LIFE GROUP LEADER GUIDE
For the week of November 25, 2018
This guide is designed to give helpful hints in preparing & leading your group in discussion.
Because this is the last meeting of the Fall Quarter, the Life Group Study Guide is shorter than normal. As usual, your final meeting will include a look back on how God has worked this past quarter and doing communion as a group. You will also take some time to fill out an online Feedback Form about your group experience and your plans for the fall. The form will be emailed to you on Monday, November 26. The Winter Life Group Quarter will begin the week of January 13, 2019. Have a great few weeks off celebrating the birth of our Lord! Merry Christmas!
NOTE ABOUT THIS WEEK’S STUDY: This week’s Study Questions celebrate how God has worked this past quarter and the sacrifice Jesus made for us through taking communion. Most of your time should be spent on “My Story #2” and “Communion” sections. The questions this week also create a good transition into communion. If you have time, feel free to use these questions, but don’t feel obligated. You can make that transition after the “My Story” section or after either of the questions in the “Digging Deeper” section. Make sure you have supplies for communion.
Optional Way to Do Communion: There is also an Advent Sharing Guide at the end of this Leaders Guide that gives another meaningful way to share how God has worked in their lives with a Christmas theme.
PRINT LEADER GUIDE:
These notes are designed to be a resource as you lead your Life Group each week.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DISCUSS PLANS FOR THE WINTER!
CONFIRM ANY CHANGES, ADDS OR DROPS WITHIN YOUR GROUP
Find out from your group if they know their plans for being part of the group in the winter. They can indicate their plans on the Feedback Forms. Also, let us know of any roster updates or changes that you know of to your meeting day, time or location for the Winter quarter when you submit your attendance.
LET YOUR GROUP KNOW NEXT QUARTER’S DATES
- Winter Sign-Ups: January 5 & 6 and 12 & 13 – on all campuses and online.
- Winter Quarter Dates: January 13 – March 16
PRAYER FOR NEW WINTER LIFE GROUP LEADERS & HOSTS
Take some time to pray for new leaders and hosts to launch new groups next quarter.
REMINDERS
ONLINE FEEDBACK FORMS THIS WEEK
We’d like to have your group fill out Feedback Forms this week. Let your group know how important their honest feedback is for you as leaders and hosts. Make sure you allow plenty of time to complete the forms.
FOR LEADERS – Here’s how our online forms will work: Everyone in your group will receive an email with a link to the Feedback Form on Monday, November 26. Please take the time in your Life Group to fill out the form online together. It takes just a couple minutes, it’s super easy and can be done on any smartphone. If needed, you can forward the email to anyone in your group who didn’t receive it. The Feedback Form can also be found on the Life Group website. The results of the Feedback Form will be emailed to you the following week. If you decide to use hard copies, please have them to us by December 2.
*Senior Groups will be sent hard copies.
ATTENDANCE
Submit your group’s attendance online through the Leader Toolbox here: northcoastchurch.com/attendance
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
1. With Christmas just around the corner, it can be fun to reflect and hear others’ thoughts and highlights on the Christmas season. Take turns in your group sharing your responses to the following questions.
Have fun with this one. Have everyone answer.
- Favorite thing to do on Christmas Eve
- Favorite thing to do on Christmas Day
- Which Christmas movie would you most like to be part of?
- If you could become famous and wealthy for singing a Christmas song which song would it be?
- Favorite & least favorite food to eat at Christmas
2. God is continually at work in our lives as followers of Jesus (Philippians 1:6). As you look back on this quarter, what are some things you’re thankful for in your own life and your Life Group experience? (It can be a specific way God encouraged you, time spent together in your group, how your group has helped you to continue to live your life for Jesus, something new you learned, a service project, spiritual breakthrough, challenged you to grow or anything else.)
Good question to have everyone answer. Depending on time you can transition from this section to Communion in the “Reason for the Season” section.
It’s no surprise we can find ourselves challenged on how to relate and show reasonable respect to others. This weekend we were reminded that to be able to do this, we need to remember we are all broken people in need of God’s grace and forgiveness no matter who we are or where we come from. Can you think of any reasons why at times we can feel or think we have less of a need of God’s grace than someone else?
How do these verses help us understand who we are and how to show others the same grace and love that we each need?
Genesis 1:27-28 – 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Romans 3:23 – 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 5:8 – 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:8-9 – 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 4:29 – 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Proverbs 12:18-19 – 18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
As you look at these verses and this week’s teaching are there any new actions or attitudes you want to make sure you bring to the table throughout the coming holiday season?
