LIFEGROUPS: WEEKLY DISCUSSION GUIDE
Week of January 3, 2021
SERIES: Straight to the Heart
Week #1: Kingdom Partnerships
Philippians 1:3-6
MESSAGE PREVIEW:
This Sunday begins our new teaching series, Straight to the Heart. In one sense, every church has
the same mission. In another sense, every church is like a snowflake – unique in the way it
advances the Kingdom and serves King Jesus. Over the next five weeks, we are going to look at
the unique heart of Bay Area Church; who we are and what we are all about.
We saturate the 4B area with the gospel by restoring people, families, and churches.
Why this focus?
- People: bear God’s image.
- Families: reflect God’s design for community and generational multiplication in the culture.
- Churches: serve as embassies for the Kingdom in the culture.
We know that we as a church can’t restore people, families, and churches alone. We need
Kingdom Partnerships.
A KINGDOM PARTNERSHIP is a relationship formed to advance the Kingdom of Jesus on
earth as it is in heaven.
We work with others to accomplish the priorities of King Jesus, for the work of His Kingdom, locally
and globally. We seek out and establish partnerships valuing Kingdom over competition for the
glory of Christ.
WHY KINGDOM PARTNERSHIPS?
A. We Seek the Kingdom First (Matthew 6:33)
- Matthew 6:10 ESV “Your Kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
B. Kingdom Partnerships Advance the Kingdom (Philippians 1:3-6)
- Philippians 1:3-5 ESV “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every
prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in
the gospel from the first day until now.”
C. Kingdom Partnerships Restore People, Families, and Churches
HOW CAN YOU BE A KINGDOM PARTNER?
A. Philippians 1:6 ESV “And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring ti to
completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
B. Three Ways:
- Partner in Serving.
- Partner in Giving.
- Partner in Restoring.
OUR RESPONSE
A. What if, as a follower of Jesus, you lived life on mission to partner with Jesus and this
church on the mission of restoring all things?
B. Think of the people in your life. Think of the families in your life. Think of the church in your
life.
C. How can you live as a Kingdom Partner today?
ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS
Think back to this same Sunday one year ago. Could you have ever imagined all that you would
face and experience in 2020? Life is very different in some ways than it was a year ago. We have
all been through many challenges, struggles, and difficulties over these past 12 months. In the
midst of it all, God has been a present help and has been working both for His glory and our good
– even when we didn’t see it! Talk through the following questions as you begin your time this
week:
Q: What will be one thing you will never forget about 2021?
Q: What is one specific way God met you and/or worked in and through you during the past
twelve months?
Q: What is your biggest uncertainty, challenge, or concern as you move into 2021?
For many, the start of 2021 is a much needed and anticipated one. While the simple changing of
the calendar from 2020 to 2021 doesn’t remove our current circumstances, it can remind us that
God’s meets each new day with the mercy and grace we need to face whatever may come our
way. Read the following verse to your group:
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never
come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
We have no idea what 2021 will bring to us. But what we can know is the truth of God’s Word –
that His mercies are new each and every day and that He is a faithful God. Let’s all be reminded
that there is nothing we will face that is greater than Him, His Power, and His promises to us.
Take a moment to pray for this next year. Pray for the uncertainties, challenges, and concerns that
were mentioned. Ask God to work in and through our lives for His glory and for our good!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Ask and discuss the following questions.
Q: Read Philippians 1:3-6. What was Paul’s attitude when it came to the church in Philippi?
Q: How can partnership with others bring us similar gratitude and joy?
Q: How was the Philippian church partnered with Paul for the sake of the gospel?
Q: What is the danger of one person or one church trying to go it all alone? Has there ever
been a time when you witnessed or experienced this?
Q: How would you define a Kingdom Partnership based on the message from this
weekend?
Q: What other examples of Kingdom Partnership can you recall from the Bible? How did
these partnerships help bring the Kingdom and advance the Gospel?
Q: What did you learn from the message about how our church engages in Kingdom
Partnerships?
Q: What was most encouraging about our partnerships and the work that is being done for
the sake of the gospel in our area and around the world?
Q: How have you personally been engaged with or impacted by one of these kingdom
partnerships? Tell us a little about this.
Q: What is your personal “take-away” from this week’s message? What is one specific thing
the Lord spoke to you this week?
Q: What is one specific “action step” you are going to take this week to apply what Jesus
has taught you today?
WRAP-UP
As is true whenever we study scripture, to take this message and study to its fullest we have to
move to from information and inspiration to application. Just defining Kingdom Partnership and
knowing about how our church seeks to live this out is not enough. We all have a part to play and
need to look at how we can take the practical step of partnering for the Kingdom and Gospel of
Jesus Christ. Let’s look at a couple of final questions:
Q: What are some practical ways you and your family can engage in a Kingdom
Partnerships to restore people, families, and churches?
Q: What are some practical ways our LifeGroup can engage in a Kingdom Partnerships to
restore people, families, and churches?
Give each person a few minutes to pray and think about each of these questions. Have those who
are willing share their thoughts about how they and their family can engage in Kingdom
Partnerships. Then have group members share their ideas of how your LifeGroup could take steps
to begin (or continue) to partner with others to restore people families and churches in the 4B area
and possibly around the world. List out these ideas and commit to emailing them to the group this
next week. Encourage the group to pray through these ideas and be ready to continue the
conversation in the weeks to come. Close in prayer for individual group members and for your
group as a whole – that the value of Kingdom Partnership would become even more central to
their lives and the life of the group.
**Make the commitment as a group leader to not let this conversation go, but to revisit this and
take a practical step to make Kingdom Partnership a regular part of your group’s life and rhythm.
SCRIPTURES FROM THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE:
Philippians 1:3-6, Matthew 6:33 & 6:10
UPCOMING MESSAGES:
1/3/21 Kingdom Partnership Philippians 1:3-6
1/10/21 Gospel Transformation Revelation 21:5
1/17/21 Hands-on-Service John 13:14-16
1/24/21 Relentless Love John 3:16, Romans 5:8
1/31/21 Spirit and Truth Empowerment John 4:23-24