Flip the Switch: Let's Get Lit

→ Ice Breaker

How would you answer someone who asked you to describe God?

→ Read 1 John 1:5–2:2

→ Scripture Review

What does it mean in 1:5 that 'God is light?' What does it mean when there is no darkness in Him at all?

1 John 1:5 implies that people believe different things about God than that He is light. What other things do people believe about God?

Why do you think John summarizes the message of God by stating that He is light rather than Him being love?

What's the definition of a liar in 1:6?

Read verse 7. How can one 'live in the light'? What does that mean?

How does John describe the Christian life in 1 John1:9?

Why is repentance such an important part of the Christian life? What are the consequences if we are unwilling to repent? (1 John 1:6–10)

Read 2:1-2. Does Jesus' advocacy encourage you to seek him when you sin? Why or why not?


→ Personal Application

How has knowing God changed your heart and life? How have you and others noticed the difference?

How does your faith in Jesus change your view of sin?

Is it possible to have faith in God and continue living in sin? Why or why not?

How does 'walking in the light' encourage you to live your life before God and others?

What is biblical confession? Does this refer to confession that leads to salvation (what gives you the relationship with God) or confession that leads to maintaining your relationship with God? Does it matter?

Do you consider yourself someone who is quick to repent? What causes us to delay repenting?

If you would lead someone to Jesus, what truths in this passage could you point to and use to do it?


→ How To Pray This Week

Pray for everyone in the group to come to a greater understanding of God – that He's light (holy) – and how He desires for us to live by faith in Christ, trusting his cleansing work, not ours.


→ Next Steps

This week's text challenges us to examine whether or not we are walking in the light. Here is a great opportunity to encourage your group to walk in the light with God and one another. Depending on the makeup of your group, you can consider one of the following options:

1. Set aside some time at the end for confession, prayer, and encouragement. You can keep the group together as a whole, or consider breaking up into smaller groups.

2. If you don't have enough time, encourage people to get together outside of group time for confession, prayer and encouragement.

Rebuild: How to Get Anyone to Do Anything

Read Haggai 2:10–19

Intro

Think back through Nathan/Wes' talk about these verses. What stuck out to you?

One question posed on Sunday was, "Why do you obey God?" What was your initial response?


Scripture Review

Three weeks into this series, what are some themes you notice playing out in your life?

Read Haggai 2:12-14. What message is God sending through Haggai? How does it apply today?

Think about verse 14, specifically. How much of what you do is defiled by sin?

Read Haggai 2:15-17. Why do you suppose God reminded them of their former frustrations?

Why is it necessary to notice and think about the frustrations that occur when we do not put Jesus first?

Do you think God's point for the people was for them to make a nice temple? (No.) Then what does God want instead? (He wanted their whole hearts devoted and obedient to Him.)


Personal Application

When you're making the right choices, but life doesn't go your way, how do you respond?

Why do we often think the good in our lives can be used to balance the bad in our lives?

How current are you in your obedience to God? Is there anything on a waiting list?

Is your obedience conditional on the size of the reward God provides?

What hard things are happening to you that could be an opportunity to grow closer to God?

Have you ever identified examples of "blight, mildew and hail" (vs 17) in your daily life? What are some good techniques for identifying them?

What's the difference between a change of action and a change of heart?


Next Steps

What is one thing you're really struggling to trust God with? How could you give that part of your heart to Him?

What step will you take this week to prioritize your love for God?


How To Pray This Week

Pray that you will learn to obey God out of your love for Him. Ask God to teach you to trust, show you how to believe, and strengthen you to obey.

Confess your dirty things to God and ask Him to make them clean.

Rebuild: Finish What You Start

Read Haggai 1:13–2:9

When using this discussion format, please choose the appropriate questions for your own group, and add or edit questions as necessary. You probably will not have time to ask every question below, so choose one or two from each section to keep the flow of the conversation going from ice breakers into scripture review, then personal application, next steps and prayer.


Ice Breakers

What's a big decision you made – one that maybe seemed a little crazy or ambitious, especially to others?

- How hard did you find it to keep going with what you had decided to do, in the face of opposing reactions from others?

- Were there times when it seemed impossible?

- Did you feel that God was present and faithful?

We've all quit on something within 1 month of starting. What's one thing you gave up on within 30 days of starting?


Scripture Review

Read Haggai 1:14. How did the Lord motivate the people to serve? Has He ever done that to you?

Read Haggai 2:4. What is God's promise? Do you find this promise to give you strength?

Why does the Bible stress the need for God's people to be strong and courageous?

Read Haggai 2:5. What is God's promise? How does this help you to not worry?

How might the words, "I am with you" make a big difference in your life?

Read Haggai 2:8-9. What does God say that can bring hope to their building project? (He will provide.) How does this change the way you go about your life?


Personal Application

Which of those encouragements that Haggai gave the people do you find most reassuring?

What personal word of promise, presence or courage do you need from God as you face whatever is in front of you right now?

What is a small step that you need to start being consistent with in order to truly move forward?


Next Steps

Is God stirring up your spirit through something and inviting you to be obedient in an area of your life?

What are some practical ways in which you can help people who are discouraged because their lives are being rocked?


How To Pray This Week

Finish What You Started - Ask God to give you strength to finish what you are discouraged with or have given up on. Ask for his wisdom to understand his promises in your situation.

Help Others - Commit to God that you will help encourage others who are struggling through a big situation in their life. Ask God to show you ways in which He can use you to encourage them.

Rebuild - Build the House

Haggai 1:1-11

Ice Breakers

1. Have you ever helped build or rebuild something? What's the hardest part?

2 - What part of the message/scripture impacted you the most? What point or phrase really stood out to you?


Scripture Review

3 - Read Haggai 1:2. One of the possible reasons why they didn't rebuild the temple was that it was going to take some hard work. What are the things in our lives that are hard, that we know are right/godly/biblical/healthy, but we aren't doing?

4 - The temple was in partial disrepair for a long time. It was partially built but never finished. Is there something in your life that you started, but haven't finished? What is something that God has instructed you to do that you haven't seen to the end?

5 - Read Haggai 1:3-5. The words "paneled houses" in our context could mean "a house with all the amenities." However, God isn't against nice things. What does God say that the problem really is with the situation?

6 - Read Haggai 1:6. What is consistent throughout this verse?


Personal Application

7 - What's your greatest barrier to acting on God's plan for your life?

8 - Has your life ever looked like Haggai 1:6? What have you learned from that period?

9 - God may not be calling you to do someTHING different. He may be calling you to do the same THING but for someONE different. What's the difference in going to work this week with God as your priority vs going to work this week with someone/thing else as the top priority?


Next Steps

10 - What is the biggest area of your life in which you need to rebuild your devotion to God?

11 - Describe what your three steps to laying a foundation – based on Haggai 1:8 – might look like. Just start with 3 small, simple steps so that you can move forward this week.

12 - Have you ever had to lay a new foundation in a specific area of your life before? Ever had to hit the reset button and start over? What worked? How did it turn out?

13 - What are some practical ways you'll make God's work your priority? Write a list, and put it on your fridge.

14 - Do something for someone else or for the church instead of yourself this week. Then, make it a new habit.


How To Pray This Week

15 - "Give careful thought to your ways." That phrase is repeated two times in three verses, and we know that repetition signifies importance in Scripture. So be honest with yourself; "give careful thought to your ways" right now. As the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what areas of your life need to be rebuilt with God as the priority.

16 - Sometimes doing the right thing is hard. Ask God for the strength and discipline this week to prioritize Him, listen and obey, and start the rebuilding process in your life. You're going to need Him to help you stay dedicated and see His plan through until completion!