First Things First: Principle of “Firsts” and offering God our Time + Strength (Week 2)

First Things First: Week 2

Pastor Tim takes us through these main scriptures today: Colossians 1:15-20, Matthew 6:32-33, Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Ephesians 4:11-12 and Romans 12:1-5

Check out the message!

STEP 1- Ice Breaker

Help people to loosen up and share. It will be helpful if someone is new to go around and do names and have each person share about a question and share a bit about themselves. CLICK HERE for ice breaker questions ideas.

Scriptures from Sunday: Colossians 1:15-20, Matthew 6:32-33, Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Ephesians 4:11-12 and Romans 12:1-5

STEP 2- Take Time For Learning through Observation, Reflection & Discussion

(Group Leader Note: These are set questions meant to spur conversation. It may be helpful to watch/listen to the message together if people did not have a chance to listen on their own time.)

Read through the main scriptures together from Sunday’s message: 

Colossians 1:15-20 –

15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross

Luke 11:42- CEV – You Pharisees are in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your gardens, such as mint and rue. But you cheat people, and you don’t love God. You should be fair and kind to others and still give a tenth to God.

Matthew 6:32-33 – “These things (food, drink, clothes, time, acceptance, ambition and the basic needs of life) dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else (first), and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Acts 20:7- ”On the first day of the week we met to break bread together. Paul spoke to the people until midnight because he was leaving the next morning.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-7– 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (So we can help each other).”

Ephesians 4:11-12– And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ

Romans 12:1-5 TPT – “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.

2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you,[a] but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.

3 God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.

4 In the human body there are many parts and organs, each with a unique function. 5 And so it is in the body of Christ. For though we are many, we’ve all been mingled into one body in Christ. This means that we are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others.”

• What stuck out to you as meaningful, confusing, impactful and/or important?
• What might this message and portion of scripture relate to in your life or our cultural moment?

STEP 3- Take Time To Process

• Is anyone willing to share some thoughts, questions or curiosities about what you sense God speaking to you about through the message and scripture? 
• Is there a need for deeper reflection or observation? What might be some ways to dig deeper, if necessary?

STEP 4- Work Towards Application

• What area of life is God working in through this? (Inner, Outer & Other Life Map)
• What might God be asking of me in this? What is my response?
• What might be a practical application or action step to take over this next week?

STEP 5- Prayer 

Please don’t skip prayer!! Cut the discussion short if needed to pray for one another. Try one of these options, don’t be afraid to mix it up.

• Have people split into groups of 2-3 to share prayer needs and pray for each other.
• Share requests as a group and pray for one another. Assign requests to people that are comfortable with praying and go around the circle praying for each others needs.
• Meditation with silence and stillness- A short scripture, word or phrase to focus your group. A time of silence and stillness, set a timer for 5 minutes if you want. Close the time with a prayer for your group.
• Develop someone in your group as the Prayer Coordinator. Have them write down prayer needs, ask them to pray for those needs during the week, have them send a list to the group to keep in prayer, go through the list regularly to celebrate answered prayers and check off or add on prayers.