Connect

What do you miss most about life before the Coronavirus?

What has been one of the hardest challenges for you/your family while trying to adjust to this new normal? How has it been harder to follow Jesus during this unique season? Share honestly with the group.

Engage

Scotty asked the question, “How do we continue to grow spiritually in this new normal?” And one of the ways he shared was through the act of confession.

Read James 5:16
What has this new normal brought up in you that you simply need to confess to the group or to a trusted friend?

Read Acts 1:6-11
Why didn’t Jesus answer the disciples question? Why is it so hard to live in the unknown? What did Jesus promise to gift/empower them with but also, call them to?

In your own words, what does “be my witnesses” (vs. 8) mean to you? Scotty defines it this way, “To be a witness of Jesus just means to share what you’ve seen Jesus do in your life. This doesn’t require any level of status or education or wealth. It’s simply telling the story of what Jesus has done.” Northshore, we can do this!

Read Acts 4:13
Peter and John were simply ordinary men who were bold in their faith because they knew that they were greatly empowered by an extraordinary God! And this amazing truth still applies to us today! How does being with Jesus/knowing Jesus change us? And how should that naturally impact the world around us?

Read Acts 8:4
How can we continue to practically share the Good News of Jesus while scattered?
How can we continue to “be together” in Spirit and heart while we are physically being apart? Share some ideas with each other and then talk about some creative ways to pursue them.

Challenge

Scotty ended his message with a challenge for all of us: To take a 2-3 minute video of yourself, to tell what God has done in your life/how Jesus has changed your life, and then share it publicly. Are you willing to do this?

And finally, individually commit to reaching out to someone in your life group and/or a trusted friend this week to vulnerably share how you’re really doing and what you’re grieving right now as well as to confess sin to one another and pray with each other. And then continue to reach out to that friend and check in with each other in the days ahead. We are in this together!

Pray

Lord Jesus, be with us in this new normal.
Comfort our grieving hearts and give hope to the hopeless.
Be our peace in this pandemic and help us to keep our eyes on You each new day. Empower us by your Spirit and make us bolder than ever.
Though, we are scattered, may we still stand strong and together in our love for You and for those You came to die for.
May you use every hardship in our lives for Your glory, for our good, and to bring healing to the souls of many.
Help us to believe that you never waste anything and that You work in ways we never could have dreamed of, even in the darkest of circumstances.
May You grow Your Church more than ever and may many come to know and experience that You can change anything, for anyone - Starting with us.
We love you, Jesus, and it’s in your Name we pray.
Amen.