Destiny - Dr. Tony Evans by Lifetogether Ministries

DESTINY Let God Use You Like He Made You

DR. TONY EVANS

Copyright © 2013 for Destiny: Let God Use You Like He Made You curriculum Dr. Tony Evans and The Urban Alternative P.O. Box 4000 Dallas, Texas 75208. Copyright and use of the curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman. Permission for use is given to Tony Evans, The Urban Alternative and Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in all forms of distribution. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotes are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®. Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. This Bible Study is based on the concepts presented by Dr. Tony Evans in his book Destiny: Let God Use You LIke He Made You. DESTINY Copyright © 2013 by Tony Evans Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com Copyright and use of the Lifetogether curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman. Permission for use is given to Dr. Tony Evans and The Urban Alternative in all forms of distribution.

CONTENTS

About The Author 1 Introduction to Destiny 2 Outline for Each Session 3 SESSION ONE – Overview of Destiny 5 SESSION TWO – Your Uniqueness & Your Destiny 17 SESSION THREE – Your Experiences & Your Destiny 29 SESSION FOUR – Your Intersections & Your Destiny 41 SESSION FIVE – Your Worship & Your Destiny 53 SESSION SIX – Your Future & Your Destiny 65

APPENDIX

Frequenty Asked Questions 78 Spiritual Partners’ Check-In Page 80 Small Group Roster 81 Personal Health Assessment 82 Personal Health Plan 83

SMALL GROUP LEADERS

Hosting an Open House 85 Leading for the First Time 86 Leadership Training 101 87

GROUP RESOURCES

Small Group Covenant 90 Small Group Calendar 91 Prayer and Praise Report 92 Teaching Notes 93

ABOUT THE

AUTHOR DR. TONY EVANS

is one of the country’s most respected leaders in evangelical circles. He is a pastor, serving as the senior pastor of the 9700-member Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas for over 36 years. He is a best-selling author, with over 50 published books such as Kingdom Man, Oneness Embraced and Victory in Spiritual Warfare. He is an inspirational speaker, from professional sports arenas (former chaplain of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and present chaplain of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks) to the international airwaves (The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans broadcasting daily to more than 850 US radio outlets and 80 countries daily). He is a worldchanger, serving as the president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry that seeks to restore hope and transform lives through the proclamation and application of the Word of God. Finally and foundationally, he is a devoted husband of 42 years to Lois and loving father of four – Chrystal, Priscilla, Anthony Jr. and Jonathan – and grandfather of ten – Kariss, Jessica, Jackson, Jesse III, Jerry Jr., Kanaan, Jude, Joel, Kelsey & Jonathan II.

INTRODUCTION Let God Use You Like He Made You God will often take you from where you are to where He wants you to be at what can be called a divine intersection. This is the time and situation in your life where your gifts, skills, passion, experience and personality merge together into either the revealing of, or carrying out of, your destiny. What many of us try to do in our lives is rush ahead to the intersection, not realizing the importance of God’s perfect timing. Until your divine intersection comes, God is preparing you for that moment – for the people, tasks and purpose ahead. And He is also preparing your destiny, the people and places involved, for you. This is similar to what He did in Canaan when the Israelites entered the Promised Land. God had already provided for the Israelites because the Canaanites had dug the wells, cultivated the land and built the communities in that land. Arriving at your intersection in life is a special time when you step into God’s manifest provision in your life. There, you will receive the Spirit’s power to carry out His plan for you. There will be a certain flow about what you do – it will feel natural to you in many ways. In sports, we call it being “in the zone.” As a believer, you enter the “zone” when God orchestrates your intersection – when all things merge. When God connects your gifts, skills, experience, passion and personality into His divine destiny just for you. Friend, if you learn anything at all from this Bible study about reaching your destiny – learn this: Don’t go searching for your destiny. Go searching for your God. Because it is in locating God amidst the ordinary things that He may have you doing now that you will watch Him intersect them into the extraordinary purpose and destiny He has for you. In other words, fulfill the duties of your routine responsibilities and attach those routine responsibilities to Him. When you loop God into your routine, the natural becomes the supernatural. You discover your destiny when the natural merges with the Divine. What is even better, is that you will discover that God can even use the weaknesses, or what you might consider the faults, in your life for His purpose. He merges all things together for good when you love Him and walk in His destiny for you. I’m excited that you have chosen to pursue your destiny through this Bible study. May God grant you favor and insight as you seek Him and His will for your life.

For the King and His Kingdom,

Dr. Tony Evans Fall 2013

OUTLINE OF EACH SESSION Most people want to live a healthy, balanced spiritual life, but few achieve this by themselves. And most small groups struggle to balance all of God’s purposes in their meetings. Groups tend to overemphasize one of the various reasons for meeting. Rarely is there a healthy balance that includes teaching, evangelism, ministry, practical exercises and worship. That’s why we’ve included all of these elements in this study so you can live a healthy, balanced spiritual life over time.

DVD TEACHING SEGMENT. Serving as a companion to the Destiny small group discussion book is the Destiny video teaching. This DVD is designed to combine teaching segments from Dr. Tony Evans along with leadership insights and personal stories of destiny discoveries. This DVD study has been designed to enhance the entire small group experience. Using the teaching video will add value to this six week commitment of doing life together and discovering how knowing your destiny changes everything.

A typical group session for Destiny will include the following:

STORY. The lessons we will learn during Destiny are best illustrated in the lives of real people. Each session will begin with a summary of someone’s story and the video presentation during the session will capture firsthand that person telling their story.

LISTEN. As in, listen to God and each other’s lives. The foundation for spiritual growth is an intimate connection with God and His family. A few people who really know you and who earn your trust provide a place to experience the life Jesus invites you to live. Discovering your destiny will involve others! This section of 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.

LEARN. As in, learn from God’s Word and each other. Here is where you come face-to-face with Scripture. In core passages you will explore what the Bible teaches about the topic of the study. The focus will not be on accumulating information but on how we should live in light of the Word of God. We want to help you apply the Scriptures practically, creatively and equally from your heart and your head. At the end of the day, allowing the timeless truths from God’s Word to transform our lives in Christ is our greatest aim.

LOVE OTHERS / LOVE GOD.

DEEPER STUDY. If you want to dig deeper into more Bible passages about the topic at hand, we’ve provided additional passages and questions. Your group may choose to do study homework ahead of each meeting in order to cover more biblical material. If you prefer not to do study homework, the “Deeper Study” section will provide you with plenty to discuss within the group. These options allow individuals or the whole group to go deeper in their study, while still accom¬modating those who cannot do homework or are new to your group.

LIVE. As in, live out the truth you just learned. Here is where the Bible urging us to “be doers of the Word, not just hearers” comes into play. Many people skip over this aspect of the Christian life because it is scary, relationally awkward or simply too much work for their busy schedules. But Jesus wanted all of His disciples to help outsiders connect with Him, to know Him personally and to carry out His commands. This doesn’t necessarily mean preaching on street corners. It could mean welcoming a few newcomers into your group, hosting a shortterm group in your home or walking through this study with a friend. In this study, you will have an opportunity to go beyond Bible study to biblical living.

As in, love the Lord your God and your neighbor too. We have Jesus’ affirmation that every aspect of life’s destiny can ultimately be measured as a way of fulfilling one or both of the “bottom line” commandments: “The foremost,” answered Jesus, “is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The LORD our God is one LORD; and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ “The second is this, ‘ you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29–31). The group session will close with time for personal response to God and group prayer, seeking to keep this crucial commandment before us at all times.

STUDY NOTES. This section provides background notes on the Bible passage(s) you examined in the “Deeper Study” section. You may want to refer to these notes during your group meeting or as a reference when doing additional study.

DAILY REFLECTIONS. Each week in the “Daily Reflections” we provide scriptures to read and reflect on between group meetings. We suggest you use this section to seek out God on your own throughout the week. This time at home should begin and end with prayer. Do not get in a hurry; take enough time to hear God’s direction.

O 5

ONE

OVERVIEW OF DESTINY

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For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers, and underwent decay.” (Acts 13.36) Purpose. Calling. Destiny. Who would not want that? But destiny means different things to different people. That’s why we need to start with a shared understanding of what we mean by “destiny” in this study. Any real definition of destiny must include the Maker of life. Since life was God’s idea and creation, it makes sense to assume that He would be the ultimate source of wisdom regarding how life was designed to be lived. This session will focus on the early clues to destiny that are already part of your life and how you cannot really get very far in coming to a practical understanding of your destiny until you come face-to-face with your Creator. In a world that tries to tell us every day that we get to write our own script in life and we “can be anything we want to be”, it is refreshing to stop and consider that the world’s message isn’t the whole truth by a long shot! Until God weighs in on the discussion, we are only looking at puzzle pieces of life that leave us puzzled. God puts the whole picture together.

