HOST GUIDE

WEEK ONE— I SHALL NOT WANT.

Welcome to week One of MAKE ROOM FOR GOD. We are praying with you as you host your MAKE ROOM FOR GOD group.
You will do a marvelous job welcoming your group members.

Week One’s content starts with the second part of verse 1 of Psalm 23, which says, “I Shall Not Want.” The whole verse says,
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” How are those two clauses related? What does God have for us in verse 1? Great questions! We can’t wait to receive all that God has for us in these rich verses.

To review, here is our general plan for our MAKE ROOM FOR GOD group:

GENERAL PLAN:

Meet, Greet & Mingle (10 minutes)

Ice-breaker (5 minutes)

Play Video (15 minutes)

Group Discussion (20-30 minutes)

    —Every discussion can finish with the question, “How do we apply this to our daily lives?”

Pray (5 minutes)

Wrap it up/Hang out

Feel free to adjust the timetable as needed.

Here’s the specific content for Week 1:

ICE BREAKER—this is a warm up question so your group can better get to know each other. Feel free to use one or two of the ice breakers below or create your own. Since this is the first meeting, we strongly recommend that everyone introduces themself and share a little bit about themselves.

  1. When you were a kid, what was the thing you wanted most?

  2. What is on your bucket list?

  3. Introduce yourself and say one thing that is new about your life in the past year.

  4. How long have you been attending Grace Church? What brought you to Grace Church?

VIDEO—each week we will have a video by Pastor Kendrick on Psalm 23. These videos will be different from the messages on Sunday. These videos will be embedded on the webpage at www.gracelife.com/makeroomhost. If you have questions regarding the videos, please let me know (adam@gracelife.com).

VIDEO LINK: https://vimeo.com/790878443/aa2c2a84bc

DOWNLOAD: You can download the video by going to this link and scrolling down until you see the download button. Click the download button!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS—we will have 3-5 discussion questions each week based on the video. The purpose of these questions is to get your group discussing the content on Psalm 23 that Pastor Kendrick & Nana presented, then apply God’s word to our lives. Use the questions to best facilitate a productive and meaningful discussion. When we apply God’s word to our lives, we are transformed! Here are this week’s questions:

  1. What area of your life is it hardest to be content right now?

  2. Can you identify something in your life that you wanted but, when you got it, you realized it didn’t satisfy as much as you expected?

  3. How has God surprised you with something you didn’t know you wanted or needed?

  4. What is an action step that you could take to cultivate contentment and satisfaction in God?

PRAYER—allow some time at the end for prayer. It’s always good, if time allows, to ask for prayer requests and to have the members pray for each other. We will have many different faith levels and spiritual backgrounds represented by the people in our groups so make prayer time gracious and pressure-free as possible. In other words, don’t make people pray, but feel free to open prayer time up for others to pray.

  1. Pray for True Contentment in our lives.

ANNOUNCEMENTS—As you dismiss, welcome everyone back for next week’s small group. Also let your group know that you will be encouraging them to memorize all 6 verses of Psalm 23. This week’s verse is hard not to memorize, but we will be adding all of the subsequent verses as the weeks go on.

HOSTS, YOU DID IT! Great job! If you need anything, let me know, adam@gracelife.com, or text 919-264-1539.

WEEK TWO— He leads me beside still waters.

Welcome to Week TWO! This week’s focus is on verse Psalm 23:2b, “He leads me beside still waters.” Our BIG IDEA this week is: God will refresh and replenish me when I am drained. We will explore Psalm 63:1-8 as we seek to understand how God refreshes and replenishes us when we are drained.

Here’s the content for Week TWO:

ICE BREAKER—ask one or two of these to get discussion going in your group…You can also ask one of these questions after prayer at the end.

  1. What is the best body of water that you’ve ever experience, e.g. Jordan Lake, Carolina Beach, or Eno River? Why?

  2. What’s better: ponds, rivers, lakes, oceans, waterfalls, or creeks?

  3. What is the longest that you’ve ever gone without water? Why?

  4. What’s the most refreshing activity, e.g. swimming after a hot summer day, a cold soda after yard work, etc.?

VIDEO

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Length: 18 minutes

ALL CONTENT: www.gracelife.com/makeroomhost

VIDEO LINK WEEK TWO:     https://vimeo.com/792300427/08d0e1c83e

DOWNLOAD: You can download the video by going to the link and clicking the download button (it’s the underlined, downward pointing arrow).

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/FzMiWF7-f_Q

BIG IDEA: God will refresh and replenish me when I am drained.

BIBLE VERSES FROM THE VIDEO:

Psalm 23 ESV

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

John 7:37-38 ESV

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Jeremiah 2:13 NLT

“For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!”

Psalm 42:1 ESV

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.”

Psalm 63 ESV

1. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

    my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you,

    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

2   So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

    beholding your power and glory.

3   Because your steadfast love is better than life,

    my lips will praise you.

4   So I will bless you as long as I live;

    in your name I will lift up my hands.

5   My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

    and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

6  when I remember you upon my bed,

    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

7  for you have been my help,

    and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

8  My soul clings to you;

    your right hand upholds me.

