July 26, 2015
July 26, 2015
BELONG Why is family so important? How do our families help us to learn about and participate in God’s Kingdom? How can you strengthen your relationships with family? Does participating in your Community Group help to strengthen your family? How does your Community Group function as a family?
GROW Have one of the group read Matthew 13:4445 out loud. These verses contain similes for the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God compared to in these verses? Describe what the following terms symbolize: treasure, field, a man, merchant, pearls. What does selling everything that one has and making the purchase (of the field or treasure) symbolize? Read Matthew 13:4445 again and 1 Corinthians 4:20 together. According to Jesus, what is the Kingdom of God like? Where is the Kingdom of God? How can you attain the Kingdom of God? Considering Matthew 13:4445, is this passage talking about salvation? Why or why not? Look at Deuteronomy 28:12 and Luke 10:27. According to Jesus, what is the greatest commandment? Can obedience to this commandment be fulfilled by onceaweek church attendance? Why or why not? How are we to love God? How can we incorporate this commandment into everyday life? Read Matthew 11:30, Matthew 5:11 and John 21:18 together. How does Jesus describe His yoke in Matthew 13:30? Does this appear to be contradicted by passages such as Matthew 5:11 and John 21:18? In light of this apparent contradiction, what was Jesus referring to when he described His yoke as in Matthew 11:30?
REACH Considering Matthew 13:4445 and 1 Corinthians 4:20, how does the Kingdom of God relate to righteousness? How can we live righteously? How does living righteously bring the Kingdom to spiritually dark places? What types of acts, big or small, could you perform to bring the Kingdom of God into your surroundings? How might doing this help nonbelievers to meet Christ? GOINGDEEPER (split up guys/gals) Look at Matthew 13:4445 and Philippians 3:68 together. What are you holding onto that is hindering you from attaining the Kingdom of God? Are you willing to let this go in order to attain God’s Kingdom? After discussing this as a group, pray for each member and their efforts to more fully live for and in the Kingdom of God.
