Be Careful What You Copy
Pastor Steven Furtick
Conversation Starters
What’s something you copied as a kid? (e.g., a style to be cool, an athlete you looked up to, an older sibling, etc.)
Elevation Nights is coming up this fall. Pastor Steven said to get there if you’re within 500 miles of one of the cities! Besides Elevation Worship, which music group would you drive 500 miles to see?
This weekend, many of our campuses celebrated faith decisions through Raised to Life baptisms. Share your baptism story with the group!
Review
Ask eGroup members to share their favorite points from the sermon, what spoke to them, a phrase or moment from the sermon they related to the most, or questions they have. If members have a hard time recalling the sermon, talk through your notes and share your favorite points.
Make It Personal
What’s the best habit you ever copied? Where’d you get it from?
Read Hebrews 8:3-7. Moses was warned to make the tabernacle according to the pattern he was shown instead of according to what was around him. What’s something in your life you copied because of what was around you? When did you realize you had copied it?
Which of Pastor Steven’s four points challenged you the most? (See the bolded sentences below.) Now read Romans 12:2. As you talk about the point(s), also discuss how you can put this verse into practice.
Be careful what you copy from culture. It might keep you from discovering the kingdom within you. How do you see culture being copied around you? What “cultures” are you part of? (e.g., job culture, family culture, national culture, etc.) (What are some ways you’re copying them? How does copying culture keep us from discovering the kingdom?)
Be careful what you copy from other people. You might not see the full picture. How have you been copying aspects of someone’s life? What areas might have a cost you’re unaware of? (What might they be cropping out that you don’t see?)
Be careful what you copy from before. God is trying to bring you into something better. What are you called to be or do? Identify some of the things you think or do that are from “before” and they no longer fit this calling. (Is your approach a copy of an old pattern or something you’ve seen others do? How might God be giving you permission to do it different?)
Be careful what you copy in your heart. It will set the direction for your life. What are some things you meditate on? (What things do you think about often — what’s been said about you, thoughts about your future, your past, where you feel like you’re winning or losing, etc.) How do you need to copy the things God says about you and not the condemnation others put on you? (What good things are you hearing that you need to stop canceling?)
Act On It
This week, “copy that.” Identify a passage in the Bible that will help you copy the right thing, and copy it down a few times somewhere you’ll see it. Here are some examples:
If you’re married (or in a committed relationship), consider having a “Marriage Meeting.” Ask yourselves these questions: What are we building? What are we copying that’s good, bad, or no longer fits this season? What’s something we need to do different?
Prayer Requests And Prayer
Ask eGroup members to share any prayer requests they have. Record any notes or prayer requests to pray for members during the weekFather, thank You for giving us the perfect blueprint to copy when You sent us Jesus. Show us where we’ve been copying things that are leading us to experience lives that are less than what You want for us. Give us wisdom to copy the right things. In Jesus’ name, amen.