the story discussion guide: feb 2015

FEBRUARY

STUDY GUIDE

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STUDY GUIDE INTRODUCTION

As a church family we are taking this 2014-15 school year to study the Bible together

from Genesis to Revelation. Our hope is that as we focus on the larger story of what

God has been up to in the world it will help us better understand the role He has for us

to play at this time in history. As you study the scriptures as a family, as a small group or

as a class, please pray for our church to clearly hear God's voice. This study guide is

meant to help you explore the big themes of the Bible. You can use it as a stand-alone

study before or after our Sunday worship times in which the sermons will be based on

the same large topic, or you can use this study guide as a supplement to the other Story

materials like the teaching DVD and The Story novel. We arranged this study in a way

to help us each be more intentional about being disciples of Jesus by asking these

three primary questions:

1) What does the text say?

2) What is God saying to me through this text?

3) What is God asking me to do different in light of this text?

Thank you for being willing to be a part of this journey we are on together as a church

family, and thank you for being open to how God wants to invite you more deeply into

His beautiful story.

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February 1 Fall of Judah

Jeremiah 1:4-19 and Jeremiah 3: 11-15

CONTEXT questions (what did the text say to the original audience?)

1. What is the historical situation in which Jeremiah finds himself?

2. How does God call Jeremiah into his role as a prophet?

3. What are the visions and Jeremiah sees? What are their meanings?

4. If you were Jeremiah how would you be feeling about the task set before you?

PRAY: Stop here and pray silently, “God, what are You saying to me?”

REPENT questions (where does our thinking need to change?)

5. What does it mean to stand for God in today’s world? What changes do we need to make?


BELIEVE questions (where does our behavior need to change?)

6. What does it mean to stand for truth and grace in today’s world?

PRAY: Stop here and pray silently, “God, what do You want me to do?”

PRAYER TIME: A CONVERSATION WITH GOD

Jeremiah 1:4-8 – The word of the Lord came to me saying, Before I formed you in the womb I

knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

“Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” But the Lord

said to me, “Do not say,”I am only a child. You must go to everyone I send you to and say

whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,”

declares the Lord.

Jeremiah like many of us did not have a lot of confidence in himself however when the Lord

tells us he has given us an assignment we must concentrate on his promise that he will be with

us always and that he will rescue us. So if you feel there are times when you sense the Lord is

sending you in a direction you can’t handle rejoice! You really aren’t in charge. In prayer thank

and praise the Lord that he will be going before you to make sure what you are doing for him

is his desire. He will always rescue you. Just keep listening to him and let him guide you.

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February 8 Daniel

Sermon Text: Daniel 3: 19-30

Possible First Reading: Daniel 6: 19-23

CONTEXT questions (what did the text say to the original audience?)

1. How did Daniel end up with Nebuchadnezzar as his captor?

2. How do you think Daniel decided which laws he needed to obey and which laws he needed to disobey?

3. Integrity is who you are when no one is looking. What are some of the messages in our culture to cause us compromise our faith?



4. How do you draw lines in your own life that you won’t cross?



5. How does your faith help you in those situations?


PRAYER TIME: A TEST OF OUR FAITH

Daniel 3: 17–18 “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us

from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to

know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

We should be faithful to serve God whether he intervenes on our behalf or not. Our eternal

reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first. To trust God to this extent requires

having a relationship with him; knowing him. Your prayer life is a perfect place to grow this

relationship. Ask the Lord in prayer how he feels about you.

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February 15 Ezra

Sermon text Ezra 3:10-13

First reading Zechariah 8:1–9, Haggai

Context Questions (what did the text say to the original audience?)

1. What do you think it was like where God’s people while they waited for renewal of their country after being taken captive?

2. Can you think I’m a personal experience where you waited for God act?

3. When the people of Israel began to work on the temple what kind of resistance did they meet?



4. What kinds of things do we baptize claiming that’s what God wants when they’re really our own ideas?



5. We believe God is in control of history what kind of comfort does give you as you follow him today?


PRAYER TIME:

PRAYER: A TIME TO PRAISE GOD

Ezra 3:10-11- When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in

their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took

their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and

thanksgiving they sang to the Lord. “He is good; his love to Israel endures forever.” A really

good thing to do when you feel a little disagreeable or downhearted is to praise God.

Praising God automatically places you into a new situation; you are no longer thinking about

yourself. Our holy father loves to hear our praises. Start your prayers with glorifying the Lord

and thanking him that his love for us endures forever. You will find his love overwhelming you

with his grace.

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February 22 Esther

Esther 4:12-17

Psalm 107:1-9


1. What are some of the cultural norms and laws that come into play for Esther?

2. What are the motives of Haman?

3. What characteristics that mark Mordecai?

4. What strikes you about Esther’s character?



5. Risks do you think God is calling you to take at this point in your life?



6. What is it about God that gives you the ability to stand for him when you face situations that are driven by the values of the world?

PRAYER AS INTERCESSION

Esther 5:15-17 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are in

Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast

as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king even though it is against the law. And if I

perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Even beautiful Queens have their issues in life. Esther shows us her faithfulness and trust in

the Lord. If we find ourselves in extraordinary circumstances we must listen in prayer to see

what God wants us to do. And then we can assume we are here for “just a time as this” and

carry out his desires. Trusting in our God who never leaves us allows for a very interesting,

exciting and amazing life.

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March 1 Nehemiah

Nehemiah 2:17–20

Nehemiah 1:1–11


1. Who is Nehemiah and what kind of influence would he have to be able to ask for something from the king?

2. What are Nehemiah’s fears as he goes to the king to ask for a favor?

3. What are the issues the Nehemiah faces as he tries to lead the people?

4. What principles do you learn about leadership from Nehemiah?



5. Why is it so important that we give God the first and the best of all we have?



6. How important is God’s word in the story?

PRAYER TIME: Nehemiah 1:10-11 “They are your servants and your people, whom you

redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Oh Lord, let your ear be attentive to

the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your

name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

The extraordinary thing about this man Nehemiah is that he did absolutely nothing without

first consulting the Lord in prayer. ALWAYS.

What would our lives look like if we practiced it as Nehemiah did? Take the time to read this

book you might be inspired and encouraged by a man who prayed in such a way. Nehemiah

had many obstacles in his life, however with the Lord’s direction through prayer he was

successful in completing the Lord’s will.

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DISCIPLESHIP LEARNING CIRCLE INTRODUCTION

The Learning Circle is a discipleship tool, which means it is a way to help us better follow Jesus. The premise is simple: God is always speaking, always wanting to communicate His love and plans to us, and we want to be people who hear this voice and respond in obedience. The first half of the circle is about REPENTING, which means to have our thinking changed by God. The second half of the circle is about BELIEVING, which means to have our behavior changed by God. Use this tool in order to help lead conversations all the way around the circle so that we might be people who more clearly know the ways of Jesus and more obediently follow the ways of Jesus. You will notice that our drawing of the Learning Circle includes two places to stop in order to engage prayer. Use this time as a group to listen for the voice of God because He wants to speak to us, and speak through us to our brothers and sisters.

the story discussion guide: feb 2015

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