Spring Schedule
Group Launch
This 2-week journey is designed to help everyone get to know each other, establish a flow for the group, and address issues that can often derail a group.
Introduction to Freedom
When we think about freedom, we often think about being able to do whatever we want. But this isn’t what biblical freedom is about. Biblical freedom is more concerned with what you are free from, like you past, your sins, fear, and disorder attachments. Join us for 6-weeks as we explore these facets of freedom.
Week 1
Everyone wants to be free. But what does that mean? The common description is that freedom is doing what you want. While the Bible agrees with that, it goes a step further – wanting what God made you to desire.
We all have God-given desires. Things like friendship, meaning, love, and significance. Our wants are actions or plans we have to fulfill these desires. (ie. I want to feel significant, so I want to put others around me down.) The problem is that our wants often conflict with our other desires. (ie. I put others down, pushing me away from my desire for friendship.) Being truly free is to be free of the forces, like fear and regret, that cloud and taint our wants.
As God sets us free, he is removing, disentangling, and remaking our hearts to be free from corruption. This is true shalom.
We begin this series looking at God’s desire for our freedom and how turning to anything (even religion) other than Christ leads us back into slavery.
What TV show or movie do you think is overrated? (You better not say, Ted Lasso)
Growing up, did you ‘go along to get along’ or did you try to buck the system?
Circumcision – was the practice of the Jews as a symbol of being set apart for Yahweh’s purpose. At the time, some Christian Jews were teaching that to follow Christ required becoming Jewish and fulfilling the law. Paul taught that we were under grace instead of the law. Trusting in God’s work on our behalf instead of our own ability to ‘get it right.’
‘justified by the law, alienated from Christ’ – some have argued that rules don’t matter. This isn’t Paul’s point. The question is: am I seeking to follow or obey? Following comes from a place of faith; obedience a place of fear.
Galatians 5:1-6
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Have read the passage aloud while everyone sits and listens.
Ask each person to share a word or phrase that caught their attention. Don’t offer commentary but notice people who have the same word.
Have everyone read the passage themselves. Give them 2-3 extra minutes to ponder the passage. We’re cultivating a sense of listening to God. There is no need to rush this but be mindful of those who finish early.
Have read the passage aloud while everyone sits and listens.
Ask each person to share a word or phrase that caught their attention. Don’t offer commentary but notice people who have the same word.
Have everyone read the passage themselves. Give them 2-3 extra minutes to ponder the passage. We’re cultivating a sense of listening to God. There is no need to rush this but be mindful of those who finish early.
Week 2
The journey to freedom can only begin in one place – the truth. So often we turn away from the truth in pursuit of freedom. We ignore our health or financial situation – limiting our freedom in the future. We deny issues in our relationships or suppress painful memories – hoping that the skies will somehow clear up. Ultimately, we are allowing the lies that keep us captive to remain in place. Luckily there is Jesus.
Jesus makes an interesting distinction in v31 – “to those who believed him… if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” Those how follow Jesus embrace truth, but not just any truth – Jesus’s perspective and posture on those truths. ‘You’re a sinner’ is paired with ‘who is loved and forgiven’. ‘Your past is broken’ is paired with ‘I have shalom planned for your future.’
It is not just truth that sets us free. It is the truth spoken from the heart of God.
What does it take for you to listen to someone’s advice?
What are some of the sage advice you live by?
John 8:31-38
The truth will set you free – we often avoid the truth because we feel it jeopardizes our freedom. Jesus reverses this but notice their response. They do the same thing we do…deny that we’re slaves. Thus, continuing in slavery.
“Abraham’s descendants” – This is irony. The Jews were slaves several times, most notably when they were in Egypt. This response reflects a rose-colored-glasses view of their situation.
My teaching – it is Jesus’ teaching that offers freedom. This is not truth alone, but our posture towards the truth. Jesus gives us that perspective and posture that will set us free.
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”
Have read the passage aloud while everyone sits and listens.
Ask each person to share a word or phrase that caught their attention. Don’t offer commentary but notice people who have the same word.
Have everyone read the passage themselves. Give them 2-3 extra minutes to ponder the passage. We’re cultivating a sense of listening to God. There is no need to rush this but be mindful of those who finish early.
Truth can wound or it can heal. How do you know that it is God’s voice speaking truth into your life?
Additional Questions:
What are some lies that you used to believe? How did they enslave you?
Jesus mentions being a slave to sin. What connection is there between sin and lies?
Group Launch Part 1
Week of our group launch. This week we're getting to know one another using the How to Connect worksheet.
Since this is your first time together, go around the group, having everyone:
- Introduce themselves
- How long have you been part of Resonate?
- Share about your most recent vacation.
Hand out the How You Connect worksheet and have people fill it out. It might be helpful to hand this out as people arrive. It is a fun activity to help with introductions, as well as addressing issues that may arise in the group.
In order to relax and reenergize…
- How did you rank yourself?
- How does this play out in your life?
In a group conversation…
- How did you rank yourself?
- In this group, how can we make sure everyone has the chance to speak?
When processing new ideas…
- How did you rank yourself?
- Thinking of our time together, how might this affect you when you’re studying something new?
When experiencing emotions
- How did you rank yourself?
- When you’re excited about something, how will the group know?
More Questions
- What would you say builds genuine friendships? What works against them?
- Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 out loud in your group. How would you express this verse in your own words? How have you experienced this in your own life?
Spend the remainder of your group time getting to know one another.
Like many people, we believe in the power of prayer. Hebrews 4:16, says that we have the same access to God that Jesus did. We just need to use it. We want to take advantage of our time together as a group to ask God for what really matters.
We’ll take prayer requests at the beginning (during updates) and end of the group. This is our opportunity to share burdens with each other and God. To keep this time sacred, we ask the requests be kept confidential.
Ask for prayer requests and pray.
Group Launch Part 2
This week we're taking a look at growth. We want our time to be more than just hanging out. We want to be transformed into the people that God wants us to be. People that are loving, joy-filled, and building shalom in our world and the world around us.
- What’s the most important thing that happened to you this week?
- Growing up, was your family religious? Has that changed?
- What is something you’re really good at that most people don’t know about?
Read Ephesians 2:10 aloud
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The New International Version
- What stands out about this passage?
- Did anything surprise you or bother you?
- What questions does this passage spark for you?
- What kind of person do you think God wants you to become? How does that differ from who you want to become?
Pass out the Growth Gauges handout. Give everyone time to fill it out for themselves. Remind them this is not a test but a tool to illuminate the work God is doing and will continue to do in our lives. Remember, butterflies don’t regret being caterpillars.
Reviewing the Gauges
- In what area have you seen the most growth in past year? Give examples of how you’re different. What were some of the catalysts?
- What area do you want to grow in most? Why do you think that is?
- What area seems the most confusing? Or do you have questions about it?
As a group, we’re going to grow together. But growth is never linear and not always seen. We need to help each other witness the changes that God is bringing into our lives. We’re choosing to be messy and honest, and sometimes grow will look like going backward. However, we trust that God has big plans for our group and that, ultimately, he’s the Shepherd of our souls.
Prayer is talking to God about what matters most. How can we pray for each other this week?