Raising Strong Children in a Broken World

 Study Guide for Week of July 3, 2022 

This Week's Scripture:  Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4 and 6:10:13

Crossroads Community Group Guide

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud 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: Grace Grace   (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Video Message                                                                   

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. Review:

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

G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):

• What are some negative influences children face in their lives today?

H. Background Information for this study: 

Ephesians is a very practical book. It deals with life's basic relationships. One of those basic relationship is children and parents. This study focuses on children.

In our world today there are many influences in the lives of children. each of these influences seeks to mold the child to think and believe a certain way. Some of these influences are schools, media, friends and others. The Bible gives the parents the responsibility to mold and raise the children he has given them. 

Look at these verses from the point of view of raising children. Read each section seperately and ask the questions under parts J and K. When you have finished all of the sections then ask the question in L - commitement. Have everyone answer this question.

First Section: Ephesians 5:21-33 1-4: The importance of a healthy marriage in raising children.

Second Section: Ephesians 6:1-4: The importance of training children

Third Section: Ephesians 6:10:13: The spiritual battle for childrens lives.

J. Word: Read the scriptures above by section. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to 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 jumps out at you and catches your attention?

5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for 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?

 
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application

(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.) 

1. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

M. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

1. Pray for your group to multiply.
2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group.

N. For Next time: Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.