Feb. 10 - If…Then (1 Sam. 12)

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?

Grow GroupsDan Smith
Feb. 3 - This Is a King! (1 Sam. 11)

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?

Grow GroupsDan Smith
Jan. 27 - Same Song, Second Verse (1 Sam. 9:26-10:27)

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?

Grow GroupsDan Smith
Jan. 20 - Like the Nations… (1 Sam. 9:1-25)

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 character trait you find beautiful when you see it in others?

A way to pray: Ask God to help us love reflecting His character from our hearts more than we love being outwardly impressive. Ask Him to help us love others genuinely and sacrificially, the way He has loved us.

Talk It Over:

  • Treasuring God: What externals (beauty, skill, achievement, financial gain, etc.) captivate me? What do I love about God that trumps all these things?

  • Being Transformed: Do I faithfully turn to God when I face challenges? How would my life be different if this was consistently my first response?

  • Loving Others: How does a person's appearance, behavior, or status impact my desire to love them? What would it look like for me to love like Jesus?

  • Pursuing Unity: How does focusing on externals hinder me from pursuing authentic unity with other believers?

Grow GroupsDan Smith