16/07/2023
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
Home Group Study Notes: 16 July 2023
Message: Rev Tim Rist
Theme: “Let your light shine”
This format is a guide to you for your small group meeting. Feel free to change and adapt it according to the needs of your group. The objective is for you to build authentic relationships within the group, relationships that enable you to learn to love others who are different to you, and to discover as a reality the treasure of relationships built on the foundation of a relationship with Jesus, his life, and his teaching.
Meeting and Greeting:
Begin with general conversation and sharing about how the past week has gone.
Worship and Prayer
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.
You do not have to answer all the questions below.
READING: Matthew 19: 14 and Matthew 5:14-16
Warm up for the discussion time:
If you know the song – “This little light of mine” then have some fun singing it together!
Discussion and Sharing
Matthew 19:14
Jesus makes it very clear that little children have eternal value to the Kingdom of God. Children matter to God. Does the spiritual life and health of little children matter to you?
Think too, about the faithfulness of those who brought the children to Jesus. Why do you think they presented the children to Jesus? What did they want Jesus to do for the children? Are you willing to bring children to Jesus too?
Why do you think the disciples objected?
What do you think that Jesus meant when he said “the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children”?
Matthew 5:14-16
Read verse 14 as if Jesus is speaking directly to you. What is your reaction to what he has “said to you”?
Read verse 16 as if Jesus is sitting across a table from you and having a conversation with you. What does this challenge mean for you?
What do these verses have to say about your Home Group?
What do these verses have to say about your church?
Faith building:
How will you let your light shine this week? Write down a few practical examples to guide your actions and your prayers for the week ahead.
Prayer: Share prayer requests and then pray together.
Closing Prayer: And now may the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now, and forever more. Amen
Have a wonderful week. God bless. Tim.