Month: June 2013

Exodus 3 // The Bible Wk 3

DATE: 6/28-6/29

SERIES: The Bible

PASSAGE: Exodus 3:11-15; 18-22; 4:1-5

 

INTRODUCTION—5 MINUTES

What did you want to be as a kid?

Leader tip: Throughout this lesson we will see the ways God develops or changes our small dreams to reflect His calling.

 

OBSERVATION—20 MINUTES

Leader tip:

Background on Moses to this point:

Moses’ parents knew from birth that he was no ordinary child (Hebrews 11:23) and Moses grew up with the knowledge that God was calling him to great things. Moses had a sense that God’s hand was on him; He knew he must deliver the Israelites out of slavery.

Moses attempted to live out God’s call using his own power and murdered an Egyptian (Acts 7:24). He thought that his own people would recognize God’s call on his life, but they did not.

Moses had a willful heart, but God needed to build his character. God lead him to the wilderness where he learned humility and surrendered to the sovereignty of God. He became a Sheppard, got married, had children, took no pleasure in sin, and began to question whether he misinterpreted God’s call.

 

Read Exodus 3:11-15; 18-22

 

Who does Moses believe he is?

Leader tip: As we have learned in this series, when God issues a calling, the recipient reacts in both faith and fear. Where do you see Moses reacting in fear to Gods command? Why does Moses doubt His calling?

  • Just a Sheppard
  • A murderer
  • An exile
  • Not worthy
  • A flawed leader- a person with no authority
  • Weak, small, frail, broken.

 

Who does God say He is?

  • Yahweh—I am—the name of the Deliverer
  • Provider—I am all things you are not; I am all you need
  • Greater than any god—All the gods of Egypt are not God because I am.

 

Who does the Pharaoh believe he is?

God. Pharaohs acted as undisputed rulers of the world for 1500 years.

 

Read Exodus 4:1-5

 

What do you learn about God’s call to his people?

Leader tip: When God issues a call, He provides all we need. God does not need us and our power because He divinely orchestrates all things.

All you need is in your hand

 

What is in Moses’ hand? What does this item represent?

Leader tip: what Moses is truly holding is his small dream. He doubts his call and his own ability to see the monumental task through.

Sheppard staff

  • Identity- who I am.
  • Income—what I do
  • Influence—authority over the flock

 

What must Moses do with his staff—his Identity, Income, and Influence?

He has to throw it down.

 

Why must he throw it down?

Leader tip: In this insight, you have the message: God takes a dead thing and he makes it living. When we see God work, dead things become living. We know the future of this staff—it will part the red sea, lead military victory, strike a rock to release water, touch the river and turn it to blood. In our hands, dead things stay useless and lifeless, but God brings life to all things.  

 

 

UNDERSTANDING—20 MINUTES

 

What are some key places people find their identity? Influence? Income?

  • Work
  • Family
  • Bank accounts
  • Possessions
  • Vanity
  • Personalities—am I funny, attractive, smart?
  • Where you live
  • Education
  • Role in the family
  • How they are viewed by opposite sex

 

What are the barriers to laying them down?

  • Pride
  • Cultural influence
  • Insecurity—will I be liked?
  • Fear of failure
  • We think, “This is all that I have, I can’t give it up”

 

When have you seen someone lay down their identity, income, or influence for God to use?

Answers you may hear:

My coworker was devastated by a work transition where he had to yield to an ineffectual leader. He felt like he was passed over for a promotion, but he trusted God to honor him in his new posture of support and service.

In the wake of a divorce, my friend had to grapple with the idea that he may lose his children. He had to hand them over to Christ, the true father of his children, and trust that God had a greater plan.

 

 

APPLICATION—20 MINUTES

 

When has God asked you to lay down your staff for his purpose?

Leader tip: Find the stories of death, burial and resurrection. What has God called you to lay down in the past? What has he called you to trust him with?

 

What did God do?

Leader tip: Another way to ask this: What was the resurrection? Were you made better for the sacrifice? What was made living as a result of your release and obedience?

 

LIVE IT OUT—

 

What would happen if you laid down the staff?