LISTEN Open your group with prayer. Not everyone will feel comfortable praying out loud or without a supplied text, but encourage the group to sit quietly and invite at least one person to ask God for His enlightening presence as you spend time together. As you begin, take time to pass around a copy of the Small Group Roster on page 81 or use a sheet of paper. Have everyone write down their contact information. Ask someone to make copies or type up a list with everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s information and email it to the group this week. hat have turned out to be some of the 1 Wbiggest decisions of your life? You may not have realized it at the time, but certain choices have changed everything. What have they been?

you think about destiny, who is the 2 Wfirsthenperson that comes to mind who seems to have a clear understanding of their destiny? What makes you think this?

hether your group 3 Wis new or ongoing, it is always important to reflect on and review your values together. On page 90 is a Small Group Covenant with the values we’ve found most useful in sustaining healthy, balanced groups. We recommend that you choose one or two values—ones you haven’t previously focused on or have room to grow in—to emphasize during this study. Choose ones that will take your group to the next stage of intimacy and spiritual health. If your group is new, you may want to focus on welcoming newcomers or on sharing group ownership. Any group will quickly move from being the leader’s group to our group if everyone understands the goals of the group and shares a small role. See the Team Roles in the Appendix for help on how to do this well.

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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). Look at the FAQs in the Appendix for additional information about hosting or leading the group.

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Watch the DVD teaching for this session now. We have provided Teaching Notes on page 93. There you can record any key thoughts, questions and things you want to remember or follow-up on. After watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions in the Learn 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. 8

LEARN Much of what Dr. Evans has to say in this opening session revolves around a brief comment about one of the greatest figures in the Old Testament, King David: “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers, and underwent decay” (Acts 13:36). Those words were said by the Apostle Paul, preaching to a mixed audience of Jews and Gentiles in the city of Antioch in the country of Pisidia. But he knew his hearers would understand what he meant. It would be like us referring to George Washington as one of the founders of our country. His life is part of the record of history. We can see the effects of such a life because it “served the purpose of God” in its generation and we still see the effects today.

Dr. Evans gave us a detailed r. Evans used the story of 4 definition 7 DHank of destiny in his Aaron and Yogi Berra teaching: “Destiny is your customized life calling, for which God has equipped and ordained you, in order to bring Him the greatest glory and the maximum expansion of His kingdom.” How would you summarize this in your own words?

hat words in that 5 Wdefinition are most challenging for you to understand? Share them with the group and we’ll work together at understanding them. Here’s one to start with: what does “ordained” mean? Any other challenging words?

How did you understand Dr. 6 Evans’ statement: “Destiny always begns with God’s place in your life”?

to remind us that we need to be mindful of what “voices” we are listening to. What are some of the voices that try to define people’s destiny for them? How do you identify a trustworthy voice?

ased on this first teaching 8 Bsession, what are some of the specific parts that go into shaping or clarifying someone’s destiny?

on this statement 9 Cbyomment Dr. Evans: “When you’re attached to God, you’re attached to something bigger, so that everything God does with, in, to and through you becomes attractive for His kingdom”?

DEEPER STUDY Read Acts 13:13–41. This is the transcript of Paul’s sermon in Antioch. This is not the most famous Antioch (Syria) in the New Testament, but one of the stops on Paul’s first missionary journey in the middle of modern day Turkey. Here, as everywhere, he started his ministry in a new place by visiting the local Jewish synagogue where there were Jews and Gentile converts worshipping the God of Abraham. How does verse 17 make a similar point about God’s purposes as Paul makes about David later in the message?

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Verses 19, 20 and 21 all use the word “gave” in a way that points to God’s purposes. How?

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How does verse 22 emphasize Paul’s statement about David’s destiny in verse 36?

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Verses 24-25 summarize John the Baptist’s impact. How did he understand his own destiny?

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This sermon is really about the destiny of Jesus. How does Paul show God’s plan and purpose in Jesus’ life in these verses, particularly in his conclusion in verses 38–39?

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LIVE If destiny is ultimately confirmed by the way we live before God and others, then destiny and God’s purposes are intended as the best way to relate to others within our capacities and opportunities. Wisdom is how we use what God has given us to make the most in service of Him and others. eveloping our ability to serve God 10 D according to the leading of the Holy Spirit takes time and persistence in getting to know our Lord. We must take time in prayer, in God’s Word and in meditation, to let God speak to us daily. Which of the following next steps are you willing to take for the next few weeks?

Prayer. Commit to personal prayer and daily connection with God. You may find it helpful to write your prayers in a journal.

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Reflection. The Daily Reflections provided in each session are an opportunity to read a short Bible passage for five days in the week for the course of this study. Write down your insights on what you read each day. On the sixth day summarize what God has shown you throughout the week.

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Meditation. Try meditation as a way of internalizing God’s Word more deeply. 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. 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. Several passages for meditation are suggested on the Daily Reflections pages in each session.

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used Psalm 90:12 to show us 11 D ther. Evans way our destiny unfolds as we depend on God to reveal Himself and His plans throughout our lives: “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.” How does this prayer speak into your desire to understand more clearly your destiny?

LOVE OTHERS The destiny God has in mind for us will always include others. The more we understand the way God has put us together, the more we can begin to see how He can impact the lives of others through us. of the five people in your 12 Mlifeakewhoa listwould be impacted the most by changes that might occur as a result of your understanding God’s plans for your destiny during these sessions:

2 3 4 5 Below each name write one aspect of your relationship you would like to see improve during the next few weeks as evidence that you are living out your destiny with them.

LOVE GOD The memory verse for this session is Acts 13:36. It is included on the first page of this lesson. This verse includes a statement about David we hope will be said about our lives, too. Living wisely into our destiny means ultimately surrendering our understanding of life in favor of God’s understanding. Loving God means we trust Him enough to depend on Him in every way. As you seek to grow in wisdom, share the following actions with your group as a way of practicing a destiny-oriented life. llow everyone to answer this question: 13 A“How can we pray for you this week?” Be sure to write prayer requests on your Prayer and Praise Report on page 92. hat kind of worship fits your group? 14 WSpend a few minutes worshiping God together. Here are two ideas: Have someone use their musical gifts to lead the group in a worship song. Try singing a cappella, using a worship CD, or have someone accompany your singing with a musical instrument.

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Read a passage of Scripture together. Make it a time of praise and worship as the words remind you of all God has done for you. Choose a psalm or other favorite verse.

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very believer should have a plan for 15 E spending time alone with God. At the end of each session we provide Daily Reflections for you to use in your daily time with Him. These will offer reinforcement of the principles we are learning, and develop or strengthen your habit of time alone with God throughout the week.

STUDY NOTES When Paul showed up in a new town, he always began his ministry in the local Jewish synagogue. He could assume a certain amount of common ground with the people who gathered there. They had a shared destiny. They were all natural or adopted members of Abraham’s family and looked at the history of the people of God as their own history. Paul’s objective was always two-fold: first, to remind his listeners of God’s great worksand plans and second, to tell them the Good News that God’s plans had been fulfilled in His Son, Jesus Christ.

DAILY

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

Reflection Question: How would you explain the connection between Jesus’ words and the discovery and practice of destiny in a person’s life?

“He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Reflection Question: How did Solomon describe the importance of God in un derstanding destiny?

“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

Reflection Question: How do you think a deep respect for the brevity of life helps us develop a sensitivity to destiny?

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

Reflection Question: Dr. Evans talked about the aspect of destiny that is intergenerational. How has your family shaped your destiny?

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

Reflection Question: In what ways is the attitude of gratitude a direct result of understanding and living out your God-given destiny?

Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put on your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your Daily Reflections time this week.

REFLECTIONS

T 17

TWO

YOUR UNIQUENESS & YOUR DESTINY

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For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) Let’s think for a moment about the man through whom God’s Spirit wrote this session’s memory verse, the Apostle Paul. Although he became the contributor of almost half the New Testament and the planter of many of the first churches in Christianity, his early life gave little obvious indications of his destiny. Beginning with his participation in the stoning death of Stephen described in Acts 7–8, Paul quickly became the uncompromising persecutor of Christians in Jerusalem and everywhere he could track them down. He was merciless right up to a moment on the road to Damascus when God showed up with mercy, knocked Paul off his horse and tuned his heart to sing His praise. God turned an avowed enemy of the cross of Jesus into one of its greatest messengers. It was Paul’s destiny to be sold out to God, but it took God’s special work to finally show Paul what that really meant. God’s workmanship in us is original, but He also keeps tuning and adjusting us all along the way!

