GROUP LAUNCH 2024
Welcome back leaders. This weeks study will look at the passage Derek preached on this past Sunday but also has space to pray and plan for the year ahead as a group.
If there are any new members joining your group spend some time getting to know new members and making everyone feel settled and comfortable.
At dinner it might be a good idea for everyone to share one evidence of grace in their life over the past two months while groups have been on break
PRAY
READ LUKE 9:18-26
Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”
21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” 23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
DISCUSS
1. What do these verses communicate about Jesus’ character?
2. What risk and sacrifice does Jesus demand from his followers? How is this counter cultural to what the world says about risk and sacrifice?
3. Based on these verses, what would motivate you to step into suffering and hardship for the sake of the gospel?
4. (In pairs) Currently how does your heart meet the call from Jesus to have a willingness to
Verse 23: deny yourself
Verse 24: lose your life
Verse 25: lose the world
Verse 26: endure shame from the world for Jesus
Thinking for the year ahead.
1. Break into small groups of 3 or so and then report back: What would it look like for this City Light Community to live out this truth in 2024?
2. Are there any particular areas that you think we should be focusing on as a group as we seek to live out a christian community committed to growing ourselves and one another as disciples of Jesus?
3. What is a prayer we would love to see answered regarding our community this term?
Spend some time praying for the year in light of these questions.
Practical stuff:
Review any rosters or calendars and put dates/ reminders in phones as needed.