2/28/10 Guide

When You Need A Miracle

Luke 5:1-11

Week of 2/28/10

Getting Started

This week’s story starts out on a beach by the Sea of Galilee. What’s the nicest beach you’ve been to? If you could go to any beach this year, which one would it be?

Today’s passage involved fishing? Have you ever been fishing? Do you like fishing? If so, what’s the biggest fish you’ve ever caught?

Digging Deeper

Here’s a good resource as you examine this passage:

Resource 1 - HERE

Resource 2 - HERE

In this story, Jesus meets up with Peter right as Peter is calling it quits. After a hard night of unsuccessful fishing He’s packing up to go home. Is there a situation, a relationship, or other setting in which you feel like calling it quits? If you can, share about that with the group? How do you encourage a person who has reached that point?

What did Jesus tell Simon to do when Jesus had finished teaching the people? How might have Jesus’ requests been viewed as (1) uninformed, (2) inconvenient, and (3) counterproductive?

In verse 5, when Jesus asks Peter to give fishing a second shot, Peter points out he has “worked hard” but caught nothing. In what ways might the previous night’s experience and/or expertise of Peter (He was a professional fisherman) contribute to a less than enthusiastic desire to try again.

Are you currently facing a situation where you have “worked hard” but are not seeing much in the way of results/success?

In this passage Jesus asks Peter to try again. But sometimes it’s okay to stop trying. How can a person know when it’s okay to call it quits versus when it’s still to early give up? How do you know whether a “closed door” is a challenge to overcome by faith or an expression of God’s will to be accepted? What are some examples in the Bible of both?

Based on Peter’s response in verse 5, why do you think he was willing to try again? Do you think He did it out of faith? Out of obedience? Out of the pressure of being put on the spot? What do you think?

Verse 6 says, “they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” Have you ever ventured out in faith expecting more than you had and received far more than you expected (cf. vs.9)? Explain?

Read verse 8, how does Peter respond? Why do you think he responds this way? What are some other examples of people responding in a similar way?

Read verse 10. How does Jesus respond to Peter's plea for him to leave? Why doesn't Jesus address Peter's sinfulness at this point? What does Jesus talk about instead?

How might this experience help to prepare the disciples for ministry? Are there particular principles you might derive concerning making disciples? How would they relate to your “One”?

Putting It Into Practice

What’s one thing you learned from this story that you can put into practice?

Are you facing a situation where you need to get back in the boat and try again? If so, ask the group for prayer?

2/14/10 Guide

Slay the Me-Monster

Philippians 1:1-11

Week of 2/14/10

Getting Started

In honor of Valentine’s Day, what’s your favorite and least favorite Romance movie?

When you think of the selfless service of others, what are some modern examples that come to mind?

Digging Deeper

1) In verse 1:1, Paul describes himself and Timothy as “servants” (NIV) or “bond-servants” (NASB) of Christ “to the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi.” What is “bond-service?” How is bond-service to Jesus linked to our service to our fellow believers? (cf. with Exodus 21:1-12)?

HERE

2) Read verses 2-5. This past week we learned that Paul lived for others by praying deeply for others rather than just for himself. Practically speaking, how does praying for others help us in our fight against the Me-Monster? What are some concrete ways to make your prayers other-centered?

3) Read Job 42:10. The passage suggests a cause and effect relationship between Job’s intercession for others and his personal blessings. Can you think of other passages that confirm this? Is there an experience in your life that confirms this?

HERE

4) Read verse 6. According to this passage, why should a genuine believer have confidence that he or she will stand before God blameless? What are some bad reasons to have assurance of salvation? Do you have the assurance of your salvation?

HERE

5) We often pray for others when they are in crisis and that the bad things in their life would get better (and rightly so). Read verses 4-9 and note the ways that Paul’s prayer is different than how we often pray? Do you need to adjust the way that you pray for other?

6) Review Paul’s prayer in verses 9-11 in a couple translations. What do you take Paul to be praying for? How is this connected to living for others?

7) This past week we also learned that Paul lived for others by investing spiritually in them. Reread verses 3-8. What are some tips that we can take from Paul’s example to cultivate gospel-centered relationships with others?

Putting It Into Practice

Discuss and plan a way to encourage someone in his or her faith this week.

2/07/10 Guide

Don’t You Forget About Me

Ezekiel 33

Week of 2/07/10

Getting Started

What’s better: Winter or Summer Olympics? Why?

Digging Deeper

In verses 1-7, we read that God appoints both a “sword” against his people and a “watchmen” to warn of this sword. What does this tell us about how God works in the world? Has God recently used an “instrument” to act in your life?

God has chosen to use instruments through which to work. He provides for kids through their parents; he provides for parents through employers; he protects families and business through government; he works through our faith; performs miracles through physical phenomena. This means that God is far more active in our lives than we might have imagined. It might be good to explore how God works in and through us and others in an everyday basis.

In verses 8-9, God warns Ezekiel that if he doesn’t proactively seek to dissuade a man from his wicked ways, “I will hold you accountable for his blood.” Compare this with Acts 18:6; 20:26-27. What does this mean (vs.9)? Does this apply to us? Why is God so insistent on the matter?

See John Calvin’s remarks on this passage: HERE

Imagine you’re a hearer of Ezekiel’s message. It’s clear that God is not pleased with your life, but what in verses 8-16 might give you hope that you can change?

Ezekiel is called to bring a difficult message to God’s people. When bringing a challenging message it’s been said, “it’s not merely what you say, but how you say it.” How is this confirmed in verses 8, 11, 12, 14? See how this is played out in Paul’s exhortation to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:24-26. What are some less than persuasive ways we can present the love of God in the gospel?

Ezekiel isn’t merely to pronounce judgment on his people, but is to use the impending judgment to persuade them to turn to God. It is in this persuasion that Ezekiel must use tact and caution in addressing Israel’s faults redemptively. Consider in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 that God tends to grant repentance to lost people when his messengers share the gospel in gentleness and kindness.

Verse 10 records a sentiment common for many in Israel: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down…how can we live?” What false conclusions were they drawing from their sinfulness?

They were concluding that they had reached the point of no return.

Read verse 11. What is God telling the people about His heart toward them? Why does He share this? What is God’s plea in verse 11, how is He asking them to respond?

As much as God’s message has been heavy on judgment, God wanted them to hear His desire to avoid judgment.

Read verses 12-16. God warns both the godly and ungodly not to infer wrongly from their past actions. What conclusions were they to avoid? Why is there a tendency to infer these wrong conclusions?

Verse 16 says that if someone turns from evil, none of their sins will be remembered. In what way does God not remember our sins?

Putting It Into Practice

Who are you reaching out? Who is your One?

Share about progress, and/or your most recent contact with this person?

How can the group pray for you as you share God’s love with this person?