Leadership Group Guide - August 2022
In 2 Kings 4:1-7, a poor woman reaches out to the prophet Elisha. Her husband died and she feared losing her children to creditors to pay their debts. Elisha instructed her on what to do how to experience God’s provision:
“Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.’ And Elisha said to her, ‘What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?’ And she said, ‘Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.’ Then he said, ‘Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.’ So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another vessel.’ And he said to her, ‘There is not another.’ Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.’” (2 Kings 4:1-7 ESV)
God continued to pour out the oil to pay for the woman’s debt as long as she had available jars to fill. Once she ran out of jars, the oil stopped flowing. Similarly, there is a harvest of lives that God has called us to reach and disciple through our Small Groups. Just like the woman, if we provide the “jars,” of new small groups, God will faithfully pour in the people.
We can practically create new “jars” by opening a second pocket at a different day/time for our current group, branching our existing group, or by starting a new group for new people.
Discussion Question & Application (45 minutes):
Share: who are the new people that you or the members in your group are passionate about reaching out to and discipling?
Could your group open a second pocket, branch, or start a new group for new people? If so, who could be empowered to lead this new pocket and when could you start it? (Note: A new or branched group has a leader, apprentice and at least two other members).
Prayer Points (15 minutes):
Pray that our groups would step out in faith and start new pockets to reach and disciple the harvest.
Pray for the specific people or people groups that you and those in your group can start a new pocket with.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Financial Peace University
Take control of your money with Financial Peace University. This nine-lesson course uses biblical wisdom and common sense to help you tackle budgeting, pay off debt, and make your money work for you! FPU includes online videos and curriculum resources through a Financial Peace Membership. For more info and to register for classes starting on September 6, visit pearlside.org/life-matters.
Pearlside Small Group Leaders Podcast
Listen to our weekly podcast to help prepare as you lead your Small Group. This is a valuable resource that you can use to equip your apprentices to lead a cluster or prepare them to start their own group. The podcast can be accessed on our Pearlside App under Small Group Leaders Resources or through Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Search for Pearlside Small Group Leaders Podcast.
Start New Small Group/Close Small Group
Below are instructions on how to either report a new small group or closed small group.