Chose the Narrow Path

 

Study Guide for Week of September 5, 2021 

This Week Reading: Matthew 7: 12-28

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 Behold Our God   (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): Why is it important in life to make good choices?

G. Read Background Information: 

These verses are at the end of a teaching by Jesus to His disciples on how to live. Review chapters 5-7. he discusses topics such as being salt and light, murder nd hate, adultery and lust, divorce, making promises, getting revenge, loving your enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, treasure in heaven, worrying, judging others, asking God and others. He then comes to this section where he talks about making the right choices in life based on his teachings.  

Verse Outline: Some key Points to discuss 

I. Truth One: God Loves You – Verse 12-14

Key Concept: Jesus loves us so much that he teaches us how to live a whole abundant life

Key Verse: Matthew 5:1-2 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

Community Group Application: Followers of Jesus are instruments of Jesus’ love in a broken world

II. Truth Two: Satan wants to destroy you – Verse 15-23

Key Concept: The easy way is not the right way

Key Verse: Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right,
    but in the end, it leads to death.

Community Group Application: Gathering together in church on Sunday and a community group during the week is key to having strength to avoid an easy way mentality 

III. Truth Three: You Must Choose the Path to Life – Verse 24-29

Key Concept: Your life is a matter of choice not destiny

Key Verse: John 10:9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (NAS)

Community Group Application: Followers of Jesus help each other to make the daily decisions of life to stay on the narrow path 

     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.