But God by Lifetogether Ministries

BUT

GOD CHANGES EVERYTHING

HERBERT COOPER SENIOR PASTOR PEOPLES CHURCH

FOREWORD BY CRAIG GROESCHEL

BUT GOD

ENDORSEMENTS

Published by Influence Resources

Herbert Cooper shares his amazing testimony in BUT GOD. We all face obstacles in life and this book will encourage you as Herbert unpacks how the power of God can change any situation. No matter the challenge, BUT GOD changes everything!

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means -electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise -- except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Copyright and use of the curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotes are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 and 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Mark Batterson | bestselling author of The Circle Maker and Lead Pastor of National Community Church

Herbert Cooper is a fresh and powerful voice for faith today and it shows in this incredible book. BUT GOD is a must-read that delivers brilliant insight, brimming with hope. This book is meant to be savored personally and shared with others. Jud Wilhite | Author Pursued, Senior Pastor Central Christian Church

Printed in the United States of America

The one word that describes the book BUT GOD is hope. As Herbert Cooper shares his own story of pain you will discover that the redeeming power of God can change any situation. BUT GOD will encourage you, inspire you and give you biblical perspective on life’s toughest challenges. Steven Furtick | Lead Pastor, Elevation Church & New York Times best-selling author of Crash the Chatterbox, Greater and Sun Stand Still

BUT GOD could possibly be two of the most powerful words in the Bible. Herbert unpacks how we use those words as a bridge to get from where we are to where God wants to take us. This book will change your life. Stovall Weems | Lead Pastor, Celebration Church, Jacksonville, FL

BUT GOD

BUT GOD: Changes Everything reveals the essence of our hope in the power of God’s love to transform our lives. With stories from his own life that will crack you up, along with insightful exploration of the Bible’s least likely heroes, Herbert Cooper inspires you to invite God’s healing presence into your hardest struggles and darkest secrets. BUT GOD is a handbook of hope for anyone longing to trust God in every area of their lives.

Herbert Cooper is an amazing testimony of God’s redemption. His life is an example of someone who faced many challenges and has overcome them all. This book will transform how you think about your situation and will equip you with powerful tools and hope that God can turn any obstacle into a victory in your life. Joe Champion | Senior Pastor, Celebration Church, Austin, TX

Chris Hodges | Senior Pastor, Church of the Highlands, Author of Fresh Air and Four Cups

In BUT GOD, Herbert Cooper unflinchingly tells his own story of pain and redemption. The Gospel is the good news that our struggles are never the end of the story. BUT GOD is the reminder we need that there is always hope. Greg Surratt | Founding Pastor, Seacoast Church

There is no obstacle or challenge we face in life that a BUT GOD moment can’t overcome. In this book, Herbert Cooper shares how BUT GOD moments transformed his life of brokenness into a life of wholeness. Throughout the pages of this book, you will discover that God can turn any hopeless situation into hope-filled victory. This book is a must read. BUT GOD truly changes everything! Robert Madu | International Evangelist

We are used to having all the resources we need to solve our problems on our own. But those who truly know God have learned to rejoice when everything looks bleak, when problems look impossible… because these moments are the beginning of a BUT GOD story. Pastor Herbert lays out the uncomfortable, glorious reality that our #FirstWorldProblems mask a fundamental need for a Savior who will be there in the moments when all hope is lost. This book will confidently lead you into the exhilarating safety of a God who invades, intervenes, and provides on behalf of his children. Scott Williams | Church Growth/Leadership Consultant and Strategist at Nxt Level Solutions, author of Church Diversity and Go Big, @ScottWilliams

BUT GOD

TABLE OF CONTENTS Endorsements 3 Foreword by Craig Groeschel 7 Introduction by Herbert Cooper 9 Using This Workbook (Read This First) 10 Outline for Each Session 11

SESSION ONE:

We Wander…But God Finds Us

SESSION TWO:

We’re Wounded…But God Heals Us

SESSION THREE:

We Search for Identity…But God Gives Purpose

SESSION FOUR:

We Seek Relationships…But God Gives Us Divine Connections

SESSION FIVE:

