09.10.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“Awe-Full Worship”
Small Group Plan
September 7, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
In his book, Enemy In The Pew, Daniel Walker wrote:
Most people attend worship as they attend a movie, as spectators rather than participants … to be entertained and to judge the performance … They do not come to worship, but to attend a religious lecture. They are not, in the truest sense, worshippers, but simply churchgoers. They have not come to encounter God.
We may quibble with this being true of “most people” but it made me stop and think about my own worship.
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Describe the truth that you find in Daniel Walker’s words.
· How is the word “awesome” used today?
Put it in a sentence – “This is an awesome ___________.”
· What does it really mean?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
If You Want To Encounter God Come To Listen
Ecclesiastes 5:1
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
· As comfortable as we want to feel in worship, why is it also important to “guard your steps”?
· How can the habit of worship be good for our spiritual health?
· How can the habit of worship be dangerous to our faith?
If You Want To Encounter God Learn To Be Quiet
Ecclesiastes 5:2-3, 7a
2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. … 7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.
· How can “quick” “hasty” and “many words” prevent us from encountering God in worship?
· On the other hand, how can a slow, careful, quiet frame of mind help us encounter God?
· What is the difference between being quiet and being bored (Solomon’s word is “dreaming” Vs. 7)?
· How can one person be inspired by a worship service while another person is bored with the same service?
If You Want To Encounter God Mean What You Say
Ecclesiastes 5:4-6
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the [temple] messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?
· During the typical worship service, what promises do we make to God?
· How and when do we make them?
· Why are promises so easily made and broken in our culture today?
If You Want To Encounter God Take God Seriously
Ecclesiastes 5:7b
Therefore stand in awe of God.
· What does “the fear of God” mean?
· How is it misunderstood?
· Why do Christians “stand in awe of God” ?
· What in God’s character is worthy of our deep reverence?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· How can we rescue the word “awesome” from trivial use?
· How would you explain to a child why worship is a good “habit” ?
· How can we keep our worship habits strong without becoming dull and routine?
· As a group list everything about God that brings true “awe” to your mind. Close by lifting to Him in prayer these reasons for worship.
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09.03.08
Posted in Small Group Plans at 8:00 am by Bob
“Promised Land Living”
Unity
Small Group Plan
August 31, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
I once heard it said that church members don’t usually make appointments with church leaders to tell them what they like. Most of the time it’s the other way around. And in a culture of rivalry, flattery, difficult work and constant criticism, the fragile gift of encouragement shines like a candle in a dark room. It is true? Will it last? Is it given freely or does it come with strings? These are cynical questions, but they are also real questions, written on the hearts of people who have either lost or never found their sense of promise and their feeling of acceptance and purpose.Joshua is just one of many voices from scripture teaching the power of unity, acceptance and encouragement. There could be no promised land without them in his day. And there can be no church life without them in our day.OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· When you were young, who told you they saw potential in you?
· Why is encouragement so important?
· How can silence or indifference destroy a person’s sense of promise or potential?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
God’s Promise
Joshua 1:1-4 (cf. Genesis 12:7, 13:14-15)
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them — to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates — all the Hittite country — to the Great Sea on the west.
· What exactly is God’s promise to Israel here?
· From their relationship in the past, how can they be sure of God’s promise?
· What has God promised those who follow Him today? Take your time and be as complete as possible.
· How does your past relationship with God raise your confidence level regarding His future promises? God’s Presence
Joshua 1:5,9
5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
· If God’s plan is for Joshua to be Israel’s leader why is Moses mentioned eleven times in chapter 1?
· How could the leadership strength of Moses make things difficult for Joshua?
· Today, why is it difficult to succeed a great leader?
· Why does God say four times “be strong and courageous”?
· How would you convince someone that human leaders come and go, while God’s mission and God’s promise continues on?
God’s Power
Joshua 1:7-8
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
· Since Joshua is a military leader, why is his first responsibility to be a student of God’s Word?
· What is the connection between “meditating” on God’s word and being “prosperous and successful”?
· As business men and women, as teachers, as blue and white collar workers, how does God’s Word contribute to our “success”?
· What kind of success does God’s power bring to our lives?
God’s People
Joshua 1:12-15
12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers 15 until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
· What exactly is Joshua explaining to the eastern tribes?
· Why is it important for Israel to enter the land together?
· What would be the emotional and practical impact if the eastern tribes had not fought side by side with their western brothers?
· Why is unity just as important as victory?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Symbolically, what is Prestoncrest’s Jordan River? What is our most immediate barrier to cross?
· Why is it important that we cross it together and that our unity remain strong?
· How would you evaluate our current unity standing?
· How have difficult personal decisions become easier because someone stood with you and encouraged you?
· Ask for God’s blessing as we each cross our individual rivers and, as a church, we cross our congregational rivers together.
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