/EDWJextraMJ11

EDWJextra Session 1: A second betrothal

1—10 May

icebreaker Describe a real (or imaginary!) romantic date.

Discussion starters

Key thought God may sometimes lead us into difficult and desert places, not because He is angry with us, but because He wants to lovingly minister to us in a place of isolation. As a surgeon might tenderly remove a tumour from his wife or child, so God would devotedly remove the things that harm us.

2. What is God’s intolerable compliment?

Key verses ‘Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.’ Hosea 2:14 ‘I will betroth you to me for ever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.’ Hosea 2:19—20

Closer Encounters MAY/JUN 2011

Every Day with Jesus group resource

1. Describe a spiritual desert.

3. Why were we created?

4. What are the characteristics of a materialistic society?

5. Could fasting and tithing be antidotes to materialism?

6. Does ‘everyone have a price’?

7. If your home was on fire, what would you take with you?

8. How can we have a balanced life?

9. How may possessions poison us?

10. Do you tell your money where to go or does it tell you what to do?

The example of Jesus ‘Jesus ... was led by the Spirit in the desert ...’

Luke 4:1 Prayer pointers • Pray for wisdom, and spiritual sensitivity to the lover of your soul.

• Pray for those going through a desert experience.

Session 2: A fresh vision icebreaker Imagine you have won one million pounds.

What would you do with the money?

Key thought Although we do need to be sensible, God often uses our imagination to implant a fresh vision of Himself or set before us a new task.

Key verse ‘... my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem ...’ Nehemiah 2:12

11—17 May The example of Jesus as He imagines the future ‘... on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’

Matthew 16:18 Prayer pointers • Ask God for a sanctified imagination.

• Ask God for a fresh vision of Himself and new purpose for your life.

Discussion starters 1. Discuss the last paragraph of Selwyn’s notes.

2. What is the difference between humility and inferiority?

3. What part does the imagination play in the spiritual life?

4. How can we be sure we are not deceived by our imagination?

5. Why is being more important than doing?

6. Discuss the role of enthusiasm in the spiritual life. (See John 2:17.)

7. What are the benefits and disadvantages of isolation?

www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra

EDWJextra Session 3: Surrendering the self icebreaker Find out the meanings of the names of people in the group, eg John means ‘gift of God’ or ‘God is gracious’.

Key thought The Christian life is not about adding religious duties to our existing routines, but surrendering the whole of our personalities and desires to the lordship of Christ.

Key verse ‘Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”’ Luke 9:23 Discussion starters

Closer Encounters MAY/JUN 2011

Every Day with Jesus group resource

18—24 May

The example of Jesus ‘... not my will, but yours be done.’ Luke 22:42 Prayer pointers • Surrender your ego to God. • Ask God how you can be more fruitful and serve the whole.

Session 4: Self-dependence to God-dependence 25—31 May icebreaker What do you depend on that would be difficult to live without? eg morning coffee, car, dishwasher, mobile phone etc.

The example of Jesus ‘The words I say to you are not just my own.

Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.’ John 14:10

Key thought God has not called us to be dependent on things, people or even ourselves, but only on Him.

Prayer pointers • Pray that ‘you may decrease and God may increase’.

• Humble yourself before God and offer your abilities to Him to use as He sees fit.

Key verse ‘... apart from me you can do nothing.’ John 15:5 Discussion starters 1. Why are our abilities irrelevant to God? (See Matt 3:9.)

1. What is the ego?

2. What do people tend to rely upon? What do Christians rely upon?

2. Why may God change a person’s name?

3. How can we avoid human pride?

3. How does a changed nature result in a changed influence?

4. Would you describe yourself as dependent, independent or interdependent?

4. Describe the law of self-surrender and its effects.

5. Discuss the quote, ‘He is either Lord of all or not Lord at all’.

5. How can those in leadership remain humble?

6. What happens when we are under Christ’s authority? (See Luke 7:1—10; John 5:19.)

6. How can Christians serve the whole rather than themselves?

7. Can you relate a desert experience of your own?

7. Discuss the four steps of self-surrender.

www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra

EDWJextra Session 5: ‘Why?’ to ‘What?’

1—7 June

icebreakers If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

Ask people in the group about their holiday plans.

