Coastal Community groups are a great way to connect with God and other people. It’s an opportunity to come together after hearing Sunday’s sermon, and process together what we’ve learned. We seek to connect God’s truth we hear on Sundays with the real questions and struggles of our lives during the rest of the week. Community groups create room for open discussion and redemptive, exchange prayers.
A typical gathering includes sharing dinner together, where we check in with one another. From there, we delve into a discussion about the previous Sunday’s sermon, which follows this basic format:
INTRO
Invite everyone to introduce themselves and then read the Bible verses.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What part of the message and Scripture is most encouraging, and which part is most challenging?
2. What do you think God is saying about Himself through this message and Scripture passage, and/or what do you think He’s saying about you?
GOSPEL EXCHANGE PRAYER (REDEMPTIVE PRAYERS)
Jesus asks us to give Him our burdens (Matthew 11:28-29), whatever they may be (a lie we have believed about God or ourselves, our hurt or negative emotions, or even our concerns for loved ones), so He can carry them for us, giving us His peace (His completeness) in exchange.
What do you choose to exchange with Jesus today?
What is the burden? “Lord Jesus, I give you my…”
What’s His gift? “Lord Jesus, I receive your…”
ACTION STEP
Take a moment and prayerfully ask God to reveal one step of obedience you can take this week, based on what you’ve discovered today, and one person with whom you can share what you’re learning. (If you don’t receive clear direction in this prayer time, that could mean God is inviting you to keep praying about these things this week until He brings clarity.)
We offer an open coastal community group every Tuesday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the church offices aka Lowell Center (Blue house across the street from the sanctuary) - 1825 Farroll Road, Grover Beach, CA, 93433.
This group is open to EVERYONE, and as it grows, we will create new groups with their own leaders.