Note for Leaders:
We understand that not every SisterHood group may have completed all the additional activities, such as the Gift Discovery Assessment or Love Languages Devotional. That’s okay! This discussion guide is flexible and can be tailored to meet the needs of your group. Focus on the heart of the theme—loving others and stepping out of your comfort zone—and use the questions and activities that resonate most with your group. Feel free to substitute specific activities with open discussions, personal reflections, or other ways to engage meaningfully with the topic.

1. Opening Prayer (5 minutes)
Begin the gathering with a prayer to invite God’s presence as you explore the theme of loving your community and stepping out of your comfort zone.

Prayer:
"Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us together today as a SisterHood. As we reflect on Your love and explore how we can share that love with others, we ask for Your guidance and wisdom. Challenge us to step out of our comfort zones and see others through Your eyes. Help us to serve with humility, compassion, and courage, and may everything we do bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen."

2. Icebreakers (10 minutes)

Conversation Starter:

• "What’s one small act of kindness you’ve witnessed or experienced recently that made a big impact on you?"

Fun Prompt:

• "If you could create the ultimate gift bag for someone in need, what’s one creative or unexpected item you’d include?"

3. Love in Action Reflection (10 minutes)
Introduce the theme: "Love Our Community" and reflect on how Jesus modeled love through action and compassion.

Scripture to Reflect On:
"Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." – 1 John 3:18

Discussion Questions:

• What does "love in action" look like to you?

• Share a time when you felt God calling you to show love to someone you might have otherwise overlooked.

• How can we reflect Jesus’ love to those who are often forgotten or ignored in our communities?

4. Pressing Refresh: Blessing Bag Initiative (15 minutes)
Shift the focus to taking tangible steps to love others by introducing the Blessing Bag activity.

Activity Introduction:
Explain the Blessing Bag initiative as a practical way to demonstrate love to those in need. Discuss how stepping out of your comfort zone to connect with someone you might normally turn away from reflects God’s love.

Discussion Prompts:

• What emotions come up when you think about giving a Blessing Bag directly to someone in need?

• How can this act of kindness challenge us to see others through God’s eyes?

• What’s one way you can prepare your heart to serve with humility and compassion?

Encourage participants to brainstorm additional creative and thoughtful items they could include in their Blessing Bags to make them extra special.

5. Gift Discovery: Using Your Gifts to Serve (15 minutes)
Even if your group hasn’t completed the Gift Discovery Assessment, you can still reflect on how God has uniquely equipped each person to serve others.

Scripture to Reflect On:
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." – 1 Peter 4:10

Discussion Questions:

• What’s one strength or talent you feel God has blessed you with?

• How can you use this gift to love and serve someone outside your usual circle?

• What’s one practical step you can take this week to put your gift into action for your community?

Encourage participants to reflect on their own abilities and passions and identify ways they can intentionally use them to bless others.

6. Love Languages Devotional: Reaching Hearts (15 minutes)
If your group hasn’t completed the Love Languages Devotional, use this time to discuss practical ways to connect with others in meaningful ways.

Scripture to Reflect On:
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." – John 13:34

Discussion Prompts:

• What’s your favorite way to show someone you care? (Words, actions, gifts, or something else?)

• How can understanding how others feel loved help us connect with people in deeper ways?

• Think of someone in your community who may feel unloved or overlooked. What’s one way you could show them love in a way they’ll truly feel it?

Encourage participants to think creatively and intentionally about how they can show love to someone in a way that resonates with them.

7. Hopes for Impact (15 minutes)
Shift the discussion to sharing hopes and intentions for loving the community boldly.

Activity:
Encourage participants to write down one specific way they will step out of their comfort zone to love someone this month.

• Who is someone you feel God is calling you to love more intentionally?

• What action can you take to show them Christ’s love?

Discussion Prompts:

• How can we hold each other accountable as a community to follow through on our commitments to love others?

• What’s one way you think our SisterHood group can have a greater impact on our local community this year?

8. Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
End the gathering by thanking God for the opportunity to reflect on His love and commit to sharing it with others.

Prayer:
"Father God, thank You for this time of fellowship and reflection. As we leave here today, we ask for Your strength and courage to love boldly and without fear. Help us to see people the way You see them and to serve with compassion and grace. May our actions reflect Your love and draw others closer to You. Bless our efforts as we seek to impact our community and glorify Your name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen."