Text: Daniel 2
Summary: The king asks his wise men to tell him about a dream that he had, and when they can't deliver the entire group of men (including Daniel who wasn't present for the meeting) are ordered to be killed. Daniel focused on God, spent time with his godly friends in prayer, and God gave Daniel what he needed. Daniel told the king his dream and Daniel was elevated to a higher position in the kingdom.
1. When you reach a breaking point, what are the directions that you turn to? (parents, friends, self-help books, Oprah, culture, yourself). Why do we tend to try to fix the problem ourselves and turn to everyone else before turning to God? In verses 10-11 and 27-28, scripture makes is clear to us that there are some situations that can only be handled by God. So go to Him first!
2. There are 2 great examples of what Daniel DID do and what he DID NOT do in response to reaching his breaking point:
What he DID:
1. Pray.
2. Involved his godly friends.
-Read Psalm 50:15 and Lamentations 2:19. What are our instructions when we reach a breaking point? (call out to God and depend on God).
-What does prayer do to your focus? (It turns your attention and focus to God. You are admitting that you can't handle it anymore and you are asking for help).
-Here are 4 easy steps that you can take in order to help a friend that is at their breaking point.
1. Show up. Just being there for someone and being with them is a big comfort and help.
2. Shut up. Don't think you have to explain anything to them or get theological. Most times that only complicates things and make it worse.
3. Share the pain. Grieve with them, cry with them, mourn with them.
4. Take the initiative. Never say "call me if you need anything." That puts the responsibility on them. Everyone has to eat, so take them meals. They need a break, so watch their kids. Their house and yard are going to get messy, so help with work.
-What are some examples of how these 4 things have helped you in the past when godly men/women stepped up and did them for you?
What he DID NOT do:
1. Ignore the problem.
2. Play the blame game.
-Daniel didn't just slam the door in the face of the man trying to kill him in verse 13. He didn't ignore it, pretend like it wasn't a big deal, or play it off. He confronted it, acknowledged it, and knew that it had to be fixed. Are there issues in your life that you have been closing the door on? What usually happens when problems are ignored and swept under the rug?
-What's more productive to get you through your breaking point: Asking "why is this happening to me" or "what do I need to do in response to it?"
3. In verse 46-49, God used Daniels difficult situation to save other people around him. Have you ever used a difficult situation that you've been through to help, encourage, or bring other people close to Jesus? God can turn your situation into someone else's salvation!
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Breaking Point: FOCUS
Text: Daniel 1
Summary: God allows Daniel's city to be sacked, overtaken, and overthrown by a foreign government that doesn't worship God. Daniel and his friends are taken to Babylon and are victims of human trafficking. Everything in Daniel's life gets turned upside down and he reaches a breaking point. Instead of focusing on his problems and letting his identity be defined by his circumstances, Daniel focuses on God and finds His identity in Him.
1. In verse 1-2, Scripture records that God "allowed" His people in His city to be taken captive. Why would God allow bad things to happen, especially to His people? (to teach them something, to draw them closer to Himself, to simply give them what they are asking for and allow them to reap the negative consequences of their sin).
What is God's desired response from us when we encounter hardships in life? (seeking Him, turning away from our sin and coming back to Him, growing our relationship with Him, gaining more intimacy with Him, seeing our own folly in the bad decisions we've made and in return learning to trust in Him more).
2. When you are at your breaking point, what happens when you start focusing on your problem? (it consumes you, it depresses you, it discourages you, and overwhelms you).
What happens when we focus on God instead of our current situation? (it helps put things in perspective of how big and grand God is compared to our situation, it reminds us who is in control, and it redirects our trust to the savior as oppose to the situation).
3. Read verse 9. When Daniel chose to focus on God, God gave Daniel favor, compassion, and elevated him above his circumstances. What does verse 9 mean for us today?
4. Read verse 10. What are your most common doubters and haters when you decide to move forward in your relationship with God and fully focus on Him? Does the discouragement come from the outside? Or does the doubt creep in from inside because of the lack of dedication and failed attempts in your life in the past? How can you put those doubts aside and continue to be faithful?
Summary: God allows Daniel's city to be sacked, overtaken, and overthrown by a foreign government that doesn't worship God. Daniel and his friends are taken to Babylon and are victims of human trafficking. Everything in Daniel's life gets turned upside down and he reaches a breaking point. Instead of focusing on his problems and letting his identity be defined by his circumstances, Daniel focuses on God and finds His identity in Him.
