Connect Group Study Notes: 16 October 2022
Theme: “Designed by God …. Live Spirit Filled.”
Reading: Ephesians 5:1-2, 15-21

Fellowship (10 min)
Begin with general conversation and sharing about how the past week has gone. Try not to go over time.

Worship and Prayer (15 min)

Click on the link below on your smartphone, Smart TV, or computer, to select songs to sing; and then spend a few minutes in song and prayer.
PLETT METHODIST YOU TUBE CHANNEL SONG'S
PLAYLIST:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbsAkwbV_S1vXdZVPkZ0_tQW5n9RqeZX0
And if you need to check on the Message for the week again, then click on:
PLETT METHODIST YOU TUBE CHANNEL (MESSAGE):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU1X4YYw1KLpda1yGnqKgfw/videos

This time of worship and prayer will encourage you to move your thoughts from daily worries and pressures to our time of Bible study and prayer.

Read: Ephesians 5:1-2, 15-21
This week will focus on the three central elements in this passage: being careful/aware and being thankful to God for everything and living each day “filled with the Spirit”.

  • Warm up for the discussion time:
    What sort of impact does advertising have on your life? What types of products capture your attention? Why and how do commercials and advertisements try to create within us a constant need for more products?

Discussion Questions (Approx. 30 min)

  • How might listing things we are grateful for on a continual (daily) basis be a beneficial spiritual practice?
  • What might it look like for you to be “careful” about how you live? How mIght mindful or spiritual practices like prayer, Scripture reading, journaling, and other practices develop a “careful” or attentive way of living?
  • What might Paul have in mind by observing in his time that “the days are evil” (v. 16)? Do you believe/agree that our days are evil?
  • Read Verses 18-20 again. Is this way of living possible? How might intentionally noticing and expressing gratitude be a core discipleship practice that builds us up as individuals and becomes a unifying feature of our community life in the church?

Prayer (10 min): Share prayer requests and then pray together.

Sending Prayer (2 min): End by praying the following or a similar prayer:

Loving God, you invite us to a new way of being – a way of self-giving and generosity that seems scary. It is a way of life that radically trusts your provisions. Help us to experience true life in giving instead of through getting. Help us to live in such a way that others experience new life that comes solely by your grace. Amen. 

Have a great week.
God bless,
Tim.

With thanks to and based on https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/…. / -year-b-small-groups