The example of Jesus ‘Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?

“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!’ John 12:27—28

Key thought Human nature is endlessly inquisitive in its quest for understanding and knowledge, but to be spiritually mature we should ask ‘What shall we do?’ rather than ‘Why has this happened?’

Prayer pointers • Ask for wisdom for when you should no longer seek understanding, but simply trust.

• Thank Jesus that in the midst of the confusion He expressed on the cross, He still trusted in His Father and finished His work.

Key verse ‘Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.’

Ecclesiastes 7:10 Discussion starters 1. What questions do you ask of God and why do you ask them?

2. Why may we be placated with meaningless explanations?

3. Why should we not seek to avoid confusion but sometimes even embrace it?

4. How do you feel about living with confusion?

5. Why may ignorance not be a weakness?

6. Discuss the phrase ‘Trust takes over when knowledge reaches its limit’.

7. Why are ‘What?’ and ‘How?’ more important than ‘Why?’ Why should we ask questions of ourselves?

Closer Encounters MAY/JUN 2011

Every Day with Jesus group resource

Session 6: Homing instinct for heaven icebreaker What are you looking forward to in heaven?

Key thought There is a homing instinct in the heart of every person — profound, persistent and ineradicable.

It is a longing to reach the heavenly environment for which our souls were made.

Key verse ‘I am going there to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’ John 14:2—3

8—15 June

The example of Jesus ‘I will remain in the world no longer ... and I am coming to you.’ John 17:11 Prayer pointers • Pray that God will give you a clearer vision of heaven.

• Pray that the hope of heaven will give you spiritual strength and energy here on earth.

Discussion starters 1. How strong is your own homing instinct?

2. What are the benefits of a heavenly perspective?

3. Discuss the phrase ‘Here we sojourn, there we belong’.

4. Why might students suddenly work hard when exams are due, and how might that apply to us?

5. Do you agree with the quote ‘Too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good’?

6. What may eclipse our view of heaven?

7. Describe heaven from the viewpoints of arrival, intimacy, beauty and service.

8. How may the anticipation of an exciting holiday help us get through tough times at work or home? www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra

EDWJextra

Session 7: Deep longings and thirsts

16—24 June

icebreakers Describe your favourite drink.

Make up a variety of (non-alcoholic!) drinks and ask people to guess what they are, eg mango, Earl Grey etc.

7. Why is repentance core not only to Christian new birth, but also to Christian life?

Key thought A desert place reminds us that it is only God who can meet our spiritual thirst and satisfy the deep longings in our soul.

The example of Jesus ‘... Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with …”’ Mark 10:39

Key verse ‘... Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.”’ John 7:37

Prayer pointers • Repent of substituting anything for God’s living water.

• Ask Him to fill you with the water of the Holy Spirit and that it might flow out to others.

Discussion starters 1. Why may we forget or suppress our deep longings?

2. What do people exchange for fellowship with their Creator?

3. Why may extremely intelligent people be fools?

4. What does it mean to pant after God?

Closer Encounters MAY/JUN 2011

Every Day with Jesus group resource

8. Describe the attitude of a ‘God-chaser’.

9. Why may our hearts not be available for a passionate relationship with the Lord?

Session 8: Remember

25—30 June

icebreaker What has most impacted you about the studies in this issue and how will you change as a result?

Play Kim’s game, where many small objects are placed on a tray under a cover. The cover is removed and then replaced after 30 seconds.

Following a further 30 seconds, people should list as many items as they can remember.

The example of Jesus ‘... The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”’ 1 Corinthians 11:23—25

Key thought We too easily forget what we should remember of God’s love, goodness and blessings.

Prayer pointers • Thank God for the cross of Jesus and all that it means.

• Pray that you will not only learn but also incorporate the lessons of this issue into your daily life.

Key verse ‘We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.’ Hebrews 2:1 Discussion starters 1. What are the causes of spiritual amnesia and why is it so dangerous?

2. What do you think of religious symbols?

3. Review and remember what God has done for you.

5. Why may a good person not be a godly person?

4. How may forgetfulness be linked to pride?

6. What types of interference may we experience when trying to tune in to God?

5. How may God be blotted out from our field of vision?

6. Review the words of the hymn, ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’. If appropriate, take communion. www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra