Life Group Discussion Guide (January 15th)

Life Group Discussion Guide : Sunday, January 15, 2012 (JXG)

Sandy Lake Wesleyan : Shawn Cossin, Lead Pastor

(Not so) Modern Family (Week 2-- “Generations”)

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Discuss and pray about the things below—don’t feel the need to ‘cover everything,’ but use this as a guide to help your Group process what God is teaching them. Look through these discussion points and focus on what you think will be most beneficial to your Group. Be sure to pray for and encourage each other.

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As the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us about elements in our hearts and families he wants to redeem, be sensitive to how he would have your Group members step in their lives and situations. Please don’t hesitate to connect with a member of the ministry team if there are questions or issues you would like help in while journeying with your members.

What are your Group members celebrating in their lives and families/other relationships this week? Take time to celebrate with them.

At the beginning of the message time, we showed a quick, funny video about family. It showed how our flat response that things are ‘fine’ is usually a loaded phrase that doesn’t paint a full picture of what is happening in our lives; what are some ways we keep people at a distance from what’s going on at home?

Pastor Shawn shared that the failure of one generation can effect & impact following generations, not curse them. How does this change what our response might be in terms of generational tendencies in our relationships?

We’ve been using this definition for “generational sin:” “Generational sin is the result of pursuing our own agenda at the expense of God’s best.” And Pastor Shawn used Abraham’s family as a Scriptural example of generational sin.

What was the agenda this family chose at the expense of God’s best for them? 

How did this chain of sin & dysfunction eventually stop?

Read Ezekiel 18:19-23. Discuss…

What kind of hope does this give us as we examine generational sin in our families? 

How does this show us our responsibility in how we influence others?

What does God say pleases him in this situation? What does that mean for us today?

We are told that we might be shaped by our parents’ decisions, beliefs, mannerisms, and perspectives but we are not cursed by them. In the same way, we influence those around us. What are some of the ways we influence other in small ways and big? 

Tell of a time someone influenced you for better… and a time someone influenced you for worse.  What did you learn from those experiences?

We discussed that we can lead our families toward holiness or toward sin and that both directions will impact generations to come. Ask your Group to share the ways they WANT to influence their children, parents, and other relationships. Pray for the Holy Spirit to show them where their are personal dysfunctions that might keep them from leading in these ways.

Pastor Shawn shared that the root of our dysfunction is usually that we have “believed a lie.” What does this mean?

What are examples of this that you have seen in your relationships? Take a moment to pray among your Group and ask God to show you what lies you have believed that impact how you think, believe, and act.

Shawn asked a couple of hard questions:

“What’s the big lie in your family?” and “What generational behavior is making your family ‘less?’”

What do you think is the best way to honestly find answers to these questions?

What might be some of the obstacles we face in trying to find the honest answers to these questions?

How can your Group members be praying for each other as they wrestle with these questions?

We were reminded that we can be the one who breaks the chain of behavior by refusing to live the ‘big lie’ any longer.

What are some factors that keep us from stepping into this chain-breaking role?

God wants to use us to start new patterns… where do you think the journey of beginning new patterns begins? What role does repentance and forgiveness play in this?

Read Luke 1:50. Discuss…

How does this offer hope when we identify generational sin & dysfunction? 

How does this mold our response when we are convicted about these things in our own hearts?

For our So What? Now What? portion of the message, we were told that the response to these things begins with us and Pastor Shawn gave us a few steps we can take to pursue wholeness:

1. Seek God--pray hard; talk to God about what’s happening and seek him about what we’re supposed to do.
2. Seek clarity -- identify a wise, mature, objective believer who can help us discern whether we’re focusing on a symptom or the deeper issue.
3. Seek Truth -- what is God’s Scriptural truth that counters the lie we’ve believed? (remind your Group members of the resources on Pastor Shawn’s blog and challenge each other to grow more familiar with Scripture).
4. Seek a new pattern -- what is the different way of thinking & living God is calling you to?

How can your Group members support, encourage, and urge each other forward as they seek these things? (GROUP FACILITATORS, MAKE SURE YOU IDENTIFY MEMBERS WHO CAN CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER THROUGHOUT THE WEEK(S) AHEAD AS THEY JOURNEY. CHECK IN REGULARLY AS YOUR GROUP MEMBERS ENGAGE WITH THESE THINGS.)

Take time to thank God for his desire to give us a new heart and new spirit; ask him to search and know your hearts and identify areas of dysfunction that you may not even have been aware of. Pray for God to show you what his best is for your families and to give you the courage to move as he leads.