Church of The Open Door

Organic: Cultivating Spiritual Growth

“Branching Out”

John 15:12-17

Disciples of Jesus have been commissioned by Jesus to do the work of Jesus.

1. Commanded to love people like Jesus

Love that is spoken

Love that is shown

It is only by remaining in the love of Jesus that we can love like Jesus.

2. Called to live in intimacy with Jesus

Intimate friendship

Intimate knowledge

You can be as close to Jesus as you want to be.

3. Chosen to be sent on mission by Jesus

“Bear fruit” means we are living like Jesus & making disciples of Jesus

Being with Jesus

Being sent by Jesus

The Father will give us whatever we need to do whatever he wills.

Jesus is looking for those who want to be with Him to be sent by Him.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Jesus spoke words of love to his disciples and he showed them love by doing acts of love for them. When you are expressing love to others, do you tend to lean more towards love that is “spoken” or love that is “shown”?

On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being merely knowing about Jesus and 10 being deep, abiding, loving intimacy with Jesus, how would you rank your closeness to Jesus?

Point 2 includes the statement: “You can be as close to Jesus as you want to be.” How does this statement strike you? What are some things you could do to get closer to Jesus, to know Him better, to have a more intimate friendship with Him?

Read John 15:15. If “servant” is “one who does tasks for the Master” and “friend” is “one who is in close personal relationship with another” which word, servant or friend, best describes your relationship with Jesus?

Go around the room and take turns looking at the person next to you in the eyes and saying “Jesus loves you and wants to be your friend.” Describe what you were thinking and/or feeling when that phrase was spoken to you.

Pastor Jim described the rhythm of “being with Jesus” and “being sent by Jesus.” Which part of that rhythm do you need to focus on to bring them both into balance? What might that look like for you?

Who are you inviting to Easter? Are you writing/have you written an invitation note to them this week? If you need help with this, ask your LifeGroup to hold you accountable and to ask you next time you meet how it went.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Relates with Other-Centered Love/Loving People

Organic: Cultivating Spiritual Growth

“Remaining in the Love of Jesus”

John 15:8-13

God is working in your life to help you flourish.

1. We show we’re disciples of Jesus by the fruit we bear.

Jesus wants you to experience His joy!

2. We experience the joy of Jesus as we remain in His love.

We remain in the love of Jesus as we live rooted in Him.

Root your identity in His love. (“I am loved.”)

Root your security in His love. (“I am His.”)

We remain in the love of Jesus as we obey Him.

Obedience deepens love

Obedience opens insight

Obedience brings joy

3. We obey Jesus as we love like Jesus.

Love that reaches out

Love that accepts and welcomes

Love that never gives up

Love that sacrifices

When we love like Jesus people are drawn to Jesus.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Read Galatians 5:22-23. If you could only have one of the nine fruits of the Spirit, which one would you most want and why?

Two weeks ago, at the end of the sermon, many of us prayed something like this: “Lord, have your way; prune anything in my life that you want in order that I may bear more fruit for you.” If you prayed that or a similar prayer, it’s been two weeks now. Do you see God pruning? How has it been going?

Read v. 9. Talk about what Jesus meant by the phrase “As the Father has loved me…” How has the Father loved Jesus?

Read v. 9 again. What are some practical, daily things you can do to help yourself “remain in the love of Jesus”?

What are some of the more popular things people “root their identity and/or security” in? What are you tempted to root your identity and/or security in other than the love of Jesus? (Try not to give a superficial answer. This could be an extremely helpful and powerful moment. In fact, LifeGroup leaders, pause and ask the Holy Spirit to give revelation and insight into each person’s life for help with this answer.)

How have you found “remaining in the love of Jesus” helps you love people well?

Who are you inviting to Easter? Are you writing/have you written an invitation note to them this week? If you need help with this, ask your LifeGroup to hold you accountable and to ask you next week how it went.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God through the Word and Prayer

Organic

“Can You Hear Me Now?”

John 15:1-8 (focus on 4-7)

How does spiritual growth happen in our lives?

