Life Group Study – Week of 02/21

Life Group Study – Week of 02/21

Uncharted Territory: Never Forget

My Highlight

On Sunday, Pastor Lennon spoke about passing on our faith and remembering what God has provided previously in our lives. 

QUESTION: What are some key thoughts or words that come to your mind from his message?

This Is God’s Word

Joshua 4:1–9, 17-24

the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua: 2 “Choose twelve men from the people, one man for each tribe, 3 and command them: Take twelve stones from this place in the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing, carry them with you, and set them down at the place where you spend the night.” 4 So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had selected from the Israelites, one man for each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go across to the ark of the Lord your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder, one for each of the Israelite tribes, 6 so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 you should tell them, ‘The water of the Jordan was cut off in front of the ark of the Lord’s covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan’s water was cut off.’ Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites.” 8 The Israelites did just as Joshua had commanded them. The twelve men took stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the Israelite tribes, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the camp and set them down there. 9 Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing. The stones are still there today.

…

17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.” 18 When the priests carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant came up from the middle of the Jordan, and their feet stepped out on solid ground, the water of the Jordan resumed its course, flowing over all the banks as before. 19 The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and camped at Gilgal on the eastern limits of Jericho. 20 Then Joshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan, 21 and he said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’ 22 you should tell your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up before us until we had crossed over. 24 This is so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord’s hand is strong, and so that you may always fear the Lord your God.”

 Starting Point: When it comes to having a confident faith, forgetfulness is a major problem.

Psalm 77:10–12

So I say, “I am grieved that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”,11 I will remember the Lord’s works; yes, I will remember your ancient wonders. 12 I will reflect on all you have done and meditate on your actions                                                                                                                                                           

What was God’s plan to make sure we did not forget or remain ignorant of what He had done for His children? Do you have a favorite passage of Scripture that brings a remembrance of God’s provision in your life that you cherish and share often?

Let’s Go Deeper

Ephesians 1:3-7 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

Reflection Questions: 

1. Paul is writing to the people in Ephesus to remind them of what Jesus has provided to them. He is asking them to praise God for the provisions we have through Jesus Christ, “who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

QUESTION: Which of  these spiritual blessings you have in Christ are most moving to you right now?

QUESTION: The above passage lists the great things God has done for you. How does this passage encourage you and provide motivation to witness to someone else? 

2. Paul is encouraging us to be grateful for God’s plan at creation to create us for relationship with Him. He made provision through His Son, Jesus, for us to be holy and blameless in God’s eyes: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” 

QUESTION: Do you really believe you are chosen by God to love and serve Him? How does (or should) this fact encourage the way you view yourself?

3. When Paul talks about being adopted into the family of God, he says “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”

QUESTION: When does this adoption take place, and what are the benefits of being part of the family of God?

QUESTION: When you are in a family you experience security, trust, and relationship.  At its best, how does your spiritual family (church/life group) bring about these things in your life?  

4. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Pastor Lennon reminded us that we must not forget what God has done in our lives. 

QUESTION: How would you explain redemption to someone that does not know “Christian terminology”?

QUESTION: Speaking of the Cross of Jesus—How can the cross serve a similar purpose the memorial stones that Joshua had the Israelite’s to leave to serve as a reminder of God’s provision?  

5. Hebrews 13:8  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. “ Joshua was going into unchartered territory with people who knew God had provided for them many times and been faithful in leading them out of Egypt.  Yet we know they continued to doubt his ability to do it again. 

QUESTION: What are the reminders of His faithfulness that you cherish?

Let’s Pray

There has been A LOT happening for all of us lately. How can we pray for one another?