Worship / Leader Guide week of 11-30-08

Small Group Leaders Guide
November 30, 2008

Series: Go Big
Message: Worship A Big God

Getting Started:
1. Describe for your group, what it might look like for you to “dance with all your might.” Demonstrate if necessary.

Going Deeper:
2. Read 2Samuel 6:12-15. What got into King David that made him start dancing? What is likely to happen if you made such a public display? Read verse 16.

3. Share some of your favorite verses that point to how “big” God is.

• Romans 8:31-39
• Genesis 1:1
• Psalm 19
• Psalm 33
• Psalm 103
• Revelation 21:1-7
• Luke 9:43
• Philippians 3:4-8
• 1Chronicles 29:14

4. In 1Chronicles 22:6-8, God wouldn’t allow David to build the temple because “you have shed much blood and have fought many wars.” And we all know about the Bathsheba incident! Yet, in 1Samuel 13:14, David is described as a man after God’s own heart. How can someone with blood on his hands and adultery in his heart be a man after God’s own heart? What does it take to be a person after God’s own heart? What doesn’t it take?

• If David is the example, we can easily see that we don’t have to be perfect people to be used by God.
• Even though David made big mistakes, he was repentant and willing to be corrected.

5. What is worship? What definition would you find in a dictionary for worship?

• Two words that are common in definitions for worship are “adoration” and “devotion.”

6. In the life of David we see worship as a common thread. Read Psalm 63. How does David show a heart of worship in this psalm? When do you long for God the most?

7. When do you feel most worshipful? Is there a certain verse, passage, song, etc that really helps you come into God’s presence with a heart of worship? Share that with your group.


Putting it into practice:
8. Are you in a “dry and weary land” in some sense right now? What do you think David would suggest if you could ask him for advice? What would members of your small group suggest?

Quote Of The Week:
God is not safe, and He will not be squeezed into some neat, respectable Sunday discussion. God in a box – with a little package of hot sauce and a toy surprise. No. To know God at all is to watch Him explode any box we put Him in with His terror, majesty, and indescribable wonder.
--James MacDonald

"Baptizing them..."

Let's praise God! More than twice as many people were baptized this year than last year at our church. On Sunday, six more people were baptized.

Click here for photos of the baptism

Before I perform a baptism, I always bring the "baptizees" together to explain to them what they can expect when they come into the water.
The best part of our short visit together is when I ask them two questions:

1. What has brought you to this point in your life?
2. What does being baptized today mean to you?

God is doing powerful things in our church. Hearing these people talk about the ways God is moving in their lives and drawing them closer to Him is inspiring to say the least.

Their stories are God's stories.

1Samuel 17 / Leader Guide week of 11-23-08

Small Group Leaders Guide
November 23, 2008

Series: Go Big
Message: Take On A Giant
1Samuel 17

Getting Started:
1. Who’s the tallest person you know?

Going Deeper:
2. As you read through this chapter, what do you think David’s perspective is of the battle between the Philistines and Israel? Why do you think he looks at it that way?

• According to verse 26, David sees the battle as one between uncircumcised Philistines and the armies of the living God.
• David sees this battle as belonging to God Himself. (See verse 47) I wonder if some of the battles we fight are God’s and we haven’t realized.

3. In verse 33 Saul makes a judgment about David’s fighting ability. Continue reading through verse 37. How does David correct Saul? Do you think there are foundational differences between David’s and Saul’s perspective of the battle? Describe them.

• David tells Saul about all the times God helped him in the past. He also points to the armies of Israel as being God’s army.
• David gives credit to God, not only for past deliverances but for the one he anticipates here as well.

4. In verse 11, fear strikes Saul and the armies of Israel. How has fear kept you from taking on a challenge? Read Philippians 4:7. Do you think God calls us to face giant obstacles through our fear or in the absence of fear?