We must stay connected to Jesus v4a

If you don’t, you can’t bear fruit v4b

If you don’t, you will face judgment v6

If you do, you will bear fruit v5

If you do, his words will transform you v7

Spiritual growth happens as we stay connected to the life-giving vine.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our LIfe

When was the last time that you lost connectivity to one of your devices? How did you react? What are people like when they can’t connect or get reception?

How would you describe your connection to the vine, Jesus? How do you navigate the highs and lows of following the Lord?

Going through the motions was described as one of the hindrances to staying connected to Jesus, do you struggle with that? How do you stop? Should you call out others for doing so? Why was Jesus so against those who merely looked the part, but inside were far from him?

Have you ever tried to be a “lone ranger” Christian? Why is that impossible? Even so, why do so many people try it? How can you stay connected to those following Christ around you?

How has God’s word changed you? What are ways that you’ve changed over the last year? Praise God for that growth! Ask him to prune you and clean you!

Make a plan on how to stay connected this week.

Core Christlike Characteristic: Connected to God in word and prayer

Organic: Cultivating Spiritual Growth

“Flourishing”

John 15:1-3

1. God has a vision for your life: Spiritual Growth.

Jesus is the Vine.

You will grow as you stay connected to the Vine.

The Spirit flows through the Vine.

We are the branches.

We are made to bear fruit.

Fruit is Christlikeness. (Fruit of the Spirit)

Fruit is making disciples.

The Father is the Gardener.

He’s motivated to produce much fruit.

He knows just what to do to produce fruit.

He’s actively working to help us bear fruit.

2. God wants you to flourish: to bear much fruit.

Four kinds of branches:

No fruit More fruit

Some fruit Much fruit

3. God is working in your life to help you flourish.

If you are bearing fruit God will prune you.

Removing things that hinder growth.

If you are not bearing fruit God will lift you up.

Caring for you to help you grow.

God is Committed to do whatever it takes to produce the fruit of spiritual growth in your life.

How will you respond to God’s work in your life?

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Tell your group about a time when it felt to you like God wasn’t working in your life. What happened?

Why does Jesus add the word “true” to his statement in John 15:1? Who is Jesus comparing himself to? (Read Psalm 80 and Isaiah 5:1-7.) Why does he compare himself to the other vine?

Review the three subpoints under “The Father is the Gardener.” How does it make you feel knowing those things are true about the Father?

What kind of branch are you right now; a branch with no fruit, some fruit, more fruit, or much fruit?

What kind of pruning has God been doing in your life?

If you were the Gardener, what area in your life might you say needs to be pruned?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God through the Word and Prayer

Helper

“The Greatest Work of the Holy Spirit”

John 15:26-27

“If the Holy Spirit is ‘the Helper,’ what is the most important thing the Spirit helps me do?”

I need the power of the Holy Spirit to help me:

1. Witness and Worship

2. Love and serve people

3. Be a faithful steward that glorifies God

4. Live in intimate relationship with God

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

The greatest work of the Holy Spirit in us is breathing His presence and power into us, helping us become more like Christ.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

What has been your greatest struggle with the person of or teaching about the Holy Spirit?

What is the greatest thing you have learned through this series on the Holy Spirit?

Hopefully someone in your group has one of the bookmarks that were handed out last week about how to read and study the Bible. If so, follow the “Triple A” process outlined on that bookmark as you work through Galatians 3:3 as a group. If you don’t have one of the bookmarks, pull up last week’s (2-11-18) sermon outline notes (which is the same thing as the bookmark.) Since probably no one will have the 1st Edition of the NLT, here’s Galatians 3:3 in that version that you can compare with other versions your group may have: “Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?”

As a group, pray for each other, that the things you’ve learned tonight and throughout the series will take root in each of you and help you grow. Specifically, ask the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God, to breathe His life into you, helping you to grow and become more and more like Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to help each of you to learn to breathe, to learn to live a lifestyle of spiritual breathing, living your life in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God through the Word & Prayer/Loving God

Helper

“How does the Holy Spirit help me understand the Bible?”

John 16:13; 14:26

The Holy Spirit inspired, illuminates and helps us interpret the Bible.

1. Ask (What does it say?)

a. Ask the Holy Spirit for help

b. Ask the questions:

Who, What, Where, When, Why, How?