We’re Bound…But God Sets Us Free

SESSION SIX:

We See The Impossible…But With God All Things Are Possible

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APPENDICES Frequently Asked Questions 122 Small Group Agreement 124 Small Group Calendar 125 Spiritual Partners 126 Memory Verse Cards (Clip and Review) 127 Small Group Roster 128 Prayer and Praise Report 129

SMALL GROUP LEADERS Hosting an Open House 132 Leading for the First Time 133 Leadership Training 134 Author 137 Notes 138 6

FOREWORD BY CRAIG GROESCHEL It’s amazing how quickly life can take a turn. One moment everything is normal; the next minute everything can change. My family knows this all too well. After my wife, Amy, gave birth to our second child, we were on top of the world. That was until she began to feel weak and frail, and the right side of her body went completely numb. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. And we still couldn’t find any answers for the numbness. Panic set in. If you live long enough, you’ll realize that life can be extremely tough. You might receive a phone call with bad news about someone you love. Or maybe you find out your company is downsizing and you’re likely to lose your job. Maybe your trusted friend betrays you and leaves you wondering how you’ll ever heal. Chances are good that you might be facing one or more challenges right now. You might be enduring the dire consequences of something you did or said that you regret but can’t change. You could be trying to climb out of a financial hole that seems too deep to ever overcome. You might be licking your wounds, struggling with bitterness after someone misled you, lied to you, or betrayed you. You could be experiencing health issues that have you paralyzed with fear, wondering what will happen to you. What do you do when you don’t know what to do? So many people try to escape the pain with mindless hours—watching TV, perusing social media in front of a screen, reaching for the dulling effects of alcohol or drugs. Others get mad, vowing never to risk again. Some are tempted to quit on people, on school, on church, or even quit on God. It’s easy for the excuses to pile up: • I know I need to go to the doctor, BUT I don’t want to face the news. • I should forgive him, BUT I am still so angry. • I really need to change, BUT I’ve tried and tried and simply can’t do it. • I should trust God, BUT I feel better when I take control. CONTINUED

BUT GOD

If you feel like you’re up against an obstacle too big to overcome, you are going to absolutely love Pastor Herbert Cooper’s life-changing book based on two simple words:

INTRODUCTION

But God.

Welcome to But God…Changes Everything.

When you stop saying, “But I,” and start saying, “But God,” everything changes. And that’s exactly what my good friend Herbert will teach you to do. Honestly, I don’t know anyone better equipped to empower people with this simple, yet game-changing truth.

I am so excited about what you are going to experience over the next six weeks. I am praying that this study, and the people you do it with, will take you on a journey of faith that will strengthen your relationship with Christ and build community.

Without a doubt, Herbert’s story is a “But God” story. And that’s one of the many reasons I love him. With all he endured early in life, he never should have had a strong marriage—but God made it possible. No one would have thought that he’d become a role model for everyone from professional athletes to grade school students, but God made a way. On his own, He would have found it almost impossible to forgive those who hurt him—but what is impossible with people is possible with God. Herbert unquestionably never would have guessed he would become a pastor— but God changed him and opened doors no person could open. And now he’s one of the most effective men of God I know.

The central message of this study is that God can overcome any circumstance in our life. We would be a mess, but God turns our lives around. We would be hopeless, but God gives us hope.

If you’re wondering what happened to my wife and her health concerns, I’m thankful to tell you we had a “But God” moment. After seeing doctor after doctor and taking more tests than we could count, we still didn’t have answers, and Amy’s health continued to decline. One day as Amy was doing her daily devotional, she had a spiritual epiphany and put her whole trust in God. If God healed her, she would trust him. If he didn’t, she would trust him. No matter what, she committed her life, her family, and her future wholly to her Savior.

This unique small group curriculum is meant to be a companion to my book BUT GOD…CHANGES EVERYTHING. It will guide you as you dig into Scripture, talk it through, learn, and live out what you are learning in the context of community. It integrates what you’re studying in your small group, and with your individual times with God. It provides a taste of small groups for those who are new, while still offering a rich and rewarding experience to those who’ve spent years in small groups.

