Know What You're FOR Bible Study Guide: A Strategy for Living the Life God Wants You to Live

By Jeff Henderson

Do the people in your world know you’re FOR them?

In our world today, people are often known more for what they are against than what they are for. Unfortunately, this extends even into the church. We want to reach the lost with the incredible good news of Christ, but often all they ever hear us emphasize are the behaviors and attitudes we are against.

In this video Bible study (DVD/digital videos sold separately), pastor Jeff Henderson points out God is FOR the people in our world. He is FOR breaking down unnecessary barriers that keep people away from experiencing his love. And as his followers, he calls us to be spouses, parents, friends, leaders, and employees who do the same.

The Know What You’re FOR Study Guide includes video teaching notes, discussion questions, and weekly personal study and reflection questions.

Sessions include:

1. What Are You FOR?
2. FOR Your World
3. FOR Your Team
4. FOR Your Community
5. FOR Your Life

Designed for use with Know What You’re FOR Video Study (9780310119654); sold separately. Streaming video also available.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Jan 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9780310119647

Jeff Henderson

Jeff Henderson is an entrepreneur, speaker, pastor, and business leader. For seventeen years, he has led three of North Point Ministries' multisite locations in Atlanta, Georgia--Buckhead Church and two Gwinnett Church locations. He also helped launch North Point Online, which now reaches over 200,000 people. His bestselling book, Know What You're FOR, launched a movement in nonprofits around the world and has become a focal point for many businesses.  As the founder of the FOR Company, Jeff's aim is to help organizations build a good name where purpose and profit grow together. Jeff was recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of twenty speakers you shouldn't miss. Prior to working as a pastor, Jeff started his career in marketing with the Atlanta Braves, Callaway Gardens, Lake Lanier Islands, and Chick-fil-A, Inc., where he led the company's regional and beverage marketing strategies.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

I’ve spent a fair amount of my personal life and professional career trying to figure out what gets people’s attention and what makes things grow. As a former marketing executive, I’ve worked with organizations like the Atlanta Braves and Chick-fil-A to help them figure out the best way to grow in their businesses. As a pastor at Gwinnett Church in Atlanta, Georgia, I’ve spent time figuring out how we as a church can contribute to the growth of our community and respond to individuals who come through our doors every week . . . while also challenging them to grow. As a parent and a husband, I’m definitely concerned about how to foster a home environment that encourages growth within the context of our ever-evolving family life.

Now, if you forced me to describe growth in a simple way that everyone could understand, I would point you to two key questions that we are going to discuss in this study. The first is: What are you for? The second question is: What are you known for? My experience is that these two questions are the catalysts for growth in businesses, organizations, churches, and in our everyday lives. So, during the course of this study, we are going to discover how those two questions can grow our work lives, our relationships, our community, and our world.

But more important, we are going to take a look at who and what God is for. All too often, people know more about what Christians are against rather than what they are for. My hope is this study helps you change that narrative for those in your world who think the church—and thus God—is against them. The Bible is clear we are to love others, extend grace, and get along as much as possible . . . and our actions speak louder than our words. Just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions (Matthew 7:20 NLT).

Here’s the reason why I think this idea of being known for what you are FOR is so important: when you can articulate your answers to these two questions, it will not only grow your relationships, your business, your community, or your church, but it will also grow you and your influence as well. This is a revolutionary way to live and a powerful strategy for showing the world around you what you are for . . . and that you really are for them.

Jeff Henderson

HOW TO USE THIS STUDY

The Know What You’re FOR video study is designed to be experienced in a group setting such as a Bible study, Sunday school class, or any small group gathering. Each session begins with a welcome section, several questions to get you thinking about the topic, and a reading from the Bible. You will then watch a video with Jeff Henderson and engage in some small-group discussion. You will close each session with a time of personal reflection and prayer as a group.

Each person in the group should have a copy of this study guide. You may also want to have a copy of the Know What You’re FOR book, as reading it alongside the curriculum will provide you with deeper insights and make the journey more meaningful (for your professional life and for you personally). The For Next Week section at the end of each between-sessions personal study lists the chapters in the book that correspond to material you are covering.

To get the most out of your group experience, keep the following points in mind. First, the real growth in this study will happen during your small-group time. This is where you will process the content of the teaching for the week, ask questions, and learn from others as you hear what God is doing in their lives. For this reason, it is important for you to be fully committed to the group and attend each session so you can build trust and rapport with the other members. If you choose to only go through the motions, or if you refrain from participating, there is a lesser chance you will find what you are looking for during this study.

Second, remember the goal of your small group is to serve as a place where people can share, learn about God, and build intimacy and friendship. For this reason, seek to make your group a safe place. This means being honest about your thoughts and feelings and listening carefully to everyone else’s opinion. (Note that if you are a group leader, there are additional instructions and resources in the back of the book for leading a productive discussion group.)

Third, resist the temptation to fix a problem someone might be having or to correct his or her theology, as that’s not the purpose of your small-group time. Also, keep everything your group shares confidential. This will foster a rewarding sense of community in your group and create a place where people can heal, be challenged, and grow spiritually.

Following your group time, reflect on the material you have covered by engaging in any or all of the between-sessions activities. For each session, you may wish to complete the personal study in one sitting or spread it out over a few days (for example, working on it a half-hour a day on different days that week). If you are unable to finish (or even start!) your between-sessions personal study, you should still attend the group study video session. You are still wanted and welcome at the group even