We invite you to ponder the week’s Bible passage and listen to the sermon (posts Sun. afternoon), then use the ideas below to help you and your group apply what the Lord is teaching you.

Icebreaker idea: Do you tend to be more of an optimist or a pessimist? Share why you think that might be, or offer an example that illustrates your tendency toward hopefulness or cynicism.

A way to pray: Ask God to strengthen us as we seek to live as people of the light in the midst of dark and difficult days. Pray that His light shining through us would draw 2,000 people to Himself by 2022, seeing them baptized and growing in relationship with Jesus through the Word, prayer, and community.

• Treasuring God: What are some practical ways that keeping God first in my life helps me avoid “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power”?

• Being Transformed: In what ways do verses 2-5 describe my life (past or present)? What tangible step can I take right now to avoid falling into these behaviors?

• Loving Others: How does 2 Timothy 2:24-26 help me discern when the most loving thing I can do is to “avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:5)?

• Pursuing Unity: What things in verses 2-5 have hurt the people in my life? What can I do to build up relationships damaged by the devil’s influence?