Walk in the Light

What if the very things we try to hide are the ones God most wants to heal? We all carry parts of ourselves we’d rather keep in the dark, but real transformation begins when we step into the light. This week in our BeLoved series, we’ll be invited to experience the freedom, forgiveness, and clarity that come when we stop pretending and start walking in truth Jesus provides! Watch Full Service Discussion Guide  To view the Leader Guide for this week, click here. To view a .docx version of this guide, click here. Begin your time together with prayer  Introduction  Last week, we talked about how Jesus is real and how we can believe God’s love is real because Jesus is real. Take some time to share how you have to shown others that Jesus is real by the way you love them this week. This week we will be discussing the topic of living in God’s light.  Connect   What’s something that helps you get back on track when you feel a little lost or distracted? Opening  Life can sometimes feel messy, and it can be easy to focus on mistakes we might have made. But when we step into God’s light, we’re reminded that there’s a path forward filled with guidance, forgiveness, and new possibilities. Living in that light doesn’t mean everything is perfect, it just means we can see clearly where we’ve been and how God’s grace should shape the choices we make. It’s in that light that we find the space to let go of what holds us back and take steps in a direction that brings more clarity, peace, and hope.  This leads us to our main idea for this week  We can find forgiveness and direction when we walk in God’s light.  Unpack  Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward discuss each of the connected questions before moving to the next set of verses:  Read   1 Corinthians 10:12-13  Ephesians 2:1-7  What stands out to you in these verses?   How often do you ask for forgiveness from God? How often do you confess your sins to others?  Why could this be helpful to do?  Why is it important we consistently remind ourselves of the way that God made a way for us to be forgiven for sins?  How often do you think about the grace of God? Why is this good to consistently reflect on?  How are you different now from before you were following Jesus?  How can our personal story of forgiveness help others in their faith journey? The next section of verses we are about to read is a longer section of verses, which come from a letter by one of Jesus’ Apostles, named Paul. This letter was written to instruct and encourage a church in a city named Colossae (modern-day Turkey) to grow in their faith in Jesus, while being careful to avoid false teachings. Pay attention to how Paul describes what it looks like to live as a follower of Jesus.  Read  Colossians 3:1-17   What stood out to you about these verses? What seems to be the most important part of Paul’s message in this section?  How do we live as followers of Jesus according to these verses? What is the practical steps of how we do this?  Which part of these verses do you find the most difficult to practice in your life?  This section mentions multiple times that when we follow Jesus, we have a “new life” and we shouldn’t hold on to how we used to be in our “old life” before we began following Jesus.  Take a moment to think about your life and who you are today. How much of your “old life” are you still attached to? Why do you think this is difficult to detach yourself from?  Paul tells the Colossians in verse 17 of this section, “Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus”. Why is it important that we live this way also?  Action Step   Identify and allow Jesus to renew one unhealthy aspect of your life that you are holding on to. Closing   Even when life feels messy or full of mistakes, stepping into God’s light reminds us that we don’t have to stay stuck. Instead, living in God’s light shows us the way forward that is full of forgiveness and fresh opportunities to follow Jesus. This doesn’t make everything perfect, but it helps us see more clearly and make choices shaped by God’s grace.   Pray Together  Pray for the Missionary Focus this week, then take prayer requests from your group and conclude your time in prayer for your group.  Missionary Focus  Bill Ankerberg  Bill leads a missions movement in the Nordic-Baltic region, focusing especially on Estonia, where fewer than 2% of people identify as Christian.  Prayer Requests:    For Bill’s personal health and safety    That Estonian church leaders would be receptive to the leadership and training Bill and his team provide     Spend a few minutes in prayer for Bill  Reflection Verse for the Week  *Read this verse, then encourage the practice of reflection and memorization through the week.  Psalm 107:1  “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”  **When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us.  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: Romans 8:28  Day 2: 2 Corinthians 5:17  Day 3: 1 John 1:9  Day 4: Psalm 103:12  Day 5: Psalm 86:5  Day 6: Proverbs 28:13  The post Walk in the Light appeared first on Journey of Faith.