Getting Started

Main Idea:
Surviving the jungle is only possible together and with His help.

Discussion Starter:
What is your favorite board game? When you play a new game, do you read all of the instructions first, or do you dive right in and figure it out as you go?

Introduction:

Watch this brief intro together with your group (click picture below):

For your next study, consider starting with Week 1 of “I Am Faith Promise!”

Or sign-up to go through the new Next Steps together as a group!

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Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 4:31, John 14:18, 27

Discussion Questions:

1.  Alan and Sara begin their game of Jumanji without thoroughly reading all the directions. Have you ever felt like you were handed the game of life without knowing all the rules? How does God’s Word function as a guide in your life?

2. Alan became trapped in the game because Sara didn’t take her turn. Just like in the game of Jumanji, in the game of life we benefit from other people playing the game with us. Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. How have you experienced this verse in your life and within your group?

3. Judy and Peter request Alan’s help to finish the game of Jumanji, because he knows his way around the jungle. As Christians, we have God the Father who created our jungle, God the Son who experienced our jungle as a human, and God the Holy Spirit who guides us through the jungle today. Read Acts 2:1-4. What do you notice about the believers who received the Holy Spirit? How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in your life?

4. Read Acts 4:31. Again, notice that the believers were not alone. How has the Holy Spirit given you boldness? If you do not feel bold, pray as a group that God would fill you all to speak the Word of God with boldness in your own lives and in the lives of others.

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Acts 2 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage. If you are pressed for time, focus on verses 1-4, and 42-47.

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Embrace Others

Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into dyads or triads for this section.

In Jumanji, Alan was alone in the jungle for 26 years, Sara felt isolated, and Judy and Peter were orphaned. Which character do you identify with the most? Why?

Read John 14:18 and 27. Pray for God’s peace and comfort for each other.

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Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: Is your group serving at Faith Promise? Some groups are serving all together in a single ministry, while other groups are composed of members serving a variety of different ministries. Have those in your group who are serving share what they love about their current ministry.

Engaging in Community: Schedule a prayer walk with your group. Find time to walk around your neighborhood or a local school campus and pray for the people who live, learn, and work there.

Engaging the World: Pray for our Faith Promise missionaries serving far from home. To learn about those from Faith Promise serving around the world you can download our 2017 Missions Magazine and view the “Adopt a Missionary” article.

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Expand God’s Kingdom

Next week is our final week of At the Movies, featuring “The Greatest Showman.” Invite some friends to watch the movie this week and then come next weekend to see how we connect faith and film to share God’s real love.

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Leader’s Notes

2. Use this question to brag on your group members! Call them out and praise them for building each other up. We can all use encouragement and praise for what we are doing right.

3. Points of note: the believers were gathered together; ALL of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.

ALL Faith Promise groups follow Jesus Christ and lead others to do the same. Below are the marks of a growing follower and disciple of Jesus.

– A follower of Jesus desires to encounter God through the deeper study and application of God’s Word.

– A follower of Jesus embraces people and values relationships on a deeper level so everyone can grow together.

– A follower of Jesus engages and serves the world around them and in their community, through local partners or God-directed opportunities.

– A follower of Jesus expands God’s Kingdom through development and multiplication of disciple-makers, possibly to lead more groups at Faith Promise.