OFFSEASON Week 4

Get the first date on their calendar!

OFFSEASON Week 3

It's Sunday!  Almost everything we do today will be in an effort to get people BEYOND Sunday.

OFFSEASON Week 2

OFFSEASON Week 1

Week 13- LEADER HUDDLE

We go live in 7 days!!!

Starting next Sunday, we will start promoting the groups for Season 1 of 2020.  Online sign-ups will be open online, so shoot me an email with the following info.

Date:
Time:
Location:
Leadership (leader, co-leader, admin, host):
Any Additional Info or details: dinner, childcare, local ministry partner, type/demographic of group

Esther Week 6- TIMING

RECAP:
In the close of Esther 4, Esther and her crew were fasting and praying for 3 days.  Esther needed to know God's plan for her future, and her next steps would need to be taken with boldness, courage, and clarity.  Esther 5-7 shows us how God's plan and purpose always comes in God's timing.

ICEBREAKER:
1- Most people hate to wait, but some circumstances and settings are more frustrating than others.  What areas of life do you have zero patience in?  (waiting in a line, the DMV, traffic on the interstate, waiting on a table at a restaurant when you're hungry, having only 1 lane open at Walmart while the other 38 lanes are closed).

2- A popular saying is, "Good things come to those who wait."  Do you have a story of a big payoff that resulted from your diligent waiting and patience?


TRANSITION:
Many people are missing out on what God has for their life, NOT because they don't love God, NOT because they don't trust God, not because they don't believe that God has a plan, and NOT because they think their plan in better than God's plan.  Many people miss out because they aren't willing to wait on God and trust in His timing.


STUDY NOTES:
READ Esther 5:1-4

3- Esther fasted and prayed for 3 days.  What is something that you have been praying for and asking God for, and haven't received an answer yet?

Notice that Esther invited the King and Haman to a dinner "that she had already prepared" (vs 4).  While she was waiting, Esther was working.

Are you waiting on God, or is God waiting on you?  God may be waiting on the words of your mouth and prayers of your heart to turn into the action of your hands.

4- As you pray and ask God for wisdom, guidance, provision, etc, what does it look like to work while you wait?  What does faithfulness and obedience look like in a season of asking and waiting?


READ Esther 6:1-3

Years prior, Mordecai had saved the life of the King by thwarting an assassination attempt on the King's life.  Yet, Mordecai was never rewarded for doing the right thing.

5- Are you consistently doing the right thing, walking in obedience to God, remaining faithful, putting others in front of yourself, but not seeing the pay-off in your life?

6- When was the last time you did something nice for someone or served someone, and they failed to even thank you for it?


READ Esther 7:1-17

7- Describe a season in your life when God seemed silent, distance, or uninvolved in your situation.

8- NOT SEEING is not the same as NOT WORKING.  Did you find out later that God was working behind the scenes, and even though He seemed silent He was actually working things out in the background?


READ Esther 7:8-10
God had a plan all along, but He needed people that were willing to trust in His timing in order for that plan to come to fruition.

9- How do you know that you can trust God, even when you can't see His Hand moving?


NEXT STEPS and APPLICATION:
10- Faith leads to action, even in a time of waiting.  Some people think they are waiting on God, when in actuality God is waiting on them to move forward in faith.

11- The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit. Remember that God's plan always involves a process that is on His timeline.


ADDITIONAL STUDY:
12- Proverbs 21:1- "A King's heart is like channeled water in the Lord's Hand.  He directs it wherever He chooses."

-How does this text help us understand the role of presidents, Kings, and rulers in the world today?  Scripture tells us to pray for our leaders, pray for the prosperity of our cities, and pray for people in positions of authority over us.


13- Galatians 6:9- "Let us not become weary at doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

-Paul acknowledges a few things in this text:
a- We have a tendency to get tired of constantly taking the high road, doing the right thing, and living a selfless life.
b- God has a proper time associated with His plans, which may be different than our best time, our most convenient time, or the most obvious time in our minds
c- We WILL reap a harvest for our obedience and faithfulness.
d- There is a possibility that we will forfeit that harvest and reward if we give up too soon.