LISTEN Open your group with prayer. Focus on the lessons about destiny applied in the past week and invite group members to share their thoughts and insights about their own destiny during the past few days. or two tools or appliances that 1 Describe find sooneuseful you you cannot imagine doing without themâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ever. What did people do to accomplish the tasks before those items were invented?

ost people want to live a healthy, balanced 2 Mlife. A regular medical check-up is a good way to measure health and spot potential problems. In the same way, a spiritual checkup is vital to your spiritual well-being. The Personal Health Assessment was designed to give you a quick snapshot, or pulse, of your spiritual health. Take a few minutes alone to complete the Personal Health Assessment, found on page 82 in the Appendix. After answering each question, tally your results. Then, pair up with another person and briefly share one ministry area that is going well and one that needs a little work.

LEARN Most of us struggle to find a place or role that makes us feel like we are making a significant contribution. This memory verse may be familiar, but we wonder how it could possibly apply to us when we feel so inept much of the time!

The definition of destiny for r. Evans also said, 5 this 8 D“The series is, “your unique, church is suffering customized reason for being.” Give one example from your own life that might be a clue to your destiny?

hat was an event or 3 Wactivity you participated in as a child that you really felt like you belonged and were doing something meaningful?

Dr. Evans also pointed out 6 that too many Christians think they are “off–theshelf,” cookie cutter versions of people who are only unique by accident rather than by design. When have you felt that way? Why?

Evans said, “If man can 4 Ddo r. that with machines, God can certainly do it with people.” What was he talking about and do you agree or disagree with his statement?

In discussing the session’s 7 Memory Verse, Ephesians 2:10, Dr. Evans connected the term “workmanship” with the word “masterpiece”. What do you think would be the effect in a person’s life if they were convinced they are a masterpiece?

because masterpieces are not working. They aren’t fulfilling their destinies, but they are taking up space.” Discuss what he is concerned about.

DEEPER STUDY Read the context for this session’s memory verse: Ephesians 1–10. Paul starts with death and ends with destiny. Take some time to unpack these verses as Paul’s conclusion is a significant lesson about living. Salvation from death by grace through faith ought to lead to a different kind of living! What kind of “death” is Paul talking about in verses 1–3?

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What clues to “deadness” does Paul mention?

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Paraphrase verses 4–7 in your own words. What does he say is the ultimate purpose of our salvation?

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Why is the message of verses 8–9 crucial to understand before we can practice verse 10?

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How do “good works” affect a dead person and how do they affect someone who is alive in Christ?

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Discuss each of the following terms Dr. Evans used to describe the implications of workmanship/masterpiece:

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-Unique despite circumstances/situation -Rare -Name brand–Bear the Master’s/Maker’s signature -High value -Protected/Sheltered

LIVE One of the marks of developing group intimacy is when we start disclosing things about ourselves that are not normal parts of conversation—like our failures. It is one thing to talk about societal, family or public figure’s failures; it is something else entirely to come clean about our own. Destiny causes us to think about cooperating or not with God’s plan. Accountability with other Christians can be crucial to keeping us on track. One of the marks of developing group intimacy is when we start disclosing things about ourselves that are not normal parts of conversation—like our failures. It is one thing to talk about societal, family or public figure’s failures; it is something else entirely to come clean about our own. Destiny causes us to think about cooperating or not with God’s plan. Accountability with other Christians can be crucial to keeping us on track. air up with someone in your group. (We 9 Psuggest that men 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, but we’ve found it makes all the difference to have a partner cheering us on.

On pages 83 is a Personal Health Plan, a chart for keeping track of your spiritual progress. In the box that says, “WHO are you connecting with spiritually?” write your partner’s name. In the box that says, “WHAT is your next step for growth?” write one step you would like to take for growth regarding living as God’s workmanship during this study. Look back on your Personal Health Assessment for ideas. You have now begun to address two of God’s four vital experiences for your life! They are part of the general destiny God has designed for all His children. You can see that the Personal Health Plan contains space for you to record the ups and downs of your progress each week in the column labeled “My Progress.” And now with your spiritual partner you can do it together and not alone. Tell your partner what step you chose. When you check in with your partner each week, the “Partner’s Progress” column on this chart will provide a place to record your partner’s progress in the goal he or she chose. For now, do not worry about the WHERE, WHEN and HOW questions on the Personal Health Plan. one or two experiences in your 10 I lifedentify you would call “failures” or “mistakes” and ask your partner to help you reexamine what you might learn from it. Seek to answer three questions: Is there anything I can do to resolve that previous mistake?

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ow can I prevent that failure from occurring H again?

LOVE OTHERS Mistakes always involve people (even if it is just us). The pursuit of our destiny is not a straight line with no detours. One of the aspects of real love for God and our neighbors is that mistakes matter. We care enough to correct, forgive and seek forgiveness when mistakes have occurred. Those who do not love pretend not to care about mistakes. But genuine relationships, reciprocal partnerships, deal with mistakes. They put us in the best place to learn from our failures. When we have someone committed to us for the long haul, we are more likely to face the possible shame and difficulty of having to set aside our pride and try another approach. Our destiny fulfilled will include the failures and mistakes we have overcome as well as our progress in obedience to Christ. How would you describe a relationship 11 with Jesus Christ as the ultimate and perfect reciprocal partnership? What did Jesus do for you to make that relationship a reality? How did He give and serve in such a way that He deserves to receive your ultimate trust? (Reference Ephesians 2:8–10)

What does this process tell me about my destiny?

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Family

look at the Circles of Life diagram 12 Ttoakethearight and write the names of two or three people you know who need to know Christ. Commit to praying for God’s guidance and an opportunity to share with each of them. n what ways is talking with others about 13 I your relationship with Jesus an act of giving and serving? What might you receive as a result of your actions?

(immediate or extended)

Familiar

Friends

(neighbors, kids, sports teams, school, and so forth)

Fun

(gym, hobbies, hangouts)

Firm (work)

LOVE GOD God doesn’t make mistakes. When it came to planning your destiny, no angels ever heard God mutter, “Oops! He doesn’t have to learn anything.” Yet it is amazing that He chooses to be in relationship with us who are so prone to making mistakes on almost a daily basis. Much of our time in conversation with Him ought to be seeking His direction and help regarding the lessons we can learn from our mistakes. He is committed to producing a finished masterpiece out of our lives. Make sure as you go through the prayer exercises below that you are allowing the group to pray with you about things you are trying to learn from God.

prayer requests in your group 14 Sandharethenyourgather in smaller circles of three or four people to pray. Be sure to have everyone write down the personal requests of the members to use as a reminder to pray for your group throughout the week. The Prayer and Praise Report is on page 92. Then pray for one another in your circle. Do not put pressure on anyone to pray aloud. When you pray for each person, you may find it meaningful to hold hands or place your hands on another person’s shoulder. Jesus often touched those He healed to communicate His care for them. a few minutes to talk about what 15 Titakewould take to make time with God a priority every day or even five or six days a week. Do not demand an hour or even a half-hour of time; consider drawing near to God for a few minutes each day and gradually you will desire more. Use the Daily Reflections at the end of each session for drawing near to God.

STUDY NOTES Here’s a review of the highlights of Dr. Evans’ discussion of Ephesians 2:8–10: • You were saved (vv. 8–9) to be a masterpiece (v.10). • Neither your circumstances nor situation can nullify your uniqueness. • By definition, because you are unique, you are rare. • God’s name and reputation are connected with your life. He is “wearing” your life. • God is also committed to your ultimate protection.

DAILY

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3)

Reflection Question: Based on these three verses, how does “for His name’s sake” talk about whose reputation is really on the line with your life? In what ways?

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”(Ephesians 3:20-21)

Reflection Question: How do these verses describe God’s purposes in working in our lives together as the church?

“So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.’” (John 13:12-14)

Reflection Question: Based on Jesus’ actions, how important do you think is the connection between destiny and service to God and others?

“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” (John 13:15-17)

Reflection Question: In what places in your life have you noticed opportunities for you to serve others in unique and perhaps unexpected ways?

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)

Reflection Question: How are you living as God’s workmanship today?

Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put in your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your Daily Reflections time this week.

REFLECTIONS

T 29

THREE YOUR EXPERIENCES & YOUR DESTINY

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As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

Dr. Evans will use in his teaching. Things went from good to bad to bitter. And yet, as we will see, God used it all to weave together a destiny for Joseph that still benefits our lives today.

(Genesis 50:20)

Although a number of familiar Bible people will be mentioned by Dr. Evans in this session, the central figure we want to focus on is Joseph (the Old Testament one, not the Joseph who was Mary’s husband and raised Jesus). The story of Joseph takes up much of Genesis 37—50. He was one of two sons born to Jacob’s wife, Rachel, one of four women who bore sons that became Jacob/Israel’s twelve tribes. As the son of a wealthy sheep farmer, Joseph grew up privileged for his time; but, as Dr. Evans will explain, his family was dysfunctional. Joseph grew up with a strong sense of destiny which his family had a hard time accepting. He had two dreams during his teen years that deeply offended his older brothers. Joseph’s sense of destiny and the fact that Jacob, the patriarch of the family, treated Joseph as an obvious favorite, created a toxic situation in the family. The brothers set out to kill Joseph but ended up selling him into slavery. The spiral in Joseph’s life parallels the sequence

LISTEN Open your group with prayer. Ask the group to share with one another the insights from the past two sessions that have made an impact on their lives. Practice a tone of thanksgiving in your prayer and affirm that you realize God isn’t finished with you yet. Telling our personal stories builds deeper connections among group members. Choose one of the activities below to build your connections within the group. most unexpected events in 1 Wyourhat’slifeonethatofhastheturned out far different than you might have thought—either for good or for bad?

with your spiritual partner. If your partner 2 Sis itabsent or if you are new to the group, join with another pair or someone who doesn’t yet have a partner. If you haven’t established your spiritual partnership yet, do it now. (Refer to the session two Live section for help).

