Discussion Guide
Happy New Year, and welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a great start to the new year. As we start the beginning of 2025, it's a perfect time to reflect, refresh, restart and move forward with fresh purpose and energy. This weekend we explored what God might be calling us to pursue in the year ahead - as a church community and as individuals.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. Do you set New Year’s resolutions, words for the year, or better habits each year? Share one that you completed and one that you struggled with in the past.
2. Read Acts 2:37-38. What happened to the heart of the people who heard this news about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection? Do you still allow the awe of God and His presence to cut you to the heart and move you to action?
Notes: After seeing what the Holy Spirit was doing, and Peter explaining the good news about Jesus, the crowd was cut to the heart. They wanted to know what they were to do. They were in awe of the message of God and who He was.
3. Read Psalm 27:4. David expresses a singular desire to seek God. What distractions in your life compete with your focus on God? How can this scripture inspire your prayers and priorities in the coming week and new year?
Notes: Many of us have become complacent in our relationship with God. We have stopped being in awe of our creator, His works and mighty deeds. Might we humbly ask God to help us be in awe of Him and desire Him more.
4. Read John 14:25-26,15:4. Discuss how you see the trinity in John 14. How can you apply this verse and abide in the Holy Spirit practically in your daily life?
Notes: The Holy Spirit can be complex and hard to understand, but here is what we need to understand: The Holy Spirit is the part of God that comes to live with us. God’s very presence with us here on earth. Along the way we can become self-reliant on our own wisdom and that is just that, human wisdom. We must remember without the Spirit’s help we cannot have a good marriage, do ministry, raise children or even handle daily life.
5. Read Psalm 139:23-24. What did David ask of God? Are you willing to ask God the same questions and listen for God’s response?
Notes: David was willing to ask God to search his heart, test him and lead him on the right path. To follow God and His ways we must get rid of our past, our way of living, repent, turn from our old ways and follow God. Jesus wants to heal our physical needs but much more our spiritual needs and close the gap between us and the Father.
Action Step: As we begin 2025, let's follow king David's example from Psalm 139:23-24. Invite God to search your heart and thoughts, revealing any areas that need change. Allow Him to guide you toward full surrender, so you can wholeheartedly follow Christ in every aspect of your life this year.