Missio Dei: WK 2 - GROUP GUIDE

MISSIO DEI | WEEK 2 - The Broken World God Loves

INTRODUCTION: The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN: If you had just moments left to live, what is a piece or two of wisdom that you would want to make sure were passed down to those you care about? Something you’ve learned in your journey that you wish you knew earlier, or that someone had told you?

SCRIPTURE READING
Read together: Genesis 1:31, 3:6-7, Romans 8:19-22, Micah 6:8, Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 65:17-19

Pay attention to how God continues to chase after us, even when we run the other way.

HEAD: Explore the Text

Share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts you received just from listening to the text, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead.
How, in a perfect world, do you think Adam and Eve could have sinned? They had everything, what made them want more?
Why didn’t God just start over after Adam and Eve sinned, as opposed to letting sin take over this world?
Why do you think creation groans? Do you think, somehow, creation knows what it was originally meant to be before sin and brokenness?
Put Micah 6:8 into your own words, what it means to do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. What does this look like in our world today? Why is it important to do all three of these things together, instead of just separating them out?
Do you think Jesus knew exactly where to unroll the scroll so he could read that specific verse? What does a mission statement like Luke 4:18-19, do for someone when they face challenges and hard times?
From the moment we broke our world, God’s plan was set in motion to restore it. How does knowing this help you live in this broken world, right now, with more hope?

HEART: Personal Reflection

In this broken world, do you see yourself as more broken, whole, or in process? If in process, what does that mean to you and what joy and/or peace do you find in that knowledge?
In what ways do you, or we, groan inwardly as we long for things to be made right?
Can you think of some things like grief and loneliness that we were never meant to experience, sharing why you think they are so hard for us to navigate?
Because it’s always good to spend time thinking about the day when all things are restored and created new, what do you look forward to about heaven? The new earth? Who are you anxious to see? What are you anxious to do? What questions do you have for God?

HANDS: Practice This Week
Spiritual Practice: Reflecting on Your Journey

In your life with God, where have you seen growth? What are things you used to struggle with, that are not a struggle for you now? Where have you experience his healing?
What areas are still hard for you; places in your heart and your life where you know you still need God’s healing presence?
Over the next week, take time both to share your gratitude with God for the things he has done in your life, as well as to surrender the things you want him to heal.
Also reflect, each day, on one thing you look forward to about the new heavens and new earth.

Invite the group to check in next week about what they discovered.

FINISH WELL: Bring It Home

Knowing that God came to a broken world, even took on our brokenness, how do you and I practice growing in empathy for the brokenness in the world around yes?
It can be easy to get overwhelmed by how much brokenness there is. What is area, place, or person’s life that we can be a blessing to this week to help bring more of God’s love into the world around us?

WORDS OF WISDOM to Memorize
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:3-4, NLT)