Rooms Week 1 – Discussion Guide
Getting Started
Main Idea:
How are you making room for God in your life?
Introduction:
This week we began a new series: Rooms. Many people used the extra time at home in the last few weeks to do some cleaning and purging. What if we did the same thing in our spiritual lives?
Discussion Starter:
Share with your group a time when you moved or helped someone else move. Were you shocked by all the stuff you/they had accumulated?
Encounter God
Primary Scripture: Mark 11:15-18
Discussion Questions:
- Read Mark 11:15-18. Jesus is doing a little housecleaning in the temple. Jesus had authority in the temple because He was and is God’s son. Who has authority in your house? In thinking about this, consider: Who chooses what activities to do? Where to go? Where to shop? What to eat? What to watch on TV? Once you figure out who has the authority, ask yourself: Is the person in authority seeking God’s direction for our household?
- What did Jesus quote that God’s house was to be called? How is the church fulfilling that prophecy and purpose today? Currently our church is in our homes. Is your house a house of prayer?
- Jesus removed things from the temple in order to purify it. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We all have habits, attitudes, and sins that need to be removed from our lives. When we clean out closets, it’s helpful to sort into piles to keep, donate, or trash. How can we sort our lives? What tools do we have to figure out what needs to go and what needs to stay?
Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Mark 11:15-18 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.
Embrace Others
Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into twos or threes for this section.
Pastor Zac gave three challenges in his sermon: journal your time with God, pray 5 minutes more each day, and pray with your family. Which of these suggestions have you tried? Which do you find difficult? How can we support each other in these challenges?
Engage the World Around Us
Engaging at Faith Promise: Have you been attending the Saturday morning prayer meetings online? This is an amazing way to support our community, by listening to the word, seeing where people need prayer, and praying together. Tune in on Facebook Live Saturdays at 9 AM.
Engaging in Community and the World: One of our Love Local partners at Faith Promise is Knox Area Rescue Ministries. Since many people cleaned out closets in the past few weeks, KARM is overflowing with donations and needs volunteer help to sort the donations for their store. You can sign up to volunteer here:
Expand God’s Kingdom
Part of the Great Commission is to make disciples. While that means telling others the good news, it also means teaching discipleship in the home. Now is a great time to start some new habits as a family. See the Embrace section above for Pastor Zac’s habits challenge.
Leader’s Notes
ALL groups at Faith Promise should 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.
