Opening Prayer: Begin with a prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion and open hearts to the message of goodness, kindness, and intentional presence.

Introduction: Briefly summarize the sermon, highlighting the key themes of goodness, kindness, and intentional presence as essential values for living a Christ-centered life. Emphasize the importance of community in helping each other grow into the likeness of Christ.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to “harvest what you plant” in the context of your spiritual life?
   • Context: The sermon emphasized that our actions and attitudes have consequences. When we sow seeds of goodness and kindness, we align ourselves with the Spirit and reap blessings. Discuss how this principle applies to personal growth and relationships.
2. How can we practice goodness and kindness in challenging situations, like the example of the driving incident shared in the sermon?
   • Context: The pastor shared a personal story about struggling to respond with goodness in a moment of frustration. Reflect on how community and accountability can help us choose kindness over our natural inclinations.
3. In what ways can we be intentionally present in our daily lives, both with God and with others?
   • Context: Intentional presence involves being mindful of God’s presence and allowing His light to shine through us. Discuss practical ways to cultivate this awareness and how it impacts our interactions with others.
4. How does the concept of “intentional presence” change the way we view our role in our communities and workplaces?
   • Context: The sermon highlighted that being carriers of Christ’s light means seeing people as He sees them. Explore how this perspective can transform our approach to everyday interactions and opportunities to serve.
5. Reflect on the story of EJ from the sermon. How does this illustrate the impact of living out these values in our community?
   • Context: EJ’s story demonstrates the transformative power of consistent kindness and presence. Discuss how small acts of love and service can lead to significant changes in others’ lives.

Application:

• Personal Reflection: Encourage group members to reflect on areas in their lives where they can sow seeds of goodness and kindness. Consider setting personal goals for practicing intentional presence in the coming week.
• Community Action: Discuss ways the group can collectively embody these values in a community project or outreach, such as participating in the Adopt a School initiative mentioned in the sermon.

Closing Prayer: Conclude with a prayer asking for God’s guidance and strength to live out these values, and for opportunities to be a light in the world.

Additional Resources:

• Encourage group members to read the key scriptures and additional passages during the week for further reflection.
• Suggest journaling about personal experiences of practicing these values and sharing insights in the next group meeting.