Next Steps Archives

I Heart Sex :: God Loves Single People

God Love Single People, I Heart Sex, Should We, Ted Beasley

Gateway North, Branson & Online

4/17 – GOD LOVES SINGLE PEOPLE

Sexual desire flows out of our identity as eternal beings. It’s a function of our craving to not be alone. We live in a media-saturated society that tells us that sexual arousal will take away that loneliness, but if we’re really honest with ourselves, we know that sex or romance doesn’t ultimately solve anything. Jesus, in our main passage from John 4 today, tells us that He wants us to let Him into this part of our lives, that He wants to hear our heart on this and that He wants us to understand His heart towards our sexuality.

This week’s Next Steps are primarily focused towards Singles, as last week’s were towards married couples. Use these questions to have a conversation with God about sex and consider discussing with a close, trusted friend what you’re learning. For Marrieds, as you reflect on the message, consider the question, “Am I seeking to satisfy my need to not feel alone through my spouse or through God?”

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Why We Do What We Do :: Why We Isolate

John Burke, Spiritual Growth Path, Why We Isolate, Why We Stay Stuck

Gateway South

4/17 – WHY WE ISOLATE

Living in this fallen world, none of us escapes being wounded by the brokenness of the people around us. We’ve experienced judgement, physical or emotional abandonment, harsh words, passivity, and many other hurts, just as others have experienced some or all of those from us. As a result, our tendency often is to hide our hurts and doubts, pretend everything is ok, and avoid deep connection. But when we do, we miss out on the support, encouragement, love, accountability, and joy God wants us to experience in community.

Work through the following questions on your own, and get together with your running partner, Life Group, or friends and family around the dinner table to talk through what you’re learning!

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Why We Do What We Do :: Why We Stay Stuck

Robb Overholt, Spiritual Growth Path, Why We Do What We Do, Why We Stay Stuck

Gateway Central

4/17 – WHY WE STAY STUCK

We’ve all been stuck at different points in our lives, and often it’s hard to get unstuck. Why is that? Why is it so hard when we’re unhappy with our circumstances, we’re still unable to change? This week we looked at the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19 and how he gets unstuck.

Work through the following questions on your own, and get together with your running partner, Life Group, or friends and family around the dinner table to talk through what you’re learning!

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I Heart Sex :: God Loves Married People

Affair Recovery, God Loves Married People, I <3 Sex, John Burke, Song of Solomon, The Mingling of Souls, Wounded Heart

Gateway North, Branson & Online

4/10 – God Loves Married People

Last week, we learned that God loves sex because He created it and meant it to be fulfilling. Like a fire though, it can be destructive when not experienced as He intended in a marriage relationship. For most couples, it’s challenging to maintain a thriving, intimate sexual relationship over time. Our misconceptions of sex, differing expectations and the never ceasing challenges that life brings can all get in the way.

This week’s questions are focused on married couples and overcoming the challenges faced on the way to a relationship of deepening intimacy — spiritually, emotionally and physically.

For Singles, as you reflect on the message and these Next Steps, consider the question, “Am I becoming the person I’d want to marry?” And next week will be for you with the message, God Loves Single People.

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Why We Do What We Do :: Why We Struggle with Purpose

Advance, Eric Bryant, Spiritual Growth Path, Why We Do What We Do, Why We Struggle with Purpose

Gateway South

4/10 – Why We Struggle with Purpose

If you’ve spent any time around Gateway, you know that two key aspects of our Spiritual Growth Path are to “Love God” and to “Love People.” One of the ways that we express both is through acts of service. Service helps us find purpose but serving others requires that we sacrifice something of our own. So fear often holds us back — fear of loss, fear of the unknown or fear of failure.

Work through the following questions on your own, and get together with your running partner, Life Group, or friends and family around the dinner table to talk through what you’re learning!

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Why We Do What We Do :: Why We Isolate

Kenny Green, Spiritual Growth Path, Why We Do What We Do, Why We Isolate

Gateway Central

4/10 – WHY WE ISOLATE

Living in this fallen world, none of us escapes being wounded by the brokenness of the people around us. We’ve experienced judgement, physical or emotional abandonment, harsh words, passivity, and many other hurts, just as others have experienced some or all of those from us. As a result, our tendency often is to hide our hurts and doubts, pretend everything is ok, and avoid deep connection. But when we do, we miss out on the support, encouragement, love, accountability, and joy God wants us to experience in community.

Work through the following questions on your own, and get together with your running partner, Life Group, or friends and family around the dinner table to talk through what you’re learning!

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I Heart Sex :: God Loves Sex

God Loves Sex, I <3 Sex, John Burke, The Mingling of Souls, Wounded Heart

Gateway North, Branson & Online

4/3 – GOD LOVES SEX

Few topics make people feel as awkward and uncomfortable as sex does. Our popular culture has turned sex into a commodity used to define people’s worth and value. Sex can be a source of great pleasure, but for many who have been wounded by the sexual revolution, it’s become a source of great pain or shame. Many have been taught that God frowns on sex, but is that really true?

Work through the following questions on your own, and get together with your running partner (or spouse if you’re married) to talk through what you’re learning. Due to the personal nature of this topic and pain or shame many have experienced, we encourage you to use discernment with whom you talk through these questions. We encourage Life Groups to get input and consider carefully how best to utilize these questions during their discussion times.

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Why We Do What We Do :: Why We Judge

Eric Bryant, Grace, Kenny Green, Why We Do What We Do, Why We Judge

Gateway South & Central

4/3 – WHY WE JUDGE

We all do it. We make snap judgements. Researchers say we do it in less than a tenth of a second. What if in a culture rife with cheap tolerance offered from a place of pride we learned to offer transforming grace from a place of humility? Work through the following questions on your own, and get together with your running partner, Life Group, or friends and family around the dinner table to talk through what you’re learning!

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[You]nique :: Week 2

Bible App, John Burke, Serve, Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Growth Path, Starting Gate, VolunTour, [You]nique

3/20 – [YOU]NIQUE :: WEEK 2

In a world that’s more populated and connected than ever, many of us still struggle with the ideas of identity and purpose. Our own human nature and the lies that surround us pull us to extremes, telling us that we’re a failure or that we’re better than others. God wants us to have an accurate perception of ourselves and the part we’re meant to play so we can pour out His love into a hurting world by being the body of Christ – the church.

Work through the following questions on your own, and get together with your running partner, Life Group, or friends and family around the dinner table to talk through your answers.

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[You]nique :: Week 1

Bible App, John Burke, Serve, Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Growth Path, [You]nique

3/13 – [YOU]NIQUE :: WEEK 1

We all want to be noticed, valued for our uniqueness, and to know that our unique gifts are making a real difference in the world. Despite all the options that are set before us, it can seem that finding our unique fit is quite difficult. This week we’re looking at how God gives every follower of Jesus unique spiritual gifts for the common good. Work through the following questions on your own, and get together with your running partner, Life Group, or friends/family around the dinner table to talk through your answers.

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