DEAR GROUP LEADERS GROUP VIDEO CONTENT · DISCIPLE series. Enclosed are the group questions and a DVD with the video content ... (Philippians 3:5-6) 2. In the same scripture, ...

DEAR GROUP LEADERS GROUP VIDEO CONTENT

All you need for weeks 5-8!We hope your group is going well and that you're enjoying the DISCIPLE series.

Enclosed are the group questions and a DVD with the video content for the remaining four weeks.

We have also included notes that will guide you if you choose to break bread together as a group. It would be good to try to do this at least once this month.

Feedback & StoriesAs mentioned last time, we would appreciate your feedback on the written materials and the video content, along with any great stories. You can share these via your Coach or a Pastor on your site, or directly to [email protected].

King's NewsWe will continue to send you updates and King's news most weeks via email. Please pass this on to your group.

And finally...Again, a big thank you for your willingness to invite others into your home or host a group at the church building.

The King's Groups Team

Each week you will have about 13-14 minutes of group video content to show – a GROUP DISCUSSION which picks up the themes from the Sunday message and adds content that helps the group discuss the implications of the teaching.

This video content will be provided on DVD – the first four weeks on an initial DVD and the subsequent four weeks in due course on a second DVD. It is also available on the website to stream/download at a higher video quality than DVD allows. See KINGSCHURCHLONDON.ORG/DISCIPLE-RESOURCES.

Please watch the videos in advance and make sure you have the equipment to show them effectively in your group.

Each week on a Sunday we will show a DISCIPLE STORY, told by a member of the church, sharing some of their journey. You're welcome to show these in your group but you will need to download them or stream them from the website.

The order in which you plan your group meeting is up to you, but we suggest you show the video content early with enough time afterwards for discussion. It's up to you whether you include an icebreaker, prayer, worship or breaking bread, and in what order.

Please let your group know about the series webpage KINGSCHURCHLONDON.ORG/DISCIPLE where they can find the sermon video and audio, the testimony videos and all the group content. It is being updated each week.

WORSHIP

IcebreakerWhat is your favourite song or piece of music and why? (It doesn’t have to be Christian.)

Worship SuggestionAs the topic is Worship, it would be good to give time to worship in some form even if you normally don’t worship as a group. You can always sing along with a YouTube song if you don’t have musicians or choose a very well-known song. Worship can also consist of reflection, listening to God and prayer. Maybe ask one of the group to plan a more creative time of worship. Suggested songs are Looking in the sky (83), Amazing grace (8) and I worship You, Almighty God (59).

Video ContentGroup discussion (12:27 mins) between Charles Kimbangi, Phil Varley and Jason Shields. You may have noticed, as Phil said, that while some translations use the word “worship” in 3:3, some don’t, and use the word “serve” instead. The Greek word latrueo can mean either; it points to a broad vision of worship that encompasses all of the Christian life, not just the singing!

Discussion questionsYour first question could be what encourages or challenges you from the video. Don’t forget to pick up from Sunday's preach too.

Read Philippians 3:1-4.

1. Paul talks about how our confidence should not be derived from the flesh. Before he was a Christian, what credentials did Paul derive his confidence from? (Philippians 3:5-6)

2. In the same scripture, Paul challenges what we get our sense of identity or meaning from and how that affects our behaviour. If our identity is in God, how does this impact the meaningfulness of our lives and the behaviour that follows?

3. What do you think most competes for your feeling of meaningfulness or sense of identity in your life? (Sports, friends, your partner, relationships, family, academics, career?)

Read Philippians 3:8-9

4. Paul obviously worked very hard for the credentials he lists in Philippians 3:5-6. Yet in verse 9 his mind was so changed that he dubs his lifework “worthless”. Why do you think this was so?

5. Share your story. When was the moment you realised that Christ was everything you need? How has your life changed since then and what did you leave behind?

6. Phil talks about how Jesus is worth more than anything, but it will cost you everything. How does this affect your everyday life?

7. What helps you to pause and reflect on God? In your times of prayer, do you also wait to hear God speak to you?

8. What new habits do you want to build up or old ones do you want to get rid of to help you live your whole life as an act of worship?

King's NewsOur termly Relationship Matters seminar on Saturday 10th March is for couples who are dating, engaged or living together who want to learn more about building a Biblical foundation in their relationship. More info and booking via kingschurchlondon.org/relationshipmatters.

Please Remember...The week beginning 11th March (two weeks' time) is a free week because of a break for Mother’s Day. There won’t therefore be a DISCIPLE video so it's up to you to plan that week, either to continue talking about Philippians, to pick up on the sermon from Mother’s Day, or to have a social evening.

GROUP QUESTIONS FOR WEEK BEGINNING 25 FEBRUARY

CITIZENSHIP

IcebreakerIf you could be given citizenship and the right to live and work in any country (plus money to help you relocate!), where would you choose?

