Sermon Based Small Group Lessons
Facing Uncertain Times
2008 July 13
Dr. Les Hughes
Opening Question
(New groups: Share your name and the answer to the
following question.)
Share
something in your life that seems uncertain or something that causes you concern.
Focus Passages
The Wise and
Foolish Builders
24 "Therefore everyone who hears
these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built
his house on the rock.
25 The rain came down, the
streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not
fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and
does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on
sand. 27 The rain came
down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it
fell with a great crash."
28
When Jesus had
finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
11
The king of Israel answered, "Tell him: 'One who puts on his armor should
not boast like one who takes it off.' "
12 Ben-Hadad
heard this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he
ordered his men: "Prepare to attack." So they prepared to attack the
city.
13 Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab
king of Israel and announced, "This is what the LORD says: 'Do you see
this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know
that I am the LORD.' "
Digging for Truth
1. Life-Changing Lesson 1: Sooner
or later, rain comes into everybody’s life. There are two types of people: those who
are going through trials and those who will in the near future. Which one of these categories are you
in?
2. Another category of people are those who
trust in God and those who feel that they have to rely fully on
themselves. On a scale of 1-10,
with 10 being fully trusting in God when adversity strikes, where are you?
3. Matthew 5:45 says that God causes the
rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous. How does it make you feel that God doesn’t
always bless the righteous and punish the unrighteous.
4. Life-Changing Lesson 2: Difficulties
seem worse when life’s been good. We’ve had unprecedented fortune
and blessing here in the US over the last years. Do you think that fortune is a blessing
or a curse? Like people in other
climates, it is a matter of what you are used to.
5. In the book of Job the question is
asked, “Should we accept good from God and not trouble?” How does that perspective challenge our
views on God’s blessing?
6. One of the worship songs this morning
said, “Bring me anything that brings you glory.” Can we honestly say that to God, even if
it involves pain?
7. Col. 3:2 says to set
our minds on the things above, not on the things of earth. How close are you to being able to do
that? Are you able to back up and
look from an eternal perspective?
8. Life-Changing Lesson 3: How I handle a
storm is established before the storm comes. The wise man “built” (past
tense) his house on a rock. What can
we do to prepare for the storms of life?
9. Pastor Les names a number of crises
members of the church have been through this past year. What things have members of our group
gone through this year? Ask members
to share how God has been glorified or individuals have grown through the
trials.
10. Life-Changing Lesson 4: God is in the
midst of my circumstances, even when I can’t see Him. How does Romans 8:28
express this truth? Have you ever
had an experience that you’ve later been able to see God in?
11. Life-Changing Lesson 5: God has work
for me do, whether the sky is sunny or dark. This is called consistency. We need to develop life habits that help
us continue in obedience to Christ.
Closing Thought
What is one
thing you plan to do this week to “build your home on the rock” in
order to prepare for the storm?