Tag / Ideas for Bible study Groups

by In Light Of The Cross

Growth Group Lesson #3 – Success

DIALOGUE #3 – SUCCESS
by Pr Denis Sand – sanddenis@gmail.com

Objective of today’s dialogue: Challenge your group to make the Bible their guide and final authority for all their decisions.

Welcome (15) – Fellowship
• Were you ever appointed to replace a very talented and successful person? Share how it feels.
• What do you think is the reason why some people are successful in life while others are not?

Worship (15) – Worship
• Read Psalms 34:1-3
• Breathe
• Above all
• Do a popcorn prayer in which each person can give thanks to God for what He is doing in their lives.

Word (30) – Discipleship
• Read Joshua 1:1-8
• What is God promising Joshua and the people of Israel? v1-5,8
• How would you feel if God promises you prosperity and success? v5
• Why do we need to be reminded that God will be at our side at all times? v5
• Why is God telling Joshua to be brave, courageous so many times? v6,7,9
• What does it mean not to turn to the right or left from the law? v7
• What do you think God is trying to tell us in v8?
• How can we meditate on it daily and keep it in our mouths? v8
• Why is success and prosperity tied with obeying and following God’s counsel in the Bible?
• What benefits could we experience if we make the Bible our guide when making daily decisions?
• Share an experience where following God’s advice gave you success.
• How are you integrating the principles of the Bible to your daily life?
• Would you like to study the Bible, get to know Jesus, and discover the divine principles for success?
• What is God telling you tonight?

• To do: Write now on a small card the key text of this week Joshua 1:8. Carry it in your wallet or pocket, place it in your fridge and memorize it.

Works (15) – Ministry & Evangelism
• What can we do as a group to promote the Bible as the key to a successful life?
• Do you know anyone that needs to make the Bible the foundation of his/her life? how can we help them decide to follow God and His word?
• Write their names and invite them to next week group meeting
• Share the vision of reaching others so they can have Jesus as their Savior and experience real success in life.

Refreshments– Fellowship
• Find the way by which you can talk to people during refreshments. Try to talk to those new in the group. Build relationships!

by In Light Of The Cross

Growth Group Lesson #4 Need

DIALOGUE # 4 – NEED
by Pr Denis Sand – sanddenis@gmail.com

Objective of today’s dialogue: Challenge the group to accept Jesus as their personal Savior and recognize Him as the solution for our greatest need.

Additional resources: Desire of Ages, chapter 61, Zacchaeus 552-556. Bible study on the plan of salvation. 

Welcome (15) – Fellowship
• What was your greatest need when you were in elementary school?
• What do people say is their greatest need today?
• What is your greatest need that you have been struggling to fill?

Worship (15) – Worship
• Read Psalm 95:1-3
• We want to see
• Mighty to save
• Ask your group to pray together giving thanks for those things that God has done in their lives.

Word (30) – Discipleship
• Read Luke 19:1-10
• What kind of man was Zacchaeus according to the text?
• Why do you think Zacchaeus was so desperate to see Jesus that in order to do it he is willing to climb a tree and make a fool of himself? v3,4
• Why do you think Jesus says “I must stay at your house today” v5?
• What is our greatest need according to this story? Consider v9,10
• What is our greatest need according to the following passages? Romans 3.23; 6.23
• What is the solution for our greatest need? John 3.16; Luke 19:6,10
• Review His Story (the gospel presentation): explain it in your words
o GOD is the Creator, is loving, holy, and just
o US we were created perfect, but became sinful by our choice, we deserve death, and we are spiritually helpless
o CHRIST is God, and became also a man, is perfect and without any sin, he died as our substitute, and offers his forgiveness as a gift
o YOU & I must respond, ask Christ to be our forgiver and Master, the result is spiritual transformation, obedience and a new life
• Make a call to accept Jesus as our Savior:
o How many here recognize we have a problem with sin, that you have tried to change many times and it hasn’t worked, that you and I need help from above, salvation from God?
o Do you want to accept Jesus as your personal Savior?
• Pray for those who have accepted Jesus as Savior.
• Invite those who accepted Jesus for the first time to commit to get to know Christ personally through Bible Studies.