Leader tip: Have each person who shared declare what they are laying down before the Lord so that he can bring it to life.

Statement:

I am laying down __________________ and picking up ______________________.

Examples:

  • I am laying down having control of money and picking up a generous life.
  • I am laying down my position and picking up obedience.
  • I am laying down my stubbornness and picking up humility.
  • I am laying down money and picking up purpose.
  • I am laying down comfort and picking up a risky dream.

 

What would happen if we let go of small dreams in order to embrace God’s great dream for us?

Genesis 3:1-9, 12-17 // The Bible Wk 2

INDRODUCTION–5 MINUTES

When is the moment you thought, “I am officially an adult?”

Leader Tip: This lesson focuses on the points of decision that separate the way things were from the way things are. In the shift between the beginning and the present there is always a point when things changed. Get people to talk about moments. Ex: The moment I moved out. The moment I first bought toilet paper.

 

OBSERVATION—20 MINUTES

Read Genesis 3:1-9 12-17

 

How is Eden depicted?

  • Utopia—characterized by order and beauty
  • Everything was peaceful—life was harmonious
  • Humans were walking with God
  • Adam and Eve—perfect relationship with each other
  • Stewards over creation
  • Shalom, the way things are meant to be

 

How does Satan entice Adam and Eve to sin?

 

Leader tip—Coach your group to see these three devices Satan uses:

  1. He denies God’s truthfulness—God is lying to you. “You will not certainly die.”
  2. He denies God’s goodness—God is withholding the things you deserve. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened.”
  3. He denies our need for God—We can have God’s power. “You will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

 

 

What are the results of giving into temptation?

 

Shame—Before sin there is total innocence. Adam and Eve were completely unaware of themselves and were unconcerned with the perspectives of others. The first thing we do after the fall is to look at ourselves. “They realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”

Hiding—Adam and Eve cover themselves and run from God. “I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Blame—Adam points fingers and does not accept responsibility for his passivity and compliance. “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

 

UNDERSTANDING—20 MINUTES

 

How are people today tempted to doubt God’s truthfulness? God’s goodness? Their own need for God?

 

Truthfulness—

You may hear examples like:

  •  Denying or rebelling against consequences
  • We make excuses by labeling truth, “intolerant”
  • We decide truth for ourselves
  • We claim:
    • “It doesn’t hurt anybody else.”
    • “I have freedom of choice.”
    • “It is my body and my happiness.”

 

Goodness—

You may hear examples like:

 

  • We think that if God is good, He would want us to have things like satisfaction, pleasure, and contentment. We are inclined to justify all things.
  • Suspicion:
    • If God is so good, why are there people who are hurting?
    • If God is not good, then I don’t have to believe him.
  • If we feel like God is ignoring our prayers.

 

Need for God—

You may hear examples like:

  • If we don’t need God, we are the center of our own lives.
  • We get to be our own gods—we decide what we want and make decisions based on what we think is best
  • We think we don’t need to be dependent on God or be humbled before him
  • We feel entitled to our own sense of power

 

Can you think of a time when you saw someone tempted to believe that God is not truthful, good, and needed?

 

Leader tip—We are still looking out into the world around us. How have the people in your group seen how Satan tempts those around them with pernicious lies about God?

 

You may hear answers like:

 

My family struggled to remember the goodness of God when my uncle died. Our church community had rallied around us in his illness, earnestly praying with us for him to be restored. When he died, it felt like a betrayal from God. It was easy to question our own faith.

 

My friend was at the top of the corporate world. He had worked to build himself a kingdom that he could control. Consequently, his pride caused him to disregard the blessings God had bestowed on his life. He was the god over his possessions.

 

 

How do we struggle with shame, hiding, and blame in the wake of sin?

Some answers you might hear:

  • Indignant that God doesn’t bless us
  • We don’t take responsibility—fight for control
  • Mask our shame—possessions, image management, superstructures of control
  • Healthy shame
  • We run from God—Avoid, deny, spiral into addiction

 

APPLICATION—20 MINUTES

 

Describe a time when you trusted in the truthfulness, goodness, and necessity of God in your own life.

