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Interacting with the Sermon
Synopsis of the Sermon
Insoo
Kim preached this weekend on doubting (or rather, trusting) in God’s power. The
passage from Isaiah begins with King Ahaz “trembling with fear” at impending
attacks. His first response in v.
3 is “to check the city’s water supply”. Insoo made the point - to whom do we
go with our first response when we’re
desperate, or in need, or afraid? If we believe we are more than mere flesh and
blood, being spiritual beings at our core, why do we neglect that reality when
in crisis? God reminds Ahaz in v. 7 to trust that God will do what he said he
will do because He is Sovereign. When we’re in crisis, we need to recall that
God is sovereign. And because our God is a relational God, He asks us to demonstrate our faith in Him and His
sovereignty through our active trust. He’s always asking, “Do you trust me”? God’s
sign to us of His faithfulness is offering his Son Jesus to us. Let’s not
forget God’s sovereign plan through Jesus and that he’s with us to the end of
this age.
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.
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.
- What are one or two things from this weekend’s sermon that really stood out to you?
- What comfort(s) did you use as a child when you felt scared? Why?
- Share an recent example where you knew you were seeking comfort or reassurance in something other than Jesus, and the Holy Spirit convicted your heart? Please share briefly.
Scripture Study
Study Goal: In his book Finding God, Dr. Larry Crab tries to pull the curtain back on what it means to
truly live a life passionately and wholly for God. He’s says, ultimately
finding God “means to face all of life, both good and bad, with a spirit of trust. We have a higher
calling than finding joy in good things and working through bad things; we must
reflect confidence in God in ALL our relationships and activities, in ALL
our joys and sorrows. You know you are finding God when you believe that God is
good no matter what happens”. The recipe for passionate living is not that
complicated. I believe it’s laid out in Scripture, and the Holy Spirit is
testifying to it in our lives – if we slow down and we listen. The main
ingredient, the “stumbling block” as Crabb puts it, is our trust in God, our
trust in His Goodness. He links our comprehension and embrace of God’s Goodness
to how severe our trust is of Him.
Context: Look at verses 1 and 13. God uses Jeremiah to
prophesy to Judah and Israel who have forsaken Jehovah. They claimed to worship
Jehovah, but in practice they worshipped other gods. In the middle of Jeremiah
telling Judah about the consequences for their sin, he relates a beautifully
profound picture from God contrasting the reality of trusting in God or in His
creation.
Read Jeremiah 17:5-8
5 This
is what the Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
- Begin by observing and considering the pictures - there are 2 plants. What are their characteristics? What do both pictures have in common and what is different?
- Which tree’s life is more appealing? Which tree’s pattern do we find ourselves choosing more?
- Formulaic Christianity says “if I do the right thing God will bless, He’ll watch my back”. But what happens when “all hell breaks lose”? What happens when…
o Unexplainable, bad things happen…
o When hardships don’t get resolved
o Unanswered prayers, years of waiting
o When I feel threatened, insecure, needing love and not receiving
it, no present relief from anger, bitterness, stress, tiredness, boredom…
o Relationship challenges with your kids, spouse, family members,
neighbors, or colleagues linger
o When things are unfair, you get over-looked, you’re misunderstood,
taken for granted, not recognized.
o What are your responses? What is the alternative for you to
trusting in God’s faithfulness and power?
- v. 5 What are some examples of Trusting in creation, in flesh, In the things of the world? Describe what happens personally when your trust in God leaks?
- V. 6 “Dwelling in parched places, in a salt land…” – has anyone lived there? Please share how you got there, and what drew you out?
- Vv.7-8 What is the root’s source of life? How do they reach the stream? There is a reality that we play a part in the “trust” cycle – we need to reach out to the source for our life….Read John 15:1-4, how do you “remain in Christ”? How does that correlate to your active trust in God?
- V. 8 “…when heat come”, not “…if heat comes”. Can you truly live worry free in a year of drought? How so? How have you made it through?
- Close by reading Psalm 121 (Message version provided) Perhaps when completed – pray out as group in a Spirit of thankfulness for God’s faithfulness…
Psalm 121: A Pilgrim Song
1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength
come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
3-4 He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep.
5-6 God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.
7-8 God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
3-4 He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep.
5-6 God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.
7-8 God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.
Ministry Application
Below you’ll see
some options for ministry time with your group. We always encourage you to
reserve time in your group to pray for one another and wait on the Holy Spirit.
·
If you’re finding yourself in the
desert and feeling like the bush in the wasteland – try to share openly and
honestly with a few others about where things are REALLY at.
o
How can you deepen your trust in God? Step 1 - Seek
the Holy Spirit. He will focus our blurred vision
of God as we pursue a deeper awareness of Christ and ourselves that can
mobilize us into a state of spiritual alertness where we can grow in our eagerness
to hear the voice of God. Hearing God speak can be one of the most faith building
experiences we have. God sees you and knows where you’re at and longs to draw
near – we just need to let Him in.
o
Step 2: Strive to recognize that
God is good. Or at least good enough. In our own sinfulness we so often subvert
God’s goodness, God’s way, for our own way, for own solutions, our own fallen
methods. The moment we forget that God is good, we subvert HIS goodness and HIS
plans and HIS ways for our own. We stop trusting in him and start trusting in
ourselves or other created things. We need to break that cycle and learn to go
to God first. When we believe he is good, we will seek Him more. When we seek
him more, we’ll see that He’s faithful and, hopefully, those rhythms will
increase and intensify.
o
Step 3: Practice Obedience;
obedience to God shows that we submitted to his reign in our life and we trust
that there is no other way to finding God, to finding peace, to finding love. Flee
the enemy and cling to the cross. If there are place in your life where you
need to align with God’s authority, confess it to another and seek prayer.
·
If you’re finding yourself in the
desert, yet with “green leaves” – be committed to share with others and pray that
you can grow in your trust of the Lord, despite what you’re going through. Seek
God’s sovereign Hand to pull you out of the draught.
·
If you know of someone else who’s
struggling, how might you encourage that person? Seek the Lord and be open to
how He might lead you – practically and spiritually.
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