The Fourth Wall - End of Week 1

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

OPENING QUESTION(S)
The focus of this sermon series is seeing beyond the world we see, to recognize there is always more going on than meets the eye.  There is a greater story.  What ways do you think we can help remember this larger story, the kingdom of God story, especially when our world is so divided and seems like it’s falling apart?

HEAD

1. Read Ephesians 1:17-18 and John 18:36 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading of the Word.
2. What do you think the kingdom of God is and how/where does it show up?
3. Read Romans 12:1-2 from the ESV and the Message Bible, and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come from the reading of the Word.
4. What do you think it means to be “transformed by the renewal of your mind”?  What does this look like?
5. Read Romans 7:24-25 and Philippians 4:8, sharing any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come from the reading of the Word.
6. Who can help us see beyond the reality in front of us to the bigger story and how can we live a life that reminds us of this other reality on a regular basis?
7. In Philippians 4:8, to “fix your thoughts” means to turn them from one thing and place them somewhere else.  Without intentionality, where do our thoughts rest on a regular basis?  How do we “fix” them elsewhere?

HEART

1. If we are to live here on earth as citizens of the kingdom of heaven, how do we daily remind ourselves of this other reality when our world and it’s culture and pace slams up against us with continuous force?
2. As citizens of this other kingdom, knowing that God is sovereign, how should we approach the coming elections, the ongoing wars, the hurricanes and devastations?  How do we help others through these times?

HANDS
This week, prayer for God to open your eyes to see from a kingdom of God perspective.  To love those you disagree with.  To seek to be a blessing, a light in the darkness, a city on a hill.  When the world fights, argues, and runs in fear, our call is citizens of the kingdom is to live like Jesus, and lovewell.  Let’s be intentional about how we do that always, but especially this next week.

WORDS TO REMEMBER
“Then he told John’s disciples, ‘Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.’ And he added, ‘God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.’”
Luke 7: 22-23, NLT