God will refresh and replenish me when I am drained.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. What are some broken cisterns that we have dug for ourselves?  What watering hole do you go to by default?

  2. What does it look like in your life when you thirst for God? How do you drink from God’s presence?

  3. What are some areas that God has refreshed and replenished in your life?

  4. What areas do you want God to refresh and replenish in your life?

PRAYER

  1. Take prayer requests.

  2. Pray Psalm 63 over our lives.

WEEK THREE—God restores our soul.

This week’s focus is on verse Psalm 23:3a, “God restores our soul.” Our BIG IDEA this week is: God restores our soul. That’s right! The verse and the big idea are the same. Here’s the content for Week THREE:

ICE BREAKER—ask one of these to get discussion going in your group or make up one of your own.

  1. Show and tell. Let the group members know ahead of time to bring one item that’s important to them and they will describe what it is and why it’s important to them at the beginning of the group. It can be a picture, a family heirloom, an award, a ticket stub, etc.

  2. Who was your childhood best friend? What made them special? Where are they now?

  3. Describe your favorite pet.

VIDEO

Length: 18 minutes

ALL CONTENT: www.gracelife.com/makeroomhost

VIDEO LINK WEEK THREE:     https://vimeo.com/792652503

DOWNLOAD: You can download the video by going to the link and clicking the download button (it’s the underlined, downward pointing arrow).

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jwaxQntN8I&ab_channel=GraceChurchofChapelHill

BIG IDEA: God restores our soul.

BIBLE VERSES FROM THE VIDEO:

Psalm 23:3

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 13

1 How long, O LORD?

Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle in my soul,

with sorrow in my heart each day?

How long will my enemy dominate me?

3 Consider me and respond, O LORD my God.

Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,

4 lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,”

and my foes rejoice when I fall.

5 But I have trusted in Your loving devotion;

my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD,

for He has been good to me.

How are we going to cooperate with God so that He can restore our souls?

1. Vent. We vent to God. Be open, honest, and real with God.

2. Search me. Search my heart. Help me understand what is really going on here.

3. Change me. Give me Your perspective. Your promises. Your Word. Your truth.

4. Worship. I will trust you. I will worship you.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. How are you making room for God in a new way in your life?

  2. Being aware of what is going on in our souls is an important skill. It’s important to be able to identify those emotions and put a biblical word or biblical concept to it. How would you describe your ability to know the state of your soul?

  3. When it comes to the 4 steps of cooperating with God to restore our souls (vent, search me, change me, and then trust and worship), is there a recent experience in your life where doing this would be helpful?

  4. How are you going to cooperate with God so that He can restore your soul this week?

PRAYER

  1. Restore our souls.

  2. Allow God to change us.

  3. Take Prayer Requests.

WEEK FOUR— Your Rod and Your Staff

This week’s focus is on verse Psalm 23:4b,  “your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Our BIG IDEA this week is: God defends us, searches us, rescues us, and guides us. Here’s the content for Week FOUR:

ICE BREAKER

  1. What is your favorite tool? Hammer? Paint brush? Lawn mower?

  2. Have you been baptized? Why or why not? Tell us about it.

  3. What’s your favorite non-Christmas/Easter/Thanksgiving holiday? Why? Valentine’s Day? MLK Day? Memorial Day? Flag day?

VIDEO

Length: 15 minutes

ALL CONTENT: www.gracelife.com/makeroomhost

VIDEO LINK WEEK FOUR: https://vimeo.com/797518461

DOWNLOAD: You can download the video by going to the link and clicking the download button (it’s the underlined, downward pointing arrow).

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/Q7LQJNxVFRU

NOTES FROM THE VIDEO:

BIG IDEA: God defends us, searches us, rescues us, and guides us.

Psalm 23:1-4

1 The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters.

3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of evil, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NIV

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

1 Peter 5:6-9 NIV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

James 1:5 NIV

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. What is an example in your life when God defended, searched, rescued or guided you by using His word?

  2. How have you grown in your ability to use the Word of God as a spiritual weapon?

  3. What are the spiritual enemies that try to bring you down? Unforgiveness?

  4. How can God’s Word be the Sword of the Spirit that is hurled at the lies?

  5. God’s Word is a light and a lamp. It shines into our hearts and reveals what is really going on inside. Let’s take 60 seconds to quietly listen. Lord, search me. Speak to me. Let your Word speak to me. [After the 60 seconds, ask your small group, “Would anyone like to share what He said?”]

  6. What areas of your life can we pray about this week for God to rescue you or guide you? Any ditches of confusion in your life that we can ask Him to pull us out of?

PRAYER

  1. Areas that we need guidance, rescuing or clarity.

  2. Take prayer requests.

WEEK FIVE— He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

This week’s focus is on verse Psalm 23:5a,  “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Our BIG IDEA this week is: God has spiritual food for us.. Here’s the content for Week FIVE:

ICE BREAKER—

  1. HIGH-LOW-BUFFALO! Each person shares three things: (1) one HIGH from the day, i.e. something positive that happened, (2) one LOW from the day, i.e., something negative that happened, and (3) one BUFFALO, i.e. anything that you want to share; BUFFALO is a wild card! This is a great conversation starter around the dinner table.

