Written in Heaven

Soul Cravings
Awakening

***Before you begin! Reaffirm the ‘Vegas’ rule with your group – what happens in small groups stays in small groups. This is very important to talk about every week. Encourage everyone that the environment is safe, and that there is no judgment.

***The reason we do small groups is to ‘belong and become’ – Have a safe group of friends to belong to and become more like Jesus every day. This is the vision of small groups – remind your group of this each week.

1. To transform means, “to change from one form to another.” When you think of transformation, what comes to mind? In what ways do people transform? In what ways have you transformed as a person across your life?

2. Read Ephesians 2:1. This passage talks about being ‘dead in your transgressions and sins.’ What does it look like to be dead in sin? Can anyone share a time when you or someone close to you was dead in their sin? What did it take in that situation for that person to recognize that they were indeed dead?

3. Read Romans 7:18-19. Paul captures the classic battle between Spirit and flesh here. Can any of us relate to this passage? What are some of the things that trip up our Christian walk that we know we shouldn’t do, but we somehow do them? 1 Cor. 10:13 says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” What hope do we have then in these struggling situations?

4. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that ‘if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come.’ Does anyone remember when you had this awakening moment with God? Would you be willing to share that story? Do any of us feel like we’re not quite there yet, but would like to be? Could we pray for you as a group?

As always, end the group with general sharing of prayer requests and prayer. Some groups have found it effective to pray for each request as it’s given, rather than creating the list of requests. Use your discretion as a leader.