This series is written in an interactive small group format. I have personally used this material for Student and HYPHEN ages, however, the content could be adjusted for any age group. The content is based on Zach Hunter’s book, “Be the Change.”
KEY SCRIPTURE:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (The Message) It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough!
TALK: Go around the room and have everyone answer
- Is your circle of friends mostly like you?
- Why?
- Why not?
THE HEART OF THE MATTER:
It’s hard for people to be in true community these days. We are all so different from one another, and we normally gravitate toward people who are like us. Sometimes you may feel like you don’t want to go out beyond your group of friends because it threatens your identity, but your always with people exactly like you…BORING!
Jesus and his twelve disciples, is a great model of true community. They were all very different – a carpenter, a political activist, a few fisherman, and a tax collector. Different job’s, life-style, levels of education…they probably didn’t like the same music or hangout at the same places.
Different.
But, they were the people Jesus chose to come together in community and bring His message to the world. Jesus is still trying to put these strange groups together for his kingdom today. Nevertheless, it’s easy for us to reject people that are different from us. This isn’t what God wants. He wants to be a friend to everyone, to work together…all people, all races, all social standings – in community with one another for his awesome plan to save the world!
DISCUSSION: Go around the room and have everyone answer
- Have you ever tackled a task with a community of friends? What was it?
- What were some of the challenges of working together? What did you get out of it?
- Is it possible to have different groups of friends for different purposes of your life? Explain what that looks like for you.
TAKE ACTION: COMMUNITY CHALLENGE – Go around the room and have everyone answer
Who can you connect with this week that you haven’t connected with in over a month?
This week make a point to make contact with someone you don’t normally communicate with. Ask them out to lunch, give them a call or just strike up a conversation with someone outside of your comfort zone.
FINAL THOUGHT
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead (1901-1978) anthropologist and author
SERIES
1) INFLUENCE – BE THE CHANGE
2) COMMUNITY – BE THE CHANGE
3) COURAGE – BE THE CHANGE
4) LEADERSHIP – BE THE CHANGE
5) COMPASSION – BE THE CHANGE
6) ENDURANCE – BE THE CHANGE
7) SACRIFICE – BE THE CHANGE
8) STANDING FIRM – BE THE CHANGE
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