Nothing on the outside changed, but God did something only he could do. Her heart was at peace, and as quickly as her problems had appeared, they were gone. She had been declining physically, but God made her well. I am so thankful that no matter what we face, God can make a way. You may have any number of legitimate reasons why you won’t make it through what you are facing or achieve what you’ve dreamed, but two words can change everything. No matter how hopeless your situation looks or how discouraged you are, remember… But God changes everything. Craig Groeschel

Craig Groeschel 8

This study will, I hope, encourage you to trust God. In the midst of hurt and struggle, we may become discouraged, but God helps us. We’re going to talk about how to have “but God” moments in relationships, in trying to find our purpose and calling, in moments of pain and hurt.

This study consists of six sessions, each focused on a different “but God” truth and experience. You’ll have a chance to learn together, to discuss and share your own stories in a way that focuses on practical real-life application as you find your story in God’s story. At the end of each session, you’ll find daily devotions that will help you go deeper in your walk with God and each other. You’ll read a Bible verse, then respond to it by journaling your prayers and thoughts. In addition to the written study, this curriculum includes a DVD with six teaching sessions, one for each lesson. In your discussion, you’ll dig into the Bible but also respond to what you watched on the DVD. My prayer is that you would experience God in a fresh way as a result of this study. Herbert Cooper

BUT GOD

OUTLINE OF EACH SESSION A typical group session for the “BUT GOD” study will include the following sections. Read through this to get a clear idea of how each group meeting will be structured.

USING THIS WORKBOOK 1

Notice in the Table of Contents there are three sections: (1) Sessions; (2) Appendices; and (3) Small Group Leaders. Familiarize yourself with the Appendices. Some of them will be used in the sessions themselves.

If you are facilitating/leading or co-leading a small group, the section Small Group Leaders will give you some hard-learned experiences of others that will encourage you and help you avoid many common obstacles to effective small group leadership.

Use this workbook as a guide, not a straightjacket. If the group responds to the lesson in an unexpected but honest way, go with that. If you think of a better question than the next one in the lesson, ask it. Take to heart the insights included in the Frequently Asked Questions pages and the Small Group Leaders section.

4 5

Enjoy your small group experience! Pray before each session—for your group members, for your time together, and for wisdom and insights.

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSES. Each session opens with a Memory Verse that emphasizes an important truth from the session. This is an optional exercise, but I believe that memorizing Scripture can be a vital part of filling our minds with God’s will for our lives. I encourage you to give this important habit a try. The verses for our six sessions are also listed in the appendix. INTRODUCTION. Each lesson opens with a brief thought that will help you prepare for the session and get you thinking about the particular subject you will explore with your group. Make it a practice to read these before the session. You may want to have the group read them aloud. SHARE YOUR STORY. The foundation for spiritual growth is an intimate connection with God and His family. You build that connection by sharing your story with a few people who really know you and who earn your trust. This section includes some simple questions to get you talking—letting you share as much or as little of your story as you feel comfortable doing. Each session typically offers you two options. You can get to know your whole group by using the icebreaker question(s), or you can check in with one or two group members, your spiritual partner(s), for a deeper connection and encouragement in your spiritual journey.

Read the Outline for Each Session on the next pages so that you understand how the sessions will flow.

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HEAR GOD’S STORY. In this section, you’ll read the Bible and listen to the teaching in order to hear God’s story—and begin to see how His story aligns with yours. When the study directs you to, you’ll pop in the DVD and watch a short teaching segment. You’ll then have an opportunity to read a passage of Scripture, and discuss both the teaching and the text. You won’t focus on accumulating information but on how you should live in light of the Word of God. I want to help you apply the insights from Scripture practically and creatively, from your heart as well as your head. At the end of the day, allowing the timeless truths from God’s Word to transform our lives in Christ should be your greatest aim.

FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY. If you have time and want to dig deeper into more Bible passages about the topic at hand, we’ve provided additional passages and questions for you to use either during the meeting, or as homework. Your group may choose to read and prepare before each meeting in order to cover more biblical material. Or, group members can use the additional study section during the week after the meeting. If you prefer not to do Study homework, this section will provide you with plenty to discuss within the group. These options allow individuals or the whole group to expand their study while still accommodating those who can’t do homework or are new to your group. DAILY DEVOTIONS. Each week on the Daily Devotions pages, we provide Scriptures to read and reflect on between sessions—a month’s worth of reflections to keep God’s Word near your heart. This provides you with a chance to slow down, read just a small portion of Scripture each day, and reflect and pray through it. You’ll then have a chance to journal your response to what you’ve read. Use this section to seek God on your own throughout the week. This time at home should begin and end with prayer. Don’t get in a hurry; take enough time to hear God’s direction.

STUDY NOTES. This brief section provides additional commentary, background or insights on the passage you’ll study in the Hear God’s Story section. CREATE A NEW STORY. God wants you to be a part of His Kingdom—to weave your story into His. That will mean change. It will require you to go His way rather than your own. This won’t happen overnight, but it should happen steadily. By making small, simple choices, we can begin to change our direction. This is where the Bible’s instruction to be “doers of the Word, not just hearers” (James 1:22) comes into play. Many people skip over this aspect of the Christian life because it’s scary, relationally awkward, or simply too much work for their busy schedules. But Jesus wanted all of His disciples to know Him personally, carry out His commands, and help outsiders connect with Him. This doesn’t necessarily mean preaching on street corners. It could mean welcoming newcomers, hosting a short-term group in your home, or walking through this study with a friend. In this study, you’ll have an opportunity to go beyond Bible study to biblical living. This section will also have a question or two that will challenge you to live out your faith by serving others, sharing your faith, and worshipping God.

BUT GOD

SESSION ONE

WE WANDER… BUT

GOD

FINDS US

MEMORY VERSE But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? (Luke 15:4)

If someone is on a journey of faith, and trying to figure out what it means to believe in God, what it means to follow Jesus, what it means to have the Holy Spirit in your heart, we often label that person a “spiritual seeker.” They’re looking for something, seeking a way to God, seeking truth that transforms, seeking a life that is truly life. But could it be that the most earnest seeker is God? The One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life is also the One who goes seeking and searching for people who are looking for Him (even if they don’t yet realize what they seek). When we wander away, even willfully rebel, He doesn’t give up on us. We get lost, but God finds us. We wander, but God eagerly waits for us to return. In this study, you’ll have the opportunity to learn in a community, to study God’s Word, and hopefully, to completely dismantle some misunderstandings that you might have about God.

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SHARE YOUR STORY

Begin your time together by using the following questions and activities to get people talking.

Each of us has a story. The events of our life—good, bad, wonderful or challenging—have shaped who we are. God knows your story, and He intends to redeem it—to use every struggle and every joy to ultimately bring you to Himself. When we share our stories with others, we give them the opportunity to see God at work. When we share our stories, we realize we are not alone—that we have common experiences and thoughts, and that others can understand what we are going through. Your story can encourage someone else, and telling it can be a path to freedom for you, and for those you share it with. Open your group with prayer. This should be a brief, simple prayer in which you invite God to be with you as you meet. You can pray for specific requests at the end of the meeting, or stop momentarily to pray if a particular situation comes up during your discussion. As you begin at this first meeting, pass around a copy of the Small Group Roster on page 128, or a sheet of paper, so everyone can share their contact information. Have everyone introduce themselves. Ask someone to make copies or type up a list with everyone’s information and email it to the group this week.

WATCH NOW DVD SESSION 1 Watch the DVD for this session now. Use the Notes space provided on page 23 to record any key thoughts, questions, and things you want to remember or follow up on. After watching the video, read the Bible passage in the Hear God’s Story section aloud. Then have someone read the discussion questions section and direct the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask someone else to read the questions and direct the discussion.

