Leader's Guide week of 1/4/09

Small Group Questions - Hey small group leaders! Our small groups officially start up next week, so we don’t have the normal questions on the back of Sunday's outline. For groups that are meeting this week, take time to share which of these main point ideas we talked that you can grow in, and continue to work on the small group project from last week.

Small Group Leader's Guide December 28, 2008

Series: Life Together

Getting Started - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 gives several instances when two are better than one – Read the verse and then share a time when you experienced one of these “two are better than one” situations in your life?

Digging Deeper

1) Acts 1:14 says that the disciples “all joined together constantly in prayer”

• A) What, if any, value is there to praying with others, as opposed to praying alone? Is there a spiritual advantage to praying together? Is there a moral support advantage, an accountability value?

• B) One a scale of 1 to ten, ten being best. How is your current prayer life?

• C) Besides on Sunday, when do you pray with other believers? Why do you think it’s hard for some people to pray out loud?

2) Acts 2:44 shares an interesting aspect of the early church, they “were together and had everything in common.” Why do you think they did that? What value would there be in holding property in common? What spiritual purpose might there be for doing that?


Small Group Project - As a small group member, you know the benefit of gathering with believers during the week. We want to get as many members as possible in small groups. We’re asking the small groups to have an “invite a friend night” for their small group.

1. Pick a date to have an “invite a friend focus” The week of January 11th is the start of the new small session, so that is probably the best time.
2. Spend time as a group and help each group member come up with the name of one church member they can invite
3. Make a commitment to pray for the person you’re going to invite
4. As a group, when you meet next week, follow up on how the invitations are going?
5. Are there any changes in your group, or anything special you could make on that day to make the group more welcoming to someone who is new?
6. What are some of the dynamics that might keep someone from attending a small group? What encouragement could you give to overcome those hindrances?

Small Group Check Up – The beginning of the year is a good time to do a health check up. There are three activities we hope to see in each small group.

• Interactive Bible study – A time to study the Bible together
• One Another Sharing – a time for people to share what’s going on in their lives. In larger groups, members often split up into groups of 3 for this time.
• One Another Praying – a time for people to be prayed for. In many groups, the men and women split up for the sharing and prayer time.

Check Up Question - What’s one improvement you could personally contribute to improve the Bible study time, sharing time, or prayer time?


Small Group Idea for the first quarter of 2009 - Acts 2:46 says that the early Christians “broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts”. When you could you plan a potluck, or a dinner out together?

• An Idea: You can pick whatever time works best for you, but the week leading up to Easter (the week starting April 5th) there will be no small group questions, that might be a good time to plan a social event.

Leader's Guide 12/21

Small Group Leaders Guide December 21, 2008

Series: The Christ-Mas Prophecy

In this weeks Small group questions we’re going to look at two of the names of Christ found in Isaiah 9 – Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace.

Wonderful Counselor

Getting Started - Isaiah describes the messiah as a wonderful counselor. In what ways is Christ a wonderful conselor?

Digging Deeper #1- Look at these other verses that describe God as a counselor - Psalm 32:8-9, Psalm 73:24, Isaiah 28:29. What stands out to you from any of the above verses?

Digging Deeper #2- Look at these verses where the wonderful counselor, Jesus, describes another counselor. Who is the counselor? What is the relationship between Christ as a counselor and this other counselor He sends?

• John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever--
• John 14:26 But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
• John 15:26 "When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
• John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Application

1) In what way do you need wisdom?

2) In Revelation 3:28 Christ provides some specific counsel, what is it? What is the problem Christ is addressing, what solution does He suggest, what does this mean?

Prince of Peace

Getting Started - In what ways does Christ bring peace. Peace with God, peace with people, inner peace?

Digging Deeper – Read the following verses, what do they tell us about the kind of peace that Christ brings.

• Acts 10:36
• Ephesians 2: 11-19
• Colossians 1:18-22

Application – Christ brings peace to our hearts when, our hearts is troubled. Read Philippians 4:6-7. What does this verse tell us regarding how to appropriate (or access) that peace?

1Sam17/ Leader's Guide 12/14/08

Small Group Leaders Guide December 14, 2008

Series: Go Big
Message: Surround Yourself with Big People
1Samuel 17

Relationship Review – This Sunday, we focused on relationships, who you surround yourself with. The following are questions to help you think through some of your past and present relationships

1. Who was influential in you coming to know Christ and/or your earlier years as a new believer? What about them made a difference?

• Help members identify what about the person made a difference. What is something they said, something they did, who they were? Is that a quality the group member is turning around and sharing with others?

2. Right now, who can you turn to for Godly advice and spiritual help?

3. Besides your immediate family, if you needed to call someone at 2:00 am in the morning to ask for help, who would it be?

4. Right now, is there believer that you’re investing in spiritually? Who? If not, who could that person be?

5. Right now, who is someone that you’re investing in, that doesn’t know Christ? If you don’t have someone, who could that person be?

• Help members to think through someone they can begin praying for, building a relationship with, reaching out to

Read the story of David’s men bringing him water in 2 Samuel chapter 23, verses 13-17.

1. Why do you think David shared his desire for a drink of water from this specific well out loud? Was he expecting someone to act on it or not?

