Small Group Guide
### Small Group Guide: “Building Covenant Relationships”
#### Introduction
In the sermon, Angie discusses the importance of building strong, covenant relationships using the story of Ruth and Naomi as an example. The sermon also explores how to apply these principles to relationships with in-laws and adult children, emphasizing humility, honor, and devotion.
#### Key Takeaways
1. **True Humility**: Stepping back and allowing relationships to flourish without asserting control. This includes listening more and speaking less.
2. **Honor**: Respecting others, valuing their voice, and acknowledging their role in the family and community.
3. **Devotion**: Maintaining a strong, personal relationship with God that influences all other relationships positively.
#### Discussion Questions
1. **Understanding Covenant Relationships**:
– How do you define a covenant relationship? How is it different from other types of relationships?
– In what ways can you build or strengthen covenant relationships in your own life?
2. **Reflecting on Humility**:
– What does true humility look like in a familial relationship, and why is it important?
– Can you share a time when you had to practice humility in a challenging relationship?
3. **The Role of Honor**:
– How does showing honor to your in-laws or adult children transform your relationship with them?
– What are some practical ways you can demonstrate honor in your family this week?
4. **Devotion as a Foundation**:
– How does your personal devotion to God impact your relationships with family members?
– What are some practices you can adopt to deepen your devotion and thereby enhance your relationships?
5. **Overcoming Challenges**:
– What are some common misunderstandings between in-laws and how can they be addressed effectively?
– How can you foster forgiveness and healing in relationships that have been strained?
#### Practical Applications
1. **Practice Humility**: Commit to actively listening to family members before offering your opinion or advice. Reflect on one relationship where you can be less assertive and more supportive this week.
2. **Show Honor**: Identify one family member (e.g., an in-law or adult child) and find a specific way to show honor and appreciation to them, whether it’s through words, actions, or both.
3. **Strengthen Devotional Life**: Incorporate a new devotional practice, such as prayer or scripture reading, into your daily routine. Reflect on how it influences your interactions with others.
4. **Foster Forgiveness**: If there is someone in your family with whom you have a strained relationship, take the first step toward reconciliation by offering a gesture of peace or writing a note of forgiveness.
5. **Create Community**: Encourage the group to reach out to someone in their church or community who might need support or mentorship. Consider organizing a group service project or outreach activity.
#### Closing Prayer
Invite the group to share any prayer requests, particularly focusing on relationships that need healing or strengthening. Close with a group prayer asking for God’s guidance, wisdom, and love to permeate all family relationships.
#### Follow-up
Check in with group members over the next month to see how they are applying these principles in their lives and offer continued support and prayer.
This guide aims to facilitate a deeper understanding of how the principles shared in the sermon can be applied to everyday life, fostering healthy, strong, and spiritually grounded relationships.
Discussion Questions
How does the concept of ‘spiritual motherhood’ expand the traditional understanding of motherhood, and what responsibilities might it entail?
In what ways can mentorship and spiritual guidance serve as a form of ‘motherhood’ in one’s faith community?
Reflecting on the story of Ruth and Naomi, what are the spiritual implications of choosing loyalty and covenant relationships over comfort and familiarity?
How can the idea of ‘covenant relationships’ transform our interactions with in-laws or other family members, and what biblical principles support this?
In what ways can personal devotion and a deep relationship with the Word of God influence and guide our familial relationships?
How does humility play a key role in maintaining healthy family dynamics, and what does true humility look like according to biblical teachings?
What lessons can be drawn from the story of Ruth and her perseverance through tragedy and loss, especially in the context of spiritual redemption?
In familial contexts, how can recognizing the virtues in others, as Boaz did with Ruth, foster deeper connections and mutual respect?
In what ways does exercising honor and respect for others’ roles within the family facilitate a loving and supportive home environment?
What role does prayer and devotion play in healing and strengthening relationships, and how can families incorporate these practices into their daily lives?