THE LIFE OF JOB - WEEK 2
“Don’t Waste Your Life”
Group Leader Guide for use October 30 - November 5, 2011
Directions: This guide provides a menu of teaching and discussion materials to help in leading your group. Please select and use the materials that best suit your group.
“Don’t Waste Your Life”
Group Leader Guide for use October 30 - November 5, 2011
Directions: This guide provides a menu of teaching and discussion materials to help in leading your group. Please select and use the materials that best suit your group.
FOR THE LEADER:
Sermon Recap – God has not called us to make excuses, but rather to make a difference! Remember, God blessed the second part of Job’s life even more than the first, and if Job had focused on his circumstances he may never have experienced what God wanted to do with the rest of his life.
Whether things are going well or not, it is important to wrap our minds around three concepts that will help us to not waste our lives:
Sermon Recap – God has not called us to make excuses, but rather to make a difference! Remember, God blessed the second part of Job’s life even more than the first, and if Job had focused on his circumstances he may never have experienced what God wanted to do with the rest of his life.
Whether things are going well or not, it is important to wrap our minds around three concepts that will help us to not waste our lives:
- God is good.
- Time is limited.
- My life matters.
These three ideas frame our perspective in a way that allows us to focus on making a difference in the world instead of being consumed with our own lives. As we identify our areas of gifting and learn to use them in a way that has eternal impact, God will bless us with more opportunities.
ICEBREAKER:
What is your area of giftedness? You were created for a purpose, to bring God glory, but what gift has God given you to use to make that happen? In Steven Furtick's book Sun Stand Still, he refers to how he realized his gifting as his “page 23 moment.”
What is your area of giftedness? You were created for a purpose, to bring God glory, but what gift has God given you to use to make that happen? In Steven Furtick's book Sun Stand Still, he refers to how he realized his gifting as his “page 23 moment.”
"As I sat at my parents' kitchen table with the open book, hands still wet from washing the dishes, I stumbled across a line that set the trajectory of my life. It was on page 23:
I despaired at the thought that my life might slip by without seeing God show himself mightily on our behalf.
“It's hard to put into words how tightly that one sentence gripped my imagination. Somehow the Holy Spirit translated that line into a tangible impression in my teenage heart, and I knew: one day I'm going to start a church in a big city to reach people who are far from God."
It was a statement that bothered Furtick, yet motivated him. He wanted to do something about it. Maybe your moment was during a women’s conference when the speaker asked for anyone who was broken to stand. Even though you didn't stand, you were immediately burdened for those on their feet. Or maybe it was when you went on the volunteer tour at NewSpring Church and you passed by the special needs classroom. You were not only burdened for the kids within that classroom, but also for their families. If you can identify what your gifting is, please share with the group. If you can't, your challenge is to go home and ask the Lord to show you!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Leaders’ note: Answers provide Bible verses for the group to look at together as you reinforce the Bible as the guide and source for victorious living.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Leaders’ note: Answers provide Bible verses for the group to look at together as you reinforce the Bible as the guide and source for victorious living.
Q: What are some Biblical examples of God using ONE person to do something great?
A: Noah in Genesis 6-9; Abraham in Genesis 15; David in 1 Samuel 17; etc.
So often we feel like there is a limit on how God can use us, because we each represent only one person. Looking at the Bible, though, shows that God frequently uses one person to do something that impacts many people. It is surely no stretch to conclude that God wants your life to matter to more people than just you. He does not have to make you the pastor of a church or the president of a nation; God wants you to surrender completely to Him that He can use you every day, however He chooses. (Leaders, consider taking the discussion further by opening up and sharing your story of how God led YOU to make a difference.)
Q: What does the Bible say about the brevity of life on earth, and how should we therefore use that time?
A: II Peter 3:8-9; Psalm 90:10, 12 & 17; Psalm 39:4-7; James 4:13-15
The Bible is clear about the fact that our sense of time is nothing like God's sense of time. He is beyond all time and space. Many times, what we may see as "way far off" is really a breath's width in God's perspective. With that in mind, we need to very carefully consider how we spend our time here on earth. We are told not to squander or waste our time. We need to keep in mind our first goal: To bring glory and honor to Christ and to share Jesus with as many people as possible. Other things will try to distract us (gathering worldly wealth is one example), but we must remain fervent in fulfilling our first calling. We can ask God to show us the brevity of our lives, asking Him to give us wisdom and teach us how to manage our time effectively, not squandering it with foolish things. We can ask Him to help us realize that the shortness of life here on earth is a drop in a bucket compared to eternity after our bodies retire.
Q: What does God's Word say about the specific responsibilities that each of us has within the Church?
