How to use this guide

This guide is designed to take you deeper into the points of the Sunday morning message and the passage we’re studying each week. The guide is divided into two parts.

Read, Reflect, and Respond guides you through your own personal study of the message text, preferably before you arrive for the service on Sunday morning. This section uses the HEAR journaling method, which is an acronym for highlight, explain, apply, and respond.

Discuss With Others is designed to help you take the things you’ve learned in your personal study and the message and discuss them within the context of your small group.

READ, Reflect, AND Respond

Highlight: Begin your Bible reading time with prayer then highlight verses that stand out to you as you read the passage. Note any words or ideas you want to dive deeper into and pay attention to repeated or emphasized words and phrases. This is the “observation” process – looking at the who, what, when, where of the passage.

Explain: What is the context of the passage and the author’s intended meaning within that context? This is where you can consult a study Bible or commentary. What did the passage mean to the original listeners? Was there something in their context that was being addressed? This step is to understand what the meaning of the passage was then before you seek to understand what the applied principle is today.

Apply: What is the principle to live by today? This is when you turn the focus to your own life, setting, and culture. What is the principle that applies to your own context?

Respond: How will you respond to the application in your relationships and/or situations this week? This recognizes that the Bible is not just a set of truths to know, but is actually a guide to live by.

Spiritual Health Snapshot

If you haven’t already, pick up a copy of the Spiritual Health Snapshot or take it online at providencefrisco.com/snapshot. Come prepared to discuss the snapshot with your group. 

Discuss with Others

Use your community group time to have some conversation around the message. Start your discussion by inviting someone to read the passage aloud in its entirety.

As a group, watch the short Focused on Eternity video from Afshin found at providencefrisco.com/maturity.

Look over your completed Spiritual Health Snapshot, focusing on the gray Focused on Eternity questions. Where are you growing in this area? Where can you celebrate God’s work?

How have you seen examples of being focused on eternity played out in the lives of others? If you’ve seen this in people within your community group, take a moment within your group to encourage them with that example.

What biblical examples of being focused on eternity come to mind? 

How do you want to intentionally mature in this area? How can your community group encourage you and hold you accountable? If you’re having trouble thinking through next steps, check out providencefrisco.com/maturity for some practical examples.

Is there one next step that you can take together as a group?