Week 12- LEADER HUDDLE

Esther Week 5- CALLING

RECAP:
Everyone loves a rags-to-riches story, and that's one of the reasons why the story of Esther is so intriguing. But a rags to riches story always has a purpose, a moment where we see why the main character was made a part of the incredible story.  This weeks text is that moment for Esther.  Everything in her life was preparing her for this moment of radical obedience.  Esther is about to discover her purpose in God's story.


ICEBREAKER:
1. If you could snap your fingers and immediately solve one problem in the world, what would it be? (e.g. my marriage, poverty, world hunger, family issues, sex trafficking, etc.)

2. What would your response be if someone were to ask you, "what is the purpose of life?"

3. Read Psalm 139:16. What's your response to a HUGE truth like that? Does it make you view your days, your hours, your moments in life any differently?


TRANSITION:
Most people will admit the desire to live a life that matters, a life of impact, significance, and purpose.  Esther definitely did that. So what do we need to look for and do in order to live a life for Christ like that? The story of Esther outlines three ways for us to do just that: Look for purpose, calling, and don’t be afraid to take risks! 


STUDY:
Read Esther 4:11-14.  PURPOSE IS NEVER EASY

4. How often do you approach life looking for the path of least resistance? The thing that makes the most sense to you?  Benefits you the most?  Is easiest for you?

5- Have you had an experience in your life that you look back on as a defining moment? Share how a defining moment in the past has impacted your current life circumstances.

6- In your own experience, what are the most difficult parts of pursuing your purpose? 

PURPOSE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE 

7- READ Ephesians 2:10. God created us to do good works that He prepared for us. In what ways have you noticed God preparing good things for you to do?

8- How much of your life do you view as happenstance, luck, or coincidence? How do you interpret things like luck or coincidence in light of verses like Ephesians 2:10?

PURPOSE ALWAYS INVOLVES RISK

9- How is following Jesus risky? (it's selfless, it's sacrificial, it's thinking of yourself last, it's radical obedience even when you can't see the outcome clearly).

10- How do you determine the difference between a godly risk connected to your purpose, and doing something irresponsible just for the sake of living dangerously and taking risks?

NEXT STEPS:

11- Take some time this week to write out your purpose in life. If you aren't crystal clear on the purpose, then you can't make decisions that will help drive you towards that purpose.

12- Do an evaluation of your time, money, resources, job, and relationships. They should be pushing you towards the purpose God created and called you to be.

13- Identify a risk that God has been calling you to take, and turn that into obedience this week (could be boldness in evangelism, going to the next level in generosity, or stepping up to lead in an area that could impact others).

ADDITIONAL STUDY:
Read Mark 8:34-35

Mark 8:35 (NIV) "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake and for the gospel will save it."

14- What happens if you want to save your life?

15- What does this passage say the key is to save your life? 

If our desire is to save our life, then we will lose it. Even if our desire to save is our life is masqueraded by 'losing our life' for the sake of the Gospel, we will still lose it. Our desire Jesus says should be love Him and obey out of that love, not out of a desire to save our lives. He is our Savior, not us. 

16- How can we try to be obedient to Mark 8:34-35 for the sake of obedience, rather than making obedience about saving our own life?

Week 11- LEADER HUDDLE

Same shirt as last week...SMH.

Speaking of shirts, be sure to wear one next Sunday night so we can take your pic!

Esther Week 4- COMMUNITY

RECAP: 

The people that we surround ourselves with can be one of the most important decisions we make. God places people in our path to either impact us or give us the opportunity to impact them; sometimes it’s both! In the book of Esther, we can see how the community of the main characters directly impacts how the story unfolds for better or for worse.

ICEBREAKER:

1- What is the most fun day trip/vacation you’ve ever taken with friends?

2- What are the top 3 characteristics that you look for in friends?  What does it take to be your friend?

Transition: The people we surround ourselves with can be the catalyst for our best days and the cause of our worst. Sometimes we choose our community- like who we spend free time with, and other times our community is chosen for us- like co-workers. 

