THE ONE WHERE I’M LOOKING FOR THE ONE
APRIL 28
Our romantic relationships are not meant to complete us, they are meant to complement the work of God in us.
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- In the message we heard, “Whatever stage in life you may be, we can experience the fullness of life when we learn to love God and love others.” Do you feel like you have found fullness of life in the season you are in? Why or why not?
- Read John 15:4-11.
Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):
- What do you notice and what are you curious about?
Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?)
- What do you learn about humanity?
- What do you learn about God?
Now make some applications (what’s my response?)
- How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
- What should be our response to this passage?
3. Read Philippians 2:3-4. How are you doing at valuing others? Where are you struggling with this, where are you finding success?
4. Tim Keller said “an idol is anything more important to you than God. Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. Anything you seek to give you what only God can give.” What do you put before God? Where are you seeking from people or things what only God can give?
5. Read 1 Corinthians 6:18-20. How are you doing with thinking about your body as a temple? Whether it has to do with dating or with how you’re treating your body, do you think of your body as the dwelling place of God? Why or why not?
KEY SCRIPTURE
John 15:4-11 – Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
PRAYER
Spend some time today praying for the family of God. Pray for those in your group, those who lead, and those Gateway serves. Matthew 18:19 says, Again I say to you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Prayer is powerful. Spend time interceding for others in the family of God this week.
TAKE A NEXT STEP
According to the Mental Health America, the characteristics of someone who is codependent includes the following:
- An exaggerated sense of responsibility for the actions of others
- A tendency to confuse love and pity, with the tendency to “love” people they can pity and rescue
- A tendency to do more than their share, all of the time
- A tendency to become hurt when people don’t recognize their efforts
- An unhealthy dependence on relationships. The co-dependent will do anything to hold on to a relationship; to avoid the feeling of abandonment
- An extreme need for approval and recognition
- A sense of guilt when asserting themselves
- A compelling need to control others
- Lack of trust in self and/or others
- Fear of being abandoned or alone
- Difficulty identifying feelings
- Problems with intimacy/boundaries
- Chronic anger
- Lying/dishonesty
- Poor communications
- Difficulty making decisions
If you read thought this list and find you are struggling with co-dependency, consider going to Restore at our North or South Campus. You can find out more online
If you are single, Join us as our Singles Gathering this Friday, May 3rd! Gatewaychurch.com/events
FOR THE PARENTS
Hey, families! Here’s a look at what we’re covering with your kids so you can help them continue to grow at home during the week.
THIS WEEK
This week we learned the story of the Prodigal Son and how Jesus told this story to let all of us know that there is never anything we have done that God cannot forgive.
THE BIBLE: “I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11
THE MESSAGE:
It doesn’t matter how far we stray from our God or how much we forget to use the gifts He give us, He is always happy when we turn back to Him.
His unconditional love is waiting for us to return home where He greets us with open arms, as the father rejoiced in his son’s return.
Every lost person (a sinner, meaning all of us) who is found (turns to God) is cause for the greatest celebration!
THE BIG IDEA: God’s Story Is Written For Me!
ASK THIS
Because sometimes you and your kid need a conversation-starter that isn’t,
“So . . . how was church?”
- What does the word prodigal mean?
- How is God like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son?
REMEMBER THIS
Through Jesus’ story, we learn the importance of staying connected to God and His Word. The world may try to convince us that it has better things for us, but only living a life committed to God will bring true and lasting joy.
NEXT WEEK
Next week we start a new series called “Now That’s A Miracle!”