Check In
◾ Which of the following words resonate with you most right now?
Sad, Angry, Scared, Happy, Excited, Tender, Stuck
Why?
◾ What stood out to you from the devotional or the Bible this week?

Open
◾ It’s been said there are two pains in life: the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Which of these do you feel more often? Explain.
◾ What commitment do you hold that brought you to this group?

Pray
Spend a few minutes releasing your cares and worries to God. Draw your attention to the One who knows you and cares about you far beyond what you can think or imagine.

A simple centering prayer: God, You are the source of all that is good and beautiful and right. We pray You’d fill us with more of Your life. Help us grow deeper in Your love. Restore our union with You. We pray You’d give us strength to endure, wisdom to choose what’s right, and a hope that anchors our souls. Protect us from the evil one who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. Move us beyond only looking at our own needs, and fill us with a deep love for each other. May Brookwood become a community that’s continually growing stronger together. Amen.

1. The word devoted means to continue steadfastly. What did these early disciples practice together regularly?

2. What were the results of living with such devotion?

3. When have you participated in a community like this?

4. How is Scripture used in the life of your group?

5. What’s your level of commitment to prayer, personally and as a group?

6. What’s the cost to others when we fail to bring our best?

7. Describe a time you struggled to stay devoted to others? What did you do?

8. If someone new came to your group for a few weeks, what difference would it make in their life?

The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried. G.K. Chesterton

9. What promises are you willing to make to grow stronger as a group?

10. What are the results of withholding love?

11. What’s the difference between being self-focused, others-focused and Christ-focused? How are these things related?

12. How much risk are you willing to take to grow in community?

13. When have unmet expectations caused you to isolate from others?

14. How hopeful do you feel that small gatherings of believers can draw others to Jesus?

15. How can the practices mentioned in this week’s passage become a way of life for your group? Write down a couple of practical steps you can take together.

Scripture Memory
Memorizing Scripture enables you to carry the life-shaping words of God in you at all times and in all places. Here’s a verse to store in your heart and mind based on this week’s theme:

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 (ESV)

Recommended Reading
(on the Topic of Growing Stronger Together)
◾ Community: The Structure of Belonging, Peter Block
◾ SoulTalk: The Language God Longs for Us to Speak, Larry Crabb
◾ Life Together in Christ: Experiencing Transformation in Community, Ruth Haley Barton

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200.

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.