Leader’s Discussion Guide-- Relationships
sdmiusacanada.org
Churchof theNazarene
Relationships
SessionGoal:ToencourageparticipantstoputGodinfirst placeintheir livesanddevelopChrist-like relationships withothers.
AreYouReady?
Pray for God’s directionas youprepare for thesession.Pray thatparticipants willbe opento
God’s truthand beready toapply itto their lives.
Read theentire leader’s guideforthis sessiontogetanoverview of thematerial.
ViewtheMor2Lifvideo,Relationships.
BepreparedtoshowtheMor2Lifvideo,Relationships.
Choose oneor twoquestions fromthe“SoWhat?” sectionas a follow-uptothevideoandanintro tothestudy.
DeterminewhichOption youwilluse fromthe“NowWhat?” sectionof thesession.
Bepreparedor enlistseveralpeopletoread:John15:9-17;Ephesians4:1-16;Hebrews10:19-
25;1Peter 2:9-10
Preparecopiesof theparticipant outline,Relationships.
Introduction
Relationships canberewarding,fulfilling,frustrating,andchallenging.Theyarealwaysunavoidable. Godcreatedustobeinrelationshipwith Himandwithothers.As Christiansourrelationshipwith God shouldgovernallof ourotherrelationships.
Contemplatethefollowingasyoupreparetoleadthesession.
As youthink abouttherelationshipsinyourlife: Whicharepositiveandenergizing?Whatfactors makethemthatway?
As youthink abouttherelationshipsinyourlife: Whicharenegativeanddraining?Whatfactors makethemthatway?
SoWhat?
ViewtheMor2Lifvideo,Relationships.Chooseoneor moreof thefollowingquestionsthatbestfitsthe needs/dynamicsof yourgroup.
Namesomequalitieswhich characterizetherelationships demonstratedin thevideo.
Howdothesewomenreallyfeel abouteachother?
Howdotheyfeel aboutsomeof theotherpeoplein their lives?
Whatevidenceis there of ahealthyrelationshipwitheachother?A detrimentalrelationship?
Whatevidenceis theretheyhaveahealthyrelationshipwithotherpeopleintheir lives?A
detrimentalrelationship?
Whichof thesewomendo youthink is mostlikeyou?Inwhatwaysdoyouidentifywithher?
WhatDoestheBibleSay?
Say,Godcallsustobeacommunityof believers.Whenwearein rightrelationshipwithGod,weare betterabletolivein communitywitheachother.Thatcommunity,whichwecall theBodyof Christ, encouragesustobeanddoourbest, keepsusaccountable,helpsuscarryourloads,picksusup whenwe stumbleor areweak,andtravelsalongside.
Chosenby Christ
Reador havesomeonereadJohn15:9-17.
Whatqualities doyouthink characterizetherelationshipbetweentheFatherandSoninthis passage?
Whatqualities characterizethekeyrelationships inyourlife?
Reador havesomeonereadEphesians4:1-16.
Whatdoyousee asthekeyrelationalqualities thispassagehighlights?
Whatdoyouthink couldbetheresultof applyingthesequalitiestoyourrelationships?
AccountabilityinChrist
Reador havesomeonereadHebrews10:19-25.
Say,Therearefour “Letus”statements inthis passage:“Let us drawnear toGod” (v.22); “Let us considerhowwemayspuroneanotherontowardloveandgood deeds” (v.24); “Let us not giveup meetingtogether”(v.25); and“Let us encourage eachother”(v.25).
What do youthinkitmeans “to drawnear toGod”? Howmightthis impact therelationships inour
lives?
Whymighttherebesomerelationshipswemayhavetogiveup?
Say,Theword “spur”(v.24) canbe translated “provoke.” This meansweareto hold eachother
accountable.
What aresomeways youthink Christians can“spur”eachother onin“loveand good deeds”?
Whydo youthinkthat“meetingtogether”withother believers is vital for Christianfellowship?
HowmightyourrelationshipswithotherChristianshelpyoutobeaccountabletoGod?
HowDoesThisAffectMyLife?
KnowingOurselvesin Christ:A ChosenPeople
Reador havesomeoneread1Peter 2:9-10.Say,As believers weare calledintoa relationshipwith God; weare“chosen” to bepart of thefamilyofGod.Weareunique,special,distinctive,and valued. Wehavebeengivenapurpose;a reasonforbeing.Wefindourpurposenotfromwhatwepossess, personalaccomplishments,or whoweknow.OurworthandvaluecomefromourrelationshipwithGod.
Inthevideo,Christina tells Tiffany:“If youdon’treallyknowyourself, if you’re looking for someoneelse tofulfillyouor defineyou,you’re lookinginthewrong place.OnlyGod cantellyouwhoyouare.He createdyou!Relationships areattheirbestwhenbothpeopleknowwhotheyaredistinctfromone another.”
WhydoyouthinkChristinahatedthephrase: “Youcompleteme”? Howdoyoufeel aboutthat phrase?
HowdoesourrelationshipwithGodhelpustodiscoverwholenessinourselves?
Christinatells Tiffanysheneedstoknowherself inChrist first beforeshecan findMr. Right.What doyouthinkshemeans?Whyis thisimportanttoahealthymarriagerelationship?
HowdoesourrelationshipwithGodgetreflectedinourrelationshipwithothers?
Fromthevideowelearn thatTiffanyis in anunhealthyrelationship.Whataresomereasons peopleholdontounhealthyrelationships?
NowWhat?
Say,Godhascreatedandchosenusforrelationship; first andforemostwith Himandthenwithothers.
Whathaveyoupersonallylearnedaboutrelationships fromthis study?
Inwhatwayscanthis studyhelpyoutogrowinyourrelationshipwithGod?Withothers?
Tohelp applythis session’s truths, choose oneof thefollowingoptions and inviteparticipants totake part.
OptionOne
LookagainatHebrews10:22-25;makealist of waysyourgroupcan:
DrawneartoGod(v.22)
Supporteachothers duringtimes of discouragement(v.23)
Thankthepeoplewhohavebeeninstrumentalinthedevelopmentof yourfaith(v.24)
Encourage eachother toshowGod’s loveto others (v.25) Bepreparedtoshareyourthoughtsandideasat thenextmeeting. OptionTwo
ThinkaboutthemanywaysGodhasprovidedandnurturedarelationshipwithyou. Journalandbe preparedtoshare:
WaysGodhasnurturedapersonalrelationshipwithme.
Ways Icanuse God’s model informing healthy,God-honoringrelationshipswithothers whoare importanttome suchasthemembersof this group.
Whataresomepracticalwaysthatwe cansupportoneanotherduringthisvideoseries?
Close thesessionbythankingGodfor callingusintoa relationshipwith Him.PraythatGodwillhelpthe membersof yourgrouptodevelophealthy,god-honoringrelationships.