STUDY:

3- What is an example from your past where you chose your own community? What about one where your community was chosen for you?

4- How do you think God used both of those situations (choosing yourself and chosen for you) to accomplish His purposes in your life? 

The book of Esther provides great insight into how our friends can influence all the aspects of our life (marriage, professional, finance, parenting, etc.). Let’s focus in on the spiritual part of our life and the friends we need to succeed.

The Encourager: This person will always be the person who brings out the very best in you.

5- Do you have someone in your life that brings out the best in you? Who is it and what is it they do to bring out the best in you? 

6- If you don’t have an encourager in your life, why not? Is there someone who could be that friend for you if you invested more relational equity in them? 

The Mentor: This person mentors us in various areas of our lives by modeling how to live. 

7- A mentor is a model for areas of our lives. Who have you selected to mentor your relationship with Jesus? (Leader Note: Jesus is a good answer, and certainly the best possible mentor, but try to get your group to think about people who we are more likely to be able to model our lives after. Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. We are merely 100% man. Doing the same things He did is our goal, but we know that is unattainable this side of heaven).

8- Why do you think having a mentor in your spiritual walk important?  Do you have those people in your life?

The Disturber: This person shakes up our status quo with difficult questions that force us to consider our motives and intentions.

9- Disturbers are often people who are different than us. Is your tendency to surround yourself with people who are different than you or similar to you? Why?  Do you have those people in your life?

10- What are some positives that can come from having a friend who challenges your spiritual status quo and asks difficult questions? Do you have those people in your life?

The Discerner: This person brings spiritual insight into your life that includes challenging you, calling you out, and speaking the truth in love. 

11- How has having a friend who can give spiritual insight been a blessing to your relationship with Jesus?  Do you have a spiritual discerner in your life?

NEXT STEPS:

12- If you don’t have one or more of these types of friends to deepen your relationship with Jesus, identify someone you know that could help fill that gap and start to build the relationship.

13- You be an encourager, mentor, disturber, or discerner to your friends. Look for ways to earn that credibility and help them move forward in that way.

ADDITIONAL STUDY:
Read Acts 2:42-47. Emphasize the effective evangelism we see at the end of verse 47. “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The Lord added daily. Not every now and then. He added daily. How cool would it be if we could say this about our daily walk with Jesus? This is the church community of the first Christians. At Revo, we strive for church community like this.

14- What are a few things that you notice in verses 42-46 that helped contribute to their effectiveness? 

15- Which of these things that were just named do you lack the most? How can you use the community around you to fix that lack? 

• Leader Note: If you need to give a few suggestions to get the conversation going think of a couple of these examples:
• “Devoted to the apostle’s teaching”: Maybe it’s hard for you to listen during sermons or care about reading God’s Word during the week. Ask someone to be your accountability partner in reading the Bible daily.
• “Prayer”: It’s tough for me to remember to pray. Or maybe it’s tough to set aside time spent in good prayer. Learn from a mentor the importance of a prayer life.
• “Every day they met together in the temple courts…”: Maybe it’s the act of getting out of bed to go to church. The most effective Christians in history were meeting everyday. Couldn’t we do once a week? Be encouraged by a friend who has found incredible blessing in the body of Christ. 

Week 10- LEADER HUDDLE

PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE!!   Email me (Nathan) with your RSVP this week for the leader, co-leader, admin, and host of your group.

4 Lists to Evaluate:
A- What's RIGHT?
B- What's WRONG?
C- What's CONFUSING?
D- What's MISSING?

Categories to Evaluate:
1- Blog Content
2- Leader Huddle Videos
3- New Season layout (3 Seasons, 3 Off-seasons)
4- Closed Groups Structure
5- Leadership Structure (Leader, Co-leader, Admin, Host)
6- Off-Season Training/Evaluation Process
7- rGroup promotion (Digital, On stage, Next-Step Cards)
8- 4 Core Purposes (Community, Crowd, Context, Character)
9- rGroup Training (vision casting)
10- Online Sign-up and info on rGroups website page
11- Weekly communication with Nathan

Esther Week 3- CULTURE

RECAP: 

In the book of Esther, we see people of God responding in different ways to culture.  In an ever increasing secular culture, how should the church respond to things going on around them? Are there ways to take a stand that don’t include dying on every single hill? Mordecai sets a good example for us when it comes to responding to cultural norms that are trending away from holiness and godliness.