Turn to your Personal Health Plan on page 83 now. Share with your partner how your time with God went this week. What is one thing you discovered? Did you make a commitment to a next step that you can share? What obstacles hindered you from following through this week? Make a note about your partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress and how you can pray for him or her. leaders is one 3 Rof otating the group values we highly recommend for your group. People need opportunities to experiment with ways in which God may have gifted them. Your group will give you all the encouragement you need before, during and after the session. We also suggest you rotate host homes, with the host of each meeting providing the refreshments. Some groups like to let the host lead the meeting each week, while others like to let one person host while another person leads. The Small Group Calendar on page 91 is a tool for planning who will host and lead each meeting. Take a few minutes to plan hosts and leaders for your remaining meetings. Do not pass this up! It will revolutionize your group.

Watch the DVD teaching for this session now. We have provided Teaching Notes on page 93. There you can record any key thoughts, questions and things you want to remember or follow up on. After watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions in the Learn 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. 32

LEARN In this session, Dr. Evans highlights Paul, Peter, Moses, Esther and Joseph. Each of these figures dealt with good, bad and bitterness in their lives. They may have all lived long ago, but the Bible tells us their lives were recorded for our benefit. In 1 Corinthians 10:11 Paul says, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” of the Bible people 4 WDr.hich Evans mentioned do you identify with most closely? Why?

r. Evans defines good 5 Dthings as positive events or things in your life that benefitted you and the purposes of God. What would be an example of two good things from your life?

he bad things in life Dr. 6 TEvans summarizes as the mistakes, sins and failures that we experience as a

result of our choices. Share with the group a couple of the bad things that come to mind from your life. Bitter parts of life are not 7 our fault, but can create negative repercussions for all our lives. In what ways can you relate to Dr. Evans’ description?

hat makes the deepest 8 Wimpression on you about Joseph’s life and how he handled what must have been overwhelming sources of possible bitterness in his life?

DEEPER STUDY It is not hard to see how God could use what is already good in our lives to expand into much more good! We take Romans 8:28 to be true: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” But we often resist applying that verse to the bad and bitter events in our lives. Dr. Evans used Peter’s experiences in Luke 22:31–34 and John 21:1–23 to highlight the amazing way God took a stunning failure and used it to teach and transform a man into an effective leader in the early church. Read those two passages and observe Jesus’ awareness and the caring way he corrected and affirmed a hurting man. When you think of Joseph’s “bitter” experiences, it is almost shocking to see how he kept bouncing back from unfair and even humiliating setbacks. What do you think kept him going on a day-to-day basis? What keeps you going when things are most bitter?

LIVE When we begin to get serious about listening to God’s messengers, we are often surprised at who He uses. He doesn’t want us to be in the dark about our destiny. We may never see the whole plan laid out in detail this side of eternity, but we can know more tomorrow than we do today. People who would not even claim to know God at all may help us see what God is saying to us like no one else. He may also use us in such a way in other people’s lives. To what extent have you been willing to speak and act for God, even when no one seems aware that is your intent? How willing are you to speak into the lives of others about their God-designed destiny?

an area of service that God has put 9 Ion s there your heart to serve in your local church? How are you connecting that desire with your efforts to let God work out His destiny for you? Commit to taking the first step and be willing to let God lead you to the ministry that expresses your passion. In your Personal Health Plan on page 83, next to “Outreach”, answer the first question – “WHERE are you serving?”. If you are not currently serving, note one area where you will consider serving.

LOVE OTHERS As we have already mentioned, there are certain universal aspects to destiny. For example, the Great Commandment is something God wants every one of us to live out in our lives. If we are not increasing our capacity and efforts at loving God and others, we fall short of our destiny. God’s real messengers communicate love, even when the message is an unexpected one or a hard one. n the last session, we asked you to write 10 Isome names in the Circles of Life diagram. Who did you identify as the people in your life who need to meet Jesus? Go back to the Circles of Life diagram on page 25 to help you think of the various people you come in contact with on a regular basis who need to know Jesus more deeply. Consider the following ideas for action and make a plan to follow through on one of them this week. •

his is a wonderful time to welcome a few T friends into your group. Which of the people you listed could you invite? It is possible that you may need to help your friend overcome real obstacles in order to come to a place where he or she can encounter Jesus. Does your friend need a ride to the group? Help with childcare?

LOVE GOD Loving God definitely includes listening for and listening to His messengers. It involves developing an attentive attitude about life, realizing that at any time, on any day, God may find a way to get a word through to us. God is working out our destiny every day. In fact, according to Psalm 19:1, it happens everyday. For, “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”(NIV). Loving God also involves trusting Him with our needs and the needs of others. •

onsider inviting a friend to attend a weekend C service with you and possibly plan to enjoy a meal together afterward. This can be a great opportunity to talk with someone about your faith in Jesus. Is there someone you would not invite to your group but who still needs a connection? Would you be willing to have lunch or coffee with that person, catch up on life and share something you’ve learned from this study? Jesus doesn’t call all of us to lead small groups, but he does call every disciple to spiritually multiply his or her life over time.

•

Evans stated that it is crucial for us 11 D tor.realize we are part of a larger plan. God has our lives in mind for something bigger than ourselves and what we can accomplish on our own. God’s glory is worth whatever combination of good, bad and bitter He mixes up for us. How willing are you to surrender your plans and desires into God’s plan for something BIGGER?

hare your praises and prayer requests 12 Swith one another. Record these on the Prayer and Praise Report on page 92. Then, spend time praying for each other. nd your meeting by singing a song 13 Etogether or with someone closing the evening with a prayer.

STUDY NOTES Peter’s humiliating experience that is introduced in Luke 22 and concluded in John 21 is a case study in what God will allow into our lives to accomplish His purposes. God allows failure and pain into our lives because His perspective is larger and longer than ours. We are involved in something far bigger than our horizons. God’s glory often means we do not get our way. We may not see how God can possibly bring good out of what we can only see as failure and defeat, and yet God can and does. If we give Him the honor He is due, we will find over and over the experience of Peter, standing dripping wet by the fire and realizing God still plans to use our brokenness and frailty for His glory. Joseph maintained a quiet confidence in God that allowed him to overcome circumstances that would have crushed most of us. He had an amazing character that was increasingly strengthened by what he had to go through, but the greatest thing about Joseph was his view of God. In the end, God showed Joseph and the world that He could make something amazing out of the life of the boy who had been rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery. Despite whatever circumstances or failures are in your past, today and tomorrow can be filled with hope if you will place yourself and your destiny in God’s hands.

DAILY

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20)

Reflection Question: What hardships caused by others do you now see that God has repurposed for good in your life?

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)

Reflection Question: How does this passage help you understand why God allows certain difficulties into your life?

“Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.” (1 Timothy 4:15)

Reflection Question: Why do you think Paul tried to impress on Timothy the importance of always aiming for progress?

“But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

Reflection Question: If God is treating us like precious metal, how does this verse describe the process?

“Jesus said to him, ‘If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”. (John 21:22)

Reflection Question: Our destinies are unique. How settled are you into a life of following Jesus?

Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put on your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your Daily Reflections time this week.

REFLECTIONS

F 41

FOUR YOUR INTERSECTIONS & YOUR DESTINY

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Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day.” (1 Samuel 10:9)

with our destiny as well. For this session, the focus is on God’s amazing intersections that steered Saul right to the place God wanted him to be.

No matter how alone or isolated any one of us may feel, life is a series of what Dr. Evans calls “intersections.” These are people who cross our pathway and events that come out of nowhere. They affect us in many ways. God uses them to shape our destiny, often in ways we do not realize until later. Our Bible character for this session is King Saul before he was king. He was just a great looking young man, doing chores for his dad, and chasing donkeys. What started out to be a basic job turned out to be quite difficult as the donkeys seemed to be hiding. One thing led to another and the journey to find the donkeys became the journey to be found by God and anointed as king. What 1 Samuel 9–10 describes is a series of seemingly small intersections with people that led Saul to his destiny—the throne of Israel. At least until the time he became king, Saul’s life is a great example of the way God gets us to places we might never have thought to go ourselves. What we do when God gets us there has a lot to do

LISTEN Open your group with prayer. Thank God for the story that He is writing in the lives of each person in your group. If possible, mention each of the group members by name in prayer. It is often surprising to discover people who have never heard their name mentioned out loud before God in prayer. Telling personal stories builds deeper connections among group members. Choose one of the activities below to build your connections within the group. from earlier in your life did 1 Wyouhatfeelmeetings were almost accidental, but their ultimate impact on your life for good or bad turned out to be huge?

heck in with your spiritual partner(s), or 2 Cwith another partner if yours is absent. Share something God taught you during your time in His Word this week, or read a brief section from your journal. Be sure to write down your partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress on page 80.

LEARN The story of Saul’s adventures alongside Dr. Evans’ significant intersections are two good examples of God’s routeplanning style. Add into that mix the way he steered Moses and we are getting the picture that no encounter is by chance, and every person we meet is someone God has placed in our path (or placed us in their path) as an intersection.

of confirmation 8 Twashe principle also a theme in Dr. Evans’ own experience. How did God confirm some intersections in both Saul’s and Dr. Evans’ lives? How has He done so in yours?

r. Evans mentioned Isaiah 9 D46:9–10 as an important

ow does this idea of God3 Hplanned intersections affect the way you look at your life up to this point?

hen Dr. Evans said, 6 W“Intersections usually come through normal things you’re already doing,” what examples came to mind?

hat have been some of the 4 Wnotable intersections in your life up to this point? Dr. Evans used Saul’s 7 servant and his suggestion

escribe a recent significant 5 Dintersection with someone. Can you think of any instances when you have been the one to make the impact in someone’s life at an intersection?

to “see the man of God” as a reminder that God is in the mundane as well as the miraculous; in the ordinary as well as the extraordinary. So, what did he mean when he challenged us to be “faithful in the normal stuff”?

verse to guide our thinking about intersections: “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’”. Why is God the One we must trust with the intersections in our lives?

DEEPER STUDY Read 1 Samuel 8—10 and trace the specific intersections in Saul’s life that lead to the throne of Israel. Note in particular the way God used both ordinary and extraordinary means to accomplish His purposes. Discuss the principle of confirmation, and how God often gives direction in more ways than one. Review Isaiah 46:1–13, in which God describes Himself next to the “gods” of ancient peoples. What are the glaring shortcomings of manmade gods?

•

What are some clues in this passage about God’s uniqueness?

•

What other traits about God do you see?

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LIVE When we think about intersections, we can easily get distracted with worries about “making the wrong turn” at an intersection. God sends someone across our path who offers us a new opportunity. Should we be concerned about the decision or should we move forward confident that God can steer our lives? one of us gets every decision right. But 10 N there’s a big difference between trusting God before, during and after decisions on the one hand and on the other living fearful that we might somehow mess up God’s plans even though we were doing our best to obey Him. As we are discussing intersections, how are you feeling about the ones you may be dealing with right now?

session we are looking differently 11 I atn athisprevious insight that our lives are part of God’s bigger plan. His glory is the ultimate outcome of that plan. How does your trust in God affect the way you see the bigger picture even when things aren’t going quite the way you planned?

LOVE OTHERS At one point in his teaching, Dr. Evans mentioned the fact that any small group gathering is really a collection of possible intersections that God has generated in those lives. People almost invariably point to both individuals and small groups as significant factors God has used to give direction. But these intersections are only as effective as we are willing to allow them to be in our lives. While we share in a small group, we are also surrounded with neighbors that we are called by God to love as ourselves.

Loving others can seem like a risk until we remember that somewhere in life, those we have loved will probably have the chance to love us back when we least expect it. That is also one of the reasons that we have been so grateful that you have become part of a life group. It is within community that you are able to find people that can lift your burdens, pray for you and express genuine concern for you in your moments of crisis. hare with each other how you have done 12 Swith inviting the people on the Circles of Life to church or your small group. n your Personal Health Plan on page 83, 13 Inext to the “Outreach”, answer the second question - “WHEN are you shepherding another person in Christ?”.

LOVE GOD As we begin to appreciate intersections in our lives and how God uses them, we can see that part of what it means to love God is to take God’s reputation seriously. David summarized his day-to-day relationship with God in these familiar words: “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3) That phrase, “for His name’s sake”, is about learning to love upholding God’s reputation in our lives. The “paths of righteousness” are filled with God-arranged intersections! Loving God means we eagerly expand our understanding of Him, realizing that we will never come to the end of discovering more things about God. Share your praises and prayer requests with one another. Record these on the Prayer and Praise Report on page 92. What specific intersection(s) are on your mind right now that the rest of the group can pray for this week?

STUDY NOTES Every authentic human story drives us to God. The harder someone tries to ignore or leave God out of their story, the more other people sense the gap or are suddenly aware of “who we are not talking about.” What makes a human story great are the intense moments when interaction with God and prayer really made a difference. The principle of intersections is a way of looking at the practical side of God’s sovereignty in our lives. He does not just supervise; He arranges, works miracles, over-rules decisions, provides strength and pretty much does in a thousand different ways all sorts of stuff we could never do for ourselves. Trust is crucial because much of the pattern God is weaving into our lives will not be readily apparent. Looking back we will see it better; in the middle of the action, we may wonder how it is going to turn out. But those moments of wondering are the perfect time to review and renew our confidence in God. This is not about how well we are going to manage life; this is all about how God is going to use our little lives as a masterpiece of His glory. As an exercise of observation, you can take almost any Bible character and trace the God-arranged intersections in his or her life. Seeing them will infuse confidence in you about God being able to do the same for you.

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”(Philippians 4:11-13)

Reflection Question: How does Paul give us a pattern for endurance and confidence as we meet the intersections in life?

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44)

Reflection Question: How does this very short parable by Jesus point to the most important intersection in any person’s life?

“Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” (Isaiah 46:9–10)

Reflection Question: How does remembering what God has already done (in His Word and in our own lives) give us confidence in moving forward?

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

Reflection Question: Some intersections (people and situations) are difficult. How does this passage help you have a plan for hard days?

“But if I say, ’I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name,’ then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it.” (Jeremiah 20:9)

Reflection Question: Dr. Evans used this as an indicator of destiny. What are the nagging and even burning parts of your life that keep driving you toward what God intends for you?

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DAILY

Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put on your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your Daily Reflections time this week.

REFLECTIONS

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FIVE

YOUR WORSHIP & YOUR DESTINY

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Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:1-3) We can hardly say the word church today and not immediately envision a building. But during the New Testament years, churches had little or nothing to do with buildings. Churches met in other peoples’ homes. Gatherings were much more often like this small group gathering than the much

larger gatherings we now call church. Like small groups today, the early church gatherings were also places of transparency and intimacy. People did not dress up; they fessed up. They came together to listen to God. And they discovered that God attended their gatherings and spoke into their lives. The idea of meeting God in worship seems a little strange because we often confuse God’s omnipresence with His manifest presence. Yes, God is everywhere, but His Word makes it clear that in the context of real worship, God shows up with His manifest presence, His noticeable presence. As Dr. Evans says, when we are in alignment with God, He directs us and speaks to us. That happens when we understand and participate in worship in ways God desires us to approach Him.

LISTEN Open your group with prayer. Ask for volunteers to pray, expressing to God what they have learned up to this point in your group sessions. Telling our personal stories builds deeper connections among group members. Choose one of the activities below to build your connections within the group. ake a few minutes to share what you have 1 Tfound to be some of the most significant worship experiences in your life to this point. How did those worship times become intersections in your life?

heck in with your spiritual partner or with 2 Canother partner if yours is absent. Talk about any challenges you are currently facing in reaching the goals you have set throughout this study. Tell your spiritual partner how he or she has helped you follow through with each step. Be sure to write down your partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress on page 80.

LEARN Dr. Evans touched on the vivid intersection that happened for Paul and Barnabas while they were in a worship setting in Antioch. It is quite clear that the setting itself was different from the way we often experience church. This was not just an audience experience with a couple of people leading; this was faceto-face interaction before God. The Holy Spirit was speaking through those men into each other’s lives. When God sends someone with a message for us, we ought to listen. arly in his teaching, Dr. 4 EEvans defined worship as

n what ways does Romans 8 I12:1-2 spell out both the details of a lifestyle of worship as well as the results that we can expect if we approach God in this way?

also summarized 9 Dther. Evans role of the Holy Spirit How would you describe the 6 condition Dr. Evans called “our inner ear that is not tuned to hear God’s voice”?

“positioning yourself in alignment to hear from God”. What did he mean, and how do we do that? described some 7 ofDr.theEvans details of worship as: do “ministering 5 Wto hatthe parts Lord” and “fasting” play in your understanding of worship. How did Dr. Evans describe “ministering to the Lord”?

recognizing God for who He is; acknowledging what He has done; and anticipating what you are trusting Him to do. How do these phrases help you focus on worship?

in worship as teaching us the Word, applying it to our lives and leading our steps. How does this fit your understanding of the ministry of the Holy Spirit? In what settings have you sensed the Holy Spirit shaping your destiny?

