Table Talk | September 26 & 27
Growth Group Guide
"Here for Good" -- Vision Series
Overview
This session explores High Desert Church's vision to be "here for good" -- a phrase carrying two meanings: permanence in the communities of the High Desert, and a commitment to demonstrating God's goodness to those around us. The vision centers on three expressions: sharing personal stories of God's goodness, being good neighbors through the church's three permanent campuses, and uniting as one church for the good of the entire desert.
Key Takeaways
- The word "good" in this vision is rooted in the Greek wordagathos, meaning something that is absolutely right morally and consistent with the character of God -- not simply being "nice."
- Every believer has stories of God's goodness that can serve as bridges to unconvinced people in their oikos.
- The early church was compelling not only because its message was true, but because transformed believers were dramatically good to those around them.
- Having three permanent campuses brings both opportunity and responsibility to be good neighbors in specific geographic communities.
- As Jeremiah 29:7 reminds us, God calls his people to seek the peace and prosperity of the place where he has put them.
Icebreaker
- Think of a time when someone who knew the area -- a local -- pointed you toward something great you would never have found on your own. How did that feel compared to finding it yourself or reading about it online.
- Think of a time when someone who knew the area -- a local -- pointed you toward something great you would never have found on your own. How did that feel compared to finding it yourself or reading about it online.
Discussion Questions
On Sharing Our Stories
Pastor Todd described a "local" as someone who is familiar with God's goodness from their own experiences and is ready and willing to share with others where they can find that goodness for themselves. In what ways does that description either challenge or encourage you?
Romans 10 speaks of how beautiful it is when someone brings good news. When you think about the people in your oikos -- your natural sphere of relationships -- who comes to mind as someone who might need to hear a story of God's goodness right now?
The 30-second story template uses three prompts: "There was a time in my life when..." / "But God..." / "Now I..." Take a few minutes as a group to have one or two people share a story using that framework. What did it feel like to put it into words?
Pastor Todd said, "Locals don't keep the good stuff to themselves." What are some practical reasons we tend to hold back our stories of God's goodness, even with people we are close to? How might we begin to lower those barriers?
Pastor Todd asked, "Are we willing to be inconvenienced for unconvinced people?" What does inconvenience actually look like in your daily routine, and what might need to shift to create more genuine space for the people in your oikos?
On Being Good Neighbors
The early church was described as staying with the sick during epidemics, caring for strangers, and building an informal safety net for the poor -- all of which made Christianity credible and attractive even to its opponents. What do you think it would look like for your campus to have that kind of reputation in its community today?
Pastor Todd referenced Galatians 6, where Paul urges believers not to grow weary in doing good to all people. Where do you personally feel most tempted to grow weary or to limit your goodness only to people inside the church?
The concept of a "geographic oikos" was introduced -- the idea that a church campus has a sphere of influence based on its address and its neighboring community. What specific needs do you see in the community surrounding your campus that the church might be positioned to help meet?
On Unity for the Good of the Desert
Jeremiah 29:7 was written to people who had every reason to be bitter and withdrawn. Instead, God called them to seek the peace and prosperity of the very city that had displaced them. What does it stir in you to consider that God might be calling your church family to that same posture toward the High Desert?
Pastor Todd closed by noting that the missionaries Jacob and Mercie are going to Indonesia to become locals -- to develop an oikos in a place where they are complete strangers to translate the Bible, plant a church, and train up a pastor. How does their example reframe the way you think about missions?
Practical Applications
This Week
- Use the 30-second story template to write out at least one story of God's goodness in your life. Practice saying it out loud -- to yourself, to a family member, or to someone in your group.
- Identify one person in your oikos who is unconvinced. Pray for them by name every day this week and ask God to create a natural opening for a conversation.
- If you have not already done so, text the word LOCAL to 64567 to subscribe to monthly encouragement and training resources.
This Month
- Look for one intentional opportunity to share a story of God's goodness with an unconvinced person in your oikos -- not as a quota to fill, but as a prayerfully sought moment.
- As a group, consider adopting one specific prayer focus for the city where your campus is located. Spend a few minutes each meeting praying together for its peace and prosperity.
Ongoing
- Discuss as a group what it might look like to collectively serve or connect with a ministry or agency in your campus's community over the coming year.
- Encourage one another monthly by sharing stories of conversations you have had with unconvinced people in your oikos -- what you said, how they responded, and what God seemed to be doing.
Pray together using these three areas drawn from the sermon:
- Ask God to surface specific stories of his goodness in each group member's life and to give each person the courage and opportunity to share those stories with unconvinced people in their oikos.
- Pray for your campus's surrounding community by name -- for its peace, its needs, and for the church to become a trusted and generous neighbor.
- Pray for Jacob and Mercie as they begin long-term gospel work in Indonesia, that God would help them become faithful locals who share his goodness with people who have yet to hear it