ICEBREAKER:
1- What are some of the "causes" that people are standing for today? (Don't forget about the funny or weird ones!)

2- Have you ever been put in a position where you had to choose between a command (maybe from a boss, employee, or culture) and your beliefs in God?  What was it and how did you handle it?


TRANSITION:
The decisions we make today have consequences. How we handle and address a secular culture either helps others see Jesus or prevents people from seeing Jesus.  There is so much at stake in our response, so let's learn how to live lives that accomplish the purpose that God has given us to help others find and follow Jesus.


STUDY:
3- In your response to culture, ask yourself these questions:
a- Am I trying to make a DIFFERENCE or just interested in making a POINT?  
b- In my response, do I just want to be RIGHT or is my response about making an IMPACT?
c- Do you want to be known for what you are AGAINST or the things you stand FOR?

4- If we asked your friends what you stood for, what do you think they would say?

5- Can you name a time when Jesus protested, boycotted, or took a stand against something?

6- READ Esther 3:8-11. 
Haman tries to persuade the King to make a decision based on 3 big themes: fear, being different, and self-interest.  How are these 3 things still in place today to motivate people to respond to the culture around them?

7- READ Esther 3:13-15
People worry when they have a heightened sense of vulnerability and a diminished sense of power. What makes you worry, confused, or nervous about the world around us?

8- We shared three categories to put cultural issues in: Preferences, beliefs, and convictions.  Can you give an example of each one of those in your life?

9- We shared four different responses to culture issues: I would die for this, I would take a stand for this (even if it means losing a relationship), I would talk about this (have a healthy debate), and It's not worth it.  Can you give an example from each category of how you've responded? (Except the first one, since you've avoided dying up until this point)


NEXT STEPS:
10- When something goes "viral" or seems like an outrage in culture, how should Christians respond?  How do you determine if you should post about it, talk about it, ignore it, take a stand, etc?

11- When faced with a secular culture, remember these 3 things:
a- Stop worrying about what you can't control
b- pray about what you're really concerned about
c- turn towards God
How similar is your approach and response to culture?


FURTHER STUDY:
Read Acts 13:45-52. 
12- Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel and were well received by some, but also persecuted by others. How did they respond? What do you think their response means?

Shaking dust off of your feet in the first century is a symbolic gesture that means the same as the modern saying "I wash my hands of it." In other words, Paul and Barnabas have done what they were supposed to and now they are moving on, allowing God to deal with those who rejected them. 

13- Reread verses 45-46. How could the response of Paul and Barnabas be an example for us in the face of cultural criticism?

14- Read Matthew 10:5-15 as a group to be encouraged by the sufficiency and supremacy of Scripture.

Neither Paul nor Barnabas were disciples of Jesus when he gave these instructions in Matthew. How cool is it that they somehow knew exactly how to respond to rejection!? The Holy Spirit is awesome for instructing them in their moment of rejection and for including these details in the Bible. Praise God!

Week 9- LEADER HUDDLE

November 17th current meal tally:

Mexican- 3
Steak- 3
Italian- 2
BBQ- 2
Chili/Soup/Potato Bar- 2

Esther Week 2 - CONDITIONS

Icebreaker:

1- Would you rather live without heating/air conditioning in your home, or live without your smartphone? Why?

OR

2- Would you rather follow every single law (including speed limits) perfectly, but get falsely accused of breaking laws or break every single law, but never get caught?

Recap:

We should not need conditions in order to take opportunities to obey God. Esther struggled to see how God could use her position as Queen to save the lives of her people. Luckily, Mordecai was there to point out how God was moving in her life. Following Jesus helps us realize areas of our life where God is working. True followers of Jesus, follow no matter where it might lead or what it might cost. 

