We all want to have great relationships in life, but where do we start?  Jesus suggests we start at the beginning with our relationship with God.  We all have some kind of relationship with God (or the idea of a higher power).  In the first week of our series, Relationship Goals, we’ll explore what it takes to have a flourishing relationship with our Creator by looking at one of Jesus famous parables – the Sower and the Soils. Whether you are new to faith, recovering from a challenging religious upbringing, or a deeply committed believer, we’ll discover the joy that comes from being open to God and seeing meaningful change in our lives. 

Groups Discussion Guide

To view a .docx version of this guide, click here.

Introduction 

As we begin this new series on Relationship Goals, take a few minutes at the beginning of your group to check in with one another. How was Easter? Spring Break? What can we celebrate together?

After your time of connecting, begin your meeting with prayer.

Key Verse for the Week  

*Read this verse, then encourage the practice of memorization through the week. 

Matthew 22:37-38

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

*Matthew 22:37–39 is the foundation for this three-week sermon series, Relationship Goals. Let’s memorize the first part of the verse this week and we’ll add to it each week!

**When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us. 

Connect   

• What words come to your mind when you think about healthy, flourishing relationships?
• Have you personally experienced, or witnessed, a flourishing relationship in your life? What stands out to you about that relationship?
• What kinds of things keep you from developing flourishing relationships with others?
• To what degree does spending undistracted time with another person affect your relationship with that person?

Opening Thought  

We all want to have great relationships in life, but where do we start? Jesus suggests we start at the beginning with our relationship with God. Sometimes we might see a relationship with God as secondary to our other relationships but when we pursue a connection with God, every other aspect of our lives will be impacted, which is exciting news!

This leads us to our big idea for this week:  

Big idea for the week  
We can enjoy a flourishing relationship with God. 

Unpack 

Go around your group and have someone read each of the following verses, then discuss the connected questions.

In Sunday’s message, Pastor Jason talked about how we can experience a flourishing life with God when we have an openness to Jesus’ teachings in our lives. He referred to this openness as being “good soil.” As you read the following verses, keep this concept of being “good soil” in mind.

Read  

Ephesians 3:16-20

Unpack

• What do these verses teach us about having a flourishing relationship with God? What do they teach about the character of God?
• Why is allowing Jesus a space to “make his home in your heart” key to flourishing in a relationship with him? What does allowing Jesus to “make his home in your heart” look like in your life? Are there areas of your life that you’ve allowed Jesus to make his home in your heart? What about areas of your heart where Jesus needs to feel more at home?
• How would keeping the theme and spirit of this passage at the forefront of your mind cause you to seek Jesus when you are facing fears, uncertainty, or anxiety? What about when you are experiencing times of joy, or just having an ordinary day?

Read  

Matthew 14:23
Mark 6:46
Luke 5:16
Mark 1:35

Unpack 

• These are just a few of the examples we read of Jesus spending time in prayer with God. How do you think having this time of connection with God helped Jesus grow in relationship with God?
• What do you think Jesus is teaching us through his example?
• What do Jesus’ examples teach us about the importance God places on building a relationship with us? How does having this time help us to create “good soil” for our relationship with God?
• Many times, after Jesus spent time in prayer, he went on to perform a miracle or teach people about God. What role does your relationship with God play in your life and your decision-making?

Apply 

Based on the verses we just read, and Sunday’s message, there are some things that we can do in response. Take a moment to discuss these questions as a group to decide what your personal action steps for the week can be:

• In Sunday’s sermon, Be Open to God, Pastor Jason mentioned four things that can help us flourish in our relationship with God: 1. Attending church and inviting friends, 2. Joining a life group (You did it!), 3. Serving, and 4. Personal Spiritual Practices. Is there one area this week that you could focus on as a way to grow in your relationship with God? Which area would you like to focus on this week and what practical steps can you take to make that happen?
• There are many examples in the Bible of people praying to God for things like wisdom, strength, and mercy. Psalm 143:8–10 is one example. Would you commit to praying this prayer each morning as a way to grow in your relationship with God? Take a few moments to pray this silently together and then have one person in the group read the verses out loud as a prayer for your group.

Closing 

God desires that we have a relationship with him and thankfully there are many ways we can nurture that relationship. This week, find ways to nurture that relationship through the application steps from Sunday’s message and this study. We’ll talk next week about how you’ve seen God working in your relationships! Take some notes on your phone or in a journal so that we can encourage and support one another with our Relationship Goals.

Prayer and Verses 

Ask for prayer requests and conclude your time with prayer then share the Key Verse for the Week and Daily Devotional Verses with the group. 

Daily Devotional Verses  

Use the S.O.A.P. method to reflect on the verses below. 

Scripture: Read the verses several times. Reading out loud can be helpful as well. 
Observation: What can you see about the scripture you read? 
Application: What is God wanting you to believe, do, or feel, based on what you have read? 
Prayer: This is a chance to talk to God about what you have read and ask him for help in living out what you’ve learned. 

Day 1: Matthew 22:37-38

Day 2: Psalm 63:7–8

Day 3: Jeremiah 28:13

Day 4: James 1:5

Day 5: John 15:4

Day 6: John 15:9

Key Verse for the Week  

Matthew 22:37-38

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.