In Nashville As In Heaven

community group guide

Vision Series Session 6: In Nashville as in Heaven

INTRO: (2-3 minutes)

Welcome to Community Group! Start off by introducing everyone in the group and then praying and asking the Holy Spirit to move and guide the conversation for the evening.

Let’s continue looking at the HOPE Church Mission Statement together:

“We exist to bring HOPE to our community by practicing the way of Jesus until it is in Nashville as it is in Heaven.”

DISCUSSION: (10-15 minutes)

SAY the following: The last part of our mission statement, “...until it is in Nashville as it is in Heaven” may seem like a daunting task. While the responsibility is serious, it is completely achievable but must include each member of Christ’s body moving by the guidance of His Spirit.

ASK the group:

Describe a time when somewhere or something you experienced made you think, “This must be what heaven feels like”.

A. What was it that made you feel that way?

B. Was it an interaction with someone else?

After discussing, have someone read Matthew 28:18-20

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

SAY the following: In a world filled with such chaos and uncertainty it can be difficult sometimes to see how particular areas could ever look like Heaven.

But as we survey our cultural landscape and see that at times evil seems to be winning, remember, “All authority in heaven and on earth” has been given to Jesus. That authority is extended to us when we are in Him and so we have the ability to cultivate Heaven wherever we are.

Does this mean that we need to start paving our streets in gold and taking harp lessons? No (though that does sound fun). It means that we can help to create space where God meets us and those around us where we are. It is in those moments where Heaven and Earth collide providing a foretaste of what Heaven will be like. How wonderful it is to remember though that this beautiful foretaste does not even scratch the surface of what it will be like to permanently experience Heaven.

When we regularly practice the way of Jesus by being with Him, becoming like Him and doing what He did, it quickly becomes evident how relationships, places and moments look different when we are engaged with them. Suddenly people begin looking to us for support, encouragement and guidance. It is in those moments that we are able to explicitly point people to Jesus--for we know that “...it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20) As believers, we are all invited to and tasked with the incredible joy and life-giving work of cultivating Heaven in every area of our lives.

APPLICATION: (approx. 10-15 minutes)

Break up into two groups (men with men, women with women). In your group, share the area you thought about at the end of the sermon where you feel led to cultivate heaven in your life over the next four weeks. If you did not have the chance to answer that question at the end of the sermon then think about an area now. Commit to contacting each other at least once a week over the next four weeks to ask this question: How is your area looking different this week?

CLOSING: (5-10 minutes)

Remain in your groups as you close in prayer. Take prayer requests if there are any urgent needs but use the remaining time to pray for each other to be empowered and emboldened to cultivate heaven in their areas. If everyone in your group is comfortable with it, go around your circle and pray aloud for the person to your left. If not everyone is comfortable with praying, have someone pray for the group as a whole.

Make sure you have the contact information for each person in your group so you can stay in touch throughout the week to encourage and cheer each other on.

Jason Rumbough