Warm Up and Reflect

10 minutes

As this is the second to the last week of the study, if this is the first time you and your group are meeting, you should consider whether you and your group members want to continue meeting after this study is complete.

If you would like to continue meeting, we can provide you with curriculum recommendations. One option would be to utilize the Sunday Conversation Guides that we create weekly. We also have a library of great Group Studies you can check out.

Like any small group, you want to begin with some conversation, checking in on how people are doing. You can talk about whatever you’d like, but here is a potential question to get the conversation going.

• What is one thing that has kept you grounded/rooted this week?

Ask how last week’s assignment went. Just as a reminder, it was to “grow deep roots” by sharing verses/devotionals they’re reading throughout the week with others or starting a Bible reading plan.

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.

Mike’s Two Closing Questions:

• What does it mean for me to live with an eye on eternity? How can I practically start doing that?
  

• What in this list (vs. 5-9) do I need to take off and leave in the dirty laundry basket? Or better yet, burn?

For Further Discussion

• Read Colossians 3:1-2
  What are some of the benefits of “setting your sights on the realities of heaven” (v. 1)? What are some of the downfalls of thinking on “the things of the earth” (v. 2)?

• What distractions get in the way of us keeping our focus on Christ? What are some practical ways to keep our thoughts focused on him as we live out our daily lives?

• Read Colossians 3:9-10
  What do you need to put behind you to pursue your new normal as a believer, especially in this unique season that we’re in?

• Which choices and thoughts of your old self do you find most difficult to leave behind? What helps you find the desire and discipline to put off the old ways?

• What godly “clothing" (vs. 12-14) is easy for you to put on? Which ones are hard for you to put on? What can make it easier for you to put those on?

• Do your words build others up or tear others down? What would make your words and thoughts more pleasing to God?