 

Leader tip—because of the fall, we are all tempted to disobey the commands of God. We think that we know better, deserve more, or don’t need Him, but there are times when we choose to see the lies of the serpent and run into the arms of God. Think of a time when you chose faithfulness over temptation. What did God prove about his own power and compassion in that season?

 

 

How do the truthfulness, goodness, and need for God help us explain suffering in the world?

Leader tip—Understanding the transformation of the creation story helps us to see why there is hardship, corruption, broken marriages, injustice, pain and death. As a consequence of the fall, there will always be pain in the world. Believing in the truthfulness, goodness, and need for God encourages us to remember the redemption of the gospel. The God of all creation rebuilds and restores all things that sin works to destroy; he is the only hope.

 

Pray over your group

Our gracious God, thank you for the story of your Creation. We eagerly await the day when we will be free from the bondage of sin and are able to fully engage in perfect relationship. Enter into the places where we pragmatically participate in sin. Help us to shed light on the ways we are enticed by evil, where we buy into the lies that cause us to doubt about your love for us. We live in a fallen world, but do not allow us to hide with our shame. Help us to remember the ways that you have been faithful and encourage us to trust in your guidance and authority. Help us to overcome temptation, so that we may bear your image in a broken world.

 

 

LIVE IT OUT—5 MINUTES

How would the world be different if we fully embraced our need for the truth and goodness of God and invited Him into the places where we hide and blame others for our shame?

 

Hebrews 11:8-19 // The Bible Wk 1

 

Date: June 15-16, 2013

Series: The Bible

Message: Father’s Day

Passage: Hebrews 11 8-19

 

INTRODUCTION–5 MINUTES

 

Who are all the TV dad’s you remember?

Leader Note: In light of father’s day, we are looking to honor dads by naming the people who have influenced our ideas of good fathers.

Answers you may hear:

  • Tim Allen 
  • Bob Saget on Full House
  •  Bill Cosby
  • Sandy Cohen from The OC
  • Red from That 70’s Show
  • Michael Bluth from Arrested Development
  • Mr. Brady
  • Mr Cunningham
  • Archie Bunker

OBSERVATION–20 MINUTES

 

Read Hebrews 11 8-19

 

What do you learn about faith?

Look for these four characteristics:

 

1. What are the challenges issued by God?

  • Call to go—Abraham must leave his country.
  • Call to believe—Abraham’s wife was barren, he was called to believe that they would have a child in old age.
  • Call to sacrifice his son Isaac.

2. What is Abraham’s response in the face of each challenge? Faith or fear?

Leader note—When we face complex or daunting challenges, a natural human response is fear. Abraham showcases how the influence of our belief in our own scarcity effects our choices. When a challenge is placed before us, we must make a choice to react with either fear or faith. Discuss the fear/faith dichotomy in Abraham’s choices.  

Answers you may hear:

Call to go—

     a. Fear—Abraham is simply called to “go”, he does not know where or when. This means leaving behind his security, his comfort zone, the people he knows, and his way of life. 

    His fears are:

  • I will be alone
  • I will be a foreigner
  •  I will not know where to go

     b. Faith—He obeys. Abraham goes without knowing where to go. The opposite of faith is sight; He goes without seeing because he trusts God’s sovereignty.

Call to believe—

     a. Fear—Abraham and Sarah’s fears are rooted in giving birth at such a late life stage

  • Physical—whether they will survive and be healthy
  • Emotional—whether they will have the energy and vitality to raise a child

     b. Faith—Since Abraham wholeheartedly believes God would take could take care of his child, he chooses faith over fear. He believes all things are possible with God. 

Call to Sacrifice—

     a. Fear—If he sacrifices his only son, he would have no heir.

     b. Faith—Abraham thoroughly believed God would raise Isaac from the dead.  He makes the courageous choice to believe in resurrection, though God was asking him to do the      impossible.

 

3. What is God’s response?

Answer you may hear:

God is faithful and fulfills his promises. He took Abraham’s fear of scarcity and gave him abundant blessings because of his faith. His courageousness is honored by a God who follows through on all he has promised.

