Small Group
the week of November 7, 2021
Before we begin, watch this Small Groups “rules and roles” video (unless everyone in your group has seen it many times before).
Worship • Learn • Serve
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I. Worship
Pick a super-short-term leader so you can declare what we believe about God’s nature and work in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
Leader: I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Group: maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Be on the lookout for a favorite statement or phrase in the song “I. Spring: Wake” so that you can praise God for his love by sharing your fave with the group.
Now share that favorite statement or phrase from the song with the group.
II. learn
Pick three different readers for Romans 6:1-4 in The New International Version, the Message, and the English Standard Version.
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
1 So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? 2 I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? 3 Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land! That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. 4 When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus.
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Discuss:
Which translation strikes you most?
The end of the ESV translation of verse 4 brings out the original Greek most directly: it is a walking in newness of life that results from baptism in the name of Jesus.
Listen to the next track on the Principium album, “II. Summer: Walk”.
Keep your eyes on me, watch and learn how to be;
if you keep a hold of me, you will truly be free
Every morning you appear to be more and more like me;
as you grow so does my love for thee, for you I’d split the sea
Discuss:
How does this song and those lines in particular give you a new perspective on the Bible’s beautiful chronicle of creation as experienced by Adam?
What does it mean to you to walk in newness of life?
What disparaging views of the God of the Bible do you sometimes find lurking in society? How might this new perspective on God and creation speak powerfully back at those who hold such views?
Listen to the third track on the Principium album, “III. Summer: War”.
I had cursed the world you made
I believed the viper and I grew a pair of fangs
We see in this song and in these lines in particular the role Adam played as damager of God’s good creation.
Discuss:
1. What are ways in which 21st century American midwestern Christians can be damagers of God’s created order?
2. In what ways is Jesus the healer of damage?
(There certainly could be several answers to this.)
III. Serve
Finish up the album Principium with the final track, “IV. Winter: Will”.
Hail, hail creation;
long live your volition
I was loved more than anything but I kissed the dust;
I was crowned over everything but I kissed the dust
Does anyone in your group know what words go in the blanks for this Bible verse? (It's okay if nobody can; just look it up in that case.)
Ephesians 2:6 God raised us up with Christ and ____ us with him in the ____ realms in Christ Jesus.
Discuss:
What does it mean to already now in this fallen world be seated back up into a crowned position of glory with Jesus?
Try some soft thinking (no limits, go wild):
Brainstorm ways that your small group might work together to live out the eternal glory of new life in Jesus.
Speak out loud to one another what things in your life or in your community you are moved to pray about.
Then pray together.
(Keep this prayer session to 5 minutes max.)
Reminders before you go…
Saturday, December 11th
Family Fun Night 4:00p-6:00p — Ask how you can be a part— Invite friends and neighbors
Sundays
Service time 10:30am
Trinity Kids (kids church) during the service
Trinity Teens (youth group) 5:00p - 7:00p
Foundations Class (Bible basics) with Pastor Garrett is great for inviting guests and friends to, so they can learn more about Jesus — scheduled on an as-needed basis
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
(2 Corinthians 13:14)