The Nine | Two: The Helper
Big Idea:
When you understand how God created you, you can grow in your love for those around you.
“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” - Aristotle
Note to the Leader:
This is a help for you to engage and guide the conversation with you group.
Do your best to make this story come to life by asking questions that will spur your group into seeing this play out in real time.
You do not have to read every question; they are just there if you need them to move the main idea forward.
Getting Started:
Read Romans 12:4-5
Being different just means we’re all fulfilling different parts of the same equation.
· This week specifically we focus on the 2: The Helper, are there any “2s” in the group?
· Why would it be important to learn about all 9 numbers instead of just your own?
· What are the strengths/weaknesses of the Two: The Helper? (Look at the app and what it says about the passion/fixation for type 2)
Note: This is a great opportunity to invite your group to take the test if they haven’t already. Just download EnneaApp and click “Find your results”.
Digging In
The Enneagram provides us insight and understanding on how the church, the body of Christ, works together.
While the Enneagram is not built around The Bible, it can open our eyes to ways God uniquely designed each of us.
Read Luke 10:38-42
· Are you familiar with the story of Mary and Martha? If not, have someone briefly explain.
· Someone in this story is the 2: Helper, who is it?
· What makes that person this personality type?
(She is serving and that is her priority)
Read Luke 10:38-40 Again
· The Two Helper in this story is upset (so upset that she demands Jesus do something about the situation). Does she have reason to be upset?
· Think about a time where you felt like you were the only one working/serving to get things done?
Martha asks Jesus if He even cares that Mary has left her to do the work by herself.
· Discuss: More than being upset that she is doing all the work, do you think Martha is upset that Mary is not being scolded for being “lazy”?
Then, Martha goes a bit too far, which is what can happen when we feel taken advantage of:
Luke 10:40:
· Discuss: Martha demands something of Jesus! Was there a time when you were so frustrated that you reacted in a way that shocked even yourself?
Luke 10:41-42
· Share: What is the real issue that Jesus is trying to get Martha to see?
· Discuss: Jesus was not telling Martha that what she was doing is wrong, but what was He telling her?
· Discuss: How do we keep ourselves from being “worried and upset about many things”?
· Discuss: How can we shift our focus to the “one thing” that is needed?
The Issue of a misguided 2: The Helper/Martha
Her pride caused her to feel that she knew what the better thing to be doing was.
· Martha feels like Jesus is letting Mary get away with being lazy. In our lives, 2’s can feel an injustice done to them. How can we support a 2’s perspective and love them for their viewpoint?
Jesus reminded her, “Mary has chosen what is better, and that will not be taken away from her”.
Next Step:
The pastor said: “An unhealthy 2 can become so busy they miss out on meaningful relationships.”
· If serving people was the heart of Jesus, how can serving be “wrong or unhealthy”?
· How would this keep us from meaningful relationships?
The pastor said: If the 2: Helper can’t serve people, they don’t know who they are.
· When a 2: Helper allows what they do for others to define them, things get unhealthy. How so?
Jesus has made you uniquely you. He loves you when you are serving – because He came to serve. He loves you when you are sitting at His feet – because that is “what is best”.
The question for the Two: The Helper is, can you love yourself and see your value when you are serving as well as when you are sitting?
Closing Prayer
Each week there is a specific prayer geared for the number we are looking at. Here is the prayer for the Two: The Helper:
God, I thank you for the Two Helper. Lord, I love them. I’m afraid they are going to feel ashamed. Let them know of your love. Help them live in freedom and serve out of the fullness of loving you, not serving to be loved, but serving because they are already loved.
God, help all of us help the Two Helper in our lives with all our hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The Nine | One: The Reformer
Big Idea:
You aren’t perfect, but you’re perfectly loved.
Note to the Leader:
This is a help for you to engage and steer the conversation with you group.
Do your best to make this story come to life by asking questions that will spur your group into seeing this play out in real time.
You do not have to read every question; they are just there if you need them to move the main idea forward.
Getting Started:
The Enneagram is an interesting tool to gauge what makes us tick the way we do
· What are some other personality tests you’re familiar with?
· What do you like and dislike about personality tests?
· What number did you receive when you took the enneagram test and did you agree with your results?
This is a great opportunity to invite your group to take the test if they haven’t already. Just download EnneaApp and click “Find your results”.
Digging In
The reason we chose the Enneagram over many other tests is because there are so many versatile features within it. In a lot of personality tests they tell you exactly what you are, with enneagram there are strengths and weaknesses that also correlate to other “numbers” on the enneagram chart. Even though this isn’t built around the bible, it does open our eyes to ways God uniquely designed each of us.
· So, what makes your personality unique?
· Why do you think God created you that way?
Read Romans 12:4-5
Being different just means we’re all fulfilling different parts of the same equation.
· This week specifically we focus on the 1: Reformer, are there any “1s” in the group?
· Why would it be important to learn about all 9 numbers instead of just your own?
· What are the strengths of the One:Reformer?
Read Luke 15:25-27
· Are you familiar with the Prodigal Son story? If not, have someone briefly explain.
· Someone in this story is the One: Reformer, who is it?
· What makes that person this personality type?
o (They’re doing what they’re supposed to, following the rules)
Read Luke 15:28-30
· The One Reformer brings up a valid argument about the calf. How is this wrong though?
· The Brother did not like seeing someone receive a gift that they didn’t deserve. Think and discuss a time where someone or yourself deserved something good they did not deserve?
· Is it wrong to be frustrated that bad people receive good things?
· How do we love beyond our frustration?
Pastor said “The relationship is more important than the rules”
· How do we shift our focus away from rules and towards relationship?
· How do we love someone who is too focused on the rules and not the relationship?
On the cross, Jesus extended mercy to one of the prisoners being executed. Even though he never followed the rules, never went to church, never prayed, he received mercy at the last moment.
· How is that fair?
· Would anything disqualify someone from receiving that same mercy?
Next Step:
Pastor said “Make allowance for everyones faults, even your own.”
We have to learn to forgive. Even if a rule is broken, even if trust is misused, even if you don’t want to. We have to forgive as Jesus commanded. Friends, Family, Spouses, Coworkers, and ourselves.
You are not perfect, but you are perfectly loved.
Closing Prayer
Each week there is a specific prayer geared for the number we are looking at. Here is the prayer for the One: Reformer.
God, I pray we’ll all find grace. Right now, the One Reformers are spinning with criticism for themselves. Reassure them they’re the best among us, the most moral, the most right. But they’re still sinners who need you. They need grace, they need your mercy, just like all of us. Help them find mercy at the cross. In Jesus' name, amen.
Everyday Jesus | Week 6
Big Idea: Are you living to die or dying to live?
Important for Leaders:
This discussion guide is a help for you to engage and steer the conversation within your group. You do not have to read every question; this is just a resource for you to move the big idea forward.
Do your best to make the story come to life by asking questions that will spur your group conversations that make this story come alive and become applicable to their lives.
Get Started:
· How did you Easter look different this year than normal?
· Were there any new traditions that this allowed you to make?
Dig In:
· What comes to mind when you think about Death? Does it scare you or do you feel prepared?
John 11:21-22 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
One of Jesus’ best friends has just died and it’s been about 4 days. When Jesus arrives Martha, Lazarus’ sister, blames Jesus immediately for not being there in time.
· What is the most difficult part of the death of someone close to you?
· How do you handle death? Do you blame, isolate, reach out?
· Is Martha’s response to Jesus right? Explain.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
· Jesus did not say he brings resurrection and life, but that he is resurrection and life. How is this a significant difference?
o Because life is found in Him. He is the answer to it, not a supplement of it.
At the end of this Jesus asks, “Do you believe this?” because it’s a choice. Why do you believe people hear this message and choose not to believe?
John 11:33-36 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!”
10 verses ago Jesus was talking about how he IS life and how he has resurrection power, and then we see him weeping over his friends body. In the same instance that Jesus shows his power, he shows his human nature.
· What does it show us that Jesus wept for his friend?
· What is different about the way Jesus mourned and the way we mourn?
Later in this story, Jesus asks the sisters to open the tomb. It’s nasty and stinky but Jesus says that this is for the Glory of God. The stone is rolled away and Jesus leans into this tomb and yells loudly for Lazarus to come out.
You’d think he’d whisper or go in and resurrect him privately, you know in case it didn’t work, but he yelled for everyone to see what was happening.
Next Step
In the current state of life, what could we do to live more boldly for Christ?
Does your faith reflect the boldness of Jesus?
Everyday Jesus | Week 5
BIG IDEA: WE ARE ALL BORN BLIND BUT BY GRACE WE CAN SEE THE HOPE THAT JESUS GIVE THROUGH HIS SALVATION.
READ THIS BEFORE YOUR GROUP BEGINS
NOTE TO THE LEADERS
This discussion guide is a help for you to engage and steer the conversation within your group. You do not have to read every question; this is just a resource for you to move the big idea forward.
Do your best to make the story come to life by asking questions that will spur your group conversations that make this story come alive and become applicable to their lives.
GETTING STARTED
Ask everyone how they are doing and allow them to interact and share about what’s going on in their life with all the chaos.
What are some positives that have come out of this time of quarantine?
DIGGING IN
Read John 9:1-2
People react to tragedy in different ways. Most reactions begin with the question, “Why?”.
Why did this tragedy happen to this person? Why is this child handicap?
I can’t hardly watch those Saint Jude or Shriner’s hospital commercials.
“Why” is a natural response to tragic circumstances
What makes the disciples question of “why” unusual?
(They sought to lay blame on the blind man or his parents.)
SAY:
In the time of this story taking place, when something was wrong or something bad happened the idea was that the person must have done something bad and God was punishing them. In this case, the parents did something bad so the child was handicap as the parent’s punishment.
Have you ever felt like God was punishing you when something bad happened to you?
Every action has a consequence. But is every bad thing that happens a result of an action we did?
SAY
Since this man was born blind, he had been labeled as a sinner his whole life.
What are some labels you or someone you may know have been wrongly given based on circumstances outside their control?
Read John 9:3
So, is Jesus saying this man was blind at birth because God wanted to show His power?
SAY
Not really, he was saying that this happened, and God would use it to show His power.
Read John 9:6-7
Then he (Jesus) spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So, the man went and washed and came back seeing!
SAY
Gross. Sometimes things get worse before they get better.
The man maybe was even thinking “Thanks a lot Jesus. I went from being blind, to being blind with spit and mud on my face.”
None the less the man went and did as Jesus said.
Did you notice that Jesus didn’t say if you go wash the spit and mud out of off your face you would be able to see again?
Read: John 9:8-11
SAY
Jesus used the blind man to help others see.
Has there ever been a bad situation that you have experienced that God has used to help others?
Read John 9:16
Why are the Pharisees whining?
Jesus broke their rules to help the blind man.
How can religion become dangerous?
Because we can become more concerned with the rules than being a blessing to people.
Read John 9:35-41
Say
As always Jesus main purpose is to open our eyes to the truth that we need a Him for salvation.
NEXT STEP
What blinds others to see Jesus is the hope of the world?
What are some ways we can help others see?
What do we allow to blind our faith in difficult situations?