Creative Community

Read James 1:19-27.

James 1:19 gives three keys to life. Read the following passages and talk about how they flesh out each of the keys:

• "quick to listen" -- James 1:21-25
• "slow to speak" -- James 1:26; 3:2-12
• "slow to become angry" -- James 4:1-3

Have each person talk about which of these three they most need to work on in their own life.

A command to "do" something implies a choice to be made (you either do what you are commanded or you do something else, possibly nothing). What is the choice James is giving in 1:22?

What do you think is the point of James' mini-parable in 1:23-24?

What must you do if the Word of God is going to change you?

According to James, what is true religion?

What does that mean for you?

As a group, pray that God will help each of you to take action on one of the truths you discussed during this time.

Read James 3:13-18.

Wisdom is knowledge acted upon. If you know something to be true and don't act upon it, you are foolish. If you know that God hates sin, how should a wise person respond?

According to 3:15, what is one source of "wisdom"? Is this true wisdom? Why or why not?

What are some characteristics of the life lived based on this kind of wisdom?

What is the ultimate result for those who live based on this kind of wisdom?

As a group, list several examples of "earthly wisdom."

According to 3:17, from where does true wisdom come? How can you find true wisdom?

If the characteristics of earthly wisdom all find their root in selfishness, where would you say the characteristics of heavenly wisdom find their roots?

According to 3:13, in what frame of mind should we do our activities? What do you think this means? Give some examples.

How will you pursue the "wise life" this week?

Use the following questions with your group to help you figure out a missional project.

1) How has God been moving in your heart over the past few months? What people has he been impressing you to love?

2) What gifts are obvious in our group? What kinds of things are we good at?

3) What needs in the community are we aware of?

4) Do we know any people who are currently meeting needs in the community? Do they need help?

5) What resources do we have available to us? What times do we have available to us?

6) Who can we contact that might point us in a good direction?

7) What is our next step?

It may be that after a good discussion you don't sense you've made great progress. Encourage everyone to live the next week with their EYES WIDE OPEN to the needs they might see around them. The following week, repeat this discussion and see if people's OPEN EYES creates more ideas.

Talk about a time you were lost, and how did you get "un-lost".

Which would you rather have with you on a journey, a map or a guide? Why?
(Likely people will be split on this. Talk about the benefits and drawbacks of each)

In the journey through life, God has provided us with both a map and guides. The map is His Word, the guides are those people with whom we have relationships.

Give an example of a friend who provided you with good guidance in life.

Give an example of someone you've seen who has been given bad guidance in life.

Read Proverbs 13:20. In your own words, explain what you think it means to "walk with someone."

Make a list of the benefits that result from walking through life with a wise person.

Make a list of the possible harms that result from being the companion of a foolish person. (here is a list according to Proverbs of some of the things a fool does:commits adultery, babbles, slanders others, does wrong for fun, quick-tempered, talks proudly, unwilling to learn, schemes, etc.)

Can you think of any examples you've seen lately on the news or in life that illustrate the truth of this proverb?

What kinds of things should you look for in a friend?

The Bible is clear that we should love everyone (even fools) and that we should do everything possible to bring everyone (even fools) to Jesus. How can you influence a foolish person for good without allowing them to influence you for harm?

What is one thing you need to do this week as a result of reading this Proverb?

What are three things you've pursued in the past week?

According to Proverbs 1:2-3, what are some of the benefits of attaining wisdom?

What do you think it means to live a "disciplined and prudent life"? Who is someone you would describe as a prudent person? What makes them prudent?

Four kinds of people are listed in Proverbs 1:4-5. With which of these people do you most identify? Why?

Which of these four people would you most like to imitate? Why?

Proverbs 1:7 names the one kind of person who will never attain wisdom. In your opinion, what kind of behavior makes someone a fool?

What advise would you give to a fool?

Proverbs 1:7 says "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge". What do you think it means to "fear the LORD?"

Talk about something in your past about which you were obsessed. How did you demonstrate your obsession?

Read Proverbs 2:1-4. What obsession is the author of Proverbs encouraging? How would someone behave who was obsessed with obtaining wisdom?

Read Proverbs 2:5. What is the result of being obsessed with wisdom?