Worship SuggestionRead Psalm 95, ‘a call to worship’ together.

Suggested songs All to Jesus, I surrender (7) and Lord of all the earth and all of heaven (88).

Video ContentGroup discussion (14:25 mins) between Charles Kimbangi, Andrew Wilson and Moses Nwanji.

Discussion questionsYour first question could be what encourages or challenges you from the video. Don’t forget to pick up from Sunday's preach too when it’s appropriate.


1. The Bible seems to present us with a paradox. On one hand we read that our citizenship is of the Kingdom of God and we should pray and work to bring His Kingdom down. For example, in John 14:12 Jesus says: “...whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and will do even greater things.” Yet at the same time we read that the world is fallen and imperfect. For example, in John 14 Jesus describes Satan as being the god of this world. How can we reconcile these two things?

2. In the video, Andrew encouraged us to try to bring the ethics and culture of heaven to earth while we wait for the coming of the Kingdom of God in all its fullness. What does that look like to you? What are the characteristics of God’s Kingdom we should be trying to emulate?

3. As Andrew spoke about in the video, Paul is in a sense saying that part of our role as citizens of heaven on earth is to live out heavenly ways and heavenly expectations for the life to come in the here and now.

• Can you share a time when you did this? Perhaps you prayed for someone and a miracle occurred, or they were healed.

• Can you share a time when you took a step of faith and things did not turn out as you hoped? How did this challenge your faith?

Read Philippians 3:17.

4. Who at King’s will you choose to imitate? Are you worthy of imitation?

5. How can you at work, college or in your family live a life that reflects and points towards your heavenly citizenship?

PrayerYou could pray the Lord's prayer together.

King's NewsAlpha Saturday takes place this Saturday. Please pray that God's Kingdom will break in and people will choose to follow Christ and become disciples.

Please Remember...Next week (beginning 11th March) is a free week because of a break in the series for Mother’s Day. There won’t therefore be a DISCIPLE video so it will be up to you to plan that week, either to continue talking about Philippians, to pick up on the sermon from Mother’s Day, or to have a social evening. The daily Bible notes continue, however, so we'll shift to reading about the topic in advance of the Sunday.

GROUP QUESTIONS FOR WEEK BEGINNING 4 MARCH

LEADERSHIP

IcebreakerName a political, sports or cultural leader you admire and briefly explain why.

Worship SuggestionAsk everyone to speak out a name of God and then thank God for all the different aspects of His character.

Suggested songs: Bless the Lord, oh my soul (15) and Jesus, name above all names (76).

Video ContentGroup discussion (12:12 mins) between Charles Kimbangi, Phil Varley and Joe Macnamara.



1. What characteristics have you seen in Paul, or any of the men and women in the Bible, that you want to put in practice?

Read Philippians 4:1. We see Paul urging the leaders at Philippi to “stand firm” despite their current persecution, proclaiming Jesus as Lord. Paul is in prison and was facing the possibility of execution, yet his words are filled with hope.

2. What can we learn about Christian leadership from the way Paul believes we should deal with challenging situation? (Prayer, faith, rejoicing.)

3. In the video Joe said: “Whoever you are, you follow someone.” Do you think this is a fair statement? Who are the people that most influence you and who you follow? (You could think about people you follow on Twitter, or whose blogs you read or subscribe to.)

4. In the video Phil talked about taking personal responsibility for your development. What areas in your life do you feel you most need to develop in, and how will you plan on doing this? Is there someone that you can ask for help? Is there a certain course you can take? Or a certain group you can join or ministry you can serve in? Or perhaps a group you could start and lead?

Read Philippians 4:3. Here Paul asks the Philippians to help his friends. Similarly, in the video Phil talked about how we can and should also help others develop.

5. Is there somebody you think you may be able to help disciple or provide an example to? If you cannot think of anyone specifically, how do you think you may be able to provide an example to someone or help someone develop?

King's NewsEaster Sunday (1st April) is almost upon us. It's a wonderful Sunday to invite people to. Discuss as a group who you can invite and pray!


STEWARDSHIP

IcebreakerYou have just won £999,999. How would you spend it?

Worship SuggestionRead Psalm 138 together.

Suggested songs: I will offer up my life (128) and Your grace is enough, more than I need (401).

Video ContentGroup discussion (14:43) between Charles Kimbangi, Andrew Wilson and Annie Twort.


Read Philippians 4:10-23 and Luke 21:1-4.

1. Why do you think giving and generosity is such a key part of Christianity? Which scriptures support this? (2 Corinthians 8:9)

2. In the video Annie spoke about how she struggled to be generous due to anxiety. What is the biggest challenge that make it difficult for you to be generous?

3. It is said that how you spend your money reveals a lot about your priorities. Do you think if you looked at your bank statement it would reflect the priorities you want to have? Would it show that you trust God with your finances?

