Abide: Recalibrating for 2025
Welcome
Thank everyone for coming and making this group a priority in their lives.
Vision
Take 10 seconds to remind people why you are gathering. We are here to honor God and grow as disciples making disciples who are following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and joining Jesus on His mission-to reach, reconcile and restore people to Christ.
Announcements 📬
https://everynationseattle.org/announcements
Warm-Up 🔥
If you were to hold the world record for the most unusual item you could balance on your head, what item would it be and how would you practice for it?
Sermon Recap 🎬
Pastor Danielle emphasizes the importance of starting the new year with a fresh perspective and recalibrating our priorities, particularly through the practice of love. She highlights Jesus' teaching that the two greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbors, arguing that this should serve as our guiding purpose in all aspects of life. She encourages the congregation to remain in God’s love and joy, as this abiding relationship equips us to reflect that love to others, breaking away from our natural inclination to be self-centered. Ultimately, she calls on everyone to identify where they are abiding and to ask God how to prune away distractions, allowing for the free flow of love in their lives.
Suggested Discussion Guide: Please choose ahead of time which of the following questions you want to use for your c-group.
Prayer 🙏(15 min)
Worship and thank God for who you have seen him today through the passage and/or the discussion. Pray for one another.
Prayer Prompts:
Thank everyone for coming and making this group a priority in their lives.
Vision
Take 10 seconds to remind people why you are gathering. We are here to honor God and grow as disciples making disciples who are following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and joining Jesus on His mission-to reach, reconcile and restore people to Christ.
Announcements 📬
https://everynationseattle.org/announcements
Warm-Up 🔥
If you were to hold the world record for the most unusual item you could balance on your head, what item would it be and how would you practice for it?
Sermon Recap 🎬
Pastor Danielle emphasizes the importance of starting the new year with a fresh perspective and recalibrating our priorities, particularly through the practice of love. She highlights Jesus' teaching that the two greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbors, arguing that this should serve as our guiding purpose in all aspects of life. She encourages the congregation to remain in God’s love and joy, as this abiding relationship equips us to reflect that love to others, breaking away from our natural inclination to be self-centered. Ultimately, she calls on everyone to identify where they are abiding and to ask God how to prune away distractions, allowing for the free flow of love in their lives.
Suggested Discussion Guide: Please choose ahead of time which of the following questions you want to use for your c-group.
- How do we determine our priorities in life, especially when there are competing interests like career, health, and relationships?
- CONTEXT: Pastor Danielle talked about the challenges of prioritizing different aspects of life while putting God's priorities first.
- ACTION: Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by different priorities. How did you navigate that situation?
- In Matthew 22, Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love God and love your neighbor. Why do you think these two commandments are so important?
- CONTEXT: Pastor Danielle emphasized that all laws from the Bible point back to these two commandments.
- ACTION: Can you think of practical ways to express love to God and your neighbor in your daily life?
- What does it mean to 'abide' in Jesus, as mentioned in the sermon, and why is it important for our spiritual lives?
- CONTEXT: Pastor Danielle discussed the concept of abiding or remaining in Jesus as a foundation for bearing fruit in our lives.
- ACTION: How can you create habits in your life to help you abide in Jesus more consistently?
- Pastor Danielle shared a personal story about a difficult moment while skiing. What can we learn from moments of stress about how we respond to others?
- CONTEXT: She illustrated how our natural reactions may not align with loving others when we face challenges.
- ACTION: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt stressed. How did you respond to others, and what would you like to do differently next time?
- How does recognizing that we are already clean in Christ change the way we approach remaining in God's love?
- CONTEXT: Pastor Danielle mentioned that God looks at us and sees us as clean, inviting us to remain in His love rather than focusing on our imperfections.
- ACTION: In moments when you feel unworthy or inadequate, how can remembering your identity in Christ help you remain in His love?
Prayer 🙏(15 min)
Worship and thank God for who you have seen him today through the passage and/or the discussion. Pray for one another.
Prayer Prompts:
- You can pray for the courage to live out the message of love and compassion that was shared in the sermon.
- Think about how you can actively serve others this week and ask for God's guidance in those opportunities.
- You can lift up your personal struggles and ask for strength to face them with faith and hope.
- Think about those in your life who may need encouragement and pray for wisdom on how to support them effectively.