Theme:
Sanctification
Title:
How do you please God?
Desired Outcomes:
The aim of this uGroup is to help members to understand that God called us to be holy. To walk in holiness and to abstain from sexual immorality, to turn away from our sins.
Core Scriptures:
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
- 1 Peter 1:16
Welcome:
Any fun and welcoming Icebreaker that gets the members moving, on their feet, where all the members can participate in. If there are new members be careful not to create a space where they feel exposed or uncomfortable.
Word:
Introduce the message by asking the following question:
- Do you wonder if you are living according to God’s will?
- How do you think we should live that is pleasing to God?
- How can we implement the way Jesus walked on the earth in our own lives?
Talk about it in the uGroup.
- The following argument can be used to explain the seriousness of abstaining from sin, especially sexual immorality.
- However, be very careful in its application, it’s not meant to harm members. Do not point out members to testify. When your uGroup is very open, if they want to share, they can.
- The point of this is to let members see that sexual immorality is a sin and need to be abstained from and that the will of God is that you will be sanctified (sanctification is to be set apart for a specific purpose example: a pen is made to write if the pen is thrown around it is not fulfilling its core function).
- To sanctify means to make holy. God called us to be holy and if you reject it you reject God. God also tells us that we must be holy because He is Holy - 1 Peter 1:16
- Read Ephesians 5:18
Explain that we need the Holy Spirit and what it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit
Take some time to find scriptures that explain what is it to be filled with the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and holiness. It is important to take this back to the topic. Make sure the members understand that God has grace on them.
You might consider some of the following verses:
- Isaiah 6:3 (In a sense only God is Holy)
- Leviticus 10:10 (distinguishing between holy and unholy)
- 1 peter 3:15 (in your heart)
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 (God sanctifies)
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Other Pointer Ideas:
It is important to explain the difference between Mercy (you deserve punishment but you do not get it) “compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.” and Grace (for free) “Grace, God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. (1Corinthians 15:10) (Hebrews 4:16)