Autumn Term 2009 Homegroup Programme

Autumn Term 2009 Homegroup Programme

Here is the programme for the next couple of week. If you'd like to volunteer to host/lead then please get in touch especially as we have no one for the 11th November onwards. Also we haven't sorted out an "Own Programme" for 21st October.

Date	Venue	Study	Suggested Prayer Topic
23rd September	Sarah’s	Bible Study: Pray 2	Family Members
30th September	Kate and Foggy’s	Bible Study: Pray 3	UK Parliament/Politics
6th October	Family Meeting
14th October	Keith and Jenny’s	Bible Study: Pray 4	Church Stuff/Needs
21st October	Own Programme:
28th October	Kate and Foggy’s	Bible Study: Engage 1	Friends/Colleagues
3rd November	Family Meeting
11th November		Bible Study: Engage 2	Global Needs
18th November	Own Programme:
25th November		Bible Study: Engage 3	General Stuff
1st December	Family Meeting
9th December		Bible Study: Engage 4	Christmas Outreach
16th December	Own Programme:

Here is the map to get to Kate and Foggy's:

View Larger Map

And here is the study for this week on 1 Timothy 2:1-7. It is the second in the "Pray" series.

Ice breaker

• Which people do you pray for regularly?
• How do you decide who to pray for?

Read 1 Timothy 2:1-7

1. How do we know that Paul thinks prayer is important?
2. Who does Paul think should be prayed for (v.1)? What do you think that means in practice?
3. Why does Paul include prayign for those in authority in v.2?
4. What do you think 'this is good' at the start of v.3 refers to?
5. What do we learn about the 'heart of God' in v.4? How should that influence the way we think and pray for people? What 'truth' does Paul have in mind?
6. How does v.5-6 explain v.4? Why does the fact that there is only one God matter?
7. What does it mean to be a mediator? Why is Jesus able to be our mediator?
8. Looking at v.6 how does Jesus do this mediation between God and us? What does it mean for Jesus to be a ransom? Who is he a ransom for?
9. What do you think the end of v.6 means? Why does Paul add it?
10. What does Paul pray about himself in v.7?
11. Look back over the whole passage. Notice the times that Paul speaks of 'everyone' and 'all people'. How is the instruction to 'pray for everyone' linked to Jesus' 'ransom for all people'?
12. How does this passage encourage you to pray? Who will you be praying for? What is their greatest need? What will you be praying for them?
    
    

PRAY: BIBLE STUDY SESSION 1

This term we are looking at material from A Passion for Life, a nationally resourced but locally organised mission.

Luke 11:1-13

Ice-breaker

• What things do you find it hard to be motivated to do? What helps you?

Read Luke 11:1-13

11:1-4

• What do Jesus disciples ask in v1? What does this teach us about ‘Christian’ prayer? Why not pray now that our Father would teach us about prayer from this passage.
• Look at the prayer that Jesus teaches the disciples in v2-4. How are we to address God? Is that how you think about your relationship with God?
• What is the primary focus of our prayers meant to be? What do you think Jesus means by ‘hallowed be your name’ and ‘your kingdom come’? How do these requests challenge our priorities in prayer?
• What things are we to pray for ourselves? Why do you think we need to be praying them?
• How might the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ shape our praying for people who are not yet Christians?

11:5-13

• Why does Jesus continue and add v5-13?
• V5-13 contain illustrations in v5-8 and v11-13. What is Jesus encouraging with the ‘meat’ in the middle, in v9-10?
• Do you think that Jesus is promising that everything we ask for will be given to us? In the light of vv2-4, what kind of prayers can we be sure that our Father will answer?
• Look at the parable in v5-8. Why will the man’s request be answered? How is this
  encouragement for us to pray?
• What does Jesus teach about human fathers in v11-13? How does He use this to
  teach us about our Father in heaven?
• In what ways does this whole section challenge and encourage us in our praying?

Bible Study: Philippians 3:12-4:1

Click here for the passage for this week's study:

Philippians 3:12-4:1 via kwout

Verses 12-16

Paul begins by emphasising something he hasn’t got and something he tries to do.

1. What has Paul not yet attained? Why does he repeat this three times?
2. How does Paul describe his goal in life now?
3. What does Paul ‘forget’? What does this mean for us?
4. What does Paul means by ‘press on’ and ‘straining’? What prevents us doing this?

