March 28 & 29 - Friends Forever "Friends stick with you until the end"

Core Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18

Memory Verse:
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

• Why is it important for us to have friends forever? What real-life examples of this do you know of?
• How can you develop friendships that stick? What do you need to do in order to do this?
• What kind of friends are the kind that stick with you no matter what? Describe their qualities.
• Do you think your closest friends would describe you as a friend that sticks with them? Why or why not?
  
• Describe a time when a friend of yours stuck with you. What did/does that mean to you?
  

Bottom Line:

• While our friendships may take different forms and may be more intimate and closer at some times than others, if we vow to stick with our friends till the end, we really can be friends forever.
• Friendships do not have to end. But if a friendship is to survive change, both friends must be committed to making the friendship stick. This is the way friends stick with you till the end. Just imagine how much fuller these kinds of friends will make our lives! And the truth is that learning stickiness in our friendships will help us learn to stick to Christ in our relationship with Him.

March 21st & 22nd - "Over My Head"

Friends don't let friends get in over their hands!

Core Scriptures: 2 Samuel 12:1-14

Memory Verse:
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

• Explain a situation when you had to confront a friend about something in their life (without using names). DId you feel like you needed to confront them because they were going to get hurt? Or did you just want to be the one to tell them they were wrong? What happened as a result?
• What are some examples of reasons it would be necessary to confront a friend about something that could lead to their harm? What would be the best way to handle the confrontation? How would you do it?
• If you were stepping into something over your head, that could hurt you, would you want one of your friends to say something to you about it? Why or why not? How do you thing you would react?
• Share an example of a time when a friend confronted you about something. What happened as a result? How did you feel about that friend afterward?

Bottom Line:

• Nathan acted as a true friend to David by putting himself on the line to tell David that he was in too deep. The prophet didn't let the king get in over his head.
  
• Confrontation is no fun, but there comes a time when we need to be courageous and tell a friend that he or she is doing something dangerous, risky, or just plain stupid. Friends don't let friends get in over their heads.
• We must remember that this is reciprocal. Just as we have to be willing to speak to our friends, we must also be willing to hear our friends when they see us getting in over our heads.
  
• Confrontation is difficult, but it is one of the traits that will take our friendship to the next level. Imagine what our lives will be like if we have these kinds of friends and we ARE these kinds of friends.

March 14th & 15th - Stand By Me

Friends stand by each other even when it's hard.

Core Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Memory Verse:
"Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family."
Proverbs 18:24 (MSG)

Discussion Questions:

• Have you ever faced a situation where a friend really needed you and you "fell asleep at the wheel"? Explain what happened. How did you feel afterwards? What could you have done differently?
• Have you ever been the friend who needed someone to stand by you and nobody did? How did that make you feel? Has someone ever been there for you in a tough time? What did that mean to you?
• When do you need to stand by your friends? What are some specific ways you can do this? Is there ever a time when you shouldn't stand by a friend? Describe what kind of situation that would be.
• How do you "sleep in" with God? How can you stand by Him instead of "sleeping in"?
  

Bottom Line:

• Like all of us, Jesus wanted His friends to be with Him and to help Him get through this difficult experience. But Jesus found His closest friends had not joined Him in His time of difficulty. Instead, they were bystanders, when they should have been standing by Him.
• While "sleeping in" is fine, sometimes we will have to "get up early" to be involved in our friends' lives. This is what friends do.
• Jumping in can be a scary experience. But if we are going to be good friends, we must be willing to "jump in". We have to be committed to our friends in difficult times as much as in good times. Imagine what your life would be like if you had these kind of friendships. Think about how much comfort and joy you would experience knowing that you didn't have to go through anything alone.
  

Taught the weekend of Jan 10th and 11th

January 10 & 11 - Psalms spur us to worship together

Core Scripture: Psalm 67:1-7

Memory Verse:
John 4:24 (NIV) "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Discussion Question:

• How was this Psalm intended to be used?
• Why is it important for us to sing together? How does corporate worship remind us who God is? How does it help us celebrate God?
• How does worship together help the people around us? How does it help us personally?
  
• How can we integrate corporate worship in our lives? How does church help us do this? In what other outlets can we do this?

Bottom Line:

• This Psalm is a powerful statement of praise, and it was made more powerful because it was sung together. This Psalm spurs us to worship together, and this Spiritual Discipline of corporate worship deepens our faith and leads us to trust and love God even more.
• We need to pay attention to the words we're singing. When one of these words catches our attention, we need to take a moment to let it resonate in our soul so that we are reminded together of who God is.
• God is worthy of worship, and we are in need of worshiping someone. So as we worship together, let's remember how good God is and celebrate Him together.
  

Taught the weekend of Dec 28th - 29th

SIMPLE STEPS TO SOLVING LIFE'S PROBLEMS

NEGATIVE RESPONSES TO PROBLEMS

1. Avoiding the problem. Pretending that it isn’t there.

a. It’s like when a small child wants to play hide and go seek. They run and sit in the corner and cover their eyes. “If I can’t see me, then you can’t either!”