1. In verse 1-2, Scripture records that God "allowed" His people in His city to be taken captive. Why would God allow bad things to happen, especially to His people? (to teach them something, to draw them closer to Himself, to simply give them what they are asking for and allow them to reap the negative consequences of their sin).
What is God's desired response from us when we encounter hardships in life? (seeking Him, turning away from our sin and coming back to Him, growing our relationship with Him, gaining more intimacy with Him, seeing our own folly in the bad decisions we've made and in return learning to trust in Him more).
2. When you are at your breaking point, what happens when you start focusing on your problem? (it consumes you, it depresses you, it discourages you, and overwhelms you).
What happens when we focus on God instead of our current situation? (it helps put things in perspective of how big and grand God is compared to our situation, it reminds us who is in control, and it redirects our trust to the savior as oppose to the situation).
3. Read verse 9. When Daniel chose to focus on God, God gave Daniel favor, compassion, and elevated him above his circumstances. What does verse 9 mean for us today?
4. Read verse 10. What are your most common doubters and haters when you decide to move forward in your relationship with God and fully focus on Him? Does the discouragement come from the outside? Or does the doubt creep in from inside because of the lack of dedication and failed attempts in your life in the past? How can you put those doubts aside and continue to be faithful?
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Man Up!
Text: Deuteronomy 6:6-13
Summary: God tells Moses what the spiritual leaders of the family need to do. These characteristics include 6 things:
1. Allow the Gospel and God to transform your life first (vs 6)
2. Take responsibility for teaching your kids who God is and what He commands. (vs 7a)
3. Make God's Word a priority in your life and your kids will see its value (vss 7b-8)
4. Make God's Word prominent in your home and in the life of your family (vs 9)
5. Teach your kids gratitude towards God (vss 10-12)
6. Teach your kids to worship (vs 13)
1. (Deut 6:6) The first step in leading anyone else (spouse, family, friends, coworkers) into a meaningful journey with God is to have a solid relationship with God yourself. It all starts with you!
a. Make a quick list (just say them out loud in your group) of the things that you want to instill in your kids spiritually. (examples: involved in a church, growing in their relationship with God, to have a strong relationship with Jesus, to be a generous giver financially, to be generous with their time, to serve others around them, to know and read the Bible, to treat others around them in a godly way, etc.)
b. Now, take a look at that list and do a self evaluation. Are you asking your kids to do something that you're not doing? Do you have dreams and aspirations for them that you aren't even fulfilling?
2. (Deut 6:7a) What are you doing to take responsibility for your kids spiritually? That does involve attending church, but does it stop there? Are you personally reading the Bible with them, teaching them about Jesus, taking ownership of their journey with God? Remember, our kids ministry wants to be YOUR biggest fan! That means we come alongside YOU and help YOU lead your family, not do all of those things for you or in place of you.
-So what are ways that you are doing that now with your family? If you don't have kids, what are habits that you can put into place now to lay a good foundation?
3. (Deut 6:9) What are ways that you are making God's word prominent in your home? What has worked well for you? (Apps, games, devotional books, bedtime stories, rWorld blog, etc).
4. Read Proverbs 22:6. That could be both a comforting word and a seriously intimidating warning as well. All of us are training our kids in something (if you don't have kids, your current lifestyle will be used to teach them when they do arrive). It may be negative training that will lead them down a path of destruction, or positive training that will lead them down a path of spiritual success. Either way, process proceeds product. If your kids copied your training today, would you be proud of the life they were living?
Saturday, June 7, 2014
The Journey: REMEMBER
I hope Sunday was a powerful time to REMEMBER what Jesus has done for you and what Jesus has called you to do. Throughout your journey with Jesus it is important to stop and REMEMBER what this is all about. Let's get other people to Jesus!
This week is "Invite Night." As you throw a party and invite people to hang out with your group, be sure to be intentional about spending time with the guests and building relationships. We've had people come to REVO, give their life to Jesus, and be baptized, and their first encounter with REVO was to come to a rGroup invite night. This week matters!
Have a great week!
-Nathan
This week is "Invite Night." As you throw a party and invite people to hang out with your group, be sure to be intentional about spending time with the guests and building relationships. We've had people come to REVO, give their life to Jesus, and be baptized, and their first encounter with REVO was to come to a rGroup invite night. This week matters!
Have a great week!
-Nathan
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