Verses 17-4:1

Paul compares two groups here – those who follow his pattern and those who are opposed to it.

5. Make a list of how Paul describes the two groups below:

6. What mistakes do you think the opposition group were making?
7. What difference does it make to us now to know that our citizenship is in heaven?
8. Why should we ‘eagerly’ wait for Jesus from these verses? What stops us looking forward to this?
9. Paul says he’s been telling the Philippians how they should stand firm (4:1) – how would you summarise what standing firm involves?

Alternative Bible Study

Verses 12-16: Draw a picture of a runner in a race (no artistic merit required!). On the picture fill in details from the passage about this race. E.g. where is it going, how is it being run, etc.

Verses 3:17-4:1: Draw two identical ‘stick figures’ side by side. Now look through the verses and try to illustrate the differences between the two groups on these figures.

Family Meeting

This week is our monthly* family meeting at Knighton where we will be voting on Pete joining the leadership team and becoming an elder. There will be other things discussed and for prayed about too. Come along. Its usually fun! *Yes I know it's still June - that makes two this month and none in July. Don't blame me, blame Graham.

Bible Study: Philippians 3:1-11

This week's study is on Philippians 3:1-11. I'm cooking a load of chilli if you want to eat hear first (can you let me know so I know how much to cook!) Here's the study:

The Philippian church seemed to understand the gospel well but there were some false teachers around. As a result Paul decides to repeat some teaching on the gospel as a ‘safeguard’ (verse 1).

Verses 1-61) The ‘dogs’ (verse 2) are probably a group who thought you had to obey the Jewish law to be right with God, as well as believe in Jesus. List the ways Paul describes this group, and then himself and the church in comparison.

2) Why does he choose these terms for each group? Where are the contrasts between them? 3) What does Paul mean by ‘confidence in the flesh’ (verse 3 and 4)? What reasons for such confidence did he have? 4) How do these verses challenge us as to where we put our confidence Verses 7-11

5) How does Paul now view these things that were to his profit? Why?

6) Why does Paul say knowing Christ Jesus the greatest thing? 7) What are Paul’s desires for his life from verse 10? 8) What difference do these truths make to: (a) our security with God, (b) our motivation for Christian living, (c) our priorities in life? Alternative Bible Study

Paul talks in this passage about things being to his ‘profit’ and ‘loss’. Make a list of what the world would put on a ‘profit’ and ‘loss’ list. Compare that with the list you think Paul would make.

17th June - Own Programme

This Wednesday we're going for a stroll at Bradgate Park (unless its lashing it down with rain!). We're meeting at the Cropston entrance at 7pm: View Larger Map Afterwards Melissa has kindy invited us back to her house for Hot Chocolate (Thanks Melissa!) View Larger Map If you need a lift then get in touch. Looking forward to seeing you then!

Bible Study: Philippians 2:12-18

Homegroup Study on Philippians 2:12-18

Verses 12-13 1. What does Paul mean by ‘work out your salvation’? [Hint: remember what he’s been encouraging them to do from 1:27 onwards.] 2. What attitude are we to have in working out our salvation? Why? 3. In these verses both God and people are said to have a role in growth, but who does what? 4. How does this encourage you to grow in areas we’ve covered over the last weeks? Verses 14-18 5. How does the command not to complain or argue fit with what Paul has been saying so far in the letter about relationships? 6. Describe the picture Paul gives in v15-16 of Christians in the world. Where do we feel the challenge of this? 7. What does holding out the ‘word of life’ i.e. the gospel, mean in practice? What does it mean for you this week? 8. Why does Paul say that he and they should rejoice, even if they are both being ‘sacrificed’ i.e. suffering for the gospel? [NOTE: Paul sees himself as a drink offering which was offered along with a main sacrifice – in this case that is the Philippian church.] Alternative Bible Study A young Christian tells you they are finding themselves being pressured to join in with ungodly behaviour at their work place. Part of this involves being mocked for being a Christian and they are feeling discouraged. What would you say to them from these verses?

Welcome

This week is the monthly Family Meeting at Knighton starting at 7:30pm. It would be great to see you there. Next week is a bible study on Philippians 2v12-18.