Saul: Disobedience.

Introduction / Review:

4 Big Problems with Disobedience (1 Samuel 15:1-23)

1. It is always Unacceptable . (1 Sam 15:1-9)
2. It Grieves God and His people. (1 Sam 15:10-11)

   Ephesians 4:30 - do not grieve the Holy Spirit

   John 14:15 - If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

3. It is a Gateway to more sin. (1 Sam 15:12-21)

The Disobedience Gateway Leads Me To:

1. Exalt myself (1 Sam 15:12)
2. Deceive myself (1 Sam 15:13,19)
3. Shift Blame away from myself (1 Sam 15:15,21,24)
4. Justify myself (1 Sam 15:15, 21)
4. It is the same as Idolatry to God. (1 Sam 15:22-23)

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Small Group Discussion

WHOLE GROUP
Read 1 Samuel 15:1-23

1. What place does obedience have in the life of a Christian, since a Christian is not saved by obedience (or "stays saved" by obedience)? How would you respond to someone who says, "Christians aren't called to obey, we are saved by grace!"?

2. Why is disobedience like divination (1 Sam 15:23)? Like idolatry? Does this change the way you view your own sin?

3. Why do you think disobedience grieves God? See Ephesians 4:30.

4. Share a time you did something wrong and blamed someone else? Why is that such a "natural" inclination?

BREAKOUT

Do you have any area of disobedience in your life right now? How does Saul's story motivate you to change? How will you go after turning your disobedience into obedience? 
Pray for one another. 

Joshua: Courage.

Introduction / Review:

What do you Fear?

• Future
• Failure
• Foe

There's No Fear!

1. There's no fear when God's Presence is With me. (Josh 1:1-6)
2. There's no fear when God's Word is In me. (Josh 1:7-9)

   How do I get God's Word in Me?

   • Memorize it!
   • Meditate on it!
   • Move on it!
3. There's no fear when God's People are Behind me. (Josh 1:10-18)

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Small Group Discussion

WHOLE GROUP
Read Joshua 1:1-18

1. Define fear, be specific. Why are we all so susceptible to fear?

2. How does meditating on the Word drive out fear (Joshua 1:18, see also Psalm 1:2-3)

3. What do you fear in this current chapter of your life? How are you seeking the Lord to be delivered from it? (Psalm 34:4)

BREAKOUT

How are you currently working on memorizing and meditating on God's Word? How have you been convicted to move on what God is teaching you?

Moses: Dependence.

Introduction / Review:

Depending on the Lord Means... (Exodus 4:1-17)

1. Depending on the Lord means letting go of your Past. (Ex 4:1-9)
2. Depending on the Lord means letting go of your Excuses . (Ex 4:1-12)
3. Depending on the Lord means letting go of your Will . (Ex 4:13-17)

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Small Group Discussion

WHOLE GROUP
Read Exodus 4:1-17

1. Tell of a time you KNEW God wanted you to do something - and you didn’t want to do it.

2. Have you ever felt a physical problem kept you from being what you (or God!) wanted you to be?

3. Do you believe that if God calls you to something, and you won’t do it, He will just move on to someone else? How did that scenario work out for Moses?

BREAKOUT

Pray for one another to learn greater dependence on the Lord!

Joseph: Trust.

Introduction:

Ephesians 1:11 – who works all things according to the counsel of His will

Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Three other factors:

1. Sin
2. Time
3. Purpose

God doesn't cause the evil, but He brings something good from it.

When I Choose to Trust that God is in Control... (Genesis 50:15-21)

1. I don't need to be in Control. (Gen 50:19)
2. I can see the Good He has done. (Gen 50:20)
3. I am free to just Love people. (Gen 50:21)

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Small Group Discussion

WHOLE GROUP
Read Genesis 50:15-21

1. Do you believe God is sovereign over all that happens, or just some of what happens? Do you believe man's free will can interfere with God's plan? Be honest. How do your beliefs line up with Joseph's in this passage?

2. God uses evil done to us - ultimately for good. How can a victim of abuse or rape honestly believe God can and will use that for good?

3. Name a time that you saw God use the actions of an evil person to ultimately bring something good.

BREAKOUT

Tell of the hardest time you've ever had to forgive someone. How did you do it? Pray for one another that you each can have a heart of forgiveness and trust in God's sovereign will.

Abraham: Faith.

Introduction:

Faith is: Believing the Word of God, no matter how I feel, because God promises a good result.

3 Reasons Faith is Difficult. (Genesis 22:1-28)

1. Faith doesn't make (human) Sense. (Gen 22:1-2)
2. Faith means Doing hard things. (Gen 22:3-8)
3. Faith requires Total commitment. (Gen 22:9-12)

Faith is always Rewarded.

Hebrews 11:17-19 - By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who hadrecieved the promise was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." He considered that God was able from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did recieve him back.

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Small Group Discussion

WHOLE GROUP
Read Genesis 22:1-18

1. Define “faith”. What are some wrong ideas about what faith is?

2. Why did God test Abraham (Gen 22:1)? Does God still test people today? Do you believe God has ever tested you?

3. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done because of your faith?

BREAKOUT
Is there any area YOU have struggled to be “100% all in”? Be honest, encouraging, and judgment-free! Pray for one another to over-come that struggle area of faith.