DEEPER STUDY Review Acts 13:1-3. How would you say our idea of “calling” has changed from the way they saw it in the early church?

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How do other believers weigh in on decisions we make today?

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What are the potential problems in a system where we think of calling as a private rather than corporate matter?

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What challenges might there be in seeing calling as purely a corporate matter?

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Review Romans 12:1-2. Dr. Evans defined prove (v. 2) as to see worked out. How have you seen guidance or God’s will become more clear in the context of worship?

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I n what different settings can we apply this passage?

How would we actually put it into action in a worship setting?

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LIVE As this series begins to come to an end, take stock of where you are. Before you focus on where God might take you, think about how He brought you to this particular place. Destiny is not just about looking forward and dreaming; it is also about really seeing what is around you. It may start with taking some time to recognize how God has been working and speaking into your life through this small group. ake a few minutes to discuss the next 10 Tsteps for your OCBF small group. If you have not received information on the next steps, please contact your OCBF Small Groups team. Also, if you have time, turn to the Small Group Covenant on page 90 and talk about any changes you would like to make as you move forward as a group.

s you survey your current life11 Asurroundings, what areas or life skills do you think would be helpful for your group to work on together in the weeks and months to come? What matters are proving to be a challenge as you work to get a handle on your destiny?

in what ways would you 12 Alikeyearto befromin now, a different situation? And in what ways would you like to be a different you?

LOVE OTHERS Even in a fairly small group, expect to represent a significant sample of various stages of success and setback in “destiny awareness”. Some will be “there” while others are on the way in or on the way out. The strength of a small group can be seen in the capacity of people “at different places” to pray for, to care and to encourage people who are at different places in God’s plan for them. We can laugh with those who laugh and weep with those who weep. ake some time to let people share where 13 Tthey see themselves on the continuum of God revealing their destiny and then pray for each other regarding the best way to relate to one another, to situations, and to God while in our particular place in life. Take some time also to talk a little about how the lessons in this series have affected your relationships outside the group.

LOVE GOD According to the Great Commandment, loving God takes everything we have: heart, soul, mind and strength. Loving God means accepting His promise of a plan for our future, even when we cannot see it. It means continuing to trust in the dark what we knew was true in the light. Our persistence in worship and continual efforts to improve our hunger for God are steps toward a clearer sense of destiny. urn to the Personal Health Plan on 14 Tpage 83 and individually consider the â&#x20AC;&#x153;HOW are you surrendering your heart?â&#x20AC;? question. Share some of your thoughts in the group. hare your praises and prayer requests 15 S with one another. Record these on the Prayer and Praise Report on page 92. Then pray together for each other.

STUDY NOTES Ministering to the Lord is an interesting term for worship. As in all things that we do for God, we are the ultimate beneficiaries. God does not need our worship. His glory is not diminished or His countenance saddened because we did not deliver enough worship to Him. He ordains worship because it is very good for us to be in proper alignment with Him. He does not need our praise or “ministry” but we desperately need to take steps in that direction. The humility, change and growth that happen when we are open in worship before God cannot happen any other way. A key to understanding fasting is the realization that we are not very hungry for God. We recognize many other hungers in our lives, but give little attention to the poverty of hunger for the only One truly worthy of our ultimate desires. Fasting is simply a way to say “No” to a familiar (physical) hunger in order to say “Yes” to greater hunger for God. No other reason for fasting fits as a part of worship. Romans 12:1–2 becomes the heart verse for those wanting to pursue worship as a lifestyle. It is a daily decision. As someone once said, the only problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar!

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’” (James 4:13-15)

Reflection Question: How is planning with the Lord in mind different than planning on our own when it comes to destiny?

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Reflection Question: How do these verses match your growing understanding of destiny?

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

Reflection Question: How does remembering what God has already done (in His Word and in our own lives) give us confidence in moving forward?

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” (Joshua 1:8)

Reflection Question: What is the connection between our attitude toward the Word of God and the clarity of our destiny?

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”(Jeremiah 29:11)

Reflection Question: In preparation for the last session, how would tomorrow look different from here if you were certain that God already had things in hand regarding your life?

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DAILY

Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put on your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your Daily Reflections time this week.

REFLECTIONS

S 65

SIX

YOUR FUTURE & YOU R DESTI N Y

“

‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Jeremiah is not most peoples’ favorite Bible person. He comes across like the bad-tempered uncle you would grow to love after you realized he had a heart of gold under his rough exterior. He was called the weeping prophet, and it is hard sometimes to figure out why he was weeping so much. Maybe it was because he was often treated like dirt. It could also be because he poured out his heart with God’s warnings for His people and they did not listen. Or it may have been because he had to watch God’s chosen people be crushed by a foreign invader and hauled off to captivity in Babylon. He had a sad life and a sad message—and he was not happy about it. But scattered here and there like golden nuggets, his writings have some of the most profound promises and statements that any Bible writer ever put to parchment. The passage above is one of them. Another is Lamentations 3:22–23, “The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” And then there’s this little conversation between God and Jeremiah about his destiny:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.“ (Jeremiah 1:5-8)

LISTEN Open your group with prayer. Thank God for the experiences of the last five weeks and ask for His wisdom in this final session and for deciding on a plan for the future of the group. f your group is active and playful, highlight 1 Ieach person for a few moments and have the rest of the group offer suggestions about their great future based on the good qualities that are apparent today. imply ask about what it feels like to know 2 SGodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got our future in His hands and He knows it already, but He will not be revealing it all to us until the time is right for each development. ake time in this final session to connect 3 Twith your spiritual partner. Check in with each other about the progress you have made in your spiritual growth during this study. Make plans about whether you will continue your relationship with your spiritual partner outside of your Bible study group.

LEARN So Jeremiah dared to speak hope into a hopeless situation. One of Dr. Evans’ statements about his childhood on the East Coast was, “There wasn’t a lot of hope in Baltimore until God stepped in.” Destiny by definition implies a destination. We can believe we are making up our own, but if we are, then honesty would have to conclude that our destiny is not too hopeful. But Jeremiah’s words come back to us again and again, reminding us that God’s working out our destiny, even when we are tempted to think it is up to us!

negative and a positive: “plans for welfare and not for calamity.” Why do you think God included both? We all face difficulties and even tragedies…how are they different from “calamity”?

How would you describe 7 the dual promise in the last phrase: to give you a future and a hope? What’s the difference between “future” and “hope”?

to go through some very difficult things on the way to your destiny?

hink about Dr. Evans’ 4 Tdefinition of hope for a moment: “Hope is joyful expectation about tomorrow.” What’s your definition of hope?

se the next questions to 5 Utalk through the details of Jeremiah 29:11. What does God mean by, “For I know the plans that I have for you”? Why is this significant?

6 This next phrase has a 69

Christians often describe 8 their sense of God’s presence in situations as “God showed up.” How has God recently shown up in your life to remind you that your future and hope are in His hands?

In hindsight, why do you 9 think God has allowed you

hat does this teach us 10 Wabout the circumstances, hardships and furnaces we face in our lives?

DEEPER STUDY Read Jeremiah 29:11–14 and discuss the context of God’s great promise of a future and hope for us: •

•

ow do verses 12–13 describe our part in the H process God uses to unfold our destiny? I n what way does verse 14 remind you that no matter what circumstances you might find yourself in right now, God is able to bring you back into a place where you realize your destiny is unfolding toward godliness?

When we think about the shining examples of destiny in the Bible, one of the glaring things they have in common is that they all passed through “furnaces” along the way. They all had to stay true to the God who they know had a future and a hope for them. Take a brief look at the lives of each of the following, and identify one or more “furnaces” they experienced as they served God:

•

Joseph, son of Jacob

•

Moses

•

Job

•

Peter

•

Paul

•

Jesus

LIVE Destiny has been an all-toobrief encounter with some amazing lessons from the Bible. But we would be missing the boat if we thought that the same God who wrote this amazing book could not write as an amazing story in our lives. Hopefully our times together have been a real encouragement for you to endure in the unique journey of life in which God has promised to walk with you toward your destiny. you describe the impact 11 Hofowthesewould Bible lessons on your thought patterns and responses about the present and future over the weeks we have been meeting?

ake sure you have all the information 12 M about the next steps for your OCBF small group and the leadership development pathway if you are the leader of the group (or interested in becoming one). Discuss any pertinent information with regards to these next steps.

Review your Small Group Covenant on page 90 and evaluate how well you met your goals. Discuss any changes you want to make as you move forward. As your group starts a new study this is a great time to take on a new role or change roles of service in your group. What new role will you take on? If you are uncertain, maybe your group members have some ideas for you. Remember you are not making a life long commitment to the new role; it will only be for a few weeks. Maybe someone would like to share a role with you if you do not feel ready to serve solo.