Where do people get their ideas about what God is like? How do things like family, childhood experiences, and even the media influence people’s perception of God? What strengths do you bring to this group? What do you think you can do for others in the group? Whether your group is new or ongoing, it’s always important to reflect on and review your values together. On pages 124 is a Small Group Agreement with the values we’ve found most useful in sustaining healthy, balanced groups. We recommend that you choose one or two values to emphasize during this study. Choose ones that will take your group to the next stage of intimacy and spiritual health. • We recommend that you rotate host homes on a regular basis and let the hosts lead the meeting. We’ve come to realize that healthy groups rotate leadership. This helps to develop every member’s ability to shepherd a few people in a safe environment. Even Jesus gave others the opportunity to serve alongside him (Mark 6:30–44). If you are interested in rotating homes and leaders, look at the FAQs in the Appendix for additional information about hosting or leading the group.

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HEAR GOD’S STORY

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

God uses stories to guide us. When we read the true stories of Scripture, we learn what God is like and we see His plan unfolding. We also learn principles for our own lives. How can we become a part of God’s story? By aligning our stories with His. By not just understanding what it means to follow Him, but actually doing it—changing our attitudes and actions to live as He would live. Use the following questions to guide your discussion of the video teaching and the Bible passage below. You may want to use the study notes on page 23 to guide your reading and discussion.

22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’

Read Luke 15:11-31 11 Jesus continued: There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. 18

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This story is a parable—a story Jesus told to illustrate a point. What question or situation was Jesus responding to by telling this story? (Hint, look at the beginning of Luke 15 in your Bible.)

In this story, there are three main characters: the father, the older son, and the younger son. Who or what do you think each of them represents? Which character do you most relate to? Explain.

In the video Pastor Herbert said, “We wander away from faith, but God, He draws us to himself.” What causes people to wander away from faith? What caused the younger son to wander away from his family?

How does God draw us to himself?

Have you ever lived through a “prodigal season” where you wandered from God? (Or perhaps you are in that season right now). If so, what’s one thing you learned from that experience?

What do you think the father meant when he told the older son “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours”?

What did the two sons have to do to earn their father’s love? What point was Jesus making about God’s love for his children with this story?

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STUDY NOTES

Use this space to record your thoughts, questions and ponderings as you watch the video and discuss the Bible passage.

As it would be today, the son’s request was very disrespectful. It was as if he were saying, “I don’t want to have to wait around for you to die, Dad, so just give me my half of your money now.” The culture of Jesus’ day also expected that children would care for their parents in their old age. The younger son not only completely ignores that responsibility, but takes the money and runs. Jesus’ listeners would have been appalled, and assumed that the father would never even consider forgiving such terrible disrespect. In fact, such disloyalty would cause a family to consider such a son to be dead to them.

Father, give me my share of the estate.

In the ancient Middle East, grown men did not run. It was undignified and awkward, something that simply was not done. Imagine this gentleman hiking up his robes and sprinting across the sand to embrace his son—the son who had so disrespected him and squandered his inheritance. Again, Jesus’ listeners would have been shocked and even scandalized—the picture is crazy to the point of being almost ridiculous in their eyes. They might have thought the father very kind if he had simply waited for the son to come to him and to grovel at his feet. They would have thought he was extremely merciful if he would have granted the son’s request to become a hired hand. They frankly wouldn’t be surprised if the father rejected this son. The father’s actions don’t at all fit what a father in that culture would do if a son like this one came home. But that is precisely Jesus’ point. Grace is lavish to the point of being almost ridiculous.

He ran to his son…

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CREATE A NEW STORY God wants you to be a part of His Kingdom—to weave your story into His. That will mean change—to go His way rather than your own. This won’t happen overnight, but it should happen steadily. By starting with small, simple choices, we begin to change our direction. The Holy Spirit helps us along the way—giving us gifts to serve the body, offering us insights into Scripture, and challenging us to love not only those around us, but also those far from God. In this section, talk about how you will apply the wisdom you’ve learned from the teaching and Bible study. Then think about practical steps you can take in the coming week to live out what you’ve learned.

If you are more of an “older son” type of person—responsible, hard-working, a rule-follower—what do you think Jesus is saying to you through this story?

Pastor Herbert said, “If you take one step towards God, he will come running after you.” Do you agree or disagree? Explain with a story from your own experience.

This week, how will you nurture your connection with Jesus? Can you commit to spending time in daily prayer and study of God’s Word (use the Daily Devotions section to guide you)? Tell the group how you plan to follow Jesus this week, and then, at your next meeting, talk about your progress and challenges.

