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THE STORY Pursuit & Hope in the Darkness Participant Guide
THE STORY
Pursuit & Hope in the Darkness
Participant
Guide
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Life Group Guidelines
1. THIS IS A SAFE GROUP
We will all do our part to create an environment where everyone can be real, open, and honest with their struggles & victories.
2. CONFIDENTIALITY IS KEY
What is said in the group stays in the group.
3. NO FIXING
We are not here to fix each other; Jesus does that part. Give encouragement, speak truth, and point to Jesus, but don’t try to solve or fix each other. Allow Him to do the work in each other’s hearts.
4. WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SHARE
Be sensitive about the amount of time you share.
5. USE “I” STATEMENTS
It’s easy to talk about the issues of others, but for our purposes, we want you to put yourself on the table. Try to use “I” statements rather than “them,” “us,” “we,” etc.
6. NO “CROSS TALK”
Be considerate of others as they are sharing. No side conversations.
7. WE COMMIT TO RESOLVE CONFLICT BIBLICALLY
When conflict or sin issues between group members arise, we want to make sure that we are honoring God and each other in the way we deal with these issues.
Oh…and turn off your cell phone!
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New To The Story? READ IT, HEAR IT, DISCUSS IT, LIVE IT:
Discovering your story in God’s story. This year, we, as a church family and body, are encountering God’s heart and story through the tool The Story. The Story is an abridged, chronological compilation of the main stories in the Bible which show God’s redemptive heart and His interaction with people. As a congregation, we are all working through God’s story together. Because we’re all reading The Story Bible at the same time, we get to have incredible discussions about what His Word says and what the Spirit is doing in our lives because of it. There is power and transformation as God’s Spirit uses God’s Word to show God’s people who God is and how to relate to Him, each other, and the world we live in. Imagine understanding better how our own story fits into God’s story and what our part is in following Jesus and joining His mission as He changes us.
READ the chapter from The Story: Read the chapter before the Sunday morning service and before Life Group. Read The Story with your family. We broke it up into a daily reading plan because we want to help each other continue to abide in and follow Jesus daily. If it is helpful to read daily, then use it; if it is not helpful, then don’t, but do READ the chapter and abide in/follow Jesus daily.
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HEAR the sermon; HEAR the story at Life Group: We chose sections of The Story to hear and discuss at Life Group that reflect what is being taught on Sunday mornings. That Sunday morning/Life Group connection will help us in following Jesus and being disciple makers of Jesus. DISCUSS with your Family, Life Group, and Friends: Share with people you work and play with. Look at the story and understand what it shows about God and His plan. Look at your own life. Compare with what you have thought about life to what God says about life. This is an exciting jorney of learning God’s upper story, seeing our lower story, and letting how we view the world be changed to reflect more how God views the world. LIVE IT: Live The Story by reflecting on what God reveals to you about Himself and your own heart. Reflect on what God is showing you through The Story. Reflect on how that affects relationships in your life. Respond as individuals, families, groups to what God is showing you. Help each other grow and be changed, to live differently, not just know more. Real discipleship happens in relationships. As we are changed by God’s Spirit and Word, we live it out in the midst of relationships and situations. Invite others to join.
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DEFINITION OF TERMS: As we go through The Story, there are a few terms that are good for all of us to define similarly. UPPER STORY: The upper story is how God is at work bringing about His plan. God’s heart and purpose is to have a people who dwell with Him eternally and proclaim Him to the world as they are in relationship with each other. This is the core of His upper story. LOWER STORY: The lower story is how God’s plan is being worked out in human history- including the human stories we read in the Bible AND in our own lives. The Bible tells of how His upper story is worked out in the time and space of human history. The lower story gives us guidance and examples as we live our lower story in this slice of history. KNOWING THE UPPER AND LOWER STORY: The lower story is how God’s plan is being worked out in human history, including the human stories we read in the Bible AND in our own lives. The Bible tells of how His upper story is worked out in the time and space of human history. This lower story gives us guidance and examples as we live our lower story in this slice of history.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS - Pursuit: CHAPTERS 14-16
[JAN 17-23] CHAPTER 14: A KINGDOM TORN IN TWO OVERVIEW: God calls us to live in a way that accurately reflects His character to the world around us. He wants to be revealed to the world through our lower stories. Choosing to live or not to live his upper story strongly impacts how we relate to each other, and how the world sees God. Discussion passage – 1 Kings 12 [JAN 24-30] CHAPTER 15: PROPHETS: GOD’S MESSENGERS OVERVIEW: God never breaks His promises. His heart and upper story are all about restoring people to relationship and living the way He intended people to live. He pursues His people and sends warning signs to protect us and call us back to relationship with Him when we are in danger. This is how He used prophets in Israel and Judah’s lower story. Discussion passage – 1 Kings 18: 17-47
[JAN 31-FEB 6] CHAPTER 16: FALL OF JUDAH: THE KINGDOM’S FALL OVERVIEW: God’s repeated theme in His upper story is a heart of pursuing and preparing people to represent Him and dwell with Him. In the events of the lower story, His discipline toward resistance and rebellion is always followed by grace. He cannot let His people continue to walk in disobedience without consequences. Discussion passage – Jeremiah 21:1-10
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Hope in the Darkness: CHAPTERS 17-20
[FEB 7-13] CHAPTER 17: DANIEL IN EXILE OVERVIEW: God cares for those who honor Him. God’s upper story is always happening even in the midst of lower story circumstances and cultures that seem contrary to God. He calls His people to reflect Him wherever they are. Discussion passage – Daniel 6
[FEB 21-27] CHAPTER 18: EZRA: THE RETURN HOME OVERVIEW: When we get off track, God reminds us of His way and the upper story. He shows us how to walk within His priorities in the details of our lower story. Discussion passage – 1 Samuel 17:1-11; 16-54 [FEB 28-MAR 5] CHAPTER 19: ESTHER: THE QUEEN OF BEAUTY AND COURAGE OVERVIEW: Even when He seems absent, God is at work all of the time bringing about his upper plan of people living in community with Him and each other. He invites us in our lower story to join Him even when it seems risky. Discussion passage – Esther 4 [MAR 6-12] CHAPTER 20: NEHEMIAH: REBUILDING THE WALLS OVERVIEW: God rebuilds the lives of His people in the midst of their lower story as they refocus and re-center on Him and His upper story. Discussion passage – Nehemiah 4:1-23; 6:15-16
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ENCOUNTER 14 – A KINGDOM TORN IN TWO DURING THE WEEK: Make time daily with God to know Him and His heart through time in His Word, prayer, and reflection. READ TO PREP FOR SUNDAY AND LIFE GROUPS: 1 Kings 12-16 In The Story book:
Rehoboam's Mistake
Jeroboam Begins
Jeroboam's Idolatry Judah's Kings Israel's Kings
Pages 193-‐194
Pages 195-‐196
Pages 196-‐198
Pages 198-‐201
Pages 201-‐202
• Overview: After Solomon’s death, Israel asked their new king, Rehoboam, to decrease the forced labor and taxes. When he refused, the northern ten tribes separated, creating two nations: Israel and Judah. Jeroboam led the northern nation, Israel, down a path of idol worship with a heritage of bad kings. Judah, the southern nation, had a mixture of faithful and unfaithful kings. THE PURPOSE OF LIFE GROUP GROUP TIME (Leader’s Only Notes): • OPENING PRAYER • VISION-CASTING THE PURPOSE OF LIFE GROUP • GROUP GUIDELINES • P GUIDELINE
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Background Info Solomon had built Israel to be one of the greatest, richest world powers ever known. This had dearly cost the people in taxes and forced labor for Israel to rise to this prominence. Solomon had enemies who disagreed with him. One of them was Jeroboam, who fled to Egypt until Solomon’s death. Hearing God’s Word Together
· Have someone summarize the passage. · As a group, rebuild the passage. Rebuilding is
having the group recreate the passage without looking at their Bibles.