LOVE OTHERS Very few Christians can honestly claim to be solitary successes in spiritual growth or confidence about their destiny. Obviously, we do not even become Christians without Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direct, gracious intervention on our behalf. There are no self-made believers. The impact of a small group experience, if we will let it, reminds us that we share a lot in common with other people and we can often gain significant insight into what God is doing in our lives by loving others enough to observe what He is doing in their lives! can you think of from the 13 Wlasthatfiveexamples weeks (involving intersections, experiences, worship or your uniqueness, in one way or another) that you learned from and responded differently to in the company of this group?

n what instances have you been able to 14 I join someone outside this group as they experienced a destiny moment, knowing you had prayer and companionship backup in this group?

ased on everything you have thought 15 B about in these sessions, what would you say it means to thrive in the Christian life toward a God-pleasing destiny?

LOVE GOD As often as we think of loving God as an individual response, expressing that love and experiencing His immediate response actually occurs regularly in the company of other Christians. Do not overlook the following opportunities to practice time-honored ways for believers to tangibly express their love for God and love for one another.

for your prayer requests 16 Candlosetakeby apraying couple of minutes to review the praises you have recorded over the past five weeks on the Prayer and Praise Report on page 92. Thank God for what He has done in your group during this study.

STUDY NOTES The following reminders can be helpful in recognizing, as Dr. Evans put it, that the great promise of Jeremiah 29:11 is right in the middle of a bad chapter that is part of a sad book! When we look at our lives at any point, there may well be a temptation to conclude that we are in a bad chapter or even that our existence is a sad book. And if we leave God out of the equation, we may be doomed to a hopeless outlook. Below are several statements Dr. Evans made related to Jeremiah 29:11-14 that also relate to our lives: • In Jeremiah’s context, he saw families frayed, the economy in crisis, spiritual lives a disaster, but God had a plan. • No matter what your situation, it is not over! You are still here; so is God! • Driving with your eyes on the rearview mirror will lead to crashes; pursuing destiny, driving with your eyes forward with only short glances behind you, will prevent you from being held hostage to the rear-view mirror of the past. • God’s plans are like an active GPS unit; they recalibrate after every wrong turn. The destination has not changed. God still has our future destiny in view. • Finish well. Our lives can always be better at the end than they were at the start with God’s help.

“Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

Reflection Question: How do these familiar verses speak to you about destiny?

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Reflection Question: What decision will you make or action will you take today based solely on the truth of this verse?

“But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”(Job 23:10)

Reflection Question: How does remembering what God has already done (in His Word and in our own lives) give us confidence in moving forward?

“‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’” (Jeremiah 29:14)

Reflection Question: In what ways have you noticed God’s patience and faithfulness in your life, making it possible over and over to find Him?

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Reflection Question: In what ways do you acknowledge God during “regular” days and how do you acknowledge Him during what may seem like “destiny” days?

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DAILY

Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put on your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your Daily Reflections time this week.

REFLECTIONS

APPENDIX

FAQ s WHAT DO WE DO ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF OUR GROUP? Like all fun things in life–have a party! A “get to know you” coffee, dinner, or dessert is a great way to launch a new study. You may want to review the Group Agreement (page 90) and share the names of a few friends you can invite to join you. But most importantly, have fun before your study time begins.

WHERE DO WE FIND NEW MEMBERS FOR OUR GROUP? This can be troubling, especially for new groups that have only a few people or for existing groups that lose a few people along the way. We encourage you to pray with your group and then brainstorm a list of people from work, church, your neighborhood, your children’s school, family, the gym, and so forth. Then have each group member invite several of the people on his or her list. Another good strategy is to ask church leaders to make an announcement or allow a bulletin insert. No matter how you find members, it’s vital that you stay on the lookout for new people to join your group. All groups tend to go through healthy attrition–the result of moves, releasing new leaders, ministry opportunities, and so forth–and if the group gets too small, it could be at risk of shutting down. If you and your group stay open, you’ll be amazed at the people God sends your way. The next person just might become a friend for life. You never know!

HOW LONG WILL THIS GROUP MEET? It’s totally up to the group–once you come to the end of this 6-week study. Most groups meet weekly for at least their first 6 weeks, but every other week can work as well. We strongly recommend that the group meet for the first six months on a weekly basis if at all possible.

This allows for continuity, and if people miss a meeting they aren’t gone for a whole month. At the end of this study, each group member may decide if he or she wants to continue on for another 6-week study. Some groups launch relationships for years to come, and others are stepping-stones into another group experience. Either way, enjoy the journey.

CAN WE DO THIS STUDY ON OUR OWN? Absolutely! This may sound crazy but one of the best ways to do this study is not with a full house but with a few friends. You may choose to gather with one other couple who would enjoy going to the movies or having a quiet dinner and then walking through this study. Jesus will be with you even if there are only two of you (Matthew 18:20). What if this group is not working for us? You’re not alone! This could be the result of a personality conflict, life stage difference, geographical distance, level of spiritual maturity, or any number of things. Relax. Pray for God’s

APPENDIX

HOW DO WE HANDLE THE CHILD CARE NEEDS IN OUR GROUP? Very carefully. Seriously, this can be a sensitive issue. We suggest that you empower the group to openly brainstorm solutions. You may try one option that works for a while and then adjust over time. Our favorite approach is for adults to meet in the living room or dining room, and to share the cost of a babysitter (or two) who can be with the kids in a different part of the house. In this way, parents don’t have to be away from their children all evening when their children are too young to be left at home. A second option is to use one home for the kids and a second home (close by or a phone call away) for the adults. A third idea is to rotate the responsibility of providing a lesson or care for the children

direction, and at the end of this 6-week study, decide whether to continue with this group or find another. You don’t buy the first car you look at or marry the first person you date, and the same goes with a group. Don’t bail out before the 6 weeks are up–God might have something to teach you. Also, don’t run from conflict or prejudge people before you have given them a chance. God is still working in you too!

WHO IS THE LEADER? Most groups have an official leader. But ideally, the group will mature and members will rotate the leadership of meetings. We have discovered that healthy groups rotate hosts/leaders and homes on a regular basis. This model ensures that all members grow, give their unique contribution, and develop their gifts. This study guide and the Holy Spirit can keep things on track even when you rotate leaders. Christ has promised to be in your midst as you gather. Ultimately, God is your leader each step of the way.

either in the same home or in another home nearby. This can be an incredible blessing for kids. Finally, the most common idea is to decide that you need to have a night to invest in your spiritual lives individually or as a couple, and to make your own arrangements for child care. No matter what decision the group makes, the best approach is to dialogue openly about both the problem and the solution.

APPENDIX

Spiritual Partners’ Check-In Page My Name: Spiritual Partner’s Name: Our Progress

Session 6

Session 5

Session 4

Session 3

Session 2

Session 1

Our Plan

NAME

ADDRESS

PHONE

MINISTRY

OTHER

APPENDIX

SMALL GROUP ROSTER

APPENDIX

PERSONAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT WORSHIP provides an experience with the Person of God I am experiencing more of the presence and power of God in my everyday life. I am faithfully attending my small group and weekend services to worship God. I am seeking to please God by surrendering every area of my life (health, decisions, finances, relationships, future, etc.) to Him. I am accepting the things that I cannot change and becoming increasingly grateful for the life I’ve been given. WORSHIP Total ________________

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION gives us an experience with God’s perspective I have a growing relationship with God through regular time in the Bible and in prayer (spiritual disciplines). I am experiencing more of the characteristics of Jesus Christ (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control, etc.) in my life. I am avoiding addictive behaviors (food, television, busyness and the like) to meet my needs. I am spending time with a Christian friend (spiritual partner) who celebrates and challenges my Christian education. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Total ________________

FELLOWSHIP provides an experience with God’s people I am deepening my understanding of and friendship with God in community with others. I am growing in my ability both to share and show my love to others. I am willing to share my real needs for prayer and support from others. I am resolving conflict constructively and am willing to forgive others. FELLOWSHIP Total ________________

OUTREACH offers an experience with God’s purpose I am regularly praying for God to show me opportunities to serve Him and others. I am serving in a regular (once-a-month or more) ministry in the church or community. I am investing my time in another person or group who needs to know Christ personally. I am cultivating relationships with non-Christians and praying for God to give me natural opportunities to share His love. OUTREACH Total ________________

Just Beginning

FAIR

Getting Going

VERY GOOD

Well Developed

0-4

4-8

8-12

12-16

16-20

APPENDIX

PERSONAL HEALTH PLAN Purpose

Plan HOW am I worshipping God with all my heart?

Worship Christian Education

WHAT is your next step for growth?

WHO are you connecting with spiritually?

Fellowship WHERE are you serving?

Outreach

Date

WHEN are you shepherding another in Christ?

