Connection Group Discussion Guide | Week 2 “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26
Connect (5 to 10 minutes) Come together to build relationships through fellowship and sharing about this week’s worship. • Take a few minutes to share your thoughts about worship this week. – What aspects of worship did or did not connect with you? – What story or illustration made an impact on you? • Icebreaker: How are your New Year’s resolutions going?
Context (30 to 40 minutes) Dig deeper into the videos and scripture for this week through questions and discussion. Watch the video for this session on your Connection Group DVD or online. • How would you describe your relationship with God at this point in your life? • How do you respond to the idea that distraction is the greatest challenge to spiritual growth? Optional follow up questions – When have you felt distracted from your faith? – How do you try to prevent this?
We will confess Jesus Christ as our Savior, put our whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve Christ as our Lord.
• How do you respond to the idea that forgiveness is only one of the components of our relationship with God? – In what other ways, besides forgiveness, have you experienced God’s love? • Share about a time in your life when you had to directly ask for God’s forgiveness. Optional follow up questions – What brought you to this decision? – What was this experience like? • What does it feel like when you experience brokenness in your relationship with God?
Optional follow up questions – What emotions do you go through? – How is your daily life different? • Do you find that you struggle to fully accept God’s forgiveness? Why or why not? Optional follow up question – How does our acceptance of God’s forgiveness impact our faith and lives? • Do you agree that we miss out if we only focus on forgiveness from God? Why or why not? What else should we focus on in addition to God’s forgiveness? Read Ezekiel 36:24-28 • Where do you think people typically find their purpose in life? Why? – Is this where you usually find purpose as well? Why or why not? • Share about a time in your life when you have felt you didn’t have a clear purpose. What was this like for you? • How do you respond to the idea that God is not just giving us a new heart, but a new soul, will and mind? – How have you experienced new life in all of these areas? Read Ezekiel 36:33-36 • Where do you see God giving new purpose in this scripture? – Where have you seen this happen in your life, or even in someone else’s life? • After reading these scriptures, why do you think it is important that we say we will “accept the freedom and power God gives us” in our baptism liturgy? – What do these words mean to you personally?
After promising a new heart for God’s people, God goes on to describe all that God hopes and dreams for the people of Israel in this new life that they have been given through the love and grace of God.
Call (10 minutes) We believe that God not only shows us who God is but invites us to participate in God’s ministry by answering unique calls in our own lives. Join together in discovering how we can actively respond to scripture and God’s presence. Because the questions below are more personal, they can be used for silent self-reflection or open responses. • Where are you experiencing brokenness in your relationship with God at this point in your life? How are you looking for healing in these areas? • If you had to describe them, what do you think God’s hopes and dreams for your life would be (don’t hold back – go big!)? • How can you continue to remind yourself of the purpose God gives you on a daily basis?
Closing (5 minutes) God calls us into community by sharing our joys and concerns together in prayer and supporting one another in our walks with Christ. As we share testimony and stories of our lives, let us listen to where God is working within our community and how we can build each other up in Christian love. • Share joys and concerns with one another. • Close in prayer, either by inviting a group member to pray or by using the prayer provided below. Closing Prayer Loving God, we are so humbled to know that beyond your incredible offer of forgiveness and grace, you also choose to offer us new purpose and direction for our lives. We confess that sometimes we choose not to follow that purpose, and we become lost and distracted. Help us to focus in, especially over the next few weeks. Let us give attention to those broken areas of our lives so that we might find healing and renewed purpose in you. Amen.