God provides the land He promised Abraham, an heir–though Sarah was past child-bearing age, and the Lamb to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place.

 

4. What is the result?

Faith is strengthened and grows! 

 

 

UNDERSTANDING–20 MINUTES

 

On what self-serving altars do people sacrifice their families?

Leader tip: In light of father’s day, we are focusing on families, but if you have a group of singles, tweak the question to ask  “on what self-serving altars do you sacrifice your responsibilities?” Ideas: purity, integrity, morals, etc.

These are questions of scarcity vs abundance. They touch on our fears that say, “If I do not do this, God will not provide.”

People frequently place important things and people on altars, this question simply stresses which alters we turn toward. When we say altar, we mean the self-serving platforms that we should sacrifice for the benefit of our own families.

Answers you may hear:

  • Success—climbing the corporate ladder
  • Indulgence—having an affir, addiction, material possessions
  • Money
  • Purpose
  • Identity
  • Image

 

What keeps them from offering their family on the altar of God?

Leader note: Abraham offered his son on God’s alter of obedience. A person who sacrifices on the alter of God altar is one who engages in relationship, embraces their family without image management, gives time, kindness, and character to their family. What keeps people from being this kind of father?

 

 

APPLICATION–20 MINUTES

 

What challenge is God putting before you?

Leader tip: rephrased: what challenge in your life is making you question, “will God provide?”

 

What is your response: faith or fear?

 Leader tip—Pay special attention to body language in response to these questions. You can observe God’s work in people. Who gets it? Who is self-righteous? flinches? Leaders, observe where God is moving in your group.

There was a time when Abraham submitted to his fear over his faith:

 Story of Haagar—Abraham believed that God’s promise to grant his family a child was impossible. Abraham’s faith was based on his sight—he believed Sarah was too old to bare a child so he took matters into his own hands and impregnated his wife’s servant Haagar. His attitude said “I will solve the problem myself because I cannot trust God to provide”

 

What is your Haagar plan? Where are you operating in scarcity?

Leader tip: Where are you operating in fear?

 

What is your God plan? 

Leader tip: Where are you operating in faith?

 

LIVE IT OUT–5 MINUTES

 

Prayer—

This week, have each person to pray for themselves by placing their challenge in the blank. “God help me to be fearless this week by facing  ______________________ and trusting that You will provide.”

Colossians 4:2-6 // Christian? Wk 9

Date:  June 8-9, 2013

Message:  Your Story Matters!!

Passage: Colossians 4:2-6

 

INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES

What is your all-time favorite movie? Why?

 

Leader tip: We are attracted to good stories; encourage the speaker to express why they were captivated by the story specifically. Perhaps ask them to recount a memorable scene. Be listening for themes of salvation and redemption.

 

Read Colossians 4:3-6

 

What is Paul requesting prayer for?

  • Proclaim clearly; Speak plainly
  • That God may open doors
  • Courage
  • Discernment
  • Grace that we may know how to answer everyone
  • Speak truth
  • Self-awareness
  • Wisdom of how to treat others
  • Grace
  • To make the most of his opportunities

 

According to Paul, what should our conversations look like?

  • Full of grace
  • Honoring to the other person
  • Posture of listening

 

Leader tip: Guide your group to recognize the vital role prayer plays when telling their story. A stigma against Christians is that they are unapologetically preachy, but Paul encourages us to pray for discernment on when to listen and speak, and how to be intimately connected to our own story.

Sharing pieces of your testimony with nonbelievers is a spiritual act, it requires submission to prayer before it is engaged in.

OBSERVATION –20 MINUTES

When have you seen people tell their story and it has not been well received?

 

Leader Tip: By story we are referring to moments in your life were God has clearly intervened and revealed something about his character to you.  It may be the moment you initially came to faith or it may be at another point in your journey with Him where you relied on Him and He came through.

 

Answers you may hear:

  • Guys on the street corner with John 3:16 signs
  • Testimonies or evangelism that are forced with no relationship or conversation
  • Mass Evangelism
  • Episodes of inappropriate timing:
  • at parties
  • funerals—misguided or insincere comfort

 

In opposition, when have you seen people tell their story and it has been well received?

