experienced the Holy Spirit helping you to overcome sins in the past? How can you look back and see the victory of Jesus in how you have changed over time? Reflection Question: How do you need to be praying for power to overcome in the next week?
Wisdom for Living
[Have someone read Isaiah 30:19-22.] Though Isaiah wrote hundreds of years before Jesus, he wrote many prophecies like this about how Christians would experience God in new ways through Jesus. One of the promises is that we will be able to hear God’s guidance. As a result, we will turn away from the things that led us away from God, here represented by carved idols. Notice we will take something we previously invested time, money, and energy into and despise it as worthless. This is an image of how God rearranges our affections, our commitments, and our thinking. The Holy Spirit lives in each Christian and gives us new wisdom to live in imitation of Jesus. He teaches us how to reject worldly ways of living and to seek Jesus’ new way of doing things.
Reflection Question: What is an area of your life where you want to pray for wisdom? Are there areas where you know what God wants you to do, but you need grace to be obedient?
> Confession and Prayer
Reflect and Pray: As we sit with this passage, ask God to bring to mind anything you need to confess or need prayer for. Take a moment to share and pray for one another. Feel free to split up into pairs depending on the group size.