Feeling Lost?

 

 Study Guide for Week of January 28, 2024 

This Week's Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

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 (Optional): Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: I I Give You My Heart (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):

• Why do people get lost spiritually in life? 

H. Background Information for this study: 

The incident of Zacchaeus is a simple story yet has very important teachings. Zacchaeus was a wealthy tax collector. That means he was Jewish but he was working for the Roman government collecting taxes from his own people and giving the money to the Romans, their enemies. He wa seen as a traitor and a sinner and evil person by the other Jews. In addition most tax collectors were corrupt and took money from the people for themselves, He was rich so in most liklihood he had stolen from many people. The Jews would never have considered him worthy of salvation. He was a dirty sinner and traitor. 

First Section: Luke 19: 1-4 - Who Zacchaeus was and his deire to see Jesus

Second Section: Luke 19: 5-6 - Jesus' love for all types of pople even evil people that everyone hates.

Third Section: Luke 19: 7-10 - The people's reaction; Zacchaeus action and Jesus' purpose.

In this study be sure to make a practical application to each section. Make application to your life including what you will do to tell other people the message.

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 your group