Leader S Discussion Guide Relationships

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.