Community Guide for November 6th
Ice Breaker
Go around and share your name. Also, if you could be in one competition or game show, what would it be?
Opening Prayer
After your group welcomes one another, open in prayer.
Let your group know what to expect during prayer time, something like: “As we start our group time, I will open with a word of prayer, there will be a minute or so of silent reflection, and then I will read the scripture from Sunday and then close in prayer, and we will enter into our discussion time.”
- Open with a brief word of prayer: “God, we thank you for this time together. We open our hearts to how you might want to meet with us. Allow us to hear your voice and experience your spirit at work. Come Holy Spirit.”
- Sit before the Lord in silent prayerful reflection for 1-2 minutes
- Read the scripture listed below aloud for the group to reflect on.
- Close in a word of prayer: “God, thank you for your word, come holy spirit and allow us to understand what it means for our lives, lead us in our time of discussion together. In Christ’s name, amen.”
Scripture from Sunday
Matthew 4:1-9
Read this Overview Together
On Sunday, Maddie Mikulin, our Kids, Youth, and Families Director, gave a message titled “Journeying Through the Wilderness.” Wilderness is defined as uncultivated, unknown, or uninhabited land. The word used in the Hebrew language for “wilderness” is “Midbar” which directly translates to: in the wilderness or the desert. It comes from the root Hebrew word דבר, “dabar”, which means “to speak.” So when we look at wilderness moments in scripture, it’s important to be mindful of the duality of the wilderness being an uninhibited or uncultivated place and also as a place where God can speak to us.
Discussion Questions
1. As we examine the Matthew 4 passage, what are the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness? How do we see Jesus resist those temptations?
2. We have been examining the identity triangle for the past couple of weeks. The different sides of the triangle represent the temptations that Jesus faced and resisted while He was in the wilderness. These temptations or false selves are appetites (stuff, money, food, sex, etc.), approval (people pleasing and acceptance), and ambition (power & self-importance). How can we use the spiritual formation gates to protect our citadel of the soul?
3. Maddie had us imagine the wilderness and had us imagine God present with us. What might be some reasons you keep God out of the journey through your wilderness?
4. Has there been a time when you walked through the wilderness and can look back and see how God was at work/present?
5. Read Jeremiah 29:12-14. When you have walked through times of wilderness? What are some truths and promises of God that you leaned on through that time?
6. Do you feel like you are walking through a wilderness season right now? How might you invite God into the journey?
Practice in Prayer
Spend some time going around the group sharing your requests.