• To do: Write now on a small card the key text of this week Luke 19:10. Carry it in your wallet or pocket, place it in your fridge or car and memorize it during this week.

Works – Witness (15) – Ministry & Evangelism
• Do you know anyone who desperately needs to find a solution to their disoriented and lost lives? share their names and pray as a group for them.
• Call them tomorrow and tell them of God’s plan for their lives.
• Invite them to next week group meeting

Refreshments– Fellowship
• Find the way to get to know people while eating something. Remember, build relationships.

by In Light Of The Cross

Growth Group Lesson #6 – Cost

DIALOGUE # 6 – COST
by Pr Denis Sand – sanddenis@gmail.com

Objective of today’s dialogue: Challenge people to give it all for being a disciple of Jesus no matter the cost. To have Jesus as our top priority in our lives.

Additional resources: Read and study the material on the following pages about how to consecrate ourselves completely and be willing to pay the price.

Welcome (15) – Fellowship
• What was the cost you have to face when you decided to go to college, or move to the U.S? Or even getting married?
• What made you think it was worth it?
• What helped you be willing to pay the cost?

Worship (15) – Worship
• Read Psalm 33:1-3
• Shout to the Lord
• Above all
• Give thanks as a group for the things God is doing in the world and in your life.
• Pray together.

Word (30) – Discipleship
• Read Luke 14:25-33
• What did Jesus mean with “hate” father, mother, children, brother, sister and own life? v26
• In your words and practically, what is the cost of being a disciple of Christ? v26
• What happens when a person doesn’t count the cost of being a disciple?
• What is the meaning of the phrase “carry his cross and follow me” in v27?
• What lesson about the cost of being a disciple, can we draw from the parable of building a tower and the king going to war? v28-30, v31-32
• How do you feel about the cost of being a disciple? v33.
• Why is it really worth it to follow Jesus? Read Luke 9.23-25. Explain
• What costs of following Jesus seem high to people today? And to you right now?
• How can you apply Jesus’ counsel in v33?
• Read Gal 2:20 and see how Paul pay the price and was living his life
• Testimony: Share what price you had to pay to be a disciple of Jesus.
• What is God telling you tonight?

• To do: Write now on a small card the key text of this week Luke 9:23. Carry it in your wallet or pocket, place it in your fridge or car and memorize it during this week.

Works – Witness (15) – Ministry & Evangelism
• Do you know anyone who is struggling with paying the price of being a disciple of Christ?
• How will you help this week that person to see it’s really worth it?
• Call or visit them and tell them why for you it’s really, really worthy to be a disciple.
• Don’t forget to invite them to next week growth group meeting!

Refreshments– Fellowship
• Remember to talk to visitors! Learn their names, find what they do, what they passionate about, their worries and challenges
Additional Resources:  Steps to Christ – Chapter 5 – Consecration

by In Light Of The Cross

Growth Group Lesson #7 Pure

DIALOGUE #7 – PURE
by Pr Denis Sand – sanddenis@gmail.com

Objective of today’s dialogue: Invite the group to be completely pure and honor God with their lives.