2. Why do you think the men risked so much to get the water? Was it loyalty? bravery?

3. After all the work and risk they went through, why didn’t David drink the water?

• At first glance it may seem like a waste to take this gift that cost so much risk and pour it out, but David seems to do it out of respect for their sacrifice. It’s like when someone offers you a gift that is too much, don’t deserve it.

4. What does David’s response say about David?

5. In this story, David’s men went the extra mile for David? Can you share a story of when someone went the extra mile for you?

David’s Mighty Men - 2 Samuel 23 tells of David’s mighty men. On Sunday we looked at several of the stories.

1. Besides courage, are there other character qualities you see in this chapter?

2. David surrounded himself with people who were courageous. Are you facing a situation that requires courage? If so, share how God is helping you to face it?

Small Group Application – One of the goals of our small groups is to provide a setting for Christ-Centered Relationships to Develop.

1. What’s one thing your small group members could know about you, that could help them encourage you spiritually?

2. What’s one suggestion you could offer to improve the relationship building that happens in your small group?

Personal Application – Based on the relationship review above, are there steps you can take to strengthen an existing relationship or start up a new one?

1Samuel 24 / Leaders Guide week of 12-7-08

Small Group Leaders Guide
December 7, 2008

Series: Go Big
Message: Act Big When Others Act Small
1Samuel 24

Getting Started:
1. How do you think David was able to cut a piece of Saul’s robe off without getting busted?

• Saul may have laid his robe down in one part of the cave, and attended to his needs in another part, so David did not have to get right next to Saul to cut off a corner of his robe. Or, it may also be that there was enough noise and commotion from the thousands of men outside of the cave, along with their horses, so that David was simply undetectable.

Going Deeper:
2. Read verses 1-4. What made David decide, “I won’t kill Saul; instead I will just cut off the corner of his robe”?

• He knew that God’s promise said, “You will inherit the throne of Israel.” He knew that Saul was in the way of that promise. But he also believed it was disobedient of him to kill Saul, because God put Saul in a position of authority, and it was God’s job to take care of Saul, not David’s. David wanted the promise to be fulfilled, but he refused to try and fulfill God’s promise himself.
• Sometimes, when we have a promise from God, we think we are justified in sinning to pursue that promise. A husband may say, “God has promised me abundant life according to John 10:10. God wants me to have fullness of joy according to Psalm 16:11. I can’t have abundant life or fullness of joy being married to my wife, so I am going to leave her because I have found someone who does give me fullness of joy and abundant life. Thank you Lord for Your promise!” This is always sin. God will fulfill His promises, but He will do it His way, and do it righteously. Instead, we should be like Abraham, who obeyed God even when it seemed to be at the expense of God’s promise, willing to sacrifice the son of promise (Genesis 22).

3. In verse 5, it says David was conscience-stricken. What does that mean and why does he feel that way? Have you ever felt that way after something you had done?

• David saw Saul as the anointed of God and therefore, his leader. He was grieved that he had done something against a person whom God placed in authority over His people and accordingly, was worthy of the utmost reverence, respect and honor.
• David knew better than anyone that Saul was a troubled and corrupt leader, yet it was in God’s power to take him away - and David would not put his hand to do what was only the Lord’s to do.

4. Look at the question David asks in verse 9. Did Saul’s fear/hatred of David come from others or from Saul himself? Why does David ask the question in this way?

• I don’t know for sure why David asks this way but here’s a thought: David showed great kindness and tact to Saul. Saul’s fear of David came from Saul himself, and not from anyone else. But David puts the blame on nameless others, so that it is easier for Saul to say “They were wrong” instead of “I was wrong.”
• Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
• 1Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

5. What are some Bible verses or passages that teach about how we should respond to those who trouble us?

• Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Matthew 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

6. God told David he would be king. God also told him that He would deliver Saul into his hands to do whatever he pleases. When David had the chance to kill Saul with God’s permission, why didn’t he do it?

• 1Samuel 26:9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?

7. Wouldn’t David have been in the right to kill Saul? When has feeling like you are “in the right” caused you to do something, or consider doing something wrong?

8. Read verses 8-10. David wouldn’t lift his hand against Saul because he was the “Lord’s anointed.” What does this say about David’s perception of his relationship with Saul? What does this say about our relationships with those God has placed in authority?

• The phrase “touch not the Lord’s anointed” is popular among some Christians, and in some leadership circles. Often, to them, it means this: “You should never speak against a pastor or a leader. Sometimes it is used even to prevent a Biblical evaluation of a man’s teaching. They like to use David’s actions here as an example. But when David recognized that Saul was the Lord’s anointed and refused to harm him, what David would not do is kill Saul. But he did humbly confront Saul with his sin, and hope to God that Saul would change his heart. But it is entirely wrong for people to use the idea of “touch not the Lord’s anointed” to insulate a leader from all evaluation or accountability.

9. In verse 16, Saul weeps aloud. How do you explain his behavior? Did Saul change his opinions about David after this encounter?

• Nope. Keep reading.

Putting it into practice:
10. Do you find it difficult to act big when others act small? What situation are you dealing with right now that need a "big" response? Pray about that in your groups.

Quote Of The Week:
We win most when we appear to have yielded most, and gain advantages by refusing to take them wrongfully. The man who can wait for God is a man of power.
--F.B. Meyer