Connect
◾Name 5-10 activities you can do right now that will be 10x more valuable than scrolling.
◾If you were to help someone understand spiritual maturity, what story would you tell?

Come as you are, but let’s not stay the same.
Phil Strout

Pray
Spend a few minutes releasing your cares and worries to God. Draw your attention to the One who knows you and cares about you far beyond what you can think or imagine.

A simple centering prayer: God, You are the source of all that is good and beautiful and right. We pray You’d fill us with more of Your life. Help us grow deeper in Your love. Restore our union with You. We pray You’d give us strength to endure, wisdom to choose what’s right, and a hope that anchors our souls. Protect us from the evil one who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. Move us beyond only looking at our own needs, and fill us with a deep love for each other. May Brookwood become a community that’s continually growing stronger together. Amen.

1. Why do you think the writer, the apostle John, separates children, young men and fathers? In other words, why didn’t he simply group them together? What do you see in the text that makes you think that?

2. Do you think children-young men-fathers has to do more with age or level of spiritual maturity? Why?

3. If this passage is about growing in maturity, from children to young men to fathers, how would you describe the progression?

4. How can children, young men and fathers help each other grow?

5. How does this passage apply to women? If there are women in your group, make sure to have them respond first!

6. What questions have you been asking that are helping you grow?

7. How have you helped others grow spiritually?

8. When has your desire for spiritual growth fallen apart or become cold?

9. Do you see spiritual maturity more as a journey or a destination? How does this help or hinder your intimacy with God?

10. John names several characteristics of what it looks like to be spiritually mature. Which one or two stand out to you as areas in which you’d like to grow, and what are a couple steps you can take to move in the right direction?

11. Read vs. 15-17 and finish this sentence: Spiritually mature people are those who…

12. What do you learn about spiritual maturity from these passages? It might be helpful to give the group a few minutes for silent/personal reflection, then regroup and discuss together.

Close in Prayer
God carefully and caringly weaves the details of our lives to make us new. Pause and ask God what He wants you to focus on from this week’s lesson. Thank Him for ways He’s changed you and for His commitment to never let you go.

Scripture Memory
Memorizing Scripture enables you to carry the life-shaping words of God in you at all times and in all places.

Here’s a verse to store in your heart and mind based on this week’s theme:

I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
1 John 2:12 (NLT)

Recommended Reading
◾Knowing God, J.I. Packer
◾Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund
◾The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges
◾The Hole in our Holiness, Kevin DeYoung
◾The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith, Janet Hagberg and Robert A Guelich

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200.

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.