Study:

3- What are some ways that you have tried to negotiate with God or put conditions on your obedience? (e.g. “God I will give more money to charity, if you help me get this job promotion.”)

Esther 2:16-18

As Long As I’m Blessed, I’m In.

4- Let’s brag on God! Share with the group about a time in your life where God blessed you despite your shortcomings. 

5- Why do you think it is easy to obey when everything is going well for us? On the flip side, why do you think it’s hard to obey during difficult times?

6- How have you conditioned your obedience to God based on there being “something in it for you?” How can you combat that way of thinking this week?

Esther 4:11

As Long As It Doesn’t Cost Me, I’m In. 

7- Why do you think we are quick to abandon anything that could cost us or cause discomfort?

8- Think about your life right now. Where might God be calling you to obedience? Is there a cost for that obedience? If so, what is it? 

9- In the past, have you ever chosen to obey God despite the consequences it may have for your life? Share the story with your group. 

Esther 4:16

I’m In. Period. 

Esther changed her mind all of a sudden and was willing to die for her people. Just a few verses before she wasn’t so sure. Read Esther 4:12-16 as a group.

10- In your opinion, what about Mordecai’s words helped persuade Esther? 

Reread verse 14. Mordecai says that if Esther doesn’t help out the Jews, someone else will. God might be giving you an opportunity for obedience, so that He can use you for great things! But if you won’t, someone else will. 

11- How can knowing God doesn’t need you, yet He still wants to use you, encourage you? 

• Leader Note: More on this in the ‘additional study’ section. 

Next Steps:

12- Name a few opportunities for obedience God has given you right now. How can you live that out this week? 

13- Do you have a Mordecai in your life? Someone who can help you recognize God as moving when you may struggle to notice? If so, who? If not, how could you try to find someone like that? 

Additional Study: 

Read Acts 17:24-25. Paul says that God cannot be served by human hands because He does not need anything. In this context, Paul is specifically talking about God not being pleased with nor residing in temples built by humans. However, it would not be a stretch to say that God cannot be pleased by the other things in life we try to ‘build’ for God. 

14- If God does not need us to serve Him, then why should we? 

• Leader Note: We serve out of an overflow of our own gratitude to God for what we has done our own behalf. Additionally, we are commanded by God to love and serve Him. Use this question to penetrate deep into the motives of the group. Talk about the why behind our actions not just the what. 

15- How have you attempted to erect a temple of good deeds for God? Read Ephesians 2:8-10 as a group. How does knowing that you are “God’s handiwork” through grace encourage you?

Week 8- LEADER HUDDLE

Anything you want to eat!!  Shoot me an email or comment below, and RSVP for your leader, co-leader, host, and admin.  It's gonna be a fun time together.

Where: HQ at REVO South Fork
When: Sunday, November 17th from 6pm-8pm
Who: existing leaders, co-leaders, admins, and hosts, and POTENTIAL NEW LEADERS
What: Recap of season 3, looking forward to season 1 of 2020, eating a good meal and learning from each other.

Esther Week 1- CHANCES

Recap:
God had a purpose and a plan for Esther's life, and she was given chances to take and opportunities to seize in her journey to become the woman that God had called her to be.

You and I are no different; we were created with a purpose, God has a plan for our lives, and we will have God opportunities placed in front of us along our journey in becoming a godly man/woman.  Do you know how to identify the opportunities that God is placing in front of you?  Do you know how to distinguish between a good idea and a God idea?

Icebreaker:
1- Describe the most extravagant party you have ever been to. Does it compare to the gala Xerxes is throwing in Chapter 1?

2- What’s one of your biggest regrets about an opportunity that you let pass you by?

Transition:

God is orchestrating every opportunity for the good of those who love Him. Sometimes those opportunities seem like obstacles or can be seen as coincidental, unimportant, or maybe downright risky. Regardless, the chances we are presented with each and every day matter. They might have been sent from heaven to orchestrate life change in you and/or people around you. Let’s look at the story of Esther to see how God presented a few seemingly insignificant people a chance to make a significant impact on the history of His people.

