Month: July 2013

Romand 5:1-5 // The Bible Series Wk 7

Introduction // 5 minutes

What has been the high point of your summer so far?

Leader Note: Allow time for everyone to answer this question. The more participation you can get from the beginning the better your chances are of having everyone participate all the way through!

 

Observation // 15 minutes

Read Romans 5:1-5

How is peace with God described in this passage?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • Being made right in His sight (v1)
  • Understanding that we justified by God’s work and not our own (v.1-2)
  • Standing in grace (v2)
  • The ability to rejoice/glory in trials and sufferings (v3)

What do you learn about suffering and trials from this passage?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • Enables us to share in God’s glory (v.2)
  • We have cause to rejoice when we encounter them (v.3)
  • They can develop endurance, strength, character and hope (v.4)
  • They may strengthen our hope (v.5)

Leader Note: The temptation at this point may be to go into personal stories and examples of times of suffering. Do your best to pull answers straight from the text. Looking at God’s word first helps direct conversation and sets up richer discussion and personal application.

Commentary: We have already received an eternal hope and salvation through the work of Jesus on the cross (v.1-2). However, we also live in a present reality where we experience suffering and trials. Suffering when viewed through the understanding of our eternal hope and peace provides us with tangible opportunities to grow in that hope and peace in the here and now.

This passage is so important because the misconception of Christianity sometimes is that life should be perfect, harmonious, without trials or tribulations once Christ has entered your life. This isn’t true, God says just the opposite – you will endure trials, they just don’t have to destroy you, instead you can gain strength in character that leads to hope.

 

Understanding // 20 minutes

Where have you seen suffering without hope?

Leader Note: From senseless acts of violence to natural disasters and disease our world is very much accustomed to suffering and trials. Lead your group to see that suffering outside of a hope in God leaves us confused, bitter, pessimistic and hopeless. On the other hand suffering with our hope in Christ in mind produces endurance and character.

Where have you seen suffering and hope coexist?

Leader Note: These questions will be easier to answer if you think of a particular person in your life facing a major struggle – describe how they see and are responding (responded) to that trouble.

 

Application // 20 minutes

What trial are you currently facing? How are you responding?

Leader Note: Listening is the key component at this point. Resist the urge from yourself and others to move into problem solving and advice giving. There’s beauty in honesty and in listening that is rooted in love and care for one another.

In addition to asking, “how are you responding,” you may also ask, “what is the trial producing or revealing in them” or “how has God shaped in a time of suffering.” Allow for honest answers as everyone may be in very different places.

Commentary: Some of your group members may be facing sickness, financial problems or trying to raise a troubled child. It is an amazing and yet difficult thought to consider that we are to glory in these troubles because of what they have the potential to produce in us.

 

Live It Out // 10 minutes

How might we become more effective in serving others by understanding suffering more fully?

Commentary: Jesus himself experienced trials and suffering (tempted in the wilderness, crucifixion). What he experienced, particularly through dessert temptations (Matthew 4:1-11) prepared Him for His ministry. An eternal perspective on suffering can help remove fear that my hold us back from fully giving ourselves away and increase our faith and trust in God’s leading.

Prayer: Our prayers are two fold this week. We want to pray for God to intervene, for Him to act and bring healing into our pain. We also want to pray that as we experience pain and trials that we can grow in endurance, character and ultimately hope. Often times, we only pray to God to fix something for us, but it makes such a big difference to believe that God cares, that He is walking through the problem with you, and that He will consistently give you strength to face the problem and mature you through the endurance process.

Jeremiah 29:4-14 // The Bible Wk 6

Date: July 20-21, 2013

Series: The Bible

Message: Daniel

Passage: Jeremiah 29:4-14

 

INTRODUCTION—5 MINUTES

 

Leader tip: The goal of this question is to get everyone in the group talking. Generally, if the leader models the answer the rest of the group will be more likely to engage.

What do you love about summer?

Answers you may hear:

  • Beach
  • Relationships
  • Baseball
  • No school
  • Movies
  • Summer concerts
  • Long days
  • Watermelon
  • The fair—chocolate covered bacon

 

OBSERVATION—20 MINUTES

 

Read: Jeremiah 29:4-14

Leader tip: Context for the passage—the people of Israel were exiled in Babylon. They were living in a land that was not their own. This displacement brought the Israelites to feel the heavy loss of their homes, wealth, identities, communities, traditions, cultures, lands, ability to defend themselves, hopes, and spiritual moorings.

 

According to the passage, how does God want us to live in a land that is not our own?

Live fully—Live as if it is our own city. 

Answers you may hear:

  • Seek prosperity
  • Marry and multiply
  • Plant gardens
  • Don’t forget who you are—the false prophets will tell you lies about what God wants or who He is: God is not faithful and He does not care for you. The longer you are in captivity, the greater the captivity of the lies.
  • God has not forgotten you—God has plans that include you.
  • Be for the people that you are living amongst
  • Pray for the peace of the city—peace for your captors. If they prosper, you prosper.