My Progress

Partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Progress

SMALL GROUP LEADERS

SMALL GROUP

LEADERS

SMALL GROUP LEADERS

HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE Finally, set an open chair (maybe two) in the center of your group and explain that it represents someone who would enjoy or benefit from this group but who isn’t here yet. Ask people to pray about whom they could invite to join the group over the next few weeks. Hand out postcards and have everyone write an invitation or two. Don’t worry about ending up with too many people; you can always have one discussion circle in the living room and another in the dining room after you watch the lesson. Each group could then report prayer requests and progress at the end of the session. You can skip this kick-off meeting if your time is limited, but you’ll experience a huge benefit if you take the time to connect with each other in this way.

If you’re starting a new group, try planning an “open house” before your first formal group meeting. Even if you only have two to four core members, it’s a great way to break the ice and to consider prayerfully who else might be open to join you over the next few weeks. You can also use this kick-off meeting to hand out study guides, spend some time getting to know each other, discuss each person’s expectations for the group and briefly pray for each other. A simple meal or good desserts always make a kick-off meeting more fun. After people introduce themselves and share how they ended up being at the meeting (you can play a game to see who has the wildest story!), have everyone respond to a few icebreaker questions: “What is your favorite family vacation?” or “What is one thing you love about your church/our community?” or “What are three things about your life growing up that most people here don’t know?” Next, ask everyone to tell what he or she hopes to get out of the study. You might want to review the Small Group Covenant and talk about each person’s expectations and priorities.

SMALL GROUP LEADERS

LEAD IN G FO R T H E F I R ST T I ME •

S weaty palms are a healthy sign. The Bible says God is gracious to the humble. Remember who is in control; if you feel inadequate, that is probably a good sign. Those who are soft in heart (and sweaty palmed) are those whom God is sure to speak through.

•

S eek support. Ask your leader, co-leader, or close friend to pray for you and prepare with you before the session. Walking through the study will help you anticipate potentially difficult questions and discussion topics.

•

B ring your uniqueness to the study. Lean into who you are and how God wants you to uniquely lead the study.

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P repare. Prepare. Prepare. Go through the session several times. If you are using the DVD, listen to the teaching segment and Leadership Lifter. Consider writing in a journal or fasting for a day to prepare yourself for what God wants to do.

•

sk for feedback so you can grow. Perhaps in A an email or on cards handed out at the study, have everyone write down three things you did well and one thing you could improve on. Don’t get defensive, but show an openness to learn and grow.

•

P rayerfully consider launching a new group. This doesn’t need to happen overnight, but God’s heart is for this to happen over time. Not all Christians are called to be leaders or teachers, but we are all called to be “shepherds” of a few someday.

•

S hare with your group what God is doing in your heart. God is searching for those whose hearts are fully His. Share your trials and victories. We promise that people will relate.

SMALL GROUP LEADERS

LEAD E RS HIP T R A I N I N G 1 0 1 Congratulations! You have responded to the call to help shepherd Jesus’ flock. There are a few other tasks in the family of God that surpass the contribution you will be making. As you prepare to lead, whether it is one session or the entire series, here are a few thoughts to keep in mind. We encourage you to read these and review them with each new discussion leader before he or she leads. R emember that you are not alone. God 1 knows everything about you, and He knew that you would be asked to lead your group. Remember that it is common for all good leaders to feel that they are not ready to lead. Moses, Solomon, Jeremiah and Timothy - they all were reluctant to lead. God promises, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”. (Hebrews 13:5) Whether you are leading for one evening, for several weeks, or for a lifetime, you will be blessed as you serve. D on’t try to do it alone. Pray right now for 2 God to help you build a healthy leadership team. If you can enlist a co-leader to help you lead the group, you will find your experience to be much richer. This is your chance to involve as many people as you can in building a healthy group. All you have to do is call and ask people to help, you’ll be surprised at the response. J ust be yourself. If you won’t be you, who 3 will? God wants you to use your unique gifts and temperament. Don’t try to do things exactly like another leader; do them in a way that fits you! Just admit it when you don’t have an answer, and apologize when you make a mistake. Your group will love you for it, and you’ll sleep better at night!

repare for your meeting ahead of time. 4 PReview the session and the leader’s notes, and write down your responses to each question. Pay special attention to exercises that ask group members to do something other than engage in discussion. These exercises will help your group live

SMALL GROUP LEADERS

what the Bible teaches, not just talk about it. Be sure you understand how an exercise works, and bring any necessary supplies (such as paper and pens) to your meeting. If the exercise employs one of the items in the appendix, be sure to look over that item so you’ll know how it works. Finally, review “Outline for Each Session” so you’ll remember the purpose of each section in the study. P ray for your group members by name. 5 Before you begin your session, go around the room in your mind and pray for each member by name. You may want to review the prayer list at least once a week. Ask God to use your time together to touch the heart of every person uniquely. Expect God to lead you to whomever He wants you to encourage or challenge in a special way. If you listen, God will surely lead! hen you ask a question, be patient. 6 WSomeone will eventually respond. Sometimes people need a moment or two of silence to think about the question, and if silence doesn’t bother you, it won’t bother anyone else. After someone responds, affirm the response with a simple “thanks” or “good job.” Then ask, “How about somebody else?” or “Would someone who hasn’t shared like to add anything?” Be sensitive to new people or reluctant members who aren’t ready to say, pray or do anything. If you give them a safe setting, they will blossom over time. P rovide transitions between questions. 7 When guiding the discussion, always read aloud the transitional paragraphs and the questions. Ask the group if anyone would like to read the paragraph or Bible passage. Don’t call on anyone, but ask for a volunteer, and then be patient until someone begins. Be sure to thank the person who reads aloud.

up into small groups each week, 8 Borreak they won’t stay. If your group has more than seven people, we strongly encourage you to have the group gather sometimes in discussion circles of three or four people during the Learn, Live and Love sections of the study. With a greater opportunity to talk in a small circle, people will connect more with the study, apply more quickly what they’re learning and ultimately get more out of it. A small circle also encourages a quiet person to participate and tends to minimize the effects of a more vocal or dominant member. It can also help people feel more loved in your group. When you gather again at the end of the section, you can have one person summarize the highlights from each circle. Small circles are also helpful during prayer time. People who are unaccustomed to praying aloud will feel more comfortable trying it with just two or three others. Also, prayer requests won’t take as much time, so circles will have more time to actually pray. When you gather back with the whole group, you can have one person from each circle briefly update everyone on the prayer requests. People are more willing to pray in small circles if they know that the whole group will hear all the prayer requests. challenge (for new or first time 9 Final leaders): Before your first opportunity to lead, look up each of the five passages listed below. Read each one as a devotional exercise to help equip yourself with a shepherd’s heart. Trust us on this one. If you do this, you will be more than ready for your first meeting. Matthew 9:36 1 Peter 5:2-4 Psalm 23 Ezekiel 34:11-16 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12

SMALL GROUP LEADERS

SMALL GROUP

RESOURCES

SMALL GROUP RESOURCES

SMA L L G ROU P COV E N A N T Our Purpose of Groups: OCBF Groups will provide a community experience that includes intentional biblical application in a relational context of accountability and connectivity.

Group Structure: The When? Where? What? Of My Commitment: 1. My group will meet on _________________________(day of week) for six weeks 2. The group sessions will begin at (time) ___________________ and end at ____________________. 3. Where we will meet: ______________________________________________________________. 4. In our group time we will be studying the Destiny series in conjunction with Dr. Evansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fall sermon series.

Attendance

We will make the group meeting a priority by being in attendance at all meetings and arriving on time. If we cannot be in attendance or will run late we will contact our group facilitator in advance of the meeting.

Participation

Our group will value the full participation of every group member. This means that we will come prepared to each meeting by reading the Bible passage prior to our time together. This also means that we will listen attentively to each group member without interrupting them or carrying on separate conversations.

Confidentiality

For authentic community to form, we must be able to trust each other in the group. This means that issues discussed within the group will not be shared outside of the group.

Connectivity

Our group will value the building of relationships among group members. This means that we will commit to pray for the other group members on a weekly basis, follow-up on needs that are shared within the group, and seek to hold one another accountable to grow in our walk of discipleship.

By signing below I commit to uphold the group values reflected in this Group Covenant. Signature ________________________________________

SMALL GROUP RESOURCES

S M A L L G ROUP C ALE NDAR

Date

Lesson

Host Home 7XIZI ERH 0EYVE W

Dessert/Meal .SI

Leader &MPP

SMALL GROUP RESOURCES

P R AYE R & P R A I SE R E PO RT Praise Reports

Session 6

Session 5

Session 4

Session 3

Session 2

Session 1

Prayer Requests

TEACHING NOTES

SESSION 1

SESSION 2

SESSION 3

TEACHING NOTES

SESSION 4

SESSION 5

SESSION 6