Answers you may hear:

  • During times of God’s prompting
  • The homeless gentleman by the side of the road, the woman behind you in line at the grocery store, the family at the campsite next to yours, etc.
  • People that you have a relationship with; they view you as a safe source to bridge questions with. They know that you are a Christian by how they have seen you act.
  • Ex: Guys you play basketball with, your childhood friends, your neighbors, etc. They are prompted to ask, “what makes you different?”

 

 What characteristics mark the difference between ill and well-received stories?

 

Leader tip: Coach your group to see the value of listening. Often times we devalue the importance of prayer, context, and relationship.

Goals in sharing a story of faith:

Listen to the speaker in order to find the intersections where your story and experience cross theirs. When you connect with the listener in this way, it gives your interaction meaning.

You are a good steward of your story when you are using wisdom to seek out the questions behind another person’s story.

Be wise, and share stories that are holy-spirit driven through appropriateness and relevancy.

 

APPLICATION–20 MINUTES

 

How do you feel about telling your story to someone else?

 

Leader tip: Encourage your group to see the patterns or insecurities that prevent them from sharing their story with others. Help them to recognize that their story does not have to be intense to have an impact.

Many people:

Don’t believe they have a significant story

Compare the impact value of their story to others 

They devalue their own story

If you shared your story in Rooted, what was your experience?

 

Leader tip: Have your group look back and identify what their expections were and whether they were met or not?

 

Who are the people you feel called to share your story with?

 

Leader tip: This may be an instance of God’s prompting that they have been brushing off or are eagerly working towards.

 

Prayer:

Our gracious God, we come before you humbled and thankful that we do not have to do life alone. We are thankful that you have surrounded us with people and opportunities to share stories of your faithfulness and glory. Give us hearts that long to understand, value, and communicate our own story with hurting and broken people, that they may see the redemption you bring to those who suffer. We pray that your Holy Spirit will enlighten us with the wisdom to know when to listen, when to speak, and when to share our story.  Make us aware of the wounds we share with the people we interact with and show us the areas where our stories intersect theirs. Give us the strength and the courage to bestow your loving kindness on our brothers and sisters. Amen

 

LIVE IT OUT–20 MINUTES

 

This week, share some of your story of faith with one person.

Leader tip: For those in your group who are apprehensive to share their story, remind them that this exercise is about planting the seeds of faith, not attempting to lead people through to conversion. Listen well, speak wisely.

 

Prayer:

Our gracious God, we come before you humbled and thankful that we do not have to do life alone. We are thankful that you have surrounded us with people and opportunities to share stories of your faithfulness and glory. Give us hearts that long to understand, value, and communicate our own story with hurting and broken people, that they may see the redemption you bring to those who suffer. We pray that your Holy Spirit will enlighten us with the wisdom to know when to listen, when to speak, and when to share our story.  Make us aware of the wounds we share with the people we interact with and show us the areas where our stories intersect theirs. Give us the strength and the courage to bestow your loving kindness on our brothers and sisters. Amen

Leader Challenge: Open your group next week by following up with the challenge of sharing their story. Collect accounts of experiences and share them with your life group directors.

Titus 3:1-10 // Christian? Wk 8

Date:                  June 1-2, 2013

Series:               Christian?

Message:          I Quit

Passage:          Titus 3:1-10

 

 

INTRODUCTION – 10 MINUTES

 

What is something you have quit in your life, maybe a job or a habit? How did it feel and why did you do it?

          

Leader note: This should be a fun and easy question because we can readily call to mind things we have tried and quit because we realized they were not good for us or we just needed to change things up in our life. This helps us to see that we can change and do things differently.

 

Leader note: This is our last week in the series “Christian?”.  We want to capture what it means to be a Christ follower and love like Jesus so that the world can know we are His disciples by our love.

 

OBSERVATION – 15 MINUTES

 

Read Titus 3:1-10 

 

What are things we are to quit and what are things we are not to quit?

