10.28.07
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“When We Walk His Talk”
Ancient Future Faith
Small Group Plan
October 28, 2007
Dear Group Leader…
Most New Testament scholars write about the “journey” section in Luke’s gospel. It’s clear that Jesus was steadily moving towards a climax in Jerusalem (9:31). But the trip was neither direct nor short. It took ten chapters and many months. Why? What was Jesus doing with the disciples on this long trip to Jerusalem? What information was he giving them? What ignorance were they working through? What had to be completed before he arrived in the city where his life would end?
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Do you walk around when you think, or do you sit? Explain.
· Why do some people enjoy the trip, while others only enjoy the arrival?
· Which are you?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
The Narrowing Journey of Jesus
Luke 9:51
“As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”
Luke 13:22
“Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.”
Luke 19:41
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.”
· After “resolutely” setting out, why did Jesus take so long to reach Jerusalem?
· What had to be completed before He arrived?
· Why was Jerusalem His one fixed goal?
· What awaited him there?
· Why did he weep over the city?
The Expanding Journey of the First Church
Acts 1:8
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
· Is this the same event that Matthew 28:16-20 reports? Explain.
· How would you have felt if you had been given this mission?
· What strategies did Jesus give the Twelve to use in their mission?
· What attitudes did they learn from Him that will help them in their mission?
The Continuing Journey of Today’s Church
Luke 8:15
“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it and by persevering produce a crop.”
· “Hear” – What attitude and setting really helps you to hear God’s word?
· “Retain” – Why must responding always follow hearing?
· “Persevere” – How does Satan attack what is building in our lives?
· “Produce” – What kind of growth is God looking for?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· What principles need to be taught to someone who would take your place in ministry?
· What would you look for in a person who would take your place in ministry?
· What schedule and strategy would you follow to accomplish this goal?
· Most difficult question: Who are you equipping?
Close by asking God for the principles, the person and the schedule.
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10.21.07
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“When God Shares Himself”
Ancient Future Faith
Small Group Plan
October 21, 2007
Dear Group Leader…
In his book, Fire In The Fireplace: Contemporary Charismatic Renewal, Charles E. Hummel wrote:
Study of Luke-Acts reveals Luke’s distinctive doctrine of the Holy Spirit. He records his prophetic action in inaugurating the New Age and empowering the mission of the church. This teaching differs from, but complements, that of John and Paul. (pg. 108)
For some believers the Holy Spirit is a topic to be studied. For others God’s Spirit is a presence to be experienced. When used exclusively, these two approaches follow very different agendas and leave their own kind of mark on a person.
But they don’t have to be opponents. In fact, they need each other. A much better approach is to follow a course of Study that leads to a holy Experience.
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What did you grow up thinking about the Holy Spirit?
· Where did your thoughts and ideas come from?
· How has your understanding grown or changed?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
Jesus Was The Bearer Of The Holy Spirit
Luke 3:21-22
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
· Why was Jesus baptized?
· Why was His decision difficult to make?
· How and why did God immediately affirm and encourage Jesus’ decision?
Luke 4:1-2
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.
· In view of Jesus’ decision (at His baptism) why must Satan attack now?
· How does being “full” and “led” by the Spirit empower Jesus?
Luke 4:14-21
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
· What did it mean for Jesus to move “in the power of the Spirit” (vs.14)?
· When Jesus said, “the Spirit is on me” (vs. 18) what did it mean? What did he do?
· When someone today says, “the Spirit is on me” what do they mean?
Jesus Was The Giver Of The Holy Spirit
Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
· How is our baptism a reenactment of Jesus’ baptism?
· What does it mean to not only have God’s forgiveness, but also His presence, His Spirit?
Romans 8:14
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Galatians 5:18
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
· How would you describe the character that God’s Spirit was forming in the lives of the early Christians?
· How did their relationships differ from those around them?
· How would you describe their Spirit-led mission?
Jesus Empowers Us With The Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
· What fruit of God’s Spirit do you need the most? Why?
· Which fruit of God’s Spirit do you see most clearly at Prestoncrest?
· What fruit of God’s Spirit does Prestoncrest need the most? Why?
· How can God’s Spirit build our spiritual community?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· How do you react to the following quote?
Take the Holy Spirit out of the early church
and the entire movement would die.
Take the Holy Spirit out of today’s church
and nothing would change.
· What does it mean to rely on God’s presence when we face temptation?
Close by thanking God for His presence in our lives and our church.
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10.14.07
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“When Riches Are Worth More Than Money”
Ancient Future Faith
Small Group Plan
October 14, 2007
Dear Group Leader…
Poverty Facts:
· 43% of the world does not have access to a telephone
· 2.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water
· 700 million people live in shantytowns or slums
· 120 million children live on the streets
· 2 billion people live in poverty, surviving on less than $2 a day
· 30 million people die annually from hunger
· 18 million of them are children under the age of 5
– World Christian Encyclopedia
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What is wealth worth to a young person?
· What is wealth worth to a middle-aged working person?
· What is wealth worth to an elderly person?
· What is wealth worth to a dying person
· How have your views on wealth changed?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
God And The Poor
Luke 4:17-19
17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
· What is the common theme in Jesus’ announcement?
· What does it mean to “preach good news to the poor”? How do you do this?
· Why does Luke tell us that Jesus “found the place” (vs. 17)?
· We receive God’s Spirit at our baptism (Acts 2:38). What happens in our lives when we fully accept the Spirit’s presence?
· The “year of the Lord’s favor” was the year of Jubilee when all debts were canceled and property returned to its ancestral owners (Lev. 25:8-55). With this in mind, what does it really mean to give the poor good news?
God And The Rich
Luke 18:18-24
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good — except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
· Why does Jesus omit four commandments as he answers the man?
· Describe what Jesus means when he says there is “one thing you lack.”
· Why couldn’t this man give up his wealth?
· Why is it so difficult for the comfortable and self-satisfied to “enter the kingdom of God” (cf. Mark 4:18-19)?
· Jesus didn’t ask everyone to “sell everything” – why does he ask it of this man?
· Imagine that the man responded to Jesus in a positive way. Describe how his future life might have unfolded?
God And The Church
Acts 2:44-45
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Acts 4:32
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
Acts 20:35
35 We must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
· How does this early church look when compared to most American churches today?
· How would you describe the relationships of the first Christians?
· What attitudes must be present for true “sharing” to occur?
· How could someone have “possessions” but not claim to “own” them?
· What is the blessing in giving? What happens to the giver and the receiver?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· How does wealth create a false sense of security?
· How do people really feel about benevolence and forgiveness of debt today?
· What is it about money that tempts us to love it (1 Timothy 6:10)?
· What riches have you found that are worth more than money?
· How would you describe the joy of generosity?
Thank God in prayer for the blessing of wealth, and ask Him for protection from it.
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10.07.07
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“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.
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