Building Healthy Self Esteem

 

Study Guide for Week of September 19, 2021 

This Week Reading: Genesis 1:26; Psalm 139: 1-18; Ephesians 2:8-10

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 This is a Move  (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 positive words have people spoken to you in your life that impacted you?

G. Read Background Information: 

 Genesis chapter one verse 26 tells us that we are made in God's image. We are not descended from animals but we are special since we are God's children. 

Psalm 139:1-18 tells us that life begins at conception in the womb. It is God himself who created each of us no matter what our parents were like.

Ephesians 2:8-10 emphasizes that we were created by God for a purpose.

Verse Outline: Some key Points to discuss 

I. Foundation One: Knowing the Source of Healthy Self Esteem

Key Concept: Your value and your sense of self-worth comes because you are God’s child.

Key Verse: Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

Community Group Application: Community group members realize that everyone was created in the image of God and seek to reunite others with their Father God through Jesus.

II. Foundation Two: Using Tools to Build Healthy Self Esteem - Psalm 139:1-18

Key Concept: Speak words of life to yourself, your children and to those around you. Do not speak word of death.

Key Verse: Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Community Group Application: Community group members are deliberate in how they use their words to build others up.

III. Foundation Three: Finding Healing for Satanically Damaged Self Esteem - Ephesians 2:8-10

Key Concept: Walking in your God given purpose is key to healing a damaged self esteem

Key Verse: Ephesian 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Community Group Application: Community group members not only focus on personal healing and growth but on reaching out to others, so they don’t get stuck

     II.    H. Word: - read the scriptures above in portions - 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.