When You Wrestle With God (Genesis 32:22-32)

Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD

SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
Anyone who wishes to have a life of faith, anyone who wishes to seriously engage in all that a relationship with God means, is signing up for a wrestling match, as they will wrestle with God and His will for their life.

In Genesis 32 we read the story of Jacob wrestling with God. After working for his father-in-law for 20 years, Jacob is finally heading back home, to the Promised Land, yet even though he’s had great experiences with God, he still is not willing to fully surrender his life to God and is still committed to do life as an independent agent.

Yet, God, in His sovereignty, allows Esau, Jacob’s brother, to come with 400 armed men to meet him, and this becomes a source of great fear for Jacob. However, God allows this to happen so that Jacob would draw near to Him, and as Jacob cries out to God for protection, God wrestles with him to strip him of everything that was keeping him from completely surrendering to God. As a result, Jacob is finally broken before God, and yet, as he holds on to Him, he receives God’s blessing for his life.

God wants to bring us to the end of our self-help methods, to a place where we’re finally broken and utterly surrendered to Him so that He can bless and transform us.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. Have you ever wrestled with anyone over a particular issue? A co-worker? A friend? God? Briefly share.
2. Are there areas of your life where you’ve been asking God to intervene but it seems he hasn’t? Share and discuss your experience.
3. Do you feel that you can interact honestly with God about things that you don’t understand or that frustrate you? Why or why not?

INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

2. Read 2 Corinthians: 12:2-10:

2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say. 7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• Most believe that by saying the “man in Christ”, Paul is referring to himself. Explain why you agree/disagree. (v.2)
• When Paul says “in the body” or “out of the body” experience what do you think he means? (vv. 3 – 5) Do you think such experiences happen today? Have you ever had such an experience? Please share.
• In vv. 3 -6, Paul appears to be preoccupied with not appearing boastful to others. Why do you think Paul was concerned about this? Can you think of any times where sharing your spiritual experience with others made you uncomfortable with how others would receive it? Why did you feel it was uncomfortable to share it?
• Would boasting about genuine experiences with God make people think more of you than is warranted (v. 6)? Where do you draw the line?
• Who is it that Paul says gave him a thorn in his flesh to torment him and keep him from being conceited (v. 7)? Many theologians are divided about what Paul’s thorn was. With this in mind, what do you believe Paul means by “thorn in my flesh?” Describe situations, if any, where you feel you may have had such a thorn.
• What has Paul tried to do about the thorn in his flesh (v. 8)? How did the Lord respond to Paul’s request (v. 9)? Can you think of times where you or a loved one asked the Lord for relief but the request was not granted? What effect did it have upon you? How did it affect your faith?
• What does it mean for Christ’s power to be made perfect? How do you feel our weakness relates to the “perfecting” of Christ’s power in us? Have you ever experienced Christ perfecting His Power in your weakness? Share.
• How does Paul’s attitude about hardships, weaknesses, insults, persecutions and difficulties differ from most Christians you know? Is his attitude different from yours? Why or why not?

3. In his sermon, Rich says that sometimes God allows Esau (huge problems) to go away; and sometimes he doesn’t… because He wants us to be broken and utterly surrendered to Him so He can bless and transform us.

• Encourage your small group to share any areas of their lives where they have been broken and experienced a blessing.
• In your prayer time, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the areas of life any other small group members may need to have broken in order to receive the blessing the Lord has for them.
• Pray for one another that any areas revealed are surrendered and offered to the Lord. Encourage one another in the journey toward transformation.

When Family Members Conflict (Genesis 30:25-31:55)

Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD

SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In Genesis 30 and 31, we find the family mess that existed in the relationship between Jacob and Laban. Similar to modern-day examples of family conflict, Jacob and his father-in-law Laban were engaged in a business conflict that exposed deeply rooted personal issues. Laban had made Jacob’s work and personal life miserable. He treated Jacob poorly and regularly deceived Jacob. However, God brings healing to the situation and Jacob is eventually released.

The story of Jacob and Laban provides us with an example of how God can bring healing to our family conflicts. It may not seem that God is answering our prayers for our families, but he remembers our prayers and regularly restores families. We can move towards restoration in our relationships when we verbalize the hurt done to us, resolve to stop hurting one another, try to understand the other’s perspective, and receive God’s heart for the other person.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. How do you resolve conflict in your family/friends/work? What conflict resolution “style” do you embody?
2. Has the Holy Spirit ever given you special insight in resolving conflict? Have you seen growth in this area of your life?
3. Can you look back on your own family or relational conflict and tangibly see God was at work? Or have you considered he might be at work in within a current conflict?

INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

2. Read Colossians 3:12-15a:

12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

• Vs 12a What is the ‘Therefore’, there for (for context see 3:9b-10)? “Chosen people, holy and dearly loved”– what is Paul reminding the young Colossian church about? What is the source of this new found identity? Are their times when your own identity seems more rooted in your own goodness, or your own love-ableness, rather than Christ’s final and complete work? Why is that such a hindrance and Paul so adamantly preach against it?

• Vs 12b With a clear understanding of our new identity we are to “clothe [our]selves” with what things? What does it mean to “put on” compassion? We heard in the sermon the 4 steps that God empowers us to resolve relational conflict – how vital is compassion - “an understanding sympathy with others that affects one’s innermost being” (N.T. Wright)? What exchange needs to happen in our hearts to allow compassion to grow? Have you experienced God’s healing presence in a relationship to the point where you felt true compassion for someone with whom you had conflict? Or what barriers have you noticed in your own heart that hinder the process? Please explain.

• What is Kindness, and how is it coupled with compassion? Is kindness valued in our culture, or in your family? Is it essential to being Christ-like, and consider the life of Jesus? Is it a feeling or a lifestyle? If you don’t feel kindness towards others, particularly someone with whom you have conflict – how do you intentionally “put on” kindness? How can you be kind in the face of a perceived, or actual, injustice or hurt? Please explain.

• If kindness is our attitude, our orientation, toward others – what is humility? Phil 2:4-8 – can be summarized as “giving up one’s rights”, “relinquishing one’s rightful claim” – have you ever experienced this deep level of freedom and grace? What steps might exist to reach this point?

• How are gentleness and patience linked with kindness and humility? Since gentleness is our approach towards other, and patience is our reaction – do you find yourself living-out these Christ-like behaviors?

• Vs 13 Explain “bear with each other” in your own words (defined simply as restraint). Since giving your life to Jesus, have you felt this “restraint” when reacting to others? Is it realistic that you never have a grievance against someone? But how should we respond when we do? What is the standard, the principle, Paul is laying down for followers of Jesus? Unpack this principle “forgive as the Lord forgave you”? What does it mean to you? Should this principle apply to even those outside the Body of Christ? Please explain.

• Vs 14 What is the “final garment” believers should clothe themselves with? How is love the “binding agent”? Is Paul suggesting that love come after compassion and kindness, etc? Since Love is made up of these other virtues, the tissue connecting them, how does our own definition(s) of love fall short of Paul’s? Does the absence of love nullify, or render innocuous, the exercise of the prior virtues – why or why not? In what ways have you actively experienced Paul’s definition of love in your relationships (your family, your marriage, your friendships)?

• Vs 15a What kind of peace does Paul want for the Colossian church (e.g. peace of mind, absence of violence, or reconciliation etc)? This kind of peace penetrates and rules our hearts – what would this practically mean for you? Have you experienced this kind of peace? Please explain.

3. Ministry Application

• Where are you on the path, the 4 steps toward restoration, with current relational conflict (family, marriage, brothers and sisters in Christ, friends, co-workers). What might God be pressing you to give up so as to live with “peace”?

• Consider your styles of conflict resolution (or animal). How might Christ’s call in your life require you to grow or change? Consider a current relationship in which you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to grow.

• When you consider the “clothing” of Christ’s followers, what is most lacking or most foreign to you? Examine yourself and let the Holy Spirit examine you in these areas.

When You Need To Replace Family Idols (Genesis 29)

Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD

SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In the message idolatry was described as “anything you can’t live with without”, or “something you’d do anything for”. Jacob sought his father’s blessings and romantic love with Rachael – at any cost; Leah aimed to “beat her rivals” and secure her husband’s love and affection – at any cost; and Rachael wanted to have a child – at any cost.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. Describe idolatry in your own words and even provide an example for the group.
2. Do you agree with Paul’s statement(s): the power of sin has been broken because Jesus is in my life, and I am free from bondage to sin or idols?
3. Can you be a follower of Jesus, yet still have idols in your life? Are those idols always obvious? Is it possible to “discover” you currently have an idol in some area of your life? Please explain.

INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. In 5 minutes or less. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

2. Read Judges 17:

1 Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim 2 said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have that silver with me; I took it." Then his mother said, "The LORD bless you, my son!" 3 When he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, "I solemnly consecrate my silver to the LORD for my son to make an image overlaid with silver. I will give it back to you." 4 So after he returned the silver to his mother, she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who used them to make the idol. And it was put in Micah's house.
5 Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household gods and installed one of his sons as his priest. 6 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.
7 A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, who had been living within the clan of Judah, 8 left that town in search of some other place to stay. On his way he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim. 9 Micah asked him, "Where are you from?" "I'm a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah," he said, "and I'm looking for a place to stay."
10 Then Micah said to him, "Live with me and be my father and priest, and I'll give you ten shekels of silver a year, your clothes and your food." 11 So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man became like one of his sons to him. 12 Then Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house. 13 And Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest."

• Vs.6: How does the writer of Judges characterize this time? Discuss the role of leadership, good or bad, and its impact for the larger community of Israel (consider other major Judges in Israel’s recent past)? Have you ever experienced a failure of leadership, or been led into something or to do something that you later discovered was not God’s way, please describe? How do/should we respond when leaders fail and what responsibility do I have before God for my own faith and obedience?
• Vv.1-5 Describe the events of the mother and son? Despite dedicating the returned money to the LORD, what is the outcome? Like in the sermon, Jacob is willing to do anything for his father’s blessings, Micah responds by allowing this God-dedicated money to be made into an idol and placed in his home…have you ever violated God’s law by honoring a request from parent or loved one? Have you ever compromised (perhaps often) between “honoring” a parent or loved one and honoring God?
• The Mother (vv.3-4): What’s her “confusion”? Is it possible to believe you’ve consecrated (devoted, given to the Lord) something to God in your life (i.e. career, money, talents, relationships), but really it’s serving your own personal idolatry? Have you felt recently that God is speaking to you about “the thing you can’t give up”? How can you be faithful to walk that out?
• What’s the impact of the mother’s embrace of idolatry, and who does it affect? Sometimes we think our “issues” only affect us, but that’s not the case – have you seen this to be true in your own life, please describe? Has God’s grace empowered you to break that cycle?
• Vv.6-13 Why does the Levite stay with Micah? In order to “make ends meet”, a Levite (from the family of Israel responsible for leading and ministering before Yahweh) becomes a priest for an idol. Is it possible to confuse provision, no matter how great or from what source, with God’s will for your life? How does our community play a role in helping to discern for us what God’s will is during crucial life decisions? Are you open to this reality (Rom 12:2-7)?
• V.13 What is Micah’s response? What happens to Micah (Judges 18:14-17 & 25)? Micah seems to view following God as a religious activity opposed to an intimate relationship with Him (Jesus). Are there places in your life where you view the practice of your faith strictly as an activity, or that you can somehow earn God’s favor through a certain behavior (Eph 2:4-9)?
• Do you see any parallels in Micah to our experience of modern day religious pluralism? Can you name a few examples? How can we keep our eyes focused on Jesus? How can we successfully navigate conversations in our families or workplaces?

3. According to Rich, the definition of idolatry is something you “can’t give up” or “can’t live without”.

• Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to highlight anything for you that fits this definition.
• Is there a family member or loved one who is causing you to compromise in your obedience and faithfulness to Jesus? Pray that you can confront this person/situation with grace and truth and be free to obey the Lord.
• Like Micah, are you feeling any confusion about how to keep your eyes focused on God? Pray for Jesus to reveal himself clearly into your life and situation.

When You Fight For A Blessing (Genesis 27)

Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD

SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In Genesis 27 we find a story of family mess, of deception and favoritism as Jacob tricks his father Isaac into giving him his blessing instead of giving it to his older brother and firstborn son Esau; but we also find a story of blessing, a story of God and his sovereignty and how God works through weakness and even through wickedness. However, if we want to experience the fullness of God’s blessing on our lives, we’ve got to walk in the path of faith and obedience of the Lord. At the same time, in this scripture we also find that this story ultimately points to the person of Jesus Christ and his work of salvation.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. Have you ever wanted for yourself something that someone else had? Do you struggle with trusting in God and his provision for your life?
2. Have you ever been the victim of favoritism? What impact did that experience have on you? On the other hand, have you ever experienced being the favorite? Were you able to notice the impact that experience had on those around you?
3. Take time to share experiences in which you’ve seen God’s plan for your life move forward despite of the wickedness of others.

INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. In 5 minutes or less. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

2. Read Romans 1: 1-24:

1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
6 It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
10 Not only that, but Rebekah's children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13 Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19 One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?" 20 But who are you, a mere human being, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' " 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for disposal of refuse?
22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

• Why is Paul in great sorrow and unceasing anguish (v. 3)? What was God’s original plan for the people of Israel? (Gen. 12:1-3) Was all of Israel living under God’s plan?
• Why would some consider God failed in his plan (v. 6)? What’s the difference between “Israel” and all who are descended from Israel? Or between Abraham’s descendents and Abraham’s children (vv. 7-8)? Who is considered God’s people today? What does it mean to be children of the promise in the 21st century? Is God’s plan still at work today?
• In verses 11 and 12, we read that God had already promised Rebekah that the older of her sons would serve the younger, yet she still felt the need to cheat Isaac into blessing her younger son. Have you ever had to struggle with the tension of trusting God to keep his word and you taking matters into your own hands? Briefly share.
• In verse 16, the apostle Paul says that it does not depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. What do you think would happen if God’s blessing for our life did depend on our desire and effort? How does knowing that we are subject to his mercy affect the way you live your life? Does this statement have an impact on your relationship with Jesus? How?
• According to the apostle Paul, why does God allow wickedness in mankind? What is God’s response to that wickedness and evil (vv. 17, 22-23)? How should we then face the wickedness of this world? How can we believe in God’s sovereignty despite of that wickedness? How then does wickedness and evil become and instrument for God to reveal his mercy?

3. In his sermon, Rich says that the reason you are not an imposter when you come into God’s presence; the reason why you don’t have to tremble in fear about being found out; the reason why you can believe God for blessing on your life is that if you have trusted in Christ, Christ voluntarily clothes you with his clothing of righteousness, and now when you go into the presence of your father in heaven as you pray, your father in heaven smells the smell of Jesus on you. Your father in heaven says, “Ah, the smell of my son; the scent of his righteousness is on you.”

• Are there any areas in your life in which you still feel like an imposter when you enter into God’s presence? If so, take time to pray that God may speak his truth into your life and release freedom in your relationship with him.
• At the same time, pray for those who are having difficulties trusting in God’s sovereignty for their lives.

When A Loved One Dies (Genesis 23)

Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD

SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In Scripture we find that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. However, we live in an age between the “already and the not yet” in which death is still a reality. In this message Stephen shares with us about the reality of death, the reality of grief and how Christians should support those who grieve, but most importantly, he shares with us about the reality of hope in Christ Jesus and how in him we will all be made alive.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. Have you ever been caught off guard by someone’s death? How did you react to the news? How do you feel about “death”? Briefly share.
2. Have you ever experienced peace and joy in the midst of loss? Where did it come from? Have you ever been able to bring comfort to someone in the midst of their loss? Briefly share.
3. How do you cope with the fact that our lives here on Earth are relatively short? Why is the Christian reaction to death different than that of other religions / cultures?

INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. In 5 minutes or less. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

2. Read John 11: 17-37:

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

• Read John 11:1-5 and explain the context of this story. Place emphasis on Jesus’ relationship with the main characters in the story.
• In verse 3 we read that Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick, yet in verse 17 we find out that Lazarus had already been dead for four days before Jesus got there. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you feel God is not answering your prayers? Did you loose hope? In this story, Jesus had heard about Lazarus’ sickness yet chose to wait before he went to meet them. Do you believe Jesus had a purpose in that? Do you believe Jesus has a purpose when he has you wait? What are some lessons you have learned as you wait in the Lord?
• What does Mary and Martha’s reaction to the news that Jesus was coming tell you about the different ways in which they grieve the death of their brother (v. 20)? When you find yourself in a difficult situation, do you find it difficult to seek Jesus?
• Even though Jesus knew what was going to happen, in verse 35 we read that he wept when he was taken to Lazarus. What does that tell you of Jesus’ heart for us? How does knowing that we have a God that feels for us and even grieves with us make you feel?
• What’s different about what Martha says to Jesus when he first sees him from what Mary tells him (vv. 21-22, 32)?
• In verses 21 through 27 we see Jesus speak truth into Martha’s situation and as a result, Martha’s heart is changed. How can the truth of Jesus transform our hearts? Have you ever been in a difficult situation in which you had to hold on to Jesus and his truth in order to “survive”? Briefly share.

3. In verses 25 and 26 Jesus says: “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

• How does this truth bring hope to your life?
• Are you currently going through a situation in which you desperately need to hold on to this truth?
• Are there any areas in your life in which you still need God’s kingdom to break through?
• Please take time to pray for each other, especially for those in need of hope and comfort.

Please also encourage persons in your small group to participate in the following Family Mess follow-up seminar:

When a loved one dies: help for hurting people
Tuesday, October 12th, 7-9pm
What is grief? How long will it take to feel better? This seminar will help you learn ways to navigate the grief process from a Christian perspective.
Contact: Toni.King@vineyardcolumbus.org / 614.259.5289