This resource will prepare you to lead your group through our church-wide Devoted series. Each week you'll establishing a core practice to carry into the life of your growth group moving forward.
Devoted is a four-week growth group and sermon series built around Acts 2:42-47, the church at its most devoted to God and to one another.
Each week focuses on one of four "devotions" from Acts 2:42-47, preaches it from an anchor text, then lands the application on group life.
The Devoted Series Growth Group Leader Guide includes the following:
Devoted: Where passion and discipline meet.
Every week asks the same two questions of a different devotion.
| Wk | Devotion | Application | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scripture | Devoted to scripture reading in your group | Practice the HEAR method in anticipation of a reading plan. |
| 2 | Prayer | Devoted to prayer in your group | Define your group's plan for praying together. |
| 3 | Meeting Needs | Devoted to meeting needs in your group | Practice sharing needs and meeting needs as a group. |
| 4 | Replicating | Devoted to replicating your group | Set the growth expectations for your group. |
Anchor text: Acts 17
The picture of devotion to scripture among the Bereans.
Application: To be a part of a group devoted to scripture.
To be a group devoted to scripture.
Every believer needs to be regularly fed through devotion to God's word. Groups should cultivate a passion for God's word and shared practices for engaging with it as God's voice in their life.
Teach the HEAR method. Walk your group through it live this week (Highlight, Explain, Apply, & Respond to a short passage together) so it's a skill you've practiced together and everyone can do it on their own.
Scripture can feel confusing, irrelevant, too academic, or just boring to people who haven't found their footing in it yet. Encourage the practice of daily reading to hear from the Lord.
Don't let scripture reading become a box to check. Press for evidence of faith and obedience and not simply knowledge.
“Always ask what does this teach us about who God is!”
Paola Rivas
“Scripture is the Holy Spirit's favorite tool. He promises to use it to guide every part of our life.”
Tyler Woerner
A growth group guide for developing devotion to scripture.
Anchor text: Acts 12
The picture of devotion to prayer in the church gathered at Mary's house, praying for Peter while he's in prison, still praying when he shows up at the door.
Application: Be devoted to prayer in your group.
To be a group devoted to prayer with and for each other.
Prayer together is an essential group practice. Prayer in scripture is never prescribed as performative or as a tag to a Christian gathering. Lead your group in cultivating a devotion to prayer through practice together.
Define your group's prayer plan. Decide together, as a group, how you will pray between meetings and how you'll pray when you're together (a rotation, a shared list, a set time in the meeting). Leave with an actual plan in place.
Be clear on the following:
Praying out loud in a group can feel intimidating. A lot of people were never actually taught how to pray and some have only seen prayer at church on a stage and may have assume it's something performative. Jesus warned us about turning prayer into a religious show.
Be mindful of the following:
Prepare to grow your group's devotion to prayer beyond only taking requests. Think through different scriptures or categories of prayer (praise, requests, lament, etc...) and how you can include your group's participation.
“Have someone in your group write down the group's requests!”
Jodi Guillory
“Keep a journal so you can look back at how God answers prayers and fulfills His promises.”
Randy Young
A growth group guide for developing devotion to prayer together.
Anchor text: Acts 6
The picture of devotion to meeting needs in the church appoints the seven, so the daily distribution to widows is handled and no one is overlooked.
Application: Be devoted to meeting needs in your group.
A group that meets each other's needs.
God meets needs. He gave us a garden to meet every need and sense the fall has designed His church to be a body who meets one another's needs. Lead your group to embrace the call scripture gives us to meet each other's needs emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
Commit to sharing needs and organizing meeting them. To practice this, have each member name one real need out loud, and have the group name at least one way to meet it.
People may feel they don't have real needs worth naming, that admitting need is shameful, or don't want the group knowing their business. On the flip side, others may be stuck with the same need each week and feel shame or despair.
Help your group with the following points…
1) There are different types of needs.
Review these with your group so they know and understand the scope of the needs to share. Of course this list isn't exhaustive, but it should help to provide examples.
Note: Rarely are our needs isolated to a specific category. Difficult physical needs will create emotional and spiritual needs and vice versa.
2) There are different ways to meet needs.
a) Prayer is foundational and should always be practiced.
b) Outside of prayer, consider your Time, Talents, and Treasures. These are three categories God blesses you to bless others.
Time. This may be your presence for emotional support or time providing more specific help.
Talents. This is a broader category that includes your network, and your abilities.
Treasure. This includes your material possessions and your money.
While this was a core practice for the early church it's a foreign practice for most of us. The commitment is developed in moving into the practice, and out of the theoretical.
“I love knowing peoples favorite things and knowing when to surprise them with something special”
Breanna Alexandrenko
A growth group guide for developing devotion to meeting needs.
Anchor text: Acts 13:1-3
The picture of devotion to replicating in the church at Antioch, fasting and praying, setting apart Barnabas and Saul and sending them out.
Application: Be devoted to growing your group.
A group that is open to others.
Jesus calls us to join Him in growing the kingdom of God through the practice of discipleship. Growth through replication and inviting others to your group creates discipleship opportunities for others.
Set growth expectations. As a group, name a realistic timeline and a first candidate (a person or a pair) to send out or train toward leading a future group. This isn't asking the group to replicate this week, but it's not leaving it vague.
Be clear on the following:
Some will hear "replicate" and think they're being asked to leave friends behind. Some will bristle at anything that sounds like numbers-driven, mega-church growth. Others may fear forming new relationships, while others may not understand why anyone else struggles.
At this stage it's likely your group is just starting to bond. Don't over burden them with details of how to replicate at the expense of growing your bond as a group. Stating it as an expectation early is enough.
“Be intentional about inviting others to be discipled. People need to know they belong before they believe.”
Cole Lusby
A growth group guide for developing devotion to meeting needs.
Inviting you to listen to Jesus' call and answer with your life.