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When he told his own story of coming to believe in Jesus, Pastor Herbert quoted Romans 10:9: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” What does this verse mean to you personally?

Think for a minute about the older son, who experienced jealousy and resentment. Why was he so angry? Tell about a time you felt like the older son.

Take a look at the Circles of Life diagram below and write the names of two or three people you know whom you could invite to your small group. Think of people who might be spiritually curious but might not yet have a relationship with God. Commit to praying for God’s guidance and an opportunity to have a conversation with each of them. Share your lists with the group so that you can all be praying for the people you’ve identified.

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FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY

FAMILY (immediate or extended)

FAMILIAR

If you feel God nudging you to go deeper, take some time between now and our next meeting to dig into His Word. Explore the Bible passages related to this session’s theme on your own, jotting your reflections in a journal or in this study guide. A great way to gain insight on a passage is to read it in several different translations. You may want to use a Bible app or website to compare translations.

FRIENDS

(neighbors, kids’ sports teams, school, and etc...)

Read Luke 15:1-10 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

FUN

FIRM

(gym, hobbies, hangouts)

(work)

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

To close your time together, spend some time in prayer. Ask, “How can we pray for you this week?” Invite everyone to share, but don’t force the issue. Be sure to write prayer requests on your Prayer and Praise Report on page 129.

In these two stories, which precede the story of the prodigal son, what other things are lost? How is Jesus setting up the story of the lost son? ................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................

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The story of the sheep contains what seems like an exaggeration: would a shepherd really leave ninety-nine sheep to find one? Wouldn’t he risk losing the other sheep when he did so? What point do you think Jesus was trying to make with this story? ................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................

DAILY

DEVOTIONS

In other passages, like John 10, Jesus refers to himself as a good shepherd who leads, protects, and cares for the sheep. Who do the sheep represent in these metaphors and parables? In what ways does Jesus “shepherd” you?

DEVOTIONALS

Read 1 John 3:1-2 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. What words does this passage use to describe God’s love? ................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................. What keeps you from experiencing the abundance of God’s love? ................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................. What does this passage tell us about our identity—who we are? .................................................................................................................................

Day 1.

Day 2.

Read Ephesians 2:1-2

Read Ephesians 2:3

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Respond: Think about a time when you “followed the ways of this world”—in your friendships, your workplace, your finances. How did that cause spiritual decay or deadness? Is there an area in your life now where you are “following the ways of this world?”

Respond: It’s easy to look down on people who are far from God, especially if we have been walking with God for a long time. What is this verse reminding us about ourselves? How does awareness of our own need for grace affect our ability to extend it to others?

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What promise does it make about our future?

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BUT GOD

DEVOTIONALS

Day 3.

Day 4.

Day 5.

Day 6.

Read Ephesians 2:4-5

Read Ephesians 2:6-7

Read Ephesians 2:8-9

Read Ephesians 2:10

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Respond: What does it mean when we say that God is “rich in mercy”? How does this verse connect with the story we read in the lesson about the son “who was dead but is alive again”? How have you been “made alive with Christ”?

DEVOTIONALS

Respond: God has raised you up, and wants to show you incomparable riches. Spend some time reading this verse, and worshipping God for his kindness. Be as specific as you can about the ways in which God has shown you grace.

Respond: According to this verse, what do we need to do to receive God’s grace? Why is it sometimes hard to simply receive a gift?

Respond: Our good works don’t help us to earn grace, but they are an appropriate response to grace. What works did God create you to do? What steps can you take this week to begin to do those good works He created you to do?

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BUT GOD

SESSION TWO MEMORY VERSE He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

WE’RE WOUNDED…

BUT

GOD

HEALS US

All of us have experienced pain or disappointment somewhere in life—some more than others, of course. But most of us have been dinged by life. Someone hurts us, lets us down, disappoints us—or even abuses us. We are wounded by the experience of being human. And those wounds can impact us for a long time. They change the way that we relate to others, and can stir up fears in us. They can sometimes even keep us from fully receiving love from God and other people. Yes, we are wounded. But God can heal us. When the Bible tells us God is love, and that he is kind and loving, it is not talking about mere sentimental feelings. His love is so powerful and perfect; it can bring healing to our wounded hearts. In fact, when God’s love transforms us, our wounds become a way of understanding and loving others. They help us become healers as well. This topic is a heavy one. Remember this week that you want to be a good listener, and respect the confidentiality of the group. What is shared in the group stays in the group.

