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: Tomorrow is your day off, and you have to decide whether to do housework, yard work, some other project, or some sort of leisure activity. What are you likely to choose? What goes into making that decision for you?

A way to pray: Pray for each other to grow in humility and in seeking to see and love others the way God does.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: Why am I especially grateful that God looks at the heart rather than the outward appearance? (1 Samuel 16:7)

• Being Transformed: How do I typically react when God’s choice costs me my pride or control? What can I do to begin to change that reaction?

• Loving Others: What external traits (e.g. personality, looks) can make it hard for me to love someone like God does? What would choosing to love look like?

• Pursuing Unity: God chooses what the world despises to display his glory and grace. How have I seen this in my life? How does it impact the way I see others?

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: Have you been part of a small group before? If so, what was that like? If not, what's something that's kept you from trying it out?

A way to pray: Pray for your group to commit to loving one another this Grow Group season, spurring one another on to love and good deeds 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: Ponder the depth of God's love in sending His only Son for us. How does (or should) my life reflect my gratitude for this gift?

• Being Transformed: Jesus calls us to love, bear with, encourage, and forgive one another. How can a Grow Group help me practice these things more consistently?

• Loving Others: What specific sacrifices am I making for people who don't know Christ? How does God's self-sacrificial love motivate me to be more like Him?

• Pursuing Unity: Who has my permission to spur me on toward love and good deeds? Who have I spurred on recently? What does that look like practically?

With many Grow Groups on break for the summer (groups resume 9/8!), here are questions you can discuss with family/friends to continue growing in your relationships with Jesus. If the weekly sermon is part of your discussion, you can listen to sermon audio here (updated each Sun. afternoon).

Icebreaker idea: What was one highlight of this past week for you? What's something you're looking forward to?

A way to pray: Pray with us that by 2022, through God's grace and power, we will see 2,000 people baptized and growing in relationship with Jesus through the Word, prayer, and community.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: What specific things about God have I been thankful for lately?

• Being Transformed: How is God calling me to be more like Jesus? What's my next step?

• Loving Others: How have I experienced God's love recently? How can I share His love with someone this week?

• Pursuing Unity: Where is the enemy working to cause division and discord? How does God’s love encourage and empower me to seek peace instead?

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’s a good experience you’ve had being part of a team (or some other kind of group coming together around a shared purpose)?

A way to pray: Pray for our church family to have a deep unity, so that our community will clearly see the reality of Jesus on display (John 13:34-35; 17:20-23), 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: What do I love most about the surprising ways Jesus acts as Lord and Teacher? What challenges me?

• Being Transformed: Where in my life is it difficult for me to love and serve others sacrificially? What step might Jesus take if He was in my shoes?

• Loving Others: Whom do I know who needs to experience the self-giving love of Christ? How can I serve them practically this week?

• Pursuing Unity: Jesus humbly served all the disciples – even the betrayer. How does this compare to the way I treat other believers? What needs to change?