 

Commentary: (some of the answers your group should find)

 

         To quit: quarrelling, speaking evil of others, malice, envy, hatred, foolish controversies, dissensions, quarreling, creating division

 

       Not to quit: Obedience to the laws that govern us, submission/obedience to authorities, readiness to help others and do good works, gentle, hospitable, courtesy toward all people, devotion to good works

 

UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES

 

Where have you seen Christians either quit the wrong things or ignore quitting the things God tells us to abstain from.  What is the result? 

 

Leader note: The purpose of this question is to look at things in the lives of Christians that need to be let go of so that we can live and love like Christ. Going back to the passage in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” There are things in our lifes that we need to quit so that we can fully embrace loving one another. Sometimes we have to learn to love ourselves by quitting some of these habits.

 

Commentary: (some of the answers your group should find)

  • People who say they are Christian but are always gossiping.
  • People who are angry, envious, or jealous of others find it difficult to love others and want good for them.
  • People who claim to be Christian but argue about everything with everyone – no wants to be around them or hear about Jesus.
  • People who don’t make any life style changes when they become a Christian (i.e., they still hang out in bars and get drunk; they don’t change their moral behavior, etc.); people don’t see them as any different with Christ as before and conclude as a result that they don’t think they need Christ.
  • Christians quit associating with anyone who is not a believer and then cannot share the love of Jesus with others.

 

 

APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES

 

Leader note: The focus of the questions now shifts to us – what do we need to quit in order to live so the world would see us as different in a positive way.

 

 

What are one or two things you need to quit?

 

Commentary: You will likely get a variety of answers to this question.

Help each person focus on something they can tangibly quit and how it will make a difference in their life and how others see Christ in them. You may want to revisit week 5 of your Rooted Book and talk about how strongholds impact our ability to quit some things in our lives.

 

Have the group pray for each person and what they want to quit; you may want to have accountability partners available for the week to pray and support and to check in with each other to see how it is going.

 

As we move towards quitting these things, we begin changing and we need to remember it is the power of the Holy Spirit living within us which gives us the power to quit and to love others and to pursue the good works God has set out before us to do.

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

This passage helps us to remember why we are able to do good works. We do not want our lives to be driven by works alone, but rather to prayerfully consider how we are to live and what we are to do: to be able to love one another and those around us in a tangible way such that they see Jesus.

 

As you wrap up this week and the series “Christian,” what are the things in your life which inhibit your ability to love like Jesus?

 

Commentary: You may get any of these responses:

  • Busyness/overcommitted.
  • Not wanting to overstep — etiquette – formality.
  • Lack of real relationship – for whatever reason.
  • Doing things out of obligation, not from the heart.
  • A judging heart.
  • Not quitting things that need to be quit.
  • Legalism
  • Thinking it won’t matter or it is not my job.
  • Pride.
  • Fear of being hurt or rejected.

 

There may be some confusion about loving like Jesus did. Some people may get stuck on serving each other rather than the bigger picture. The bigger picture is a relationship that brings glory to Jesus – makes Him known, if you will. The way we live our lives makes Jesus visible to those around us.

 

Where is it easy and where is it more challenging?

 

 

 

LIVE IT OUT

 

What if we Quit and loved like Jesus…what would the world around us see?

Leader tip: This last question is designed to help you have a three or four minute discussion around the overall message this week, leaving the group with a challenge and things to think about from your discussion.

 

 

 

How will you live differently because of the series: Christian?

 

Leader tip: You can also ask this as “How will your daily life be different as a follower of Christ from this series?”

 

Pray over your group at the end of the session: Thank Jesus for the humble, sacrificial love he has freely given us. Pray that we live life differently because of His sacrifice and that we not only love the world but also that our relationships with other Christ followers would be like Jesus’ love for us – limitless and sacrificial. Pray that Jesus be glorified and be made known by the way we love each other. Pray that our love for each other is authentic and reflects our relationship with Christ. Seek God’s wisdom and direction so that we may mend broken relationships, engage in real relationships with other Christ followers and love humbly and honestly.  Help us to live in truth and grace. Give us hearts that love each other as Christ loves us.