The Great Story Rarely Told

An Exiled People

Discussion Guide

April 1,  2012

1.         Text for Today's Lesson -  2 Kings 17:20

2.         The chosen people of God grumbled while in the wilderness after leaving their exile in Egypt.  After they leave the wilderness they come into the promised land.  God continues to bless them until He finally had enough of their sinning and disloyalty.  God raises up countries to come in and defeat them by force and haul off the best and brightest of the men to another country.  This time in exile is one of the most important times in the development of the nation of Israel. Although, not much is written in the Bible concerning the seventy years in exile. Let us look at the exile and see how being in exile can shape our faith today.

Questions for Discussion

A.         What were the three points of the mandate given to Joshua as he and his people entered the Promised Land?

B.         Why did God kick His people out of the Promised Land?

C.         What were items the people rebelled against?

D.         What was God’s response to their rebellion?

F.         What changed in Judaism after the exile?

G.         What does it mean to walk in the ways of Jereboam?

H.         What was happening in world religions at the time of the exile?

I.          What does God think concerning pluralism?

J.          What is one of the worst things that happens when your best and brightest are exiled?

K.         What happens to those that are exiled?

L.         Why would God send His people into exile?

M.          What was captivity like for God’s people?

N.           What is the status of Christians today?  How should we respond to this world?

Scripture:

                Joshua 1:6-9       1 Chronicles 5:25              2 Kings 17:19-33                Isaiah 20:4-6                               Daniel 1:6

                Psalm 137            1 Peter 2:11-12                  Matt 5:11                             Romans 8:18                      1 Tim 4:3

                1 Tim 1:15            

A Grumbling People

Discussion Guide

March 25, 2012

1.         Text for Today's Lesson -  Numbers 11: 6b

2.         Imagine walking through the Red Sea turning around and seeing Pharaoh destroyed before your very             eyes.  It would be a great time to sing praises to God for deliverance from slavery.  Move ahead             three   days, and the only water around is bitter and not any good to drink.  It's time to complain about the             accommodations and beverage service.  After all remember what we had in Egypt, those were the             good old days.  The Israelites were complaining about their treatment by God under the leadership of             Moses.  Complaints are a distraction to the life of the faithful and to the leadership to which the             complaints are brought. In this lesson we are going to take a look at grumbling and its affect on             everyone.

Questions for Discussion

A.         What was the reaction of the Israelites to going through the Red Sea?

B.         How long did it take until the grumbling started?

C.         When his people complained of hunger what did God do for them?

D.         What does manna mean in Hebrew?

F.         What are the components of a complaint?

G.         How long after a positive event does it take before complaints start?

H.         What is the effect of grumbling on followers and leadership?

I.          After prolonged grumbling how  does God react to another grumbling sequence?

J.          What are three import things that we can see from the texts concerning the Israelites grumbling and God's responses?

K.         Who was the focal point of first century grumbling?

L.         What is the correlation between the grumbling of the old testament and the new testament?

Scripture:

                Exodus 15:22-27

                Ex 16:1-3

                Exodus 17:1-7

                Nu 11:1-9

                Jn 6:41-51

The Great Story Rarely Told

A Chosen People

Discussion Guide

March 18, 2012

1.         Text for Today's Lesson -  Deuteronomy 7:6

2.         Life has unusual twists and turns and many times we do not know where we are headed.  Many times in the midst of our wandering we have to stop and realize that God is in control and is leading us to do his work in the world.  A descendent of Noah's son Shem, lived such a life.  In Genesis 12 God tells Abram that he needs to leave home, without giving him a destination.  Abram packs up his family and his possessions and heads out from Ur of Chaldee to points unknown.  For his faith in going God made promise to him that nations would arise from him and that he would populate the most fertile place in the world.  Abram becomes Abraham and it is from him that the nation of God arises.  A chosen people with a special mission

           