  2. What is your favorite piece of furniture? Why?

  3. Do you remember the first time that you took communion? Describe.

VIDEO

Length: 13 minutes

ALL CONTENT: www.gracelife.com/makeroomhost

VIDEO LINK WEEK FOUR: https://vimeo.com/799547934

DOWNLOAD: You can download the video by going to the link and clicking the download button (it’s the underlined, downward pointing arrow).

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/14SrrNS38-g

NOTES FROM THE VIDEO:

BIG IDEA:  God has spiritual food for us.

Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Isaiah 55:2 NIV

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

COMMUNION SCRIPT

There are many ways to serve communion. The important thing to remember is that this is a time of worship and celebration. It's a time of remembrance and reflection. Enjoy communion time! Below is a script that you can follow word-for word or use as a guide. You can do this!

{PASS OUT THE COMMUNION ELEMENTS AND THEN, PLEASE READ…}

We are entering into a time of Communion. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 says…

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

As we prepare to take communion in remembrance of Christ’s finished work on the cross, let’s examine ourselves, so that we will participate in communion in a manner worthy of the Lord. Let’s pray… {PRAY} Lord, am I feasting on something other than you? Is there sin that I need to confess? Has some good gift of Yours become an idol and displaced You in some way? Is there any unforgiveness in my heart? Do I need to forgive? Lord, search us and change us in these moments. [pause for a few moments. Maybe 30 seconds?]

Now, as we’ve allowed the Lord to search us, and we’ve confessed our sin to Him, and called on His name for salvation: Let’s take the bread. The bread represents the body of Jesus which was broken for you and me. Take the bread.” {Wait for the group to eat the bread.}

Now, take the cup. The cup represents the blood of Christ, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Take the cup.” {Wait for the group to drink the cup.}

Lord, thank you for your forgiveness in Christ. Thank you for being our spiritual food. You are our daily bread and sustain us through everything. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

{Host, great job! You rock!}

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Take Communion.

  2. God loves to prepare a table for us in the middle of our tough situation. What has that looked like in your life historically?

  3. Over the past 5 weeks, how have you feasted on God’s spiritual food? (Other ways to put it: How have you been listening to Him? Allowing God to comfort you? heal you? Strengthen you? Has God displaced any idols of your heart? Have you forgiven anyone? Removed anxiety even when the future is uncertain?

  4. Scripture promises us that there is a table for you each and every day. How are you currently learning to nourish your heart and feast upon the table that God sets before you?

PRAYER

  1. Spiritual Appetite increases for each person

  2. Take Prayer requests.

   WEEK SIX— Surely Goodness and Mercy Will

This week’s focus is on verse Psalm 23:6a,  “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Our BIG IDEA this week is: God’s goodness and mercy pursues us. Here’s the content for Week SIX:

ICE BREAKER—do one of these to get discussion going in your group or makeup one of your own.

  1. What’s a fond memory from the past 6 weeks?

  2. What’s your favorite verse from Psalm 23?

  3. Do you have an interesting story about something following you or you following someone?

VIDEO

Length: 14 minutes

ALL CONTENT: www.gracelife.com/makeroomhost

VIDEO LINK WEEK SIX: https://vimeo.com/801617806

DOWNLOAD: You can download the video by going to the link and clicking the download button (it’s the underlined, downward pointing arrow).

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/9V3sOlUjT1M

HANDOUT: http://gracelife.com/s/MRFG-Week-6-Participant-Notes-Page.pdf

NOTES FROM THE VIDEO:

BIG IDEA:  God’s goodness and mercy pursues us.

Psalm 23:6 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Psalm 83:15 “So pursue them with your tempest.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What is your next step?

      1. STEP THREE? Go to www. gracelife.com/connect to register. It is 6 weeks and it starts Monday, March 13, 6:30pm in Chapel Hill or Tuesday, March 14, 6:30pm in Mebane.

      2. Another small group? New small group sign ups start March 5.

      3. SERVE project? Go to www.gracelife.com/serve to check out available projects.

      4. Something else? Baptism?

  2. ACTIVITY: Take five minutes. Get out a pen and this week’s handout. {http://gracelife.com/s/MRFG-Week-6-Participant-Notes-Page.pdf}

    1. Close our eyes and think: The Lord is my ______. What are four ways that He relates to me? Write them on the handout.

    2. When finished, share with one another who God is to you. How is God working in your lives?

  3. What is one takeaway from Make Room for God?

  4. How can we continue to pray for each other?

PRAYER

Thank God for who He is!

  • We are currently working on producing Make Room for God guides. The guides will be available to you close to your small group’s first meeting. The guide will be web-based, but we will have physical copies beginning that week.

  • We encourage all members and attendees to open up their home, invite their friends, and seek God together.

  • 1. Open up your home

    2. Invite people to your group

    3. Press play for the 6 weeks of videos

    4. Ask 4 discussion questions that we will give you

    5. Put out some cookies

  • All groups must be registered by January 2nd at 9am. You can register your group here

  • All small groups will begin the week of January 22nd.