Beware of satan's Most Subtle Strategy

 

 Study Guide for Week of June 23, 2024 

This Week's Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22 

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 does Jesus want our hearts to be on fire for Him? 

H. Background Information for this study: 

The letter to the church in Laodicia focuses lukewarmness. It focuses on going through the motions, on spiritual indifference, on nor having a zeal for Jesus in your heart but doing the right things as a routine.. The church in Laodicia was a wealthy church. They had all they needed. Jesus said they were lukewarm spiritually. Jesus would have peferred they be cold (not following God at all) or hot (zeal - fire for God). 

Jesus says he will spit them out of His mouth. This is a warning designed to walk them up. Jesus calls them to repent of the sin of lukewarmness. 

In this study discuss what you can do to keep your spiritual zeal strong. Discuss the importance of self examnation of your heart to see if your are lukewarm.

First Section: Revelation 3:14-16 and Romans 12:11. The condition of being lukewarm.

Second Section: Revelation 3:17-18 and Isaiah 55:1-3. Materialism the cause of being lukewarm

Third Section: . Revelation 3:19-2 and Proverbs 3:11-12. Jesus disciplines us for our good. 

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