· Then read the passage aloud. Discussion Passages -- 1 Kings 12 Exploring God’s Word Together Leaders: There are more questions provided than you will have time for. Choose the questions that are appropriate for your group. Feel free to develop your own questions to fit your group’s growth and needs.
1) How did Rehoboam and Jeroboam make their decisions?
2) What are the major factors that usually motivate
your decisions?
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3) How did you gain God’s input into your decisions?
4) How will you assess your motives in making a
decision this week? CLOSING PRAYER •Write down group prayer requests and praises/ celebrations on the following page.
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Prayer: Date: _____/_____/______
NAME PRAYER REQUEST CELEBRATE/PRAISE
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ENCOUNTER 15 – PROPHETS: GOD’S MESSENGERS
DURING THE WEEK: Make time daily with God to know Him and His heart through time in His Word, prayer, and reflection. READ TO PREP FOR SUNDAY AND LIFE GROUPS: 1 Kings 17-19; 2 Kings 2,4,6; Hosea 4-5, 8-9,14; Amos 1,3-5,9 In The Story book:
Elijah-‐Mt. Carmel
Elijah-‐Mt. Horeb Elisha Amos Hosea
Pages 203-‐206
Pages 206-‐209
Pages 209-‐213
Pages 213-‐215
Pages 215-‐217
• Overview: Israel had a series of evil kings with each one worse than the previous. God warned the people to leave their idols and return to Him. His prophets rebuked and warned of judgment. Elijah directly confronted evil royalty, false priests, and prophets. Elisha displayed God through miracles of compassion. Amos and Hosea warned Israel of God’s anger and judgment toward their persistent sin and disregard for God. GROUP TIME (Leader’s Only Notes): • OPENING PRAYER • VISION-CASTING THE PURPOSE OF LIFE GROUP • GROUP GUIDELINES
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Background Info Prophets served as God’s spokesman, bringing His message to His people. They spoke whatever word was needed to the Lord’s people during their moment in history. Often this was a message calling people to return to God. Hearing God’s Word Together • Have someone (or more than one) summarize the
passage. • Use your judgment as the leader about
rebuilding a passage this long. Then read the passage aloud. Discussion Passage - 1 Kings 18: 17-47 Exploring God’s Word Together Leaders: There are more questions provided than you will have time for. Choose the questions that are appropriate for your group. Feel free to develop your own questions to fit your group’s growth and needs..
1) Why did Elijah gather all the people on Mt. Carmel? 2) What competes with God in our culture?
3) What do you believe those things will do for you
that you are not certain God will?
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4) What steps can you take this week to begin to
eliminate the competition with God in your life?
5) How do we work together to challenge and encourage our friends and family to see God as the real God?
CLOSING PRAYER •Write down group prayer requests and praises/ celebrations on the following page. ANNOUNCEMENT: SUMMIT on FEBRUARY 14! NO LIFE GROUPS THAT WEEK.
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Prayer: Date: _____/_____/______
NAME PRAYER REQUEST CELEBRATE/PRAISE
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ENCOUNTER 16 – FALL OF JUDAH: THE KINGDOM’S FALL
DURING THE WEEK: Make time daily with God to know Him and His heart through time in His Word, prayer, and reflection. Note: Read both Chapters 16 & 17 in The Story this week. READ TO PREP FOR SUNDAY AND LIFE GROUPS: 2 Kings 21,23-25; 2 Chronicles 33,36; Jeremiah 1-2,4-5,13,21; Lamentations 1-3,5; Ezekiel 1-2,6-7,36-37 In The Story book:
Manasseh Ezekiel Jeremiah End Comes Hope Pages 231-‐234
Pages 235-‐237
Pages 238-‐240
Pages 241-‐245
Pages 246-‐247
• OVERVIEW: Manasseh followed his father Hezekiah as
king. His reign over Judah was the worst yet. He and those who followed him continued a roller coaster of good king then bad king, culminating in Zedekiah. Jeremiah and Ezekiel warned the nation and gave them hope in the dark that God disciplines but will not forsake them. Jerusalem fell and was taken into captivity. Jerusalem, the Temple, and the land are destroyed and abandoned.
GROUP TIME (Leader’s Only Note): • OPENING PRAYER • VISION-CASTING THE PURPOSE OF LIFE GROUP • GROUP GUIDELINES
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Background Info
Zedekiah and the nation had been warned many times to walk in heart-felt obedience to God. Yet they continued to engage God in rituals as one of many gods.
Hearing God’s Word Together
• Have someone (or more than one) summarize the
passage. • Use your judgment as the leader about
rebuilding a passage this long. • Then read the passage aloud.
Discussion Passage - Jeremiah 21:1-10
Exploring God’s Word Together Leaders: There are more questions provided than you will have time for. Choose the questions that are appropriate for your group. Feel free to develop your own questions to fit your group’s growth and needs.
1) Why did God say “no” to Zedekiah?
2) When has God answered your prayer with a “no”?
3) What do you do when God’s response to your prayer is directly opposite of what you asked?
4) How do you continue to trust God when you don’t understand what He is doing?
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CLOSING PRAYER •Write down group prayer requests and praises/ celebrations on the following page.
ANNOUNCEMENT: SUMMIT on FEBRUARY 14! NO LIFE GROUPS THAT WEEK.
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Prayer: Date: _____/_____/______
NAME PRAYER REQUEST CELEBRATE/PRAISE
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ENCOUNTER 17 – DANIEL IN EXILE
DURING THE WEEK: Make time daily with God to know Him and His heart through time in His Word, prayer, and reflection. READ TO PREP FOR SUNDAY AND LIFE GROUPS: Daniel 1-3,6; Jeremiah 29-31 In The Story book:
Lives Convictions
Descerns Dreams Fiery Furnaces Lions Den
Jeremiah Gives Hope
Pages 249-‐250
Pages 251-‐254
Pages 255-‐256
Pages 257-‐260
Pages 260-‐261
• Overview: Daniel and his three friends, along with many other Jews, were taken in exile to Babylon. While being taught Babylonian language, they sought favor to eat differently according to their convictions. Daniel sought God to help him interpret a dream for the king at a critical time. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood for their convictions through a fiery furnace. Daniel served several successive rulers, holding his integrity with each one, even to the point of facing lions in a lion’s den. While serving in Babylon, Daniel held onto God’s promises made through Jeremiah. GROUP TIME (Leader’s Only Note): • OPENING PRAYER • VISION-CASTING THE PURPOSE OF LIFE GROUP • GROUP GUIDELINES
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Background Info: Daniel has served his God faithfully for a lifetime, while he diligently served the rulers of nations that took his people into exile. He is not a young man when he faces the challenge we will discuss together. Hearing God’s Word Together
• Have someone (or more than one) summarize the
passage. • Use your judgment as the leader about
rebuilding a passage this long. • Then read the passage aloud. • .
Discussion Passage - Daniel 6 Exploring God’s Word Together Leaders: There are more questions provided than you will have time for. Choose the questions that are appropriate for your group. Feel free to develop your own questions to fit your group’s growth and needs. .
1) According to those who were around Daniel, what distinguished him?
2) In what ways is your integrity challenged by the
culture in which we live?
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3) Daniel had the habit of praying consistently. What habits help you involve God in your daily life?
4) How can we as a community of believers encourage each other and challenge each other to grow in having our beliefs impact our actions?
CLOSING PRAYER
•Write down group prayer requests and praises/ celebrations on the following page. ANNOUNCEMENT: SUMMIT NEXT SUNDAY, FEB. 14! NO LIFE GROUPS NEXT WEEK.
