COMMUNITY GROUP OUTLINE– THE WEEK OF 9/21/14
“American Idols”
If you have children in the mix, use the text in blue to include them in the discussion.
WELCOME (A time to connect person to person; Food, drink; Icebreaker that invites sharing)
In your opinion, what are the top two idols in America?
WORSHIP (A time for group members to connect with God; Welcome the presence of Christ in your midst
through singing, reading psalms of praise, prayer)
Read Psalm 34. Pray with your group members inviting God’s Holy Spirit to be free to work in your midst.
WORD (A time to dialogue and reflect on God’s Word seeking deeper reflection, application and insight)
1. Read Romans 1. What did you hear? What did you notice for the first time? What is new to you? What is
difficult to comprehend?
2. Was there a time in your life where you valued something or someone more than God? Explain.
(You will need a plastic pitcher full of water, a cake pan or baking dish to set the pitcher in, enough big rocks
for each child to have one)
1. Give each kid a rock. Tell them you are going to pretend their rock represents their favorite thing or activity.
(ie, swimming, video games, dance class, a favorite toy, their pet)
• Have each child tell you what their rock represents.
2. Ask kids: (After each question, allow kids to give their answers)
• What is an idol?
---> something we love or value more than God, something we think we can't live without
• Can our favorite things become idols in our lives?
• What does God say about idols?
---> The bible says idols are a sin; an idol can confuse us about God's truth; God loves us so much that He
wants us to love Him above all else
3. Show kids the pitcher full of water. Explain that you are going to pretend the pitcher is our heart and the
water is God's love for us. We want our heart to be full of God's goodness and love. Set the pitcher inside of the
cake pan/baking dish.
4. One by one have the children drop their rocks into the pitcher of water. Explain that when we allow other
things or activities (name some of the things the kids mentioned) to fill up our hearts, it pushes God out; when
our hearts (and our minds) are full of sports, movies, video games, toys, etc, it leaves less room for God.
5. Explain to kids that it is not bad to have interests, hobbies and things that we like, but we don't want those
things to become more important than God in our lives. we don't want those things to be more important than
reading our bible, praying to God, helping others, ect
3. Here’s the scenario: A family listens to this message (“American Idol”). The message totally describes their
lifestyle. They are idolizing mental images of success, wealth, status, and/or sensuality. They are miserable
and want out of this lifestyle. They turn to your COMMUNITY Group. What do you do? What do you say?
How can you assist? How would you counsel them to replace their idolatry with worship (to God)?
WORKS (A time to share the vision of multiplication, soul winning, discipleship, leadership development;
Because of what God has done in our lives this week– here’s how we choose to spread the vision of CCC)
Pray for the families of our church and community. INVITE your friends to this Family Values Series.