4. When you struggle to be content, how do you teach and discipline yourself to be content? (Andrew mentions understanding how little we deserve, Annie mentioned prayer.)

5. Timothy and Epaphroditus gave their time to be with Paul in prison. Are there ways you can use your time or practical gifts for good?

6. Good stewardship is about giving with the right motives. What are the wrong motives? (Pride – Matthew 6:1-4, power – Acts 8:18, pressure – 2 Corinthians 9:7)

7. Is it wrong for Christians to live in luxury when there are so many people in need?

As the final week of the series, ask people to reflect on the different topics. Where are they taking steps to be disciples?

Why not break bread together?

King's NewsNext term we will be running the CAP Money Course which gives practical advice with budgeting and looking after your money. Look out for it in next term's King's Life.

Continue to think about and pray for people to invite to a service on Easter Sunday (1st April).


BREAKING BREAD

These notes were written as part of our Spring 2017 series on diversity, called ‘INVITED – Everyone is welcome at God's table’.

One of the great puzzles of Christianity, at least from a historical point of view, is that the source of our greatest division is also the moment of our greatest unity. The meal Jesus gave us, on the night He was betrayed, has been the focus of more disagreement and squabbling than any other aspect of Christian worship. Yet it remains the most powerful statement we have that all of us, though we are many, are one body.

Breaking BreadIn many churches like ours, we tend to refer to sharing the bread and wine (or, often, grape juice) as breaking bread. This language comes from Acts 2:46, where we hear that the early church were “breaking bread in their homes, receiving their food with glad and generous hearts.” It’s a term that shows us how ordinary, relational and interpersonal this meal can be; it’s the sort of thing you do with smiles, background noise, children milling around, meal tables, and families gathered. This is not all it is, as we will see, but it is intended to be a happy occasion in which everyone is together.

COmmunionThose from other evangelical churches may be more used to calling it communion, which comes from a Latin word meaning “participation”. This is a word Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.” The idea here is that in sharing bread and wine, we participate in Jesus Christ – and in doing so, we participate in each

other. We put aside our differences, forgiving one another as God has forgiven us. There is a unity, a togetherness, that comes from our sharing the same loaf and the same cup. Communion is something to be done together, not alone, and in unity, not division.

EucharistOlder church traditions often refer to it as the Eucharist, which comes from the Greek word for “thanksgiving.” In 1 Corinthians 11:24, Jesus took bread, “and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said: This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” So this word communicates something of the joy and celebration involved, and the gratitude we have towards God. Bread and wine, remember, are gifts we can rejoice in God for in the physical sense: “wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread to strengthen his heart” (Psalm 104:15). But in the Eucharist, they become gifts to rejoice in God for in the spiritual sense, as they represent to us the body and blood of Jesus, by which we are saved. Thanksgiving is the right response!

BREAKING BREAD

The Lord's SupperFinally, there are many churches in which it would be called The Lord’s Supper, following Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:20. This phrase, along with the passage it comes from, comes with a note of seriousness. This is the Lord’s Supper, Paul says: not yours, and not mine. Jesus the King is present, by His Spirit, and as you share the Lord’s Supper “you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (11:26). In fact, coming to the table in rebellion against Him could result in judgment – so “let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink the cup” (11:28). This is a joyful meal, but also a serious one.

All four of these terms can help us in our understanding of what we are actually doing as we take bread and wine (or juice). It is a meal of relationship, and unity, and thankfulness, and seriousness. It expresses our unity with Christ, and with one another. Alongside the way we sometimes do it – eyes closed, heads down, reflective – it would be good sometimes to gather in groups, talk together, pray together and celebrate. It is powerful to share the meal with our

immediate families, and also with people we don’t know yet. Like a wedding, or a baptism, it is a seriously happy and happily serious thing to share communion. So come: take, eat, drink, and do this in remembrance of Him!

Some practicalitiesBreaking bread in groups doesn’t have to follow a set format but elements to consider are:

• Graciously remind people that the bread and wine is for those who have already put their faith in Jesus, so any there who are still seeking should not take the bread and wine.

• As the leader ask your group beforehand if anyone has a dietary need for gluten free bread (you can get this at most supermarkets). You can use wine or grape juice but if you use wine check if anyone would rather not have alcohol. Let’s not make this difficult for anyone in the group.

• Read a passage from the gospels or 1 Corinthians 11 which helps us remember Jesus’ death and our salvation.

• Give time for reflection and prayer. Remember that although this is a significant moment it can also be joyous and relaxed. You can pray silently, aloud, individually or for one another during this time.

• Break the bread up and pass the bread around the group (any type of bread is fine). Take the wine or juice and pass around using one cup or have several cups and all drink it together. Have serviettes available.

DEAR GROUP LEADERS GROUP VIDEO CONTENT · DISCIPLE series. Enclosed are the group questions and a DVD with the video content ... (Philippians 3:5-6) 2. In the same scripture, ...

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