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Prayer: Date: _____/_____/______
NAME PRAYER REQUEST CELEBRATE/PRAISE
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ENCOUNTER 18 – EZRA: THE RETURN HOME
DURING THE WEEK: Make time daily with God to know Him and His heart through time in His Word, prayer, and reflection. READ TO PREP FOR SUNDAY AND LIFE GROUPS: Ezra 1-6; Haggai 1-2; Zechariah 1:8 In The Story book:
Return Building Start and Stop
Challenges Continue
Zechariah Encourages
Temple Rebuilt
Pages 263-‐264
Pages 2264-‐266
Pages 266-‐268
Pages 268-‐270
Pages 270-‐273
• Overview: Cyrus, King of Persia, decreed that people from Judah should return to Jerusalem to rebuild a temple for the Lord God of heaven. The priest, Joshua, and Zerubbabel led a large company to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. With much celebration, they restored the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. Soon enemies of Judah brought opposition seeking to discourage the restoration plans. This opposition frustrated and stopped the work for sixteen years. God sent Haggai and Zechariah to encourage and challenge the people to resume rebuilding on the Lord’s hope and promises. Records were searched, Cyrus’ decree was remembered, and King Darius sent a new decree. The Jewish people then finished the temple with neighboring people giving supplies rather than oppostion.
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GROUP TIME (Leader’s Only Notes): • OPENING PRAYER • VISION-CASTING THE PURPOSE OF LIFE GROUP • GROUP GUIDELINES
Background Info The group of Jews returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. They began and laid the foundation, but then opposition slowed them to a stop, so they turned to building their homes and city. After sixteen years of thwarted effort of work on the temple, Haggai was sent as a prophet to challenge Joshua, Zerubbabel, and the people to be about God’s business of rebuilding His temple. Hearing God’s Word Together
• Have someone (or more than one) summarize the
passage. • Use your judgment as the leader about
rebuilding a passage this long. • Then read the passage aloud.
Discussion Passage -- Haggai 1, 2
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Exploring God’s Word Together Leaders: There are more questions provided than you will have time for. Choose the questions that are appropriate for your group. Feel free to develop your own questions to fit your group’s growth and needs.
1) Why did people return to Jerusalem?
2) We don’t have temples to rebuild, so what do you thing building God’s kingdom looks like for us today?
3) How do you discern the difference between building your own kingdom and building God’s?
4) How is being a part of building God’s kingdom impacting your time? Your relationships with your family? Your finances?
CLOSING PRAYER
• Write down group prayer requests and praises/ celebrations on the following page.
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Prayer: Date: _____/_____/______
NAME PRAYER REQUEST CELEBRATE/PRAISE
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ENCOUNTER 19 – ESTHER: THE QUEEN OF BEAUTY AND COURAGE
DURING THE WEEK: Make time daily with God to know Him and His heart through time in His Word, prayer, and reflection. READ TO PREP FOR SUNDAY AND LIFE GROUPS: Esther 1-9 In The Story book:
Queen Vashti Mordecai and
Esther Lives at Risk Haman Reversal Pages 275-‐277
Pages 277-‐279
Pages 279-‐282
Pages 282-‐285
Pages 285-‐289
• Overview: King Xerxes needed a new queen. He chose Esther, who was raised by her cousin, Mordecai. Mordecai thwarted an assassination plot. King Xerxes’ chief noble, Haman, detested Mordecai, so he came up with a plan to not only kill Mordecai, but all people of his nationality – Jewish. Mordecai challenged Esther to seek mercy from the king. She risked going uninvited, and in a turn of events, Haman was executed and the Jewish people defended themselves against their enemies. ANNO GROUP TIME (Leader’s Only Notes): • OPENING PRAYER • VISION-CASTING THE PURPOSE OF LIFE GROUP • GROUP GUIDELINES
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Background Info Esther, a Jewish girl raised by her cousin Mordecai, became queen in Persia after the previous queen, Vashti, lost her position for being disrespectful to the king. Esther had been queen for around 5 years without revealing her nationality. Mordecai had been a part of the court, checking on Esther regularly. He was there so frequently he was even able to stop a plot to kill the King. He made an archenemy of the chief noble by refusing to bow to Haman. Haman used his wealth and influence to create a plot to kill not only Mordecai, but all of the Jews. He had an irrevocable decree written with the king’s permission and sent to all 127 provinces. Hearing God’s Word Together
• Have someone (or more than one) summarize the
passage. • Use your judgment as the leader about
rebuilding a passage this long. • Then read the passage aloud.
