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

Easter Weekend is upon us! Save the dates:

  • Good Friday- April 3rd | 7 PM at The Springs

  • Saturday Egg Hunt | San Marcos River Retreat | 10 AM - 12 PM

  • Easter Sunday at The Springs | 9 AM & 11 AM

> 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 Matthew 9:35-38.

> Discussion Questions

What is the Kingdom of God? Dallas Willard defines the Kingdom of God as "the range of God's effective will, where what He wants done is done." But God has given humanity a unique role: to be his image-bearers, partnering with him rather than being passive subjects. This means that right now, the kingdom is not fully here and many of us, consciously or not, are busy building our own little kingdoms of comfort, glory, or control. Sin, at its core, is our attempt to run things our way instead of God's way.

Reflection Question: Where in your own life do you notice yourself building a "little kingdom", a place where you want your will done rather than God's? What does that usually look like for you?

Reflection Question: Dallas Willard points out that God could force his will on everything, but chooses not to. What does it mean to you personally that God invites partnership rather than demanding compliance?

What kind of Kingdom did Jesus bring?

Paul Dawkins pointed out that in Matthew 9, Jesus demonstrates three marks of his kingdom. First, it is a kingdom of wisdom and hope, Jesus taught and proclaimed good news, especially to those on the margins. Second, it is a kingdom of healing. Jesus restored what was broken: bodies, relationships, spiritual bondage. Third, and most personally, it is a kingdom of compassion. Jesus "saw the crowds" and was moved. He did not look away. This compassion sometimes meant challenging people's sin, as with the rich young ruler, because calling someone out of bondage is the deepest form of care.

Reflection Question: Which of the three marks of Jesus' kingdom, wisdom and hope, healing, or compassion, do you most need right now? Why?

Reflection Question: Jesus' compassion for the rich young ruler led him to challenge the man's wealth. Have you ever experienced love from someone that felt uncomfortable at first but turned out to be exactly what you needed? What made you able to receive it?

How do we particpate?

Jesus does not send his disciples out immediately, rather, he tells them to pray first. Pray that God would send workers into his harvest. Jesus instructs prayer because the first move is about growing in our dependence in Him, not ourselves. The "harvest" image points to the crowds of people who are hurting, harassed, and helpless, ready to receive the very things Jesus offered: wisdom, healing, and care. To enter the harvest as a laborer means surrendering our own self-focused kingdoms and taking up God's higher calling. We first embrace this invitation through prayer.

Reflection Question: Jesus commands prayer before action. What would it look like practically for you to pray more intentionally for "workers" and for God's kingdom to come in your area of life?

> 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.