Experience It Here

Life Group Guidelines 1. SAFE GROUP: We will strive to create an environment where everyone can be real, open, and honest with their struggles and victories. 2. CONFIDENTIALITY: What is said in the group stays in the group. 3. LISTEN: Let’s value one another during the discussions by really listening to what is being shared. Try to avoid thinking about how you are going to respond, or what you are going to say next. 4. PAUSE: Allow a pause in conversation after someone shares. Give the person sharing the chance to finish and the group the opportunity to consider what was just shared before responding. SILENCE: It is important to allow silence in the group as it provides an opportunity for someone to share and for members in the group to process the topic or question being considered. NO “CROSS TALK”: Be considerate of others as they are sharing. No side conversations. NO FIXING: We are not here to fix each other. Jesus does that part. Give encouragement; speak truth, and point to Jesus. Don’t try to solve or fix each other. NO RESCUING: When people are sharing something deeply personal, there can be a tendency to try to make them feel better about themselves or the situation by providing immediate condolences. This will often cause them to stop sharing. Resist the temptation to rescue people. SHARING: Be sensitive about the amount of time you share. BE SELF-AWARE: Be self-aware of how you are personally effecting the environment through your words, actions and non-verbal communication. USE “I” STATEMENTS: It’s easy to talk about the issues of others, but for our purposes, we want you to put yourself on the table. Try to use “I” statements rather than “them”, “the church”, “us”, “we”, etc. CONFLICT: We will commit to resolve conflict biblically. When conflict or sin issues between group members arise, we want to make sure that we are honoring God and each other in the way we deal with these issues. The following are just a few key Scriptures in this regard (there are many others). • If someone sins against you (Matthew 18:15-20) • Restoring someone in sin (Galatians 6:1-5) • Forgive a sinner (Colossians 3:12-13) • Reconciling differences (Matthew 5:23-24, Matthew 7:1-5)

The True Vine Step 1. Welcome/Opening Prayer Step 2. Setting the Scene Give paper to everyone. Give them one minute to list all power sources they can recall and their use. Ask: What is the power source you consider the most efficient and why? Step 3. Preparing the Hearts for the Experience The parable of “The True Vine” alings the mindset of the disciples in regards to their relationship with God and their development as children of God. When you listen to the story, pay special attention to how you can be attach to the “True Vine” in your life today. Step 4. Tell the story Step 5. Retell the story Step 6. Bible Text John 15:1-12 (NLT) 1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overfow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. Step 7. Debrief the Text Head 1. Who are the characters personified in the parable? (Father, Jesus, Me) 2. What is the Father doing and why? (see vs.2) 3. What are the characteristic of the branches that produce fruits? (see vs.5) Heart 1. What is one area in your life you know God is pruning? 2. How do you feel through the pruning experiencing God is undergoing in your life? 3. Which actions is God asking you take so you can continue to remain in Him? Hand 1. According to verse 12, what is the commandment given to you? 2. Can you identify one people in your life who you are not very loving to? 3. How can you love people who you are not loving now? 8. Closing in prayer

5 Steps of relational discipleship

The Prodigal Son Step 1. Welcome/Opening Prayer Remind Group of Small Group Guidelines (Share them from above) Step 2. Preparing Our Hearts To Experience Life Group: • As we personally move through the story, we want you to stay personally engaged. • Please don’t ask questions regarding “How To’s”. There will be time for that later. • As you hear the parable of the “Lost Son,” we want you to focus on who you relate to most in the story, and why. • We encourage everyone to share from their hearts. Remember; you will get out of this what you put in. Step 3. Share background for the story [Provide context by sharing what comes before the story in the Bible] Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of the religious law complain that he was associating with such despicable people – even eating with them – Luke 15:1-2 NLT In response, Jesus told three stories. The first was a story about a lost sheep, the second was a story about a lost coin, and the third was a story about a lost son. The Lost son is the story we are going to share with you today. “As you are listening to the story, be thinking of the question we are going to ask you after the story… Currently in this season of your life... “Who do you relate to most in the story and why?” Step 4. Tell The Story Step 5. Rebuild the Story [Group members tell the story together based on what they remember] Step 6. Bible Text - This week’s passage is Luke 15:11-32 Read the Story Out Loud [Read the scripture passage to see if anything was added or omitted] Discuss These Questions: Step 7. Discussion Question: Who do you relate to the most in the story and why? Step 8. Close in Prayer