10.07.07
Small Group Plan - October 7, 2007
“When God Takes Her Hand”
Ancient Future Faith
Small Group Plan
October 7, 2007
Dear Group Leader…
Sure God created man before woman. But then you always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece. ~Author Unknown
This humorous quote represents thousands of sayings and quotes that have pitted women and men against each other for centuries. But Luke makes it clear in both the Gospel and the Acts that men and women have always needed each other.
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Who was an influential woman in your early life?
· How did she teach and guide you?
· What are the unique strengths and abilities of God’s women?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
· In Luke 1 find each of these “Mary/Zechariah Parallels” — 2 promises, 2 angels, 2 children, 2 songs of praise.
- Compare Mary’s response (vs. 34) to Zechariah’s (vs. 18).
- Why did Mary receive no rebuke? How can we cultivate her attitude?
· In Luke 2 find the similarities between the Simeon story (vs. 25) and the Anna story (vs. 36).
- How did each receive the Christ Child? What did they both see?
· In Luke 13 identify the parallel kingdom lessons in the story of the man (vs. 18-19) and the story of the woman (vs. 20-21).
· In Luke 15 find the similarities between the parable of the lost sheep (vs. 3-7) and the parable of the coin (vs. 8-10).
- Why would Jesus tell two stories that sound so alike?
- Does this tell us something about his audience? Explain.
· In Luke 24 both women and men encounter the resurrection.
- What do the women see, feel and learn at the empty tomb (vs. 1-12)?
- What do the men see, feel and learn on the road (vs. 13-35)?
· In Acts 5 Luke describes the dishonesty of a man and woman.
- Where did Ananias and Sapphira go wrong (vs. 1-11)?
- What were their individual mistakes?
· In Acts 16 Luke tells of the baptism of a woman and a man.
- Identify the parallels between Lydia’s story (vs. 13-15) and the jailor’s story (vs. 25-34).
· In Acts 18 what impresses you the most about Aquila and Pricilla (vs. 1-4)?
- How do they model a “partnership ministry” for us today?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· How did Jesus honor the women he encountered?
- How can young men honor their sisters?
- How can older men honor their daughters?
- How can husbands honor their wives?
- How can all men cross the “gender boundary” with words and actions of honor?
Thank God in prayer for the women in His kingdom and the ministry they do.