Discussion Passage - Esther 4 Exploring God’s Word Together Leaders: There are more questions provided than you will have time for. Choose the questions that are appropriate for your group. Feel free to develop your own questions to fit your group’s growth and needs.
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1) Why do you suppose Esther decided to go to the king? 2) When does following Jesus seem risky?
3) What risk do you think God is asking you to take for
him? -What holds you back? -What is at stake if you risk? If you don’t risk? -Who would benefit from your taking that risk?
4) Mordecai challenged Esther that she was where she
was “for such a time as this.” How do you get out of your comfort zone to take risks for God and for others?
CLOSING PRAYER •Write down group prayer requests and praises/ celebrations on the following page.
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Prayer: Date: _____/_____/______
NAME PRAYER REQUEST CELEBRATE/PRAISE
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ENCOUNTER 20 – NEHEMIAH: REBUILDING THE WALLS
DURING THE WEEK: Make time daily with God to know Him and His heart through time in His Word, prayer, and reflection. READ TO PREP FOR SUNDAY AND LIFE GROUPS: Ezra 7; Nehemiah 1-2; 4; 6-8 Malachi 1-4 In The Story book:
Ezra Prepares Nehemiah Prepares
Nehemiah Builds Ezra Teaches
Malachi Exhorts
Pages 291-‐294
Pages 294-‐296
Pages 296-‐299
Pages 299-‐301
Pages 301-‐304
• Overview: Ezra returned to Judah and Jerusalem with a second wave of people. King Artaxerxes commissioned them to go worship, sacrifice, make offerings, and to teach the Word and ways of God. Thirteen years later, Nehemiah heard the walls of Jerusalem were broken down. He was moved to seek the king to send him to rebuild the walls. He and a third wave of people returned to Jerusalem. He surveyed the walls and recruited the people to rebuild the walls. Each section of wall was built by families and individuals working together. Again there was opposition, threats, and rumors, particularly through Sanballat. Nehemiah persisted, restructured the working conditions, and encouraged the people. They finished the wall in 52 days. After rebuilding the wall, he and Ezra began to rebuild the nation by calling the people to rejoice in and obey the words of God. Again and again the people would be called back to hearts of trust and obedience, not merely emply ritual. Malachi was one of the prophets God used to warn them. ANNO
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GROUP TIME (Leader’s Only Notes): • OPENING PRAYER • VISION-CASTING THE PURPOSE OF LIFE GROUP • GROUP GUIDELINES
Background Info Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem with the mission to rebuild the walls. He surveyed the walls at night, brought the elders together, challenged them with the issue of the broken down walls, and encouraged them that God was with them and the king was behind them, so they began to rebuild. Then Sanballat came on the scene, and Nehemiah got to navigate through opposition! Hearing God’s Word Together
• Have someone (or more than one)
summarize the passage. • Use your judgment as the leader about
rebuilding a passage this long. • Then read the passage aloud.
Discussion Passage - Nehemiah 4:1-23; 6:15-16
[Type text] [Type text] [Type text]
Exploring God’s Word Together Leaders: There are more questions provided than you will have time for. Choose the questions that are appropriate for your group. Feel free to develop your own questions to fit your group’s growth and needs.
1) What did Nehemiah and the people accomplish
together?
2) Why was the wall important to all of them?
3) The connotation of the word “wall” is usually negative, but in this event, it’s a positive thing. What wall are you invested in building?
4) Building relationships that have trust and truth is key to maturing and making disciples of Jesus. What are ways you can intentionally build those kinds of relationships with the people in your Life Group? Follow through with one of those ideas this next week.
CLOSING PRAYER
•Write down group prayer requests and praises/ celebrations on the following page.
[Type text] [Type text] [Type text]
Father’s House
Church
Bend, OR
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