What is the Context? Are there Contrasts?

2. Analyze (What does it mean?)

a. Analyze the text

Pray it

Ponder it

Picture it

Paraphrase it

Primary point/principle

b. Let the text analyze you

3. Apply (How should I respond?)

Make SPACE for the Spirit to work in your life. Is there a:

Sin I need to confess

Promise for me to claim

Attitude I need to change

Command I need to obey

Example for me to follow

Read and study your Bible in conversation with the One who authored it.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

As a group, name some of the common misconceptions and misuses of the Bible.

How have you used the Bible more like a crystal ball or magic book instead of for its primary purpose?

Practice doing the Triple A’s (Ask, Analyze, Apply) together on Acts 17:10-12.

Pray for each other based on how each of you applied what you learned in Acts 17:10-12 using the SPACE acronym.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God through the Word and Prayer/Loving God

Helper

“How does the Holy Spirit lead me?”

John 16:13

The Holy Spirit leads us:

1. Through Relationship

He is personal and relational.

He is speaking.

Hearing from God comes best out of loving intimacy with God.

He has a language.

We learn the language of the Spirit of God in the Word of God.

2. Through Scripture

Study the life of Jesus

Living full of the Spirit is essential to being led by the Spirit.

Structure your life around Scripture

Daily devotions, weekly worship

Read, study, meditate, memorize, pray, discuss, share

3. Through prayer

Develop listening space and listening skills

How do I know when it’s Holy Spirit speaking and not some other voice?

The test of Scripture: Does it contradict the spirit/teaching of Scripture?

The test of character: Is this consistent with the character of God?

The test of wisdom: Does this sound wise?

The test of clarity: How clear and consistent is the “voice”?

The test of confirmation: What do godly people think?

The test of experience: Obeying God’s voice helps us hear God’s voice.

We develop our relationship with God through Scripture, prayer and obedience.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

Tell of a time when you really wanted to hear from God regarding a decision but weren’t able to discern His voice. Describe your feelings.

What stood out to most about what you learned in this sermon?

Pastor Jim talked about how it can be hard to hear from God when we are not walking in intimate fellowship with Him. People treat God like an Answer Man, instead of someone to be in loving relationship with. Have you ever experienced this?

What are some things that get in the way of hearing from God?

Read Luke 8:4-18. Based on this parable, how well would you say you “hear”?

What are one or two things you could do to structure your life around Scripture more effectively?

What could you do personally to develop some “listening space” to more effectively listen to God?

Have you ever engaged in “Bible roulette” (picking verses at random) when you were seeking direction or to hear from God? Do you think this is how God wants us to hear from Him? What are the dangers of “Bible Roulette”?

Which of the six “tests” mentioned in point 3 do you tend to gravitate towards and almost use exclusively? Which one do you tend to avoid? What is the value in using multiple tests?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God through the Word and Prayer

Helper

“How the Holy Spirit helps me grow”

John 14:16, 26

Spiritual growth isn’t automatic; we need help. Growth happens in our life through the combination of:

1. Spirit of God

The Spirit of God is the breath of God breathing new life into us.

2. Spiritual Breathing

Spiritual breathing is the process of receiving the presence and power of the Holy Spirit into our life and responding in prayer.

3. Stress

Trials like irritations, temptations, frustrations, disappointments

Crisis like physical and emotional suffering, big decisions, fear

4. Scritpure

Meditate, memorize, hear preaching of, discuss, apply the Word of God.

5. Significant People

Those that love us and those that irritate us

Family, friends, neighbors, work, LifeGroup

6. Spiritual Disciplines

Praying, serving, tithing, giving, fasting, solitude, etc.

7. Surrendered Trust

Actively trusting God as you deliberately surrender to Him.

When we recognize growth opportunities and practice spiritual breathing, the Holy Spirit will use these to help us grow to be more and more like Jesus.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

1. Which extreme do you tend to lean to:

a. spiritual growth is automatic if we just go to church, pray and read our Bible

b. spiritual growth is mysterious and its all up to God who gets the Christlike gene

c. spiritual growth is all up to us and we need to stay on top of “the spiritual growth to do list”

2. Think of someone who you look up to as especially godly. How do you think they got that way?

3. Have you ever “wasted” pain, that is, have you ever gone through a painful experience or season but either got hardened or focused more on getting through it as soon as possible instead of using it as a growth opportunity? Describe.

