PRE-MEETING PREPARATION

• Make sure you have access to the weekly video and can play that for the group.
• Review the weekly Big Idea for your reference. This is intended to give you context for the week. You can choose whether or not to read this in the group as a summary/refresher after watching the video.
• Read through the Group and Individual Practices ahead of time.

BIG IDEA: Community requires unity and diversity.

• We need each other's differences.
• A community without diversity is like a diet with only one food group; it cannot stay healthy and growing.
• In a conflicted world, being united in our diversity is one of our greatest witnesses.

Connection Time - 20 Minutes

Sermon Review - 20 Minutes
(Guides are updated weekly on the Community webpage.)

Group Application - 40 Minutes
Group practice - do this together in Group‍

• WATCH the overview video together, then engage in discussion.‍
• REVIEW the video and Discussion Highlights for this week.
• ASK: Discuss how you have both struggled with and benefitted from the various ways people can be different from you. Consider demographics, personalities, spiritual gifts, and any other differences that have been important to you.
• READ Ephesians 4:11-16 out loud together.
• ASK: Who do you know that has modeled unity, hospitality, and peacemaking well? How did they show honor and value to different kinds of people?
• DISCUSS what your group might be interested in doing to have fun together in next week's meeting.
• REVIEW the memory verse and other resources for the month.

Individual practice - to do on your own throughout the week

Connect with someone you don’t normally connect with, and spend most of your time asking questions about their life, experience, and perspective, spending most of your time listening. This could be morning coffee, lunch, having them over to your home, or even a simple phone call.

Pray - 10 Minutes

PRE-MEETING PREPARATION

• Make sure you have access to the weekly video and can play that for the group.
• Review the weekly Big Idea for your reference. This is intended to give you context for the week. You can choose whether or not to read this in the group as a summary/refresher after watching the video.
• Read through the Group and Individual Practices ahead of time.

BIG IDEA: Community develops joy and gratitude.

• When we are connected to others, we become aware of the bigger work that God is doing through all of us.
• Walking with each other through the ups and downs of life actually cultivates contentment in our hearts.
• Our lives and relationships become more full and satisfying as our attitudes become more thankful.

Connection Time - 15 Minutes

Sermon Review - 15 Minutes
(Guides are updated weekly on the Community webpage.)

Group Application - 50 Minutes
Group practice - do this together in Group‍

• DISCUSS last week’s individual practice. Who did you connect with, and what did you learn?
• WATCH the overview video together.‍
• REVIEW the video and Discussion Highlights for this week.
• Do something fun together! You could do a game night, a cookout, or whatever your group decides.‍
• ASK: What are some ways you foster thankfulness and contentment?
• REVIEW the memory verse and other resources for the month.

Individual practice - to do on your own throughout the week

Start each day this week by writing down a few things that you are thankful for. Try to avoid repeating any throughout the week.

Pray - 10 Minutes

PRE-MEETING PREPARATION

• Make sure you have access to the weekly video and can play that for the group.
• Review the weekly Big Idea for your reference. This is intended to give you context for the week. You can choose whether or not to read this in the group as a summary/refresher after watching the video.
• Read through the Group and Individual Practices ahead of time.
• ‍This week, you'll take communion together—make sure you are prepared beforehand. If you need guidance on how to do this, please refer to the "Leading Communion" video in the Additional Content section below.

BIG IDEA: Community depends on love and vulnerability.

• You cannot be truly loved if you are not truly known.
• When we love one another, we actually find strength and confidence and can experience real change.
• We need to stay in community to fully experience the blessing that God intends to give us.

Connection Time - 20 Minutes

Sermon Review - 20 Minutes
(Guides are updated weekly on the Community webpage.)

Group Application - 40 Minutes
Group practice - do this together in Group‍

• DISCUSS the previous week's individual practice. How did beginning your day with gratitude affect your week, if at all?
• WATCH the overview video together.‍
• REVIEW the video and Discussion Highlights for this week.
• Do something fun together! You could do a game night, a cookout, or whatever your group decides.‍
• ASK: Who are the people in your life that you are able to be completely honest with?
• ASK: What life experiences or personal struggles have made vulnerability challenging for you? 
• Take communion together.
• REVIEW the memory verse and other resources for the month.

Individual practice - to do on your own throughout the week

Read through 1 Corinthians 13. Take note of the aspects of love that are the least natural, or most difficult, for you to exhibit, and pray for God to develop that more deeply in you each day this week.

Pray - 10 Minutes

PRE-MEETING PREPARATION

• Decide in advance what you will do this week for the Group Practice. This can be anything that builds community and relationships. If your group missed a week, you can also use this week to make up for previous content.

Connection Time - 20 Minutes

Sermon Review - 20 Minutes
(Guides are updated weekly on the Community webpage.)

Group Time - 40 Minutes

• REVIEW the previous week’s individual practice. Try to share your memorized verse with the group!
• In addition to the usual connection time and sermon review, use this week’s meeting to foster community and deepen relationships.
• REVIEW the memory verse and other resources for the month.

Pray - 10 Minutes