Welcome (15) – Fellowship

• What kind of things did your parents withhold or restrict from you when you were growing up?
• Why do you think they did it?
• What effects has that had in your life today? Good or bad? Explain

Worship (15) – Worship
• Read Psalms 103:1-5. Distribute verses!
• Open the eyes of my heart
• Sanctuary
• Pray together givign thanks for the things God has done in your families.
• Pray together in groups of two

Word (30) – Discipleship
• Read Genesis 39:1-23
• Why do you think Joseph is in Egypt? Gen 37.26,27,36; Gen 45:6-8 God had a purpose!
• Why was God blessing Joseph so much? v2,3,5,21,23
• What can we learn from Joseph’s answer to sleep with his master’s wife? 39:7-9
• Could you explain what are some of the things that our Master has withheld from us and why? v8
• What are some of the consequences of not being pure?
• Read Colossians 3:5-6. What is Paul telling us here regarding purity?
• Why is it that God sets for us such a high standard of purity? Read Ephesians 5:3
• King David had no TV or internet in his days! But still he wrote this in Psalms 101:3, how can we apply his counsel to our lives?
• What kind of things or practices should we leave in order to obey today’s call to purity?
• What did the Lord tell you tonight? What will you do about it?

• To do: Write now on a small card the key text of this week Ephesians 5:3. Carry it in your wallet or pocket, place it on your fridge or car and memorize it during this week.

Works – Witness (15) – Ministry & Evangelism
• Do you know anyone who needs to grow into being pure according to God’s standards?
• How can you help this person to see the need and be willing to change?
• Please pray and invite them to next week growth group meeting!
• How can this group pray for you?

Refreshments– Fellowship
• Don’t just eat! Please talk to visitors between bites!

Additional Resources:

Patriachs and Prophets, Chapter 20 – Joseph in Egypt

by In Light Of The Cross

Growth Group Lesson #11 – Forgiving

DIALOGUE # 11 – FORGIVING
by Pr Denis Sand – sanddenis@gmail.com

Objective of today’s dialogue: invite group members to experience forgiveness and let others free as God does with us.

Additional resources: Forgiveness is not saying it is okay. 

Welcome (15) – Fellowship
• What are some of the most difficult things for people to forgive in our days?
• What are some of the most hard ones for you and why?

Worship (15) – Worship
• Read Psalms 103:1-5
• Holy is the Lord
• Light of the world
• Sanctuary
• Take time to give members the opportunity to give thanks for what God has been doing in their lives. Pray together giving thanks

Word (30) – Discipleship
• Read Matthew 18:21-35
• Considering the Jews teaching of forgiving someone up to three times, how can we make sense of Peter’s questions? v18,21
• When you analyze the main points of this story, how does it makes you feel about the man owing 10,000 talents, the 100 denarius man and the king?
• Why is God so concerned about us forgiving? Why is not forgiving so deadly?
• If God forgives us so much, why is it so hard for us to forgive others?
• What does it mean to forgive with all your heart? v35
• What would be appropriate to do when we don’t feel like forgiving?
• What should be done when the other person doesn’t ask for forgiveness? Consider Jesus example. Luke 23:34
• Read Luke 17:3-4. Why is God’s standard so high?
• What is it harder to forgive others or yourself? why?
• If you have a testimony of how you were forgiven (not how you forgave!) share it with the group.
• Who are you going to forgive and completely release this week?
• To do: Memorize Luke 23:34. Look for opportunities to forgive others!

Works – Witness (15) – Ministry & Evangelism
• Write down the names of people you need to forgive. Following Jesus’ example forgive them.
• Select a day when the whole group will pray and fast for our group.
• Talk and plan multiplication of your group. Consider the why, when, where, who. What is God’s vision for us? how do I fit into it?
• How can this group pray for you tonight?

Refreshments– Fellowship
• Talk to people and find out the names of their friends who don’t know Christ yet. Challenge people you dialogue with to invite them to the meeting and new group.

by In Light Of The Cross

Growth Group Lesson #16 – Understanding

DIALOGUE # 16 – UNDERSTANDING
by Pr Denis Sand – sanddenis@gmail.com

Objective of today’s dialogue: challenge people to be ready and willing to help others get to know God and understand his Word..

Welcome (15) – Fellowship

• What kind of things were hard for you to comprehend when you were in elementary school and why?
• Who helped you understand and how did he do it?
• What is hard for you to understand now?

