First listen to the sermon (posts Sun. afternoon) – key texts for the sermon include Luke 10:2, 15:1-10; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; John 4:28-29; and Hebrews 2:9. Then use the ideas below to help you and your group apply what the Lord is teaching you.

Icebreaker idea: What's one thing you're asking God for right now?

A way to pray: Pray for our church family in 2019 to be consistent in taking the 4 steps of praying and sharing that John presented to us on 1/13.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: What is precious to me about knowing that God is "the Lord of the harvest" and that His harvest is "plentiful"?

• Being Transformed: How do I currently share my life with others who don't know Christ? What is one way I can do this more intentionally?

• Loving Others: Who in my life is a captive needing to escape the devil's snare and be unblinded? Will I commit to praying regularly for them?

• Pursuing Unity: Why is our unity an essential part of 2k22? What does choosing unity require in my own life? How else can I play my part in 2k22?

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 something in nature that seems especially powerful? How does that thing make you feel?

A way to pray: Please continue praying 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: When did I last witness God's power in my own life? How does remembering and sharing this help me treasure God more?

• Being Transformed: How do I magnify the enemy's strength or my own inadequacy? What truths do I need to remember to combat these fears?

• Loving Others: When did I last lovingly remind others about God's power in despairing circumstances? What stops me from doing this?

• Pursuing Unity: How do I react to people who disagree with me? What would it practically look like for me to be "un-offendable"?

As you have opportunities to connect with members of your family or your Grow Group over the holiday break, we invite you to use the ideas below to help you focus on Jesus together. If you'd like to refer to the weekly sermon as part of your conversations, you can find the audio for those here (posts each Sun. afternoon).

Icebreaker ideas:

• What is one of your favorite gifts you've ever given to someone else? Why was it so memorable?

• What's one of your favorite gifts you've ever received? Why was it so memorable?

• What's one of your favorite Christmas songs? Why do you like it?

• What's one thing you hope to change in 2019? What's one thing from 2018 you hope happens again in 2019?

Some ways to pray:

• Pray for each other's hearts in the various joys and hurts that the holiday season brings.

• Spend time thanking Jesus for how He can deal with the pain and difficulty in our lives and in our world – not only because He humbled Himself to fully experience our humanity, but because He also is still fully God!

• Continue praying 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 do I enjoy during the holiday season that helps me appreciate God more fully?

• Being Transformed: How is God calling me to be more like Jesus as I look ahead to 2019 and beyond? 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 do I see the enemy working to cause division and discord? How does God's love help me strive for unity in those areas?

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 is one great way a parent can show love to their child?

A way to pray: Ask God to help us grow in humility toward each other and others, so that we will reflect Christ more clearly in our everyday lives.

Talk It Over:

• Treasuring God: How is our Heavenly Father different from human parents? What do I appreciate most about this difference?

• Being Transformed: Jesus chose to submit to fallible human parents. What does it look like for me to choose to submit, even in difficult situations?

• Loving Others: What practical ways can I show love to someone in authority over me this week?

• Pursuing Unity: How can I be an encouragement to someone I know who struggles to submit to an authority God has placed over her/him?