Life Group NotesWeek beginning Sunday 11 June 2017

SERVE: Doing the Stuff - Matthew 20

Welcome: What was the worst job you ever had?

Worship: Listen to ‘If we are the body’ by Casting Crowns

https://youtu.be/kAWeHo8E70E or a similar worship song about service, reflect on the words and ask the question; why do we serve?

Word: Before looking at Matthew 20 we should remember the context of the passage, the previous chapter finishes with a dialogue between Jesus and a rich man asking the question; ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’. When we read Matthew 20 we must remember Jesus is talking about our work on earth and our reward in heaven:

Have you ever felt rewarded unfairly for your work? If you’re happy to, describe to the group what happened and what you felt.

Read Matthew 20:1-16, do you think that the workers who had been working all day had a reason to complain? What was their motivation to work/serve? How could their attitude improve?

Often we can have a similar attitude… Why should we serve others? Do we often get upset when other people don’t recognise our hard work?

What does this tell us about our own motivation? How does this tie in with John 13:1-17?

Are there times when, like in v 6, we have been caught doing nothing whilst other people serve and work? What does Jesus tell these people to do?

What have been some of the joys we’ve experienced as we’ve served? Are there times when you’ve taken the path of humility (v 16) & seen a real blessing as a result?

Witness: This week how could you take an extra step in serving others? Perhaps there

is a ministry at the Lantern that you feel like you could support? If so, why not ask Sarah Tyndall, Ruth Grist or Phil Wade about areas you’d love to get involved with.

Please pray for this coming Father’s Day (18 June) & the baptism of Olivia Williams-Wilson. Pray for people to hear clearly the Good News of Jesus really shine through!

Have you signed up for the ‘American hoe-down’ on Sat 8 July…don’t get sidetracked by the American bit or dancing…it’s just an excuse for a party & to say goodbye to the Rimmers…country style!

Life Group NotesWeek beginning Sunday 18 June 2017

Serve: Doing the Stuff – John 13

Welcome: If you could live anytime in history when would it be and why?

Worship: If you want to go all out, wash each other’s feet just like the Jesus did! If not

play some worship music and ask God to reveal to you people in your lives that you could help and serve.

Word: This passage has been used to demonstrate servant leadership in so many different contexts, Jesus shows us in a practical way what it means to love others, even washing Judas’ feet!

Generally, what does this passage tell you about Jesus’ character and his leadership?

Why do you think John, the author, felt the need to include verse 3? How did Jesus’ knowing everything was ‘under his power’ make the act of washing people’s feet even more powerful?

Is there anything in this passage you haven’t noticed before? Washing a person’s feet in New Testament times was considered one of the

lowest acts of service. What is today’s equivalent for us? Why do you think Simon found it difficult to have Jesus wash his feet? What does this story tell you about how Christians should serve each other

and the world?

Witness: How could you serve someone in your workplace? This week look for

opportunities to go above and beyond! Think creatively – buy some donuts & bring them in as a special treat or clean up after work….

Don’t forget the Joint Service at Canford School on Sun 2 July – it’s gonna be a cracker with a fresh focus on the Persecuted Church.

Have you signed up for the ‘American hoe-down’ on Sat 8 July…don’t get sidetracked by the American bit or dancing…it’s just an excuse for a party & to say goodbye to the Rimmers…country style!

Life Group NotesWeek beginning Sunday 25 June 2017

Serve: Doing the Stuff – 1 Cor 12

Welcome: If you could learn any skill what would it be?

Worship: Spend time thanking God for people who have helped you through your

Christian walk using their unique gifting’s. Name them and their gifting specifically as you pray e.g. Lord I thank you for John’s patience as we worked through….

Word: Corinth, a port, was a multi-cultural metropolis populated by people from all over the Roman empire. A large majority ex-slaves, service was a concept that was not unfamiliar to the church there. You can imagine the conversations between all these different nationalities around tables about their various cultural rituals and lifestyles. Here we find Paul addressing the Church calling for unity in amongst diversity a very relevant topic for us even today!

Read verse 1-11, do you resonate with any of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the passage? What gifts do you think you have? (often people say things like ‘I don’t think I have any gifts!’..rubbish if we believe scripture…so think about how you might encourage one another)

Why do you think God gives us different spiritual gifts? Do you believe you are operating in your gifting’s now, if not how could you

start to more? Read verses 12-30, Paul draws out the problem of valuing one gift above

another. Why do you think this issue was so important to Paul? How do you think this translates to our lives?

How can we encourage one another in using our gifts? Think of some practical ways to do this.

Is there anything that surprises you about this passage? What is ONE thing you might do differently as a result of this passage?

Witness: Praise someone when they are using their talents and gifting’s, this could be

at work or at a sports club/ crafting event. This could be a good opportunity to open a conversation!

Get to the Joint Service this coming Sunday & book into the Summer party on Sat 8 July!!

Be praying for this summer as we plan for the vacancy after the Rimmers’ have moved to London!