Why Loving Others Can’t Be Our Goal Explaining the unexplainable Spirit: John 16:5-15, Romans 7-8, 12:1-2, 2 Timothy 1:7 The Holy Spirit will: Give us more of than the had. Show people their for . Show people that was who He to be. Remind us not to live in or , but in . Guide us in all situations how to like . How does this apply to us? John 16:5-15, 2 Peter 3:8-9, Matthew 18:10-14, Luke 15:1-31 If the goal of every Christian is to just , then we have our mission . If the goal of every Christian is to change the , then we have our mission . Tips I’ve found incredibly useful: See myself as a to a . Care more about changing than changing . Never ever attempt . Take in more of the News than the news. The best way to connect with us is the Connection Card in the bulletin. For the Digital Bulletin, visit myncc.info. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Support Our Ministry If you found this message beneficial and you would like to help continue our ministries, we would be grateful for your support. Go to northcoastchurch.com/give ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Life Group Study Questions For the week of September 17, 2023 WELCOME TO THE FALL QUARTER OF LIFE GROUPS! This week, we kick off our Fall Life Group Quarter. Your first gathering is designed to give you time to get acquainted, enjoy a meal together and connect with each other, as well as time to discuss how to make your Life Group meetings great! The questions have been shortened this week to allow ample time to accomplish all of this. To prepare for your first meeting, take some time to focus on the questions below and be prepared to share your answers with the group. GETTING TO KNOW YOU One of the best parts of being in a Life Group is building and growing friendships by getting to know each other better. Take a moment to answer the questions below and be ready to share with your group. Tell us about yourself … You’re going back to school for one day. What year would you pick and why? Finish this sentence: “I know it’s fall when…” It’s time to build your own pizza! What are your favorite toppings? What was the highlight of your summer? Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or something that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you? DIGGING DEEPER This weekend, we heard about how the Holy Spirit shows people Christ through us. Chris mentioned we should “never attempt this alone.” Life Groups are one of the ways we commit to not doing this alone—by gathering with others who will remind us of what God wants to do in our lives. Read the following verses that talk about what this looks like. Hebrews 10:24-25 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Corinthians 12:12, 25-27 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. Describe in your own words what “encourage one another” means to you. When do you feel encouraged by others and how does it impact your relationship with Jesus? What is one phrase or idea from these verses you hope to see play out in your time together as a group this quarter? LOOKING AHEAD Life Groups meet every week to gain the encouragement and support we need in life as we follow Jesus. Take a moment to write some of the reasons you’re in a Life Group, along with what you are looking forward to the most. THE PURPOSE OF LIFE GROUPS Life Groups exist to promote spiritual maturity and personal growth through meaningful Christian relationships and the study of God’s Word. (Romans 8:29 & Hebrews 10:24-25). Here’s how it will happen: SHARE Each week we’ll take time to share what is happening in our lives. At first this sharing will include planned “sharing questions.” But after the first few weeks, it will become more informal and personal as we feel more comfortable. STUDY Each week we’ll study a section from God’s Word that relates to the previous weekend’s sermon or an appropriate personal growth topic. Our goal is to learn how to live out our Christianity in everyday life. SUPPORT Each week we’ll learn how to take care of one another as Christ commanded (John 15:9-13). This care can take many forms, such as prayer, encouragement, listening, challenging one another and meeting real needs. SERVE Spiritual growth is fostered not only by what we gain through the support and input of others, but also through service to others. The role each of us fills is important to the health of the church and for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the community in which we live (Ephesians 4:11-16). Throughout the quarter, it is our hope that you can find and/or be affirmed in the ways God has designed you to serve and make a difference in God’s Kingdom.