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Warm Up and Reflect
10-15 minutes
Like any small group, you want to begin with some conversation, checking in on how people are doing, and if it’s a new group, helping people to get to know one another. You can talk about whatever you’d like, but here are a couple of potential questions to get the conversation going.
What is one thing that has brought you real hope or lift this week?
How did last week’s application and assignments go?
Video
16 minutes
Encourage everyone to open their study guide (download the PDF here) or grab their Bible and get something to take notes with.
Watch the video together as a group (check out these screen sharing tutorials for Zoom, Google Hangouts, or Skype).
Discussion Questions
25 minutes
To get the most out of this group discussion, let’s agree to some ground rules:
There are no perfect people allowed, so we won’t “fake fine” or pretend to be something we’re not.
We aren’t here to fix each other, so we won’t advise each other unless asked. We’ll stick to listening and encouraging.
We’ll keep our sharing short so that everyone is able to participate.
We’ll keep what we hear to ourselves, since each person’s story is theirs alone to share.
We’ll show up and join in, because everyone’s input matters and helps.
Below we’ve provided a number of questions that you can use to continue the conversation. Don’t try to work through all of these. Pick the ones you think will resonate most.
Read Psalm 1:2-3. What is the difference between reading and delighting in God’s Word?
Read Colossians 2:7. What does being rooted or built up in Christ look like in your life?
What is the natural progression Paul mentions as a result of putting down roots in our life? Have you seen that progression take place in your own life or someone else’s around you?
Read Colossians 2:11-12. What two acts of God does Paul mention? What is the significance of each of these acts?
Why is knowing that “Jesus has all authority” so important for fighting against false doctrines and philosophies?
Reflect on John 17:17. How might studying the Bible prepare you to respond to false teaching? Are reading and studying the Bible regular practices for you?
Why do we have a tendency to keep a scorecard in our Christian walk? How has that scorecard thinking harmed your relationship with God or other people?
Wrap Up
5 minutes
Ask if anyone has any prayer requests. Pray for those requests and pray that there are opportunities throughout the week to grow deep roots in Jesus.
Before closing, encourage people to re-read and reflect on Colossians 2, and then to read Colossians 3 in preparation for next week. Encourage them to “grow deep roots” this week by doing one or more of the following:
Sharing verses/devotionals they’re reading throughout the week with others, whether through a phone call, text, email, or social media.
Starting a Bible reading plan on the YouVersion Bible App
Let them know that you’ll discuss these action steps as a group the following week.