Then They Gathered
Conversation Starters
This message was preached at Elevation Leader; tell your group about the best leader you ever had. (e.g., a coach, a boss, a teacher, etc.)If you could gather any three celebrities together and just watch them talk, who would it be and why?What’s your favorite way to gather with people? (e.g., family cookout, movie night with friends, going to a sporting event, etc.)
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
Tell your group about a time when you had to gather something that was scattered. (e.g., packing peanuts, a big bag of Skittles, socks lost in the laundry, etc.)
Read Acts 1:4-14. Pastor Steven broke down the sermon title into separate words to challenge our perspectives.
THEN they gathered.
What did gathering look like for you during the past year? In what ways did you adapt or get creative?
This is then. How are you waiting for “then” before you take action in an area of your life? (e.g., the way things were, the way you want things to be, for a situation to resolve first, etc.) What would it look like for you to treat this (now) as “then”?
Then THEY gathered.
Who is your “they” in this season you can gather with? How has your “they” changed over the past year or two? (How does looking at this help you recognize the value of always having a “they”?)
They — the disciples — were God’s plan for building the Church. Do you view yourself as the “they”? What keeps you from seeing yourself as a committed (yet imperfect) follower of Christ?
Then they GATHERED.
What has the past year taught you about your relationship with control? (Have you learned where you have a need for control, or seen areas where you don’t have the control you thought you did?) What does it look like to gather in periods of uncertainty or waiting?
Go deeper. We have to release our plans before we can receive God’s. Read Matthew 16:21-23. Peter was bold enough to disagree with Jesus, and Jesus pointed out to him that he was focused on human concerns instead of God’s concerns. Identify some things that are human concerns. What plans do you have for yourself that fall under those concerns? Talk about practical steps we can take to release those things in order to receive God’s plans. (Share a situation from the past year where you released your plans.)
Talk about some things that can prevent us from having a “gathering” mindset. Where do you need to overcome those things and commit to gathering in this season?
Read Psalm 126. How have you “sowed anyway” this past year? Is there something you feel challenged to start sowing right now (and continue even when things seem hopeless)? (How has sowing anyway grown your faith?)
Act On It
We are they. We are the people this church is built on. Identify what our responsibilities are as they. Take a step this week to “gather” and put those responsibilities into action. (e.g., invite someone to church, text a friend and encourage them, attend church, volunteer, serve, show up to help a neighbor, etc.)
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 week. Father, thank You for the church You’ve built and how You’ve gathered us together. We’re believing for a restoration in the community of believers — scatter us where You need us so we can fulfill Your plan. In Jesus’ name, amen.