5. In verses 38-40, Saul dresses David in armor and gives him a sword for battle. Was this helpful for David? When you have faced giant challenges in your life, have you ever fought a battle with the “wrong gear?” Describe what happened.

6. Read Romans 8:31-39. There’s no question here. Just read Romans 8:31-39.

• Romans 8:31 What then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

7. Why did David have such great faith? Read verses 34-37. How has God’s past work in your life increased your hope, expectation and faith in Him?

Putting it into practice:
8. Are you facing a giant right now? Share with your small group and pray for each other.

Quote Of The Week:
Jesus holds the answers to all of the everyday problems that you face. I am talking about an acceptance and belief in Jesus, heaven, and God. I guess you can deal with your problems on your own without these beliefs, but it’s much, much tougher. With those beliefs, you realize how insignificant the budget deficit debate is in comparison with the big picture.
--Rush Limbaugh

1Samuel 16 / Leader Guide week of 11-16-08

Small Group Leaders Guide
November 16, 2008

Series: Go Big
Message: Be Willing To Start Small
1Samuel 16

Getting Started:
1. Have you ever made a judgment about someone that turned out to be exactly the opposite of what the truth about that person was?

Going Deeper:
2. Read verse 1. In this verse, God asks Samuel a question and then gives him something to do. Read Exodus 14:15 and describe the similarities of the two passages.

• God doesn’t allow His work to cease because of the failure of a man. God’s sovereign will is accomplished regardless of the limitations of people. Samuel may have been paralyzed with mourning because of Saul’s disobedience, but even though God was grieved over Saul, He was not paralyzed. It was time to move on.

3. Read verse 2. Did God answer Samuel’s question or ignore it? In verse 4, we find out that Samuel did what God told him to do and traveled to Bethlehem. Why do you think the elders of Bethlehem were afraid of Samuel?

• Could it be that Samuel had just killed the king of the Amalekites.1sam 15:32-33
• I guess if the king wont be obedient to God, someone has to!

4. In verse 6, why do you think Samuel was so sure that Eliab was the one God had chosen to be the next king?

• He was tall and handsome. He looked like the kingly type. I know this is a funny answer but isn’t that the way we usually judge people, by looking at them?
• In verse 7, the Lord says to ignore the fact that from the outside Eliab looked like a leader (apparently part of this was his “height”). Saul, the king that David was replacing, was also someone tall (1 Samuel 9: 2), but didn’t have what God most valued, a heart for Him.

5. Read verse 7. What does it mean to look at someone’s heart? Is that something only God can do? How can a person see someone’s heart?

6. In verse 7, Samuel is told not to consider “his appearance or his height.” Why not? Isn’t a person’s character on the inside shown in some way on the outside? Only God can see hearts, but in life we need to make decisions about people we’re going to hang around, go into business with, and who to marry. Since we can only see the outside, can we go by observable behavior to tell us what a person is like on the inside? Is it Biblical? Can we get it wrong?

• John 7:24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."
• Luke 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Matthew 7:20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

7. To refrain from judging by appearances is good advice. What about when judging yourself?

8. In verse 3, God gives Samuel part of His plan but not all of it. Later, even though Samuel had anointed David as king, David wasn’t immediately put in charge of the kingdom. Discuss the way these verses describe the way God leads us.

9. In verse 14, we learn some bad news about Saul. Read Romans 8:9-11 and 1Corinthians 6:19-20. Would the Holy Spirit ever leave a Christian in our present age?

• Saul clearly had the Spirit of the Lord upon him at one time (1 Samuel 10:10). Yet, Saul resisted the Holy Spirit. Finally, God gave Saul what he wanted. But Saul never realized the price he would pay when the Spirit of the Lord departed from him. He didn’t realize he would be in even more bondage.

Putting it into practice:
10. Do you feel like God has something bigger for you? What can you learn from this passage about how to respond? Pray about that in your groups.

