Opening
Icebreaker: What is your love language (i.e., how do you like to show love to others)?
Worship
How was your bible reading in the last 2 weeks, share something from your readings with the group!
Word
Revelation 2:1-7 NIV
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Discussion
Sermon Review
- Core theme: Returning to our first love for God
- Main Takeaway: Renew your first love for God by:
- Remembering and reflecting on your spiritual life and passion when you first came to know God
- Repent by turning away from worldly and misguided desires and towards loving God
- Return to the things you did at first, when you first came to the faith and love of God
- Review questions:
- Share about how you first came to know God: what changed in your life back then?
- Compared to then, what is your relationship with God like now?
- What is the current trajectory/innermost desire of your life oriented towards? Is it love for God, or is it money, career, family, ministry, etc.?
- How is God calling you to repent and turn towards Him?
- Which first fundamentals of faith and love do you need to return to?
- Share about how you first came to know God: what changed in your life back then?
Witness
- Grad transition:
- Today: Continue to connect with grads and work towards multiplying.
- Help Needed for Adult Zone:
- Administration – Help organize zone wide information
- Cell Planners – help review sermons and create biweekly cell plans!
- Bible Reading:
- This year, we will be going through a 2 year bible reading plan together. Access to plan at gcgcny.link/readbible. Use this to share regularly in your cell about what you’re hearing from God.
- More details to come via Sunday announcements
- Prayer and Outreach
- New Outreach Chat to invite others along when you are looking to do something with friends
- Establish prayer partner rotations