Belonging. The Power of Community – Week 1
Speaker: Pedro Erasmus
Worship and check-in: Take time as you prepare for group and even in group time to spend time in worship I speak Jesus by Charity Gayle. We can speak the Name of Jesus over every situation in our lives, speak it over whatever is holding you back from belonging to a community in a way that is real and allows others to journey with you.
Share with the group one thing from Sunday service that you are giving God thanks for. (It doesn’t have to be in the service specifically, it can be as you were serving or something else.)
Bible Readings: John 8:32 (NLT); John 6:63 (NLT); Genesis 1:26-27 (MEV); Genesis 3:7-10 (MEV); John 1:14 (LB); Mark 3:13 (NLT); Acts 2:42-46 (NCV); Romans 12:4-5 (NCV); Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT) Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT); Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:23 (NLT); Colossians 1:18 (NLT) 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (MSG)
Preparation and Discussion for Group Time:
Ps Pedro asked us a question “Why should we belong to a local church?”. He then shared his journey of coming to a church, finding Jesus, going to Botswana on Mission, and then leading a local church. He shared how his children and their wives and children are also part of a local church. He shared how finding Jesus changed the trajectory of his life and how belonging to a family of faith, a local church played a part in how God has transformed his life.
- Share with the group your journey of faith, how you got to this church, and how you have seen the local church play a part in how you belong?
- Sadly, we are conditioned by the narrative that we don’t need others, we aren’t good enough to belong, and we shouldn’t trust people. Yet deep down we have a longing to belong. Share with the group how or if this narrative isolated you from others and stopped you from stepping into serving or even stepping into this group.
- Acts 2:42-46 tells us 4 times that they did something ‘together’- prayed, ate, and studied God’s word. We all have a part to play in God’s kingdom, specifically in this local church. Share with the group the next step you need to take for you to belong or if you feel connected, identify who you can help feel a sense of belonging by stepping out of your comfort zone and include them on this journey.
Check out and Prayer:
Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (MSG) Give God thanks for what He’s doing in your life and for His church where we can give of our time, treasure, and talents and where we can be accepted, encouraged, prayed with and belong.
Love God:
- Meditate on Ecclesiastes 4:12 “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (NLT)
- For personal study check out the following devotions on YouVersion:
Love People:
- For upcoming next steps in your discipleship journey; like Baptism or serving. Sign up online at Church Center/ the website.
