The Greenhouse Pt. 1

 We exist to Fill the City with Jesus. 

We empower the willing to come fully alive in God’s presence for the renewal of our cities.

  Imagine a group of people in an authentic community, loving each other honestly, covering each other’s sins with forgiveness, prayer, confession, and encouragement, and serving and supporting each other genuinely. It’s in spaces like these where we begin to see the supernatural work of God within our relationships. 

Use this guide with your community, in concert with the Field Journal, as you Strengthen Yourself in the Lord, Manage Your Household, and Fill the City with Jesus.

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Strengthen Yourself in the Lord

Sermon Summary

What’s in your heart is displayed in your home. God designed the home to be a greenhouse—a place where His presence cultivates an environment of life and life abundantly. To manage our households means to be present, intentional, and actively involved in the well-being of those God has entrusted to us. Every member of the home has a role to play. As we allow God to shape our hearts, our hearts shape the culture of our homes, and what is cultivated in our homes eventually flows into our cities. God blesses our homes not to keep them in the home, but so that the life He produces in us can be multiplied out to renew cities.

Scripture References from the Sermon

1 Timothy 3:4-5   |   Genesis 1:27-28   |   Genesis 2:15   |   Ephesians 5:25-29; 33   |   Ephesians 6:1-4   |   Deuteronomy 6   |   Proverbs 4:23   |   Matthew 12:34

Discussion Questions

• Take turns describing what you see in a greenhouse from some of the images in Scripture. (Gen 1 and 2)
• What are your roles/responsibilities in managing your greenhouse?
• How can you help to be present with your responsibility of being actively involved in the well-being and benefit of others?
• If your heart is a thermostat in your greenhouse, how does self-control not only let you know the temperature (discernment) but also change the temperature?
• List some inputs (hear, see, and experience) and talk about their influence on your heart.  
• List some outputs (words, actions, and perspectives) and talk about how they influence the culture of your greenhouse.
• Talk about the home-work (private-public) connection in 1 Timothy 3:5, Genesis 1:28.

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Manage Your Household 

Practical spiritual activities:

• Worship together – Dedicate time each week to worship with those in your household.
• Pray together – Dedicate time each day for listening to and speaking with the Lord individually, and as a household. Record ongoing prayer requests into your journal or Field Journal.
• Intercede for one another – Ask those in your household what is on their heart, then pray for one another. Refer to “Prayer Requests From Our Community” below and prayer recorded in your Field Journal and pray together for your city.
• Read together – Spend time together reading God’s Word. Consider the Bible reading guide on our website.
• Journal & Share – Share insight from what you’ve been hearing from the Lord and capturing in your journal weekly.
• Take communion together – For those who are followers of Jesus, consider taking the elements together. There is a communion guide on our website.

Event Highlight 

• Re|Planted: Gather & Grow on Oct 16: Not everyone is called to foster or adopt, but everyone can serve. Join us to learn how you can support local vulnerable children and families through hosting, meals, advocacy, and care.
• For more, visit gracechurchsp.org/events  

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Fill Your City

Prayer Requests From Our Community

• Pray for full physical healing, safety, and effective medical solutions to those suffering from seizures.
• Pray for those fighting breast cancer and other forms of cancer, asking for complete physical healing, comfort, peace, and renewed strength.
• Pray for Reliant Church and Pastors Seth and Taylor Odom.

Serve Opportunities 

• In the Church – Be a part of making Grace Church operate smoothly. If you have the gift of administration, consider volunteering to assist with office-related operations. Flexible midweek options available.
• In the City – Bed Build Oct 24: Partner with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build bunk beds for local kids in need! This family-friendly event has roles for all ages. Spots fill fast—register today!
• For more, visit gracechurchsp.org/serve 

Your City

• There are six areas of the city: family, health & wellness, business, education, government, and media. What are ways you can serve in your city?
• Share Your Story about what God is doing in your life and your city here: https://gracechurchsp.org/story/