First 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: Share about a time you had to wait for something. Was it worth the wait? Why or why not?

A way to pray: Pray for each other and our whole church family to grow in reflecting God's character to those around us as we seek to see 2,000 people by 2022 baptized and growing in relationship with Jesus through the Word, prayer, and community.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: In what ways do I treasure the opinions of people around me more than I treasure God's opinion? What can I do differently to love God more?

• Being Transformed: How does impatience manifest itself in my life? How might God be at work building patience into my life?

• Loving Others: In what ways has the fear of others' opinions impacted my ability to love them authentically?

• Pursuing Unity: How does reminding myself of Jesus' gift on the cross help me pursue unity with other believers – especially ones who are difficult to engage?

First 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: Can you think of a time when someone showed you grace, mercy, or forgiveness? How did that affect your relationship with them?

A way to pray: Pray that 2,000 people by 2022 here in North Platte & the surrounding areas will join in Jesus' new covenant – putting their faith in Him, being baptized, and growing in relationship with Him through the Word, prayer, and community. Pray by name for individuals you know who could be part of that 2,000.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: How do my daily habits and behaviors reflect my gratitude for God's covenant faithfulness? Am I regularly putting Him first?

• Being Transformed: What habits could I ask God to grow in me – or root out of me – to help me love the Lord with my whole heart?

• Loving Others: The cross allows God to judge me based on Christ's life and actions rather than mine. Who needs to know this? How can I tell them?

• Pursuing Unity: How does knowing God's unconditional covenant with me, through Christ, push me to give undeserved favor to those who hurt me?

First 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: What do you think a good king should be like (character, appearance, disposition, etc.)?

A way to pray: Pray for those in our lives who haven't yet acknowledged Jesus as their King, that they would surrender to Him and find true life, as we seek to see 2,000 people by 2022 baptized and growing in relationship with Jesus Christ through the Word, prayer, and community. Also pray for each other to let Jesus be the King in areas of our lives where we haven't been.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: What, specifically, has God delivered me from? How does remembering this impact my love for Him?

• Being Transformed: Where do I feel "stuck"? In what area(s) do I struggle to believe that God's power can truly transform? Why do I doubt?

• Loving Others: What would it look like for me to extend grace to someone in my life who advocates something I oppose (or vice versa)?

• Pursuing Unity: Jesus pleaded with His Father to forgive those who crucified Him. How does knowing this impact the way I look at those who hurt me?

First 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: If you could have any job in the world (other than your current job, if applicable), what is one you'd really like to have? What's one you'd want to avoid?

A way to pray: Pray the Lord's Prayer together (see Matthew 6:9-13). Focusing on v. 10, pray some specific ways you'd like to see God's rule showing up more in your own life and in the world around us.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: Have I ever sensed God empowering me to say or do something? (If so, share about it; if not, what might I expect it to be like?)

• Being Transformed: Why do we tend to want to hide instead of bringing things out into the open? What do I need to bring into the light right now?

• Loving Others: What are some practical ways that hiding can hinder our ability to love others authentically? How have I done this myself?

• Pursuing Unity: How do I typically react when people oppose or despise me? What can I learn by remembering how Jesus reacted to being despised?