Planting Seeds in Children

 

Study Guide for the Week of  May 16, 2021

This Week Reading: Psalm 119:9-16

Crossroads Community Group Guide:
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group
B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use The Blessing  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

D. Announcements

1. Weekly Resources on Crossroads Facebook Page    

        Monday: Listening Room Resources for the week

        Children's resource each week  

2. Daily Devotional Video: The Encouraging Word with Pastor Willie

3. Announcements and Events:  Crossroads Web Site

4. Watch the Sunday service here Sunday 11:45am

E. Review   

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

F. Opening Question (a simple question to introduce the main theme - called an icebreaker): What is one Bible verse that has meant a lot to you in your life?

G. Read Background Information: 

Psalm 119 is the longest of all Psalms in the Bible. The main topic of Psalm 119 is the word of God. Psalm was written in the Hebrew language. Each stanza (paragraph) of Psalm 119 begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In English that would be like having each paragraph of a Psalm begin with a letter all the way from A to Z. The reason they wrote it like that was to help people memorize and remember the Psalm. 

Verse Outline:

I. Understanding One: All Sin is Destructive – verse 10

Key Concept: Sin is destructive. It starts small but grows like a cancer until it destroys your relationship with God, those around you and yourself.

Key Verse: Psalm 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.

Community Group Application: Community group members support each other in prayer and encouragement as they seek to raise their children 

I.  II. Understanding Two: God is Forgiving – verse 9

Key Concept: God’s forgiveness extends to the worst offenders and to anyone who wishes to receive it – not because of who we are, but because of who He is. – Charles Swindoll

Key Verse: 1 John 1:9     If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Community Group Application: Community group members plant seeds in their lives as they study God’s word each week

I.       III. Understanding Three: God’s Word is Powerful 

Key Concept: “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Community Group Application: Community group members take the mentoring training and memorize Bible verse to keep themselves strong

      I.            

     II. H. Word: Psalm 119:9-16  - break it down into smaller portions to read. Read it in portions aloud together several times. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words - keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.
3. What are the details?
4. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

I. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion - the leader should not speak more than 30% of the time - let the group discover what God is saying to them).
1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?
3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?
4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
J. Commitment - Obedience - Application  (This is the key - have everyone answer this question): 
1. What in specific will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

K. Prayer Time:                
1. Pray for an empty chair representing new people who you want to join your group. Name names of people specifically. 

2. Pray for your group to multiply.               
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group. It is best to divide into 2 groups one of male and the other female.

L. For Next time:                
1. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group                                         for next week.