You can use this as a prayer focus for your group over the holidays.
As followers of Christ, we are able to celebrate the Christmas season because of the amazing gift God has given us – the gift of his son Jesus, born that we might have life through his death and resurrection! Jesus is always knocking on our door to remind us that he brings us grace and life. Communion is about remembering just that. Your time together this week will conclude by taking Communion and remembering this great gift God has given us through his son Jesus.
To prepare for Communion, read Luke 2:1-7, Luke 22:19-20 and
John 15:12-17. What catches your attention in these verses as beneficial to remember as you take Communion in your group?
Luke 2:1-7 – In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Luke 22:19-20 – 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
John 15:12-17 – 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
1) Explain that we want to end the quarter by celebrating Christ and his death and resurrection by taking Communion. Communion is all about remembering the great love God has for us by sending his son Jesus to die that we might have life.
2) Read Luke 2:1-7 and Luke 22:19-20, John 15:12-17 and then give people a chance to reflect and share what they wrote down about what they are thankful for in regards to what Jesus has done for them based on this week’s study and teaching.
Alternatives for sharing what they are thankful for: Have them share their thanks through prayer or through doing advent together. You could suggest including their responses to the Digging Deeper questions.
Advent Options: Have 6 to 12 candles on the table in the middle of the group. Middle candle is lit as the Christ Candle. Before someone shares they take a candle and light it with the Christ Candle and then share what they are thankful for from this last quarter and/or thanks for what Jesus has done for them. All the candles lit represent the light of Christ we have in us and its impact to the world when we live out this thankfulness.
Other alternatives are, you could play or sing some Christmas Carols like “O Come All Ye Faithful” to add to the evening. Using the list of Christmas Carols and Scriptures below, sing the Christmas Carols taking turns reading the Scriptures between songs. End your time lighting the candles and sharing as suggested above.
Video/Music Option: You could also play this picture video of “O Come All Ye Faithful” or “O Holy Night” sung by Chris Tomlin while people take Communion and use for a time of reflection and worship.
O Come All Ye Faithful – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOGjtfygi14
O Holy Night – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp0XkQfMJEM
3) Pass the bread, thank the Lord for it, and eat together. Pass the cup, thank the Lord for it, and drink together.
IDEAS: You may want to involve others by asking them to read Scripture and lead these prayers. The bread and juice can also be set on a table in the middle of the room and people take Communion after you read the Scripture and pray, or while the group sings or listens to a worship song.
4) Close your time in prayers of praise.
Have everyone fill out their Feedback Forms Everyone in your group will receive an email with a link to the Feedback Form on Monday, November 26. Please take the time in your Life Group to fill out the form online together. It takes just a couple minutes, it’s super easy and can be done on any smartphone. If needed, you can forward the email to anyone in your group who didn’t receive it. The Feedback Form can also be found on the Life Group website. The results of the Feedback Form will be emailed to you the following week. If you decide to use hard copies, please have them to us by December 2.
*Senior Groups will be sent hard copies.
O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
(CHORUS)
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O Come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God
All glory in the highest;
(CHORUS)
Read Luke 2:8-12
The First Noel
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night. Refrain
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with his blood mankind hath bought. Refrain
Read Luke 2:13-15
Silent Night
Silent night Holy night All is calm all is bright
‘Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth;
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Read Luke 2:16-18
Sing Angels We have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high, Singing sweetly o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strain
Glo-ria… in excelsis Deo. (repeat)
Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing.
Come adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord the newborn King
Glo-ria… in excelsis Deo. (repeat)
See Him in a manger laid, Whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While we raise our hearts in love.
Read Luke 2:19-20
Light the Christ Candle
Sing Joy To the World
Joy to the World, the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart, prepare Him room
And heav’n and nature sing (3x)
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of His love.
Read Matthew 1:22, 23
You may have noticed Christmas has arrived at North Coast Church! Stop by the Christmas Outreach Tree on the Vista, Carlsbad, Fallbrook, San Marcos/Escondido and Ramona Campuses to choose an ornament.
We have needs from all of our Community Service Partners and we’d like to bless them in a big way this year!
- Presents listed on the ornaments include toys, sports equipment, diapers and baby blankets, along with items for parents in need and local homeless shelters.
- Bring the unwrapped gift back by the date stated on the ornament.
Be a part of this fun day and help make an amazing Christmas for many North County Families!
- Volunteers are still needed for our special sorting and distribution day. Monday, December 10, we’ll take all the donated gifts and sort them for our organizations to pick up.
- Sign up at NorthCoastCommunityService.com, and search “Gift Sorting.”
