Life Group: Week 2: Grace Communities (Values 2)
Life Group: Week 2: Grace Communities (Values 2)
Communities where there is sacrificial love with open & honest relationships.
Welcome(Feedback: praying around your home and on your street?)
Name one thing that makes you feel loved. Name one thing that makes you feel unloved. How can I show love to God, those close to me, and others?
Worship
Remember the things God has done which show that He loves you – share these things with the group. Listen to “Blessed Be Your Name”(words overleaf) and let it lead into a time of thanksgiving for His love and asking for a fresh anointing of love.
Word
Read 1 John 3:16-24.
Make a list of the things these verses tell us. How many of these things are part of West Street’s life as a congregation? What does it mean to lay down our lives for our brother/sister? Pause for moment of quiet: v20 do our hearts condemn us? In pairs/triplets pray and confess those things the spirit brings to mind (Candle burning is picture of confession being burnt up), ask Gods forgiveness if necessary, and be accountable to each other in trying to change. Ask for the Lord helps in doing these things.
Witness
Read John 13:35 “By this will all people know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”. Jesus says that our especially loving community will have an impact on unbelievers. If God is asking us to be marked by our love for one another how can we achieve this goal? In the next week set out to do an act of loving kindness (Acts 4:9) to someone you know and then be prepared to do an act of love for someone you don’t know at all. Report back.
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name