Quote Of The Week:
The world is full of idolatries, but I question if any idolatry has been more extensively practiced than the idolatry of the outward appearance.
--William Blaikie

Psalm 73 / Leader Guide week of 11-9-08

Small Group Leaders Guide
November 9, 2008

Series: Honest To God
Message: Dear God, Sometimes I Feel Like
Serving You Isn’t Worth It
Psalm 73

Getting Started:
1. Have you ever felt envy or anger toward someone because of that person’s prosperity? How well did you know him/her personally?

• This is a good question to illustrate the fact that we often make judgments and have feelings about things or people that we really don’t know anything about.

Going Deeper:
2. Read Psalm 73:1-2. Notice that verse 2 starts with the word, “but.” What contrast (difference) is Asaph drawing attention to?

• God is good to those who are pure in heart. But, as for me, I’m not so pure at heart. In fact, let me tell you how messed up I am. I envied the arrogant. I envied their prosperity. I longed to be like them. Because of all this, I nearly lost my foothold and slipped.

3. Read verses 4-9. Do you think Asaph is pointing to a foundational truth here? In other words, would you say that leading a life like the one described in verses 4 and 5, directly leads to the attitudes and behaviors described in verses 6-9?

• Suffering and dealing with adversity are important for building up Christian character. Without them, there may be some important character traits that never fully develop.
  
• Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
• 2Thessalonians 1:4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
• James 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finisth its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

4. In verse 10, we read that the people are turning to these very healthy, strong, prosperous people to listen and learn from them. What dynamic do you see at work here? Have you ever heard a pastor or preacher (or anyone else for that matter) talk about his/her own prosperity and success? Do they often have suggestions to help you be like them?


5. Read verse 12. If God is perfectly just, why do wicked people prosper, live carefree lives and increase in wealth? How does God’s justice square up with the prosperity of the wicked?

• God’s timing is often not ours. His justice sometimes comes in eternity.
• Aren’t you glad God didn’t show His justice with you before you came to Christ?

6. Read verses 13 and 14. Is suffering bad? If Asaph has kept his heart pure and has “washed his hands in innocence,” why is he suffering so much? Doesn’t having faith in God mean that God gives that person victory over such things?

• Many of the people that you will read about in the Bible and in church history that had huge hearts for God, had very few material possessions and were ultimately killed for their faith.
• Having faith in God does not guarantee lack of suffering. In fact, it guarantees just the opposite!
• Luke 21:17 All men will hate you because of me.
• Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

7. People often have big questions regarding suffering and evil in the world. Do you think God has good reasons to want to allow such a world to continue? If so, what do you think some of the reasons are?

• He’s giving sinners time to repent. 2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
• Suffering and evil can cause people to look to Him. Jeremiah 26:3 Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.
• Some virtues can't exist without suffering and/or evil. Such as compassion, sympathy, justice, forgiveness, goodness, righteousness.
• Other virtues are built up through suffering such as, patience, faith, perseverance, empathy, kindness, mercy, humility, joy, gentleness, self-control.
• Sometimes suffering can be a sign of God’s love. (Hebrews 12:5-11)

8. Read verses 16-17. When you consider why suffering happens or why good things happen to bad people, do you find it difficult to understand? What helps?

9. In verse 17, what is “their final destiny?” What other passages can you think of that seem to address this question?

• Mark 10:23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
  
• Matthew 6:2 So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
  
• 1Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?
  

10. Read verses 21-22. How does a person’s heart condition impact their ability to understand God, His goodness and His justice?

11. Compare and contrast verse 2 with verse 28. Describe the journey Asaph was on between those two verses in your own words. Have you been on a journey like that?

Putting it into practice:
12. Look at verse 17 and notice the word, “till.” What would it mean for you to “enter the sanctuary of God” to find understanding, hope, peace, and forgiveness? Pray about this with your groups.

Quote Of The Week:
Once we assuage our conscience by calling something a "necessary evil," it begins to look more and more necessary and less and less evil.
--Sydney J. Harris