Sermon Based Small Group Lessons

Wisdom From Past Circumstances

2008 March 2

Dr. Les Hughes, Senior Pastor

Meeting Schedule

1. Fellowship time & snacks

2. Share prayer requests

3. Pray (taking turns with short sentence prayers is good if group members are comfortable).

4. Begin the lesson.

a. Share the title (above)

b. Ask the Ice Breaker Question

c. Follow the guide, reading the Scripture and asking the questions.

Ice Breaker Questions

Share your name and one of the wisest things (or best pieces of advice) anyone ever gave you.

Focus Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Digging for Truth

1. Open your bible to that passage and share one of those “times” from your life experiences. Your example can be either a simple thing or life changing event.

2. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a passage that gives us hope. Listen to this passage and share one part of it that gives you the most hope…

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

3. The question for the day is this: “Considering my present circumstances, how do I act wisely in this situation?” What are some examples of circumstances that might effect decisions we have to make?

4. Life-changing Lesson #1 states: “With ever new day, my life can take a different turn.” What has been a big day in your life that things took an unexpected turn?

5. Pastor Les said that we should be careful about basing our decisions on fear. How can fear cause us to make a decision that is not God’s will? (possible answers: fear of losing relationships, fear of failure or having self-confidence to step out and do what God has called us to do, fear of what others will think of us, and other answers)

6. Another piece of good advice is to remind ourselves, “This too shall pass” and “It could be worse.” Why is it dangerous to make decisions or take actions too early? (possible answers: we can be overwhelmed and time allows us to back up and see things from a bigger perspective once we are over the shock of something.)

7. Do you think we sometimes act, taking matters in our own hands, and get ahead of God’s plan and possibly messing things up? (Possible answer: Hasn’t everybody at some point?)

8. Life-changing Lesson #2 states: “My season of life may be a factor in how God answers my prayers.” Why do you think this would be? Can you think of an example? (Possible answers: We need to look at God’s will for us, what He may be teaching us, etc.)

9. Here are some other great tips:

a. If the request is wrong, God may say “no”.

b. If the timing is wrong, God may say “slow”.

c. If I am wrong, God may say “grow”.

d. If all is right, God may say “Let’s go.”

Question: Can you name a time you believe you’ve gotten one of those answers?

10. What does God desire from us more than anything else? (Possible answer: To give Him our hearts and be fully surrendered to Him.) How will knowing and doing that that help us in discovering God’s will? Is God’s will what we desire more than anything else?

Close in prayer asking God to help us in our desire to know and follow Him fully.