Open About this Guide

About this Guide

This field guide is an instruction manual, workbook, and tool to use in your group as you seek the renewal of your city. It's designed to be used in conjunction with a journal. Read and discuss the content with your group and write down what you hear from God and learn from each other.

The Gospel is for all times and people, and although our moment in history is unique, the call of the Gospel and the practices of the Christian life have not changed. Jesus still calls sinners, the broken, the sick, the downcast, the weak, the weary, and the hopeless to “Follow me.”

To those who would be His disciples, He tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God, to abide in Him, and to go forth and make disciples. Filling the city with Jesus is not a catch-phrase, a program, or a method. It’s about seeking and abiding in the presence of God through the practices He has graciously provided: reading and abiding in His Word, walking in His Spirit, worship, prayer, and life in community. It is abou

Open Where is my City?

Where is my City?

Your city is based on relationships.

We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. —1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)

The Lord has placed you in the midst of other people. It is within the context of those relationships that you are called to be the light, to share good news, and to point people to hope in Christ. Together, we seek the welfare of our city when we pray on its behalf and love our neighbors from a sincere heart.

Who is my neighbor?

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answer

Open Vision + Mission

Vision + Mission

Our Vision: Fill the City with Jesus

God has called you to bring His presence and love into your city. Your city means wherever you have influence: family, neighborhood, gym, workplace, grocery store, friends, etc. This is not about geography; it's about relationships. The Gospel empowers you to make an impact right where you are.

Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers, you will prosper. —Jeremiah 29:7 (NLT)

Mission: Make Disciples

Our vision is realized through our single-fold mission: to make disciples. Every ministry, group, and event at Grace Church is unified by the mission to make disciples. This is the Great Commission—it’s the call of every believer. Although our vision is unique, the mission of every church—including ours—is the same because it is given by Jesus: "Make Disciples"

Open What is a Disciple?

What is a Disciple?

A disciple is someone who:

Strengthens themselves in the Lord.

To be strengthened in the Lord means to enter His presence in confidence because of what Jesus has accomplished (Heb. 4:15–16). The access you have to the Father gives you strength. Practicing the spiritual disciplines helps deepen your faith and strengthens you in the Lord.

But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. —1 Samuel 30:6 (ESV)

Manages their household.

Managing your home starts with strengthening yourself in the Lord. When you faithfully steward the time, talents, and resources God has given you, they can be poured into others in your city. This responsibility applies to all Christians—married, single, and parents. Managing your household includes practical matters like finances as well as intentional rhythms rooted in the spiritual disciplines. It also includes the culture of the home. Just like a greenhouse, the conditions of the environment are either conducive or hinde

Open Reading the Word

Reading the Word

One of the key ways that a disciple strengthens themselves in the Lord is by reading the Word daily. When we read God's Word, we encounter the Author of creation, and we get to know His heart, mind, and ways.

As you read the Bible, consider the following:

• What does this tell me about the nature of God?
• What does this say about the people involved?
• How can I read this prayerfully, humbly, and accurately?
• Look for words, repetition, patterns, and clarifications.
• What is the author’s intent (both God and the writer)?
• Ask questions of the text, ask the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27), and use your imagination.
• What is happening in the story?
• What do you imagine the scene to be like? Quiet, noisy, busy, slow, dirty, clear? The weather? What's the temperature?

Note: Using your imagination does not give the text a new meaning, it simply helps you understand and experience the story as reality.

For application, consider these questions:

• How does this

Open Journaling

Journaling

Read

Use a one-year Bible reading plan to navigate your way through the entire story of all 66 books as they tell the story of ONE God in relationship with His people. Lectio Divina is a way to read the Bible prayerfully. It’s one of many spiritual disciplines that keep you alive after being raised from the dead.

Here’s how:

Write

Summarize what you read. This is part of internalizing the story and getting the Word in your heart.

Revelation

Keep reading until something stands out, is highlighted by the Holy Spirit, or is revealed to you. Revelations are personal, and they are God’s gesture to invite you to slow down, stop, and spend more time on that area of Scripture.

Invitation

Enter into the story. Entering the story occurs after God reveals something to you. Use your imagination by asking questions of the text, environment, character, and context. Stay in the story until it becomes personal to you.

Application

What is God asking you to be or do

Open Prayer for your City

Prayer for your City

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing... — 1 Thessalonians 5:16–17 (ESV)

Create space in your journal to write down prayer requests that the Lord brings to mind. Use it daily to stay consistent and constant in prayer. Keep adding prayer requests as they come to mind and be sure to write down answers to prayer.

Prayer Points to Include in Your Journal

Prayer Requests

Consider the people who are in your City. Who are they? What do they need? In what ways do you hope to see God move in their life? At the same time, where do you need God to show up in your life? Everything that comes to mind is an opportunity to pray and invite God in.

Write down all the requests—big and small—and bring them before the Lord.

"We have not ceased to pray for you. —Colossians 1:9 (ESV)

Answered Prayer

Also make space to write answers to prayer—the Lord hears and loves to show up! Pray in faith that God will answer your prayers.

I sought the Lord, and He answered m

Open Community Block

Community Block

Being the church means living in authentic community with a small group of people where we know others and are truly known. Who are the people discipling you (fathers and mothers)? Who are you doing life with (brothers and sisters)? And who are you discipling (sons and daughters)? Who are Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy in your life?

Find those people and write their names in your journal. If slots in your community block are missing, pray that God would bring new people into your life.

• Paul: More mature believers who can mentor, encourage, and guide you in your walk with Christ.
• Barnabas: Peers you do life with on a regular basis.
• Timothy: People you are mentoring and encouraging in the faith.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works... —Hebrews 10:24 (ESV)

Open Serve Projects

Serve Projects

What needs do you see in your city where you can be the hands and feet of Jesus? How can you help your neighbors? What about your neighborhood? Or what about needs in the broader community?

There are many ways to serve others: helping with house chores, cooking meals, sending a card, or even taking time out of your day to call someone. Serving is anything that puts the needs of others ahead of your own.

Ask God how He wants you to serve, dream big, and write those ideas down in your journal.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve... —Mark 10:45 (ESV)

Open Neighborhood Map + Prayer

Neighborhood Map + Prayer

Draw or trace your neighborhood, placing your house in the center. Think about your neighbors and consider God's love for them. Pray over your neighborhood while you're at home, when you take a walk, and when you drive through.

Prayer for Neighbors

Take time to learn about your neighbors, and write down the things you learn so you can pray specifically for their needs. Ask God to show you how you can be a blessing to your neighbors. Pray for their needs on their behalf.

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 (ESV)

Open About Grace Church

About Grace Church

Grace Church is a thriving multisite church located in North Carolina. We are passionate about seeking God through prayer, worship, and authentic community so we can Fill the City with Jesus.

To learn more about us and to discover more resources, check out our website:

www.gracechurchsp.org

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Previous Messages

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