Matt Zainea                                                   Rockford Campus                                                      Mar. 10, 2024

 

Storytellers

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

 

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REMINDERS

Leader Development Class (Sunday nights) – We relaunched the LDC this Winter and so far, it’s been GREAT dialogue. This Winter, we’re going after topics that are incredibly relevant to your leadership including:

• Crucial Conversations (March 17)
• Gospel Conversations (Apr 7, 14, 21, 28)

PLEASE JOIN US IN ROOM 300 (RK CAMPUS) SUNDAY NIGHTS FROM 6-7pm!

 

Administrative Help Needed – We are in the process of hiring a new assistant for Groups Ministry. If you or someone you know is highly organized and has a heart for Groups, please send them to take a look at the details here: https://magnifychurch.org/jobs/

 

 

TOGETHER IN LIFE

Today’s message involves someone with leprosy. Sometimes when we first hear things from Scripture, it can sound foreign or we can mishear what is being said.

This week, a little boy asked his parents: “What are leopard seeds?”

These moments can bring laughter to otherwise challenging conversations.

Share a story of a moment you misheard someone and didn’t initially understand something that was shared or share a story of something silly that happened in a church setting that brought laughter to an otherwise heavy moment.

(example: “leopard seeds”/leprosy, “milk is my deck”/Melchizedek, etc.)

 

For more: Here’s an interesting article on Christians and Laughter.

 

 

TOGETHER IN THE WORD

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 5:12-16

Note: We encourage you to read the entire text together as a group out loud.

 

 

JESUS HEALS A LEPER

 

QUESTIONS: After reading the passage, ask and answer:

• What came right before these passages (quick summary)?
• Who is involved in this story? How does that impact this story of the early parts of Jesus’ ministry?
• What actions (previous and directly mentioned) are involved in this part of the story?

 

RETELL THE STORY: In as close to word-for-word, try and retell the story in your group without looking at the text.

*NOTE: When we become familiar with the stories of God by heart, we make it easier to remember for moments when we need them in life.

QUESTIONS:

• What did the man ask for?
• What did Jesus do for him?
• What did Jesus instruct him to do?
• Why do you think that Jesus asked Him to do this?
  • cf Leviticus 13
• What might it have been like for Jesus to have touched this man?
  • Think about 1^st century ideas of
    • “clean versus unclean”
    • “honor/shame culture”
• What other stories do you know of Jesus healing someone in the Bible?
• What do these stories have in common? How are they different?
• What do these stories tell us about the heart of God?
• What do you want God to do for you?
• Where do you see the need for cleansing around you?
• Where do you see the need for cleansing inside you?

 

TOGETHER IN ACTION

Circle Back go back to last week’s challenge of sharing the Gospel with people in your life. What was that like? Were you able to do it? If not, what kept you from doing it?

This week take time to consider taking initial steps of “pre-evangelism”. This is the process by which we build bridges into peoples lives through service and kindness as God is so kind and gracious to us. Take 1 BIG STEP toward someone with the hopes that you will build a relationship where sharing the Good News becomes natural.

 

TOGETHER IN PRAYER

Pray for the needs of cleansing around your group and inside your group together. Be specific and look for ways to continue to pray through the week.