4. Review points 3-7 above. Which one has yielded the most spiritual growth in your life? Explain.

5. As a group, brainstorm ideas about how you could learn to use the stressful times of life as a catalyst for growth.

6. Share with your group a time in your life when spiritual growth stalled or even just died. Describe what happened and how you pulled out of it.

7. Last week, in the LifeGroup Questions, you were encouraged to:

a. Practice “breathing in” the Spirit this week, paying attention to His presence in your life.

b. Try starting each day this week by saying: “Holy Spirit, lead me today. I surrender to your loving leadership in my life.” Report to your group next week how it went.

So, here we are. It’s “next week.” How did it go?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Spirit-led Servant/Living Surrendered

Helper: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

“How does the Holy Spirit help me?”

John 14:16-17

The Holy Spirit leads us into the truth:

1. Revealing to us our sin and our need for Christ.

Breathe out: “I surrender; forgive me.”

Breathe in: “Breathe into me forgiveness.”

2. Regenerating us when we surrender to Christ.

Breathe out: “I surrender; save me.”

Breathe in: “Breathe into me new life.”

3. Reproducing within us the character of Christ.

Breathe out: “I surrender; fill me. ”

Breathe in: “Breathe into me Your presence.”

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

Why do you think there is so much confusion about the Holy Spirit?

Read John 3:1-16. Why did Nicodemus (a religious leader) have such a hard time understanding what Jesus was talking about?

Compare John 3:6 with 2 Cor. 5:17. How do these 2 verses fit together?

Pastor Jim referred to a “continuum of life” during the sermon. Where are you on that continuum? Explain.

If you are willing, tell your group of a time you sensed the Holy Spirit revealing a sin in your life.

As a LifeGroup spend some time compiling some questions for next week’s Facebook Live Q&A on the Holy Spirit. These may be questions you personally have or your LifeGroup has or perhaps some common questions others might have. (LifeGroup leader, please send these to [email protected]. Thank you.)

Practice “breathing in” the Spirit this week, paying attention to His presence in your life.

Try starting each day this week by saying: “Holy Spirit, lead me today. I surrender to your loving leadership in my life.” Report to your group next week how it went.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Spirit-led Servant/Living Surrendered

Helper

“The Help You Need”

John 14:15-16

Christianity is not trying hard to be a better person, it is surrendering your life to Jesus and following him as his disciple.

1. The Christian life is impossible to live; we need help.

We obey out of love, not to earn love.

We obey out of discipleship not duty.

We obey inconsistently at best.

2. The help God gives is a person.

The Holy Spirit is the Helper.

The Helper helps us keep the commands of Jesus.

The Helper helps us love and live like Jesus.

The help you need is just a prayer away.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

1. Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions this year? If so, what are they?

2. People tend to drift towards two extremes: either they think that they have to earn God’s favor by striving to keep all of the commands of God or they think since we are saved by grace, obedience isn’t necessary. Which extreme do you tend to drift towards? Why do you think that is?

3. In light of the previous question, why is obedience to God important?

4. What is the difference between obeying Jesus out of discipleship and obeying Jesus out of duty?

5. Read John 14:15. What are the commands of Jesus?

6. Which of the following words used to translate the Greek word “parakletos” in John 15:16 is most meaningful to you? Why?

a. “advocate to help you” (NIV)

b. “Counselor” (NIV84, RSV)

c. “Advocate” (NLT, NRSV)

d. “Helper” (NASB, ESV, GNB, NCV, NKJV)

e. “Friend” (MSG)

f. “Comforter” (KJV)

7. In what area of your life or issue you are dealing with do you most need help right now? Battling temptation, understanding the Bible, recognizing God’s voice, sharing your faith, living for God, obedience, get through painful/difficult experience, guidance with big decision, other?

8. As a group pray that this series would be life transforming for you, your family, your LifeGroup and our church. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you __________________.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Spirit-led Servant/Living Surrendered