The Self-Giving God

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PRAY:

Have someone read Psalm 16:8-11 aloud. After you read it, spend a minute or two silently reflecting on the passage. Then spend some time praying as a group for anything that this passage draws to your mind or stirs up in your heart.

ONE ANOTHERING:

Try to think of some practical needs you can share to give others the opportunity to step up and love you. It's okay if it takes some time to get comfortable with this. It takes time and practice to be vulnerable with one another... but amazing things happen when we are. Remember that the Benevolence Ministry is a resource for our comGroups.

  • How can we love or serve one another this week?

DEFINE: TRINITY

REFLECT:

  • Did you feel connected to the life, love, or joy of the Trinity at all this week?
  • What did that look like?
  • Did the practice from this week help to cultivate that connection?

READ:

Acts 2:1-41


SHARE:

  • What stands out to you from this passage?
  • How does the image of fire affect your understanding of the Spirit? How is the Spirit like fire?
  • How does this event of communicating in multiple languages demonstrate God's inclusivity?
  • What does this quotation from Joel (v. 17-21) reveal about God? Why do you think Peter chose to use this passage?
  • How do you imagine the crowd responding to v. 23-24? What do you think gave Peter the courage to speak so boldly?
  • Who comes to mind when you think of those who are far off (v. 39)?
  • How do you see God's radical generosity and scandalous inclusivity in this passage from Acts?
  • How have you experienced God's generosity or inclusivity in your own life?
  • In what ways do we commonly fail to represent God's generosity and inclusivity to others?
  • In what ways can we grow in expressing God's generosity and inclusivity?
  • Have you ever known someone who has felt excluded from the church? What caused that feeling? How did you respond to them?

Spend a moment reflecting with God on the following questions before answering.

  • Is there a person you feel God calling you to include in your life?
  • What steps do you feel God calling you to take to include them?

PRACTICE:

Put this slide into practice this week. Remind yourself of these four truths. Come back next week to share how this affected your experience of God.

PRAY:

End your time by having someone read Matthew 11:27-30 aloud. Spend some time silently reflecting on this passage before you close in prayer.