BUT GOD

SHARE YOUR STORY

Begin your time together by using the following questions and activities to get people talking.

As we said last week, when we tell our stories, sharing them with others, we give others the opportunity to see God at work. Your story is being shaped, even in this moment, by being a part of this group. In fact, few things can shape us more than community.

WATCH NOW DVD SESSION 2

When we share our stories, we can encourage someone else. We can also learn and be encouraged by the stories and experiences of others. We can experience the presence of God as he helps us be brave enough to reveal our thoughts and feelings. Open your group with prayer. This should be a brief, simple prayer, in which you invite God to guide you as you meet, to give you insight and wisdom. You can pray for specific requests at the end of the meeting, or stop momentarily to pray if a particular situation comes up during your discussion.

Watch the DVD for this session now. Use the Notes space provided on page 39 to record any key thoughts, questions, and things you want to remember or follow up on. After watching the video, read the Bible text for the lesson out loud. Then have someone read the discussion questions in the Hear God’s Story section and direct the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask someone else to read the questions and direct the discussion.

When someone has been hurt, how do they tend to treat other people?

What is the hardest thing about forgiving someone who has been unkind to you or hurt you?

Pair up with someone in your group. (Men should partner with men and women with women.) This person will be your spiritual partner for the rest of this study. He or she doesn’t have to be your best friend, but will simply encourage you to complete the goals you set for yourself during this study. Following through on a resolution is tough when you’re on your own. It makes all the difference to have a partner cheering you on.

BUT GOD

HEAR GOD’S STORY

How does refusing to forgive other people impact your relationship with God, according to this passage?

................................................................................................................................. How can we become a part of God’s story? By aligning our stories with His. By understanding what it means to follow Him. Use the following questions to guide your discussion of the teaching and stories you just experienced, and the Bible passage below. This week’s reading is from The Message translation.

In the video, Pastor Herbert said, “After experiencing deep wounds and hurt and pain, the enemy of our soul will tell us we have to live bitter.” How have you seen this play out in your own life, or the life of someone you know?

Read Matthew 6:14-15 (The Message) In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.

In the video, Pastor Herbert clarified what forgiveness is not. He noted that it is not saying what happened was “no big deal.” And forgiveness is not the same thing as reconciliation, or restoring the relationship with the person who hurt you. How is forgiveness different from reconciliation?

In the verses just prior to today’s passage, Jesus taught his disciples to pray, to ask for forgiveness as they forgave others. How does acknowledging your own sins and mistakes help you to forgive others?

BUT GOD

STUDY NOTES

Use this space to record your thoughts, questions and ponderings as you watch the video and discuss the Bible passage.

While God loves us unconditionally, He does seem to put conditions on forgiveness. In a way, our unwillingness to forgive others creates a hard-heartedness in us that keeps us from experiencing God’s forgiveness. In order to receive forgiveness, we must be willing to forgive others. As Pastor Herbert said, forgiveness is not the same as saying “it’s no big deal.” It is not the same as reconciliation, or forgetting the offence. Theologian Lew Smedes says forgiveness is not letting the other person off the hook, it’s letting yourself off the hook. It’s taking away that other person’s power to hurt you over and over, each time you remember the offence. Forgiving someone who’s hurt you can open you up to God’s healing. God not only asks us to forgive, but He can give us the power to do so when we can’t forgive on our own.

…You cut yourself off from God’s part.

BUT GOD

CREATE A NEW STORY In this section, talk about how you will apply the wisdom you’ve learned from the teaching and Bible study. Then think about practical steps you can take in the coming week to live out what you’ve learned.

