WEEKLY HOME GROUP GUIDE

Belong
Welcome Though Luke 12:40 seems to be the key verse in this weeks parable: "You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him, the key verse to the key verse may be Luke 12:34: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Tonight we will talk about how the position of our heart affects the activity of our life. Opening Prayer Pray that as a group you would be more aware of Gods presence and your own responses to His calling.

April 29-May 5, 2012

Become
Family Time Consider how cluttered our lives often can seem. Do you keep a detailed calendar on your fridge, or on your smart-phone? Take a look at all of your weekly investments. You may choose a family in your group and make a list of the various components that make up their life. Some general categories may be: work, school, sports, home group, neighborhood activities, hobby, family, friendships, hobby #2, etc. Doesnt it sometimes seem difficult to keep it all together? With your current schedule, do you have time for new things? Are you able to respond to others needs? To Gods calling? Can you even hear His voice? Kids Time **Read this story (based on Luke 12:35-40) to younger kids in your group. If you have older kids, you may assign them to read the story! Jesus told his friends that it was almost time for the BIG PARTY! His friends were excited! They needed to get ready for the party! They would put up the lights, set out the food, decorate the houseand be ready for Jesus to come! Jesus was excited! The big party was finally going to happen. He was going to come back to be with all of His friendsall of those that He loved so much! Jesus was excited! He was on His way to be with His friends. His friends would all be waitingready for the party! It was finally time! Everyone would be happy. There would be laughing and singing, singing and laughing. And everyone would be hugging and praising Jesus. Jesus got to the house and knocked on the door, but no one answered. He rang the doorbell, but no one said, Hello, come in! Something must be wrong Jesus thought. He looked in the window. It was very dark. There were no lights. There was no food. There were no decorations. He looked inside, and then He saw His friends. His friends were all sleeping. They werent ready for the party at all. What did you learn? Jesus wanted His friends to be ready when He came for the partybut they werent ready, they were sleeping. Jesus wants us to be ready when He comes back for us too. Jesus said to be ready, we only have to love God and love others and get excited! Lets pray that we would do those things so we can be ready for when Jesus comes for us.

Adult Time Check out this story: On February 9, 2001, the U.S.S. Greenville submarine surfaced underneath the Japanese fishing boat Ehime Maru, killing nine persons. How could this happen. The Greenville had a marvelously trained crew, the envy of the fleet. One contributing factor: the presence of 16 civilians in the control room made communications less open, less easy. Officers were in a hurry to complete a maneuver and impress the guests, and the fire-control technician didn't communicate his concern with the position of a nearby ship. They were preoccupied with the visitors. They were in a hurry. They weren't fully alert. And the result was tragic. What destroys readiness? This weeks parable is found in Luke 12:35-40. (HG leader: make sure you can share the parable from memory or else, you may read it as a group) What does readiness for Jesus return consist of? What is this alertness? This awakeness? What destroys spiritual readiness? (sin, lack of prayer, what we really believe, etc). Let's get personal. What helps YOU keep YOUR spiritual edge. What kinds of things cause you to lose your spiritual alertness. Don't speak hypothetically, but personally. Prayer Time Amongst all of our prayer requests, lets pray foremost that we would know God more, and through all of the activities of our lives, wed make Him known to others!

Pantego Bible Church

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