 

According to verses 10-14, what are we to do in difficult times?

Answers you may hear:

  • Seek God
  • Pray
  • Hold onto promises
  • Believe in God’s faithfulness
  • Listen
  • Stay true to the faith you have in God

 

UNDERSTANDING—20 MINUTES

 

Leader tip: these questions are posed with the understanding that we too are living in land that is not our own.

 

What things in the passage do we do well as people today?

Answers you may hear:

  • Live in the land well and settle in it as if it is our own.
  • Marry and have families
  • Consume
  • Pray for our own prosperity

 

What are we not doing well?

Answers you may hear:

  • We do not pray for peace because we ourselves are creating division.
  • In difficult times we don’t hold onto God’s plans for us.
  • Plant
  • Pray for our city’s prosperity
  • We don’t seek the Lord with all of our hearts.

 

APPLICATION—20 MINUTES

 

In difficult times, what do you struggle to hold onto?

Leader tip: It can be easy to question the promises God has made in Jeremiah 29 when life gets hard. Describe a time when it was not your first inclination to trust God’s faithfulness. How did this affect your experience?

 

Answer you may hear:

When I was going through my divorce, I turned bitter and angry at God for allowing this to happen to me. I felt abandoned by and isolated from everything I trusted. I can see now how God was clearly with me through that entire struggle, but I definitely lost hope when I felt my dreams were ripped away from me.

 

I entered a very dark place in the wake of a devastating miscarriage. I had been so hopeful and joyful in anticipation of the gift I was being given, that having it taken away felt like the deepest betrayal. I felt like I had nothing in my life to ease the pain and sunk into depression. Without God, I was alone.

 

Describe a time when you have held the principles from this passage well.

Leader tip: Believing and trusting that God is with you and will remain faithful to His promises changes our posturing towards difficult times. How has God shown up when you called on Him in times of crisis?

 

Answers you may hear:

My son got in with a rough crowd during high school. Restless and rebellious, he got in over his head with drugs and alcohol. I was terrified for him, but I remember realizing that I had to hand him over to God on some very specific altars. I trusted God had a plan for my son that was for his good, and I clung to the promises He gave me. God rescued and restored my son in a way I could never have done.

 

When I got diagnosed with cancer, I realized I had a choice to make: I could lose myself in fear and self-pity, or I could grasp ahold of the promises God made me and fight for my life. The act of turning to God and believing in His greater plan gave me a sense of personal agency in a powerless situation. When I am weak, He is truly my strength.

 

What is God asking you to hold onto from this passage?

 

LIVE IT OUT—10 MINUTES

 

What if we engaged our communities the way God has asked and prayed for our cities?

 

Pray over your group.

 

Almighty and faithful God, thank You for not abandoning us in exile. Thank You for the knowledge that when the situations in our lives strip us of our identity and our security we can have peace by grasping ahold of the promises You have given us. You enter the dark places and rescue us from where we have wandered. You have remained faithful and true to Your promises in all the seasons of our lives. We see that You have fully devoted Yourself to Your people and remain steadfast when they are lost. Stay with us, make Your presence clear. Help us to see the validity and reality of Your goodness. Fill us with gratitude that we don’t have to live this life alone. 

Psalm 23 // The Bible Wk 5

Date: 7/13-14

Series: The Bible

Passage: Psalm 23

 

Introduction – 5 minutes

 

Describe a time when you were selected to do something that you felt unqualified for.

 

Observation – 15 minutes

 

Read Psalm 23

 

What are some of the qualities in the passage that describe David’s relationship with God?

 

Leader Note: While this passage may be familiar to your group lead them to see the that these statements of David’s dependence on God created character and discipline which in part qualified him to live out his calling as King of Israel later in life.

 

Some answers may include..

  • David trusted God (v. 1)
  • David was dependent on God’s leading (v.2-3)
  • David spent time with God (v. 2-3)
  • David committed to God’s path (v. 3)
  • David acknowledged but did not fear evil (v. 4)
  • David had a heart of gratitude (v. 5)
  • David saw the bigger picture (v. 6)

 

Understanding – 20 Minutes

 

What qualities does our world look to when selecting someone for a position of power or influence?

 

Leader Note: Be it education, strong work ethic or physical appearance; lead your group to eventually see that most of the qualities we look to are based on a set of measurable and visible value.

 

Where have you seen “unqualified” people make an impact in the world around them?

 

What qualities did those people possess?

 

Commentary: As it was with David it’s not always the obvious or outward qualities that enable us to be used by God (1 Samuel 16:7).  David set a disciplined foundation of trust on God from an early age, which established his character and enabled him to live out God’s call on his life.

 

Application – 20 minutes

 

What qualities are you most in need of to carry out your calling/purpose?

 

Leader Note: You may wish to refer your group back to weeks 6 and 7 of Rooted and the discussion on purpose. Ask them to state what they believe their God intended purpose is (if the are able to identify it). 