2. Talk, talk, talking to everyone about it. What usually happens when you do this?

3. Whining about it. “Poor me, look what happened!”

a. If you fall in the pigpen with mud and manure, is sitting and whining about it going to change anything?

10 STEPS TO VICTORY

[First, read the story in 2 Chronicles 20 about King Jehoshaphat’s situation.]

1. Identify and classify the problem.

a. 2 Chronicles 20:1–2—The Moabites and the Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.

b. Do we really have a problem? Is it ours or someone else’s?

c. Collect the facts.

d. Classify. Is this a natural, emotional, physical, social, or spiritual problem?

e. Find the source of the problem.

f. Don’t falsely accuse or blame God. He wants you to have “life to the full” (John 10:10).

2. Seek the Lord.

1. 2 Chronicles 20:3–5—Jehoshaphat fasted and sought the Lord.
2. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

3. Pray and apply biblical principles.

a. 2 Chronicles 20:6–12—Jehoshaphat’s prayer.

b. Prayer unlocks God’s potential.

4. Stand in faith.

1. 2 Chronicles 20:9, 20—Jehoshaphat declares his faith.
2. [Read Ephesians 6:13–20.]
3. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by faith, not by sight.”
4. Accept the situation with the eye of faith. Don’t live in denial.

5. Focus on the answer, not the problem.

a. 2 Chronicles 20:12—We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.

b. Romans 4:17 talks about “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”

c. Control your thoughts: Philippians 4:6; II Corinthians 10:5

d. Don’t allow your mind to play the “what would happen if” game.

e. Control your words.

6. Put your problem in perspective.

a. 2 Chronicles 20:15,—Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the big army. The battle is God’s!

b. Think about it. The God who created the heavens and the earth is the same God who is on your side.

c. How does your problem compare to God’s ability and resources?

7. Pursue God’s wisdom and plan.

a. 2 Chronicles 20:16–­17: “Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz.”

b. Most of the time our response hinders the situation instead of helping.

c. God’s plan will lead you out of the jaws of defeat and into victory.

8. Cast all your cares upon Him.

a. 2 Chronicles 20:18 says, “Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down to worship before the Lord.”

b. You can rest in Him when you worship Him.

c. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

d. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

9. Take the necessary natural steps.

a. 2 Chronicles 20:20—“Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa.”

b. Were they afraid? You bet! But they would have never seen victory unless they took action.

c. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

10. Look for the blessings.

a. 2 Chronicles 20:25 says, “So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.”

b. I believe God not only wants to get you through your problem, but to bless you in the process!

Taught the weekend of Dec 13th - 14th

Core Scripture: Isaiah 40:12-15

Memory Verse:
Matthew 19:26 (NIV) "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' "

Discussion Questions:

1. When you think of God, what are some of the adjectives that come into your mind to describe him? Name the first three that come to mind. Have you experienced God as any one of those things in your life? Do you think of God as mighty? Why or why not?
   
2. Why do you think it is so hard for us to see God as both a helpless baby and a Mighty God? When the prophet Isaiah told the people of Israel what to expect in their Savior, how do you think they responded to hearing He was a Mighty God?
   
3. What are some ways that you need God to be "mighty" in your life? Are there things that you are afraid He can't handle? What are they?
   
4. What kind of "messes" in your life do you need Him to work in the middle of?
   

Bottom Line:
In your journey to understand who God is and what our role is as we relate to Him, we have to try to get our head around every aspect of Him. When we see the helpless form of a baby this Christmas, we need to learn to see Him at the same time as mighty and as big as He is too. And when we learn to do that, we can be confident that He is able and willing to work through the messes we have in our lives as well. He can handle it. Whatever it is that any one of us is going through, we can't afford to ever forget that He is a mighty God.

Taught the weekend of Dec 6th -7th

Subject: Wonderful Counselor
Core Scriptures: Isaiah 9:6 (NKJ) “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Memory Verse: Hebrews 13:5b (AMP) “..for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)!”
Discussion Questions:

1. When Isaiah prophesied about Jesus coming to earth, God gave him names to use to describe who Jesus was going to be for his people and for us. If you could pick four names to use to describe who you need Jesus to be, what would they be? Why? Share them with the group.

2. Who are you tempted to go to, or where are you tempted to go to, to find a counselor or some advice? Do you usually go to your friends? Parents? Why do you think it is easier to go to someone other than Jesus for this?

3. How have you seen Jesus work as a Wonderful Counselor in your life? Share a time when you took a situation to Him, and He showed you the answer you needed.

4. How can you approach Jesus during hard circumstances and see him as a Wonderful Counselor?


Bottom Line: For a lot of people, Christmas is not an easy time of the year. Because of family situations, bad memories or painful experiences, Christmas isn’t always a time of excitement or expectation. This is not a surprise to Jesus, to our Wonderful Counselor, who knows our every experience, hurt, and fear. When we choose to worship Jesus, He does not become a cure all for every problem and make every disappointment disappear. What He does is even better. He offers us himself, as our Wonderful Counselor in the middle of everything. If things are hard this holiday season, if Christmas doesn’t feel like a time to be happy, or feel joy, remember this in the middle of everything you are going through: In every need Jesus can fill you with wonder.