Study:

3- Before this series, what did you know about Esther?  
In what way does the fact that the book of Esther has a woman as the central character affect your perspective on studying this book?

4- Read Esther 1:11-12.  
Why do you think Queen Vashti refused to appear before the king?  
Do you think she had any idea of the consequences of that refusal?  
Would you say her situation was "lose-lose"?  
What lose-lose situations have you ever been confronted with and how did you deal with them?

5- Unless you knew God was working in the background, it would appear that Esther's life (and everything around her) was totally out of her control. In what ways have events occurred in your life that are out of your control?

6- What are some examples of difficult circumstances in your life that have arisen over the past year or two and how have they shaped your view of God? 

READ Esther 2:5-7

OPPORTUNITIES FROM GOD SOMETIMES LOOK LIKE OBSTACLES

7- Mordecai and Esther were taken captive by the Babylonians before this story takes place. Most people would view that as a defeat; yet, God had other plans. Discuss a time in your life or the life of someone you know that seemed like an obstacle but was actually an opportunity from God.

8- Do you tend to embrace obstacles and see them as a chance for growth and forward momentum?  
Or are you easily frustrated and discouraged by obstacles in life?

READ Esther 2:8-9

OPPORTUNITIES FROM GOD COME THROUGH PEOPLE

9- God used people throughout Esther's life to provide her with the opportunities to be the woman she was created to be.  Who has God used in your life to help you become the man/woman that He has called you to be?
Has God ever used you in a powerful way to be that voice in the life of someone else?

10- When you look for opportunities from God, what do you look for specifically?  
How has God revealed these "God Opportunities" to you in the past?  (through the study of the Word, prayer, encouraging words from others, God speaking through a message or song)

READ Esther 2:16-18

OPPORTUNITIES FROM GOD OFTENTIMES COME AFTER PREPARATION

11- Time passed doesn't mean that the promise from God is dead.  Have you ever given up too early on something you felt like God wanted you to do?  
Is it too late now, or can you recommit to obedience and faithfulness this week to see God use you in a powerful way in that specific situation?

Next Steps:

12- Mordecai realized that while this opportunity may not be best suited for him, it could change the life of someone around him. So, he followed his cousin to meet the King. Leverage the obstacles in your life as opportunities for others to meet the true King Jesus!

13- Make out a list of things that you need to prepare in your spiritual life in order to be ready for the opportunities that God has for you moving forward.

14- Instead of focusing on what has happened in the PAST, trust God for what He has planned for your future.

Additional Study:

Timeline of Events leading up to Esther: 

• Many Jewish people in Judah were besieged and eventually sent into captivity at three separate times (~605 BCE, ~587 BCE, and ~581 BCE). During this time, the prophet Jeremiah was given the words we read in Jeremiah 29. 
• Read Jeremiah 29:1-14
• Mordecai’s great grandfather Kish was most likely among those referenced in verse 1 as exiled in Babylon. 
• In 539 BCE, King Cyrus allowed Jews to return to their land fulfilling the promise found in 29:10. These Jews finished building a new temple in 512. 
• The story of Esther takes place in 486 BCE. So, while many Jews returned to their homeland and to the rebuilt temple, Mordecai and Esther chose to stay in Babylon.

15- Think about Mordecai and Esther staying in Babylon. What are situations in your life that you choose to view as an opportunity from God despite the difficulty of it? How could you trust God to work behind the scenes in your personal ‘Babylon’ like He did for Esther and Mordecai?  (Leader note: Difficult situations can range from workplace struggles, to estranged family relationships, to fighting negative thoughts).

16- Jeremiah 29:7 says to “seek the peace and prosperity” of the place where you are in exile. In those same difficult situations we just discussed, how can you seek peace and prosperity for those involved? 

17- Many of us love the words of Jeremiah 29:11. How does understanding it within the historical context of the Babylonian Captivity give deeper meaning to the plans of the Lord and His perfect timing? (e.g. It may take much longer than we want or expect, but God’s timing is perfect. In this scenario, God orchestrates the opportunity for a young woman to become Queen and save the lives of her people!)