Surviving Disappointment / Life Group Lesson
January 16, 2011 / WHCOC
• If you don’t mind, please share a time when things did not go to plan. Go around the group. (Ask everyone to introduce themselves.)
• In life we all face disappointment. How would you define or explain disappointment?
IDEA: We all face spiritual, professional, personal struggle and disappointment in life. The priority is not really to avoid being disappointed but to learn from it and overcome it.
• What has helped you in the past in overcoming disappointment?
Read Romans 8:28-30; 37-39.
• How does knowing that God works for our good help you overcome disappointment?
IDEA: In v.30 it says God has a predestined plan that will help us overcome the struggles of this life; of course the plan is directly connected to Jesus.
• How does following the example of Jesus help you overcome struggle & disappointment?
• Did Jesus ever face disappointment & hardship? (examples I thought of: In Garden He was filled with sorrow, when Lazarus died he wept, he was angry at the money changers at the Temple, He was tempted by Satan, he was crucified)
• What did He do when faced with those struggles?
READ Proverbs 24:16
IDEA: Solomon says sometimes even righteous people fall. The number “7” in the Bible is a number that is indefinite, it means that things can happen over and over. The writer uses the number 7 not to be exact about a number, but to say that all people struggle and fail, unfortunately it happens countless times. But there is also good news, in v.16 Solomon says that even though you at times fall, you can rise again.
• The reason we will rise again is because of God. What examples “rising” or “resurrection” do you know of in the Bible? How does this encourage you?
READ Hebrews 11:1-3
• How is faith in God important especially when we hurt or struggle?
IDEA: The next 35 verses give an account of people who had fallen many times, and yet their faith brought them back to their feet. By faith, these people trusted & followed God, and God was faithful to them.
• How does knowing that God has a purpose for you help you in the most difficult of times?
CONCLUSION: Commit to God that even on your darkest day, in the deepest disappointment, commit to Him saying “I will use this somehow to bring glory to Him.”
Close in prayer.
Showing posts with label small group lesson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small group lesson. Show all posts
Friday, January 14, 2011
Friday, November 05, 2010
Life Group Discussion: Peace & Unity
“Get -R Done” Sermon Series
Life Group Discussion Questions / November 7, 2010
What kind of things disrupt unity within any group (church included)?
In what ways can each member be responsible for maintaining unity within a group?
How would you describe a leader?
Read Mark 10:35.
James and John asked Jesus for an elevated position, one of distinction. What did Jesus mean when he told them “you do not know what you are asking?”
How is the apostles view of leadership flawed according to Jesus?
Do these verses change the way you view leadership? How?
Notice v.41, how did the pursuit of the wrong kind of leadership cause division within the Apostles?
In v.43, Jesus said that the church doesn’t need supermen leaders, it needs leaders who will serve, lead by example, and will put others first. Why is leadership that is filled humility and led by example a more effective leadership style?
Jesus prayed that the church would be one, bonded like the Father and Son are one. In v.21, Jesus goes from using words like “they” to words like “us” or “we”. As Jesus says here, if we are going to be part of God’s mission to make disciples then we cannot be a church full of “I’s”, “they’s” or “thems”, the church must be a “we”.
Why do we so quickly refer to other church members and church leaders as they, rather than we?
Many football fans refer to their favorite team as “we”. Saying things like “we beat them this week” or “we need a better quarterback.”
Why do we so easily connect with our favorite team as a “we” but often speak of our church as a bunch of “theys”?
What can each of us do personally to change that?
READ Colossians 3:14-16
Notice v.15, when someone sees you coming, do they know that you are bringing peace?
IDEA: When peace rules in our hearts, we are quick to unite in the bonds of Jesus rather than to divide over feelings or opinions. We cannot be so quick to separate ourselves from others, when Jesus said I want you to be united and one. As disciples we are responsible for building each other up, encouraging them to grow closer to God and to others. In a way we are all leaders, living an example of humility and grace. What are some things each of us can do to promote unity within our church?
Close in prayer…
Life Group Discussion Questions / November 7, 2010
What kind of things disrupt unity within any group (church included)?
In what ways can each member be responsible for maintaining unity within a group?
How would you describe a leader?
Read Mark 10:35.
James and John asked Jesus for an elevated position, one of distinction. What did Jesus mean when he told them “you do not know what you are asking?”
How is the apostles view of leadership flawed according to Jesus?
Do these verses change the way you view leadership? How?
Notice v.41, how did the pursuit of the wrong kind of leadership cause division within the Apostles?
In v.43, Jesus said that the church doesn’t need supermen leaders, it needs leaders who will serve, lead by example, and will put others first. Why is leadership that is filled humility and led by example a more effective leadership style?
Jesus prayed that the church would be one, bonded like the Father and Son are one. In v.21, Jesus goes from using words like “they” to words like “us” or “we”. As Jesus says here, if we are going to be part of God’s mission to make disciples then we cannot be a church full of “I’s”, “they’s” or “thems”, the church must be a “we”.
Why do we so quickly refer to other church members and church leaders as they, rather than we?
Many football fans refer to their favorite team as “we”. Saying things like “we beat them this week” or “we need a better quarterback.”
Why do we so easily connect with our favorite team as a “we” but often speak of our church as a bunch of “theys”?
What can each of us do personally to change that?
READ Colossians 3:14-16
Notice v.15, when someone sees you coming, do they know that you are bringing peace?
IDEA: When peace rules in our hearts, we are quick to unite in the bonds of Jesus rather than to divide over feelings or opinions. We cannot be so quick to separate ourselves from others, when Jesus said I want you to be united and one. As disciples we are responsible for building each other up, encouraging them to grow closer to God and to others. In a way we are all leaders, living an example of humility and grace. What are some things each of us can do to promote unity within our church?
Close in prayer…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)