Worship (15) – Worship
• Read Psalms 8:1-9
• I’m a friend of God
• What are some of the joys that God has given you for which you are thankful? Pray fervently giving only thanks.

Word (30) – Discipleship
• Read Acts 8.26-40
• What kind of Christian was Phillip considering the fact that an angel gives him a mission and he rapidly obeys it? v26,27
• What kind of a man was the one sitting on the chariot? v27-34
• How does staying near  people help us to fulfill God’s mission? v29 How should we do it?
• When should we ask people if they understand? v30 Give examples.
• How can we help people “understand” the Bible, God and current events? v31,35
• What are the four principles found in Acts 8.35 that we need to follow when helping people understand the Bible? (Principles: begin where they are; explain it with the Bible, show how it’s good for them; center it all in Jesus)
• How prepared are you to help others understand the Bible? How could you be ready to help others understand the good news? v35
• Where can we get help so we understand?
• Why do you think the man asked for baptism? What is necessary to be baptized? v36-38
• What is the relationship between rejoicing in life with accepting Christ and being baptized? v39 How have you experienced it?
• What do you think God is trying to tell you tonight?
• How would you apply today’s message from now on?
• To do: Memorize a verse on how to teach the Bible to others: Acts 8:35

Works – Witness (15) – Ministry & Evangelism
• Ask someone from the group to share the vision of our group.
• Ask group members if they feel ready to help others understand? what can we do as a group to be prepared in the basics of faith in order to help others?
• Do you know anyone who wants to understand more about God, the Bible and current events? Write down the names and challenge group members to invite them to our group.
• Finalize asking: How can we pray for you tonight?

Refreshments– Fellowship
• Listen, listen, listen (you can eat too, but keep ears open).

Additional Resources: Acts of the Apostles, 106-111

by In Light Of The Cross

Growth Group Lesson Plan #18 – Useful

DIALOGUE # 18 – USEFUL
by Pr Denis Sand – sanddenis@gmail.com

Objective of today’s dialogue: challenge people to make the Bible their guide for life, and to study it daily.

Welcome (15) – Fellowship
• What is the most un-useful gift you have ever received?
• What are the characteristics of a useful gift?
• What is for you the most useful thing in your house today?

Worship (15) – Worship
• Read Psalms 119.89-91
• Thy word is a lamp to my feet
• Sanctuary
• Take time to praise God giving thanks for leading you in times of difficulties, challenges and temptations. Share your praise with the people in your group. Show God is ALIVE and working.
• Pray together

Word (30) – Discipleship
• Read 2 Timothy 3.14-17
• What is Paul challenging young Timothy to do? v14
• How can we teach children-youth to really know the Bible? v15
• According to Paul what is the origin and purpose of the Bible? v16
• What are some of the practical things the Bible can do for us? or, what kind of benefit do we get from reading it? v15-17
• What does it mean that the Bible is God-breathed? v16
• Why is knowing the Bible so crucially important as Christians? v16
• How much time are you devoting to reading, studying and memorizing the Scriptures? Why?
• How would your life change if you were to read, study, memorize the Bible everyday?
• How would you summarize today’s study in one sentence?
• What is God telling you tonight to do?
• What changes do you need to make to your daily schedule in order to take full advantage of God’s Word?
• To do: Read together, repeat it out loud, challenge to memorize 2 Timothy 3.16

Works – Witness (15) – Ministry & Evangelism
• As the main leader of the group, share the vision of multiplication with passion.
• Challenge the group to read the gospel of John during this week. Ask each one to read 3 chapters a day. Ask for commitments. If someone doesn’t have a Bible, get one from church and give it as a gift. Give them also a guide to read the whole Bible in a year so they can mark this week reading and continue from there on.
• Take time to pray for people needs, you can ask: How can we pray for you tonight?

Refreshments– Fellowship
• Keep asking group members to invite their friends to the meetings and group activities.