Extra JUL Y AUG SEPT 2015 GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE A BIBLE READING PUBLICATION
How to Use the Encounter with GodExtra Discussion Guide The Encounter with GodExtra Discussion Guide is a companion to Scripture Union s Encounter with God daily Bible reading guide, published quarterly. The Discussion Guide features a set of questions based on a topic arising from the previous week s readings. It enables a small group or Sunday School class to share personal insights from their readings in God s Word that week and then discuss the topic, using the suggested questions. Each week s Encounter with GodExtra discussion page will look like this: Extra July 19 July 25 Read: 2 Chronicles 5:1 14 My Insights To get the most from your discussion time, just follow these 5 simple steps: w Prepare to read and discuss God's Word. That may include worship and/or prayer. w Share insights each has gained from the past week's readings. w Read the passage chosen for your group s discussion this week. w Discuss the passage, using the discussion questions as a guide. w Pray about what you ve learned from God s Word. You may use the Prayer Journal on the inside back cover of the Encounter with God daily Bible Reading Guide for personal prayer reminders.
Extra July 5 July 11 A Failed Tree Uprooted Read: 1 Chronicles 10:1 14 1) Can you remember where you were when some famous (or infamous) died (eg. John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Osama Bin Laden)? 2) What do you make of the story of Saul s death? What aspect of the account hits you and why? 3) Another Saul (renamed Paul) talked about living well and dying well (Phil. 121). How does Paul s view of living and dying differ from what happened to King Saul? 4) The Puritans stressed dying well as a Christian witness. Do you agree with this? Why or why not? How can you be prepared to die well?
David s Real House Read: 1 Chronicles 17:16 27 1) How did David handle disappointment (16, 17:1-15)? 2) Share an experience of disappointment and how you handled it (good or bad). 3) David acknowledged God s generosity in his life (16-17). Have you ever felt this way? Explain why or why not. 4) How do you handle the promises of God to you (23)? Extra July 12 July 18
The Heart of Worship Read: 2 Chronicles 5:1 14 Extra July 19 July 25 1) What music means the most to you in your praise and worship of God? 2) Read Psalm 150. How does this compare with vv12-13? 3) Read Psalm 22. One possible translation of v3 is, God inhabits the praises of his people. What is the correlation between praise and worship and the presence of God (13-14)? 4) What does this passage say about family worship?
A Lesson In Perseverance Read: 2 Chronicles 24:1 16 1) In what ways did Joash show strong leadership? 2) What aspects of the Temple restoration do you find admirable? 3) We always drift out of discipline, not into it. With King Solomon as a backdrop, do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why or why not? 4) What does it take in our walk with God to, persevere to the end? Extra July 26 August 1
Extra August 2 August 8 How Are Your Ears? Read: Matthew 13:1 9 1) What factors in daily life make it difficult for us to hear God s voice? 2) He who has ears to hear, let him hear (9). In what ways does our unwillingness to hear what God has to say, stifle his voice (see Rev. 3:13)? 3) In what ways can we enrich the soil of our lives so God s Word can find entrance? 4) What is the crop (8) in our lives that Jesus was referring to?
Lord, Save Me Read: Matthew 14:22 36 1) Why do you think Jesus sent the disciples ahead instead of sailing with them? 2) What happens to the disciples while they were on the lake that: a) stirred up their fear b) strengthened their faith? 3) What do you think of Peter s efforts to reach Jesus? 4) What do you see in your own life that parallels Peter s attempt to walk on water? Extra August 9 August 15
Extra August 16 August 22 Peter Gets It Right Read: Matthew 16:13 20 1) Why do you think people thought Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets? 2) What is significant about Peter s confession? 3) What we have here is the difference between hearsay ( who do people say?) and experience ( but what about you? Who do you say I am?). Do you agree with this observation? Why or why not? 4) What are your thoughts on the authority Jesus gave his people (19)?
Dealing with Sin Read: Matthew 18:15 20 1) The Bible clearly commends face-to-face meetings as an important step in reconciling people, but it does not teach that this is the only way to begin the reconciliation process. What do you make of this statement? 2) How does Genesis 32-33 (Jacob and Esau) and Genesis 50:15-15 (Joseph and his brothers) throw light on the process of reconciliation? 3) What does the teaching in Philippians 2:3-4 say about the approach to reconciliation? 4) Share an experience you have had of reconciliation happening or failing. Extra August 23 August 29
Extra August 30 September 5 In God We Trust Read: Psalm 125:1 5 1) How do you think the pilgrims felt as they journeyed up the mountain heading towards Jerusalem (Zion; 1-2)? 2) Are those who are trusting in God immune from shaking in their lives? Why or why not? 3) What fear does the psalmist have if foreign domination is not removed (3)? 4) When is it hardest for you to trust in the Lord? Why is that?
God of the Oppressed Read: Amos 2:6 16 1) How do you feel when someone is being criticized? How do you feel when the criticism is turned on you? 2) What does God s concern for the poor tell us about his nature? 3) In what ways can we take God for granted (9-12)? 4) What can you (or your group) do to minister to the needy in your community? Extra September 6 September 12
Extra September 13 September 19 Work, Security, Family Read: Psalm 127:1 5 1) In verse 2 there is a description of a workaholic. Have you ever been called a workaholic? What drives workaholics? 2) In verse 1, Amos seems to be denouncing a certain attitude to work. What is it? Could you be accused of having this attitude? Why, or why not? 3) How would you describe your approach to life? Is God building the structure or are you? 4) How do you feel about vv 3-5? Why were big families important in biblical times? Are they obsolete today?
An Extraordinary Meeting Read: Job 1:1 22 1) If you had been Job, how do you think you would have reacted to all these losses? 2) I know God won t give me more than I can handle. I just wish he didn t trust me so much (Mother Teresa, 1910-1997). What are thoughts about this statement? 3) What lessons can be learned from God s conversation with Satan (12-13)? 4) Job did not hide his overwhelming grief (20-22). What lessons about grief can we learn from this? Extra September 20 September 26
Extra September 26 October 3 Tunnel Vision Read: Job 9:1 35 11) In verses 1-9, Job describes the awesomeness of God. Describe a similar experience you may have had. 2) In verse 11, Job describes an experience of God working in his life, but he was unaware of it. Share a similar experience you may have had. 3) As a Christian, how would you answer Job s lament in v30? 4) How would you answer Job s question in verse 1?
Notes
Get Your Copy of Encounter with God Encounter with God is the quarterly Bible Reading Guide that takes you through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in five years, reading 10-30 verses per day. It includes in-depth commentary on each passage, prayers, applications and more. To get your copy, contact your church or Scripture Union: 1-800-621-LAMP (5267), www.scriptureunionresources.org. Thanks!