 

Sample answers may include…

  • Courage
  • Belief that God’s spirit will empower
  • Trust to know that He is in control and will lead me
  • Gratitude

 

What does it look like to live out your calling without those characteristics?

 

Sample answers may include…

  • Fear
  • Comparing to others
  • Obligation versus joyful service
  • Prideful belief in my own ability

 

What does it look like to live out your calling with those characteristics?

 

Leader Note: As we head into the fall season you may also want to use these questions to prompt your group to consider what collective purpose God is calling you to live out as a community. We believe that God does some of His best work through community and that He has a specific purpose for your group to engage.

 

Live It Out – 10 minutes

 

How might others be impacted if you began to live out your calling through God’s strength versus your own ability?

 

Prayer: Father I thank you that in your gracious wisdom you call us all to express your kingdom through our lives. I thank you for every calling and purpose represented not only through the individuals of this group but also through the collective purpose of this group. Give us ears to hear your voice and courage through the power of your Holy Spirit to respond as you lead us this week

 

Joshua 5:13-15, 6:1-20 // The Bible Wk 4

Date: July 6-7, 2013

Series: The Bible

Passage: Joshua 5:13-15, 6:1-20

 

 INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES

 

Do you have a story of a time when you overcame a fear? How did you feel after?

 

 OBESERVATION–20 MINUTES

 

Read Joshua 5:13, 6:1-20

 

What do you learn about courage from the passage?

 

Leader Note:  As a reminder, do not read these comments to your group.  These comments and notes are for you, as a leader, to help facilitate through the questions.  You are to help your group observe the passages and discuss their findings in God’s Word.  The sample answers are for you if your group gets stuck, read one and then tell them to look further into the passage. 

 

Commentary

  • The Israelites were a wandering people.  They had no great tools or strategies for war.  Jericho was a “fortified city” built specifically to ward off intruders. They had all the tools, ability and knowledge to do just that.
  • Courage here took faith to trust in God’s promise. (In 6:2 God told Joshua that He would deliver Jericho into his hands. Joshua still needed to take action)
  • Courage takes obedience
  • It required dependence on God’s strength versus dependence on human wisdom and strength

 

What does Joshua’s obedience ultimately reveal about God?

 

Commentary

  • He is faithful to His promise
  • He uses things that appear weak or foolish to carry out His will
  • God doesn’t “take sides.”  He invites Joshua to join Him.  Joshua doesn’t invite God to “his” side to accomplish “his” will (5:13-15)
  • God wasn’t looking for Joshua’s skill or strength to accomplish His will
  • He is looking for obedience and dependence

 

UNDERSTANDING-20 MINUTES

 

What’s the most courageous act you’ve ever witnessed?

 

Sample answers may include:

  • Someone rescuing a person from drowning
  • A firefighter charging into a burning building
  • Watching a friend complete a triathlon
  • A single mother working 3 jobs to provide for her children

 

What would you say are some of the key components that made those acts so courageous?

 

Sample answers may include:

  • Boldness
  • A clear and sizeable obstacle was present
  • Disregard for personal safety
  • Strong sense of personal strength and self confidence
  • Ability to put a set of knowledge and training into action
  • A belief in your ability to “get it done”

 

Leader Note: The aim of these questions is to highlight the fact that courage is almost always associated with strength.  Be it moral, mental or physical, strength and courage typically go hand in hand.

 

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a courageous act?

 

Sample answers may include:

  • Being pulled from car accident
  • Having someone pay off your financial debt, no strings attached

 

What words would you use describe your state before being “rescued” through that courageous act?

 

Sample answers may include:

  • Helpless
  • Stuck
  • Trapped
  • Powerless

 

Leader Note: Lead your group to see that there are moments in life where our strength and ability become obsolete.  There are times when we are truly helpless and need someone else to pull us out.

 

APPLICATION-20 MINUTES

 

What are obstacles you are currently facing?

 

How are you responding to those obstacles?

 

Leader Note: When faced with an obstacle most of us tend to respond out of our own resource and abilities.  We often think the most courageous thing is to show off our resolve and press through with our strength.

 

How might God be calling you to a different courageous response?

 

Leader Note: Like Joshua the most courageous thing we can do is to trust in God’s strength and allow Him to do the “heavy lifting” as we obey, follow and trust in His promise.

 

What do you need to surrender in order to trust in God’s strength?

 

Sample answers may include:

  • Control
  • Dependence on my ability
  • My desire to be my own rescuer
  • A belief that my strength is what makes the difference

 

 LIVE IT OUT – 5 MINUTES

 

What might change in our lives and communities if we began to embrace and partner with God’s strength?

 

 

Prayer: Father I thank you that you are faithful.  I ask that you help us to embrace your strength in moments where we feel the need to act in our own power.  I pray that you would give us courage to obey your word and faith to know that it is you who accomplishes your will in our lives.  Please continue to show us what it means to partner with you in that process as we surrender to all of who you are.