Questions for Discussion

A.         How does God react to the deplorable sinful ways of the world after Adam and Eve leave the garden and populate the world? (Genesis 6:6)

B.         After destroying the world with water what was God's sign that He would not do that again?

C.         To whose lineage does Abraham belong?

D.         When Abram was chosen by God what were some of God's offer to him?

F.         What are two aspects of being chosen?

G.         What does it mean to be holy?

H.         What two ways does Abraham try to provide his own heir instead of waiting for God?

I.          What is a covenant?

J.          What does it mean to be possessed by God

K.         How do we become a holy and chosen people?

L.         What does it mean for us today?

Scripture:

                                Genesis 6:5-8

                                Genesis 12:1-3

                                Genesis 17:4-8

                                Deuteronomy 7:6

                                Nehemiah 9:7-8

                                Deuteronomy 28:9-13

                                1 Peter 2:9-10 

The Great Story Rarely Told

Sin Enters The World

Discussion Guide

March 11, 2012

1.         Text for Today's Lesson -  Geneses 3:6d

2.         A major component  of the creation involves the creation of man and woman.  In Gen. 2:25, Man and Woman are together, unclothed and there is no shame whatsoever.  Life is good for the newly   created couple.  Food is plentiful, and they have all they  need.  Enter the serpent, who comes in and starts dialogue with the woman which leads to statements of deceit.  The serpent convinces her                that God is holding back some of His best items from them and he tells them that the consequences will not be all that bad.  Listen to the rest of the story during the sermon. 

           

Questions for Discussion

A.         Why is a life without shame better than one with shame?

B.         What is usually involved when shame and guilt enter into the picture?

C.         In Genesis chapter 3, when does the perfect creation start to fall apart?  (Who tells the first lie?)

D.         Is always helpful to know the right thing according God?

F.         Why do we at times know what God has commanded, but yet we are unwilling to do what he has commanded?

G.         Is there a difference between wisdom and knowledge?  explain the difference

H.         How often does sin look better than it actually is?

I.          What's the first reaction by Adam and Eve to their sin?

J.          Name four things that happen when sin is confronted?

K.         What are reactions by the sinner when confronted about the sin committed?

L.         What happens when sin is not owned by the one who commits the sin?

M.        Have you ever knew what God wanted you to do, but were unwilling to do it?

N.         What is your best definition of sin?

O.        What happens when choose not to confess your sin to God?

Scripture:

                                Gen. 2:25

                                Genesis 3:1-14

                                Gen. 4

                                1 John 1:8-10

The Greatest Story Rarely Told

God Spoke!

Discussion Guide

March 4, 2012

1.         Text for Today's Lesson - Genesis 1:3-5. 

2.         One of the greatest stories ever told is the Bible.  Through  a myriad of authors, over thousands of      years, God, tells the story of salvation history.  In today's lesson we begin the story, in the book  of beginnings, Genesis.  We are first introduced to God, followed by the story of Creation.  The creation story is on the list of items that you must understand and believe.  It is foundational to whoGod is and what He is doing as humans first come to life.  Our discussion will include items such as when different items were made and how they were named.  We also watch as God creates a helper for man.

           

Questions for Discussion

A.         How many books are in the Old Testament and the new Testament Combined?

B.         What types of literature make up the Bible?  Why does it matter?

C.         Name some interesting details concerning the Bible? (span of writing, setting, authors)

D.         Define three attributes of God?

F.         Define the three essences of God?

G.         What happens when God speaks?

H.         What did God say as he finished each day of creation?

I.          What are three things God did for creation?

Scripture:

                            Genesis 1 and 2                                                               John 4:42

                Psalm 147:4,5                                                                   Ephesians 5:23

                Acts 15:18                                                                         Jude 1:25

                Matthew 19:26                                                                 John 4:24

                Job 42:2                                                                            John 14:17

                Matthew 5:16                                                                   John 16: 13-15

                Luke 23:34

                                      I Corinthians 8:6