A: I Corinthians 12:1-31; Acts 6:1-7; Ephesians 4:11-13
The human body is a majestic creation. There are thousands of processes that must occur at just the right time, in just the right way, to keep us alive and healthy. So many life processes are dependent on the processes and responsibilities of others; body parts and organs can not "go it alone." The blood vessels are just as necessary as the pancreas for maintaining life. The bones are just as important as the skin. The same goes for God's church. There are no "unimportant jobs." Every single person's job is uniquely necessary in the grand scheme of helping the church to be healthy and grow. It is also important to know that one person should not (and can not) perform all jobs perfectly and with ease. When the expectations become too heavy to bear alone, it is our responsibility to share them with each other. (This is shown in a clear example in the Acts passage above.) As long as everyone works for the same goal and no one is puffed up and distracted by feelings of grandeur and importance, things will work smoothly and the church's "parts" will work together with ease. The Bible has lots to say about specific gifts and callings, but this applies to all of us, no matter what God has specifically called us to.
Q: After accepting Christ, how do we determine God’s will for our lives?
A: Jeremiah 29:12-13; Ephesians 5:15-17; Psalm 119:105; Romans 12:1-2
Surrendering to God and letting Him be Lord is not easy. We may claim and even try hard to willingly let God be in charge, but it is our human nature to become dissatisfied with life and our circumstances at times. Sometimes we care more about our plan than about His, especially when it is not clear to us what God has planned for us. That is why it is so important for us to pursue God, hear His voice, and obey His direction! God wants us to know His will for our lives even more than we do, so He has given us His Word to guide us, lead us, instruct us, and ultimately to transform us. God often reveals instruction to us one step at a time, and that is the way to determine His will for our lives. Listen to what the next step is, and obey it!
L.E.A.D.S. Application:
The heart of NewSpring home groups is summarized by the acronym LEADS:
The heart of NewSpring home groups is summarized by the acronym LEADS:
L – learn the Bible together
E – embrace serving together
A – assist one another
D – devote ourselves to generosity
S – send people out to start new groups
E – embrace serving together
A – assist one another
D – devote ourselves to generosity
S – send people out to start new groups
We can be devoted to generosity and minister to others by allowing God to work through our gifts during the valleys and the mountain tops. Remember, God has not given us spiritual gifts and passions to just make us better people; those gifts are intended for use in building up the body of Christ. By living in surrender to the Lord, especially in tough times when our weakness reveals His strength, we will always be provided with ways to share what He has equipped us to do. Open discussion within your group regarding what makes your members feel alive and what they are passionate about. Also discuss what breaks their hearts. Both of these categories reveal our gifts, so this could be an awesome time of revelation, conviction, and motivation! Ask group members to share the outlets God has given to them as opportunities to make a difference by using their passions and gifts. Others can be inspired to find all the goodness within becoming an active giver. As we say at NewSpring, “God made you to be in the game! You have too much potential to be on the sidelines.” Encourage all group members to seek out where God wants them to pour into others through prayer, God’s Word, and getting involved. Inspire group members to seize the opportunity to allow God to work through them, because time is limited! Invite your group to brainstorm about the service project and needs that you can meet for others. What has opportunities has God laid in your path in which you can be generous?
Prayer time idea:
Ask God that He would clearly reveal the outlets for each person individually and also your group collectively to make a difference and show generosity with the gifts and resources that God has given them. Thank Him for His goodness and for equipping us and for designing us to play an awesome role in His grand and beautiful plan.
Recommended Resources:
Prayer time idea:
Ask God that He would clearly reveal the outlets for each person individually and also your group collectively to make a difference and show generosity with the gifts and resources that God has given them. Thank Him for His goodness and for equipping us and for designing us to play an awesome role in His grand and beautiful plan.
Recommended Resources:
Tips for Leaders:
In a series like Job where we acknowledge the fact that life is hard, there is a good chance that you'll begin to see a new level of vulnerability in your group. A great way for you to encourage this vulnerability is to choose to be vulnerable with your group as well. You have the opportunity to share hardships that you have experienced in life and how those times allowed you to witness God's work in your life. You can offer hope to people who are hurting by reminding them of God's goodness and faithfulness. He has brought you through hard times, and He will be there for them as well.
In a series like Job where we acknowledge the fact that life is hard, there is a good chance that you'll begin to see a new level of vulnerability in your group. A great way for you to encourage this vulnerability is to choose to be vulnerable with your group as well. You have the opportunity to share hardships that you have experienced in life and how those times allowed you to witness God's work in your life. You can offer hope to people who are hurting by reminding them of God's goodness and faithfulness. He has brought you through hard times, and He will be there for them as well.
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