The Power to Change

 

Study Guide for Week of September 15, 2024

This Week's Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

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):

• What would you like to change in your life but you don't have the power to change? 

H. Background Information for this study: 

These verses are a vision that the Apostle John was given by Jesus. It is to show him and us what will take place at the end of time. It shows a scroll that no one is worthy to open. A scroll was what we would call today a book. It was sealed with 7 seals. This indicates that it was an important book. But no one could open it. No one was worthy. There are things in life we do not have the power to do. Notice John's reaction to no one being able to open it. He is broken and weeps deeply because noone is worthy.

Then a lamb that was slain appears on the throne and He is worthy to open the scroll. This is Jesus. He has the power to do what we can not do.

The third portion shows the amazing gratitude that the angels and creation has towards Jesus. That gratitude explodes into worship. 

First Section: Revelation 5:1-4.

Community Group Application: We don't have the power to change ourselves; to be forgiven, cleansed, pure, new, be leader, fulfill God’s purpose, live right

Key Concept: Brokenness is the place where real change

Second Section: Revelation 5:4-8.

Key Concept: Jesus can do what you can not do for yourself - save you; forgive you transform you; use you, peace, power live right

Community Group Application: Sin is the disease that keeps us broken

Third Section: Revelation 5:9-14.

 Key Concept: Worship comes from gratitude if not, then it's just singing a song

Community Group Application: The only response to what Jesus has done is gratitude expressed in worship

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