Is there someone you need to forgive, or to ask forgiveness from? Explain. (There is no pressure here to share details you don’t feel ready to share. Respect everyone’s right to share as much or as little of their story as they feel comfortable sharing.)

What barriers get in the way of you forgiving others?

We are all wounded. How has God helped heal the wounds of your life?

Have you ever had a time in your life when you “cut yourself off from God’s part” by refusing to forgive? How did that impact you?

In the video, Pastor Herbert said, “Forgiving creates ‘But God’ moments for our own lives.” Tell about a time when forgiving created a “But God” moment in your life.

BUT GOD

This week, how will you interact with the Bible? Can you commit to spending time in daily prayer or study of God’s Word (use the Daily Devotions section to guide you)? Tell the group how you plan to follow Jesus this week, and then, at your next meeting, talk about your progress and challenges.

Last week, in our Circles of Life exercise, we talked about people who might respond to an invitation to join this small group. How are your relationships progressing with the people you wrote down? Were you able to talk to them? Invite them? Have you continued to pray for them and for the opportunity to invite them? Spend some time this week praying about those you know who might respond to a simple invitation: to come to a church service, to join your small group, or even just to have coffee and talk about spiritual matters. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring people to mind that you can pray for.

To close your time together, spend some time in prayer. Prayer is not just asking God for things, but also worshipping and telling God how much we love Him. You may want to have everyone share something they are grateful for, or some way that God touched their life this week. OPTIONAL: If a group member has a worship song on their phone or other device that they find significant, they can play it for the group.

Developing our ability to serve according to the leading of the Holy Spirit takes time and persistence in getting to know our Lord. So the first step toward serving others is, paradoxically, spending time alone with God: in prayer, in study and reflection on God’s Word. Here are some simple ways to connect with God. Tell the group which one you plan to try this week, and then, at your next meeting, talk about your progress and challenges. • Prayer. Commit to personal prayer and daily connection with God. You may find it helpful to write your prayers in a journal. • Daily Devotions. The Daily Devotions provided in each session offer an opportunity for reading a short Bible passage six days a week during the course of this study. In our hurry-up world, we often move too quickly through everything—even reading God’s Word! Slow down. Don’t just skim, but take time to read carefully and reflect on God’s Word. Write down your insights on what you read each day. Copy a portion of Scripture on a card and tape it somewhere in your line of sight, such as your car’s dashboard or the kitchen table. Or text it to yourself! Think about it when you sit at red lights, or while you’re eating a meal. Reflect on what God is saying to you through these words. On the sixth day summarize what God has shown you throughout the week.

• Ask, “How can we pray for you this week?” Invite everyone to share, but don’t force the issue. Be sure to write prayer requests on your Prayer and Praise Report on page 129.

BUT GOD

FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY If you feel God nudging you to go deeper, take some time between now and our next meeting to dig into His Word. Explore the Bible passages related to this session’s theme on your own, jotting your reflections in a journal or in this study guide. Want to go deeper? Select a few verses and try paraphrasing them: writing them in your own words. If you like, share them with the group the next time you meet.

Read Matthew 18:21-35 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

What do you think prompted Peter’s question about forgiveness? ................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................. Think about the servant who had been forgiven a huge debt. What huge debt have you been forgiven? ................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................. What “debt” do you need to forgive someone else? How does remembering your own debts and how you’ve been forgiven of them help you to forgive others? ................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................

23 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.

BUT GOD

Read Colossians 3:12-16 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

DAILY

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

DEVOTIONALS

16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. How does knowing we are “chosen” and “dearly loved” make it easier to clothe ourselves with compassion and kindness?

Day 1.

Day 2.

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Read Psalm 147:1

Read Psalm 147:2

Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.

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Respond: Why is it “fitting” to praise God? Spend a few moments just singing praises to God right now. (You might want to play a worship song or two and sing along.)

Verse 16 says, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly…” What is “the message of Christ?” How can we allow that message to “dwell among” us? What specific actions or attitudes would help us to do that?

Respond: Think about a relationship where you feel like an “exile.” What promise do you find in this verse? What situation do you need God to build you up in? Try reading the verse aloud, substituting your name for the word “Jerusalem.”