The Heart of God - Week 4 Becoming Good News - Turning Scars into Stars Study by: Life Group Ministry Team Sermons can be viewed on the Hope Valley Church YouTube Channel Leader Guidelines Read these guidelines in an encouraging way to the group as you begin the first 3 or 4 weeks: We are gathering to listen to God through His word, then put into practice what He speaks to us. Focus on what the passage is saying. Expect God to speak. Give people time to respond. Silence is OK. Listen to each other and the Holy Spirit. The Life Group Leader will facilitate discussion, not be the teacher. 1. Sharing Our Journey Praise, Thanks, and Reflection Invite people to share from one or more of the questions below. It can be done as a whole group or in subgroups. It can also involve a worship song. What are you thankful for? Where have you seen God at work? How has God used you? How have you gone living out God’s Word since our last gathering? Where have you struggled to follow the way of Jesus? Where and with whom have you witnessed to the love and good news of Jesus? Care and Prayer In prayer, capture the things you have shared above after also inviting people to share any personal needs for prayer or support. 2. Opening God’s Word Read: 2 Corinthians 1:1-5, 2 Corinthians 1:1-3 Take turns reading these verses as a group or from several translations. What first caught your interest or stuck out to you as you read these verses? Alternatively, what questions do you still want answered? How have you discovered the God of all comfort and mercy in your life, as described in 2 Corinthians 1:1-5? How has He helped you through affliction and difficulty? How can our own stories help guide and bless others to find God’s comfort and mercy? As in 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, how is your life and story a letter of God’s work, written on your heart by the faith of others who have spoken into your life? Or how are you speaking life into the lives of others, allowing Jesus to write on their hearts? What truths do these verses teach us about experiencing God's grace in our lives and allowing this grace to overflow to those around us too? How does God want you to live this out in your life? 3. Living out the Heart of God Please watch this video on how you can share your testimony by Ali Laslett - [Sharing My Testimony] (https://youtu.be/wB6pm9R4CPA) Prayer for Each Other Break into 2s or 3s to pray: Praying for your 5 (from your Relational Map - See ‘The Heart of God’ Study - Week 1) Pray for each other as they seek to live out God’s Word Contacts If you would like more information or further help, please contact: scott.button@hopevalleychurch.com.au