What is one step you can take this week to pursue wisdom?

by Carl Simmons
If your meeting place weren’t your meeting place, would you want to hang out there?

If the answer is no, then here are some more questions to ask yourself and members of your group. In what kind of environment would they like to learn? To what kind of environment would they want to bring their friends? How can your environment be a place people feel welcome from the moment they walk in?

Be creative. Dream big. If your group gets excited, they’ll share what’s going on in your class or group with others and get them excited.

Your Meeting Area
Stop and look at your surroundings. Be a discerning eye and evaluate what your space communicates to others. Think about these questions:

• Is everybody comfortable? Is the temperature at a setting where it’s not a distraction? Are there enough chairs? Can people sit in them for the duration of your time together without fidgeting?
• Is your room the right size? Is it cramped and a bit stifling? On the other hand, are people way too spread out to connect with one another? Are you in a giant room and it always feels like someone’s missing?
• Does your meeting area have any character? Is it jazzy and bright? Warm and inviting? Or does it feel more like a minimum-security prison? Is there anything on the walls? Does your meeting area convey the character and personality of your group, or at least a sense of what they’re about to learn and why it’s important?
• Is the seating arrangement conducive to good discussion? If everyone’s facing forward, change it up. Chairs arranged around a long table tend to exclude rather than include. Making sure people can see each other’s faces makes for better discussion. Circling your chairs is ideal—get everyone looking at, and relating to, one another instead of just you.
  Does your meeting area appeal to all the senses (or at least not offend them)? What would you rather smell: candles, cookies, coffee, or mold? OK, we’re pretty sure that last option doesn’t appeal to anyone—but you’ve probably been there, haven’t you? And do you really want to go back? Again, make your meeting area the most inviting place it can be for your particular group.

Lighting
Lighting has a direct effect on learning. One study showed that students in classrooms with natural daylight learn more than 20% faster than students with less light.(1) Also, because fluorescent lighting pulses, it creates additional stress and fatigue, especially if there’s no natural light source to help out.

Subdued, not bright, light is more conducive to deeper conversation. Think about your favorite restaurant or coffee shop. Classrooms with natural lighting facilitate leaning. Whenever possible, use natural light.. If you’re stuck with a room with fluorescent lighting, use full-spectrum tubes, your local lighting or hardware dealer will be able to help you find them. Think about it.

Music
Likewise, music has repeatedly been proven to enhance learning. Music and long-term memory are both tied to the part of the brain that’s responsible for much of our emotions — so take advantage of that. The specific style of music isn’t critical, as long it works as background music rather than foreground music. Soft jazz, classical, or other instrumental music all work. Music not only enhances your learning environment but can be a powerful mood-setter, and thus open your group’s minds and hearts to what the Spirit wants to communicate.

So, your meeting area’s ready. Are you?

Carl Simmons is Editor of Adult Curriculum at Group Publishing, and a small-group leader for more than 20 years. His six-part small-group series Growing Out: From Disciples to Disciplers is scheduled for release by Group in Spring 2010.

(1) Study conducted by California Board for Energy Efficiency and Pacific Gas and Electric, cited in The Accelerated Learning Handbook, by Dave Meier, McGraw Hill, 2000.

Excerpted From: R.E.A.L.: Surprisingly Simple Ways to Engage Adults

What is the "dumbest" mistake you have ever made? How could you have avoided this mistake?

When you think about the book of Proverbs, what are the first thoughts that come to mind? How would you explain to someone what a "proverb" is?

Read Proverbs 1:4,5. Four different kinds of people are listed here, which ones are descriptive of you (it may be more than one)? What benefit do you think you could receive from studying the book of Proverbs?

According to Proverbs 1:7, what is the beginning of wisdom? How would you define, "the fear of the LORD"?

Give an example of someone you know who doesn't respect God (don't use their name!). How does someone's attitude toward God impact their ability to make wise decisions?

Read Proverbs 1:22-27. Verse 23 talks about responding to a "rebuke". When was the last time you were rebuked? How did you respond?

According to Proverbs, what is the result for those who do not accept rebukes? Have you ever seen an example of this?

How can we gain wisdom through the rebukes of other people?

Wisdom is more than just KNOWING what to do. It is ACTING upon that knowledge. What